Motivational movies to kickstart your New Year

Hello Dear Reader, how’s 2026 going for your so far? Make any resolutions? Resolutions that you’ve kept? I ask that only because statistically speaking, by the second Friday of January aka “Quit Day” – the majority of folks have already abandoned their declared New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you’re like me and you’ve gone the ‘new year – new goals’ route. That gives me something to shoot for without feeling like a failure. So even though I’ve already missed a few installments in my 2026 goal of ‘hand-making something new every day,’ I can always make two or three on another day and catch up without the fear of failure a broken resolution can bring. But, regardless of your approach or on which day of 2026 you’re reading this – I’ve gotta believe we’re all out to make the most of this brand new year, and to that I say – GO FOR IT!!! In fact, it’s in that spirit that I bring you some incredible inspiration by way of this marvellous list of movies. All the films contain truly motivational messages and lovely life lessons, complete with extraordinary soundtracks too. And just as varied as I imagine our individual goals must be, so are the musical moments in the films featured – with everything from number one pop hits to Oscar nominated scores, R&B classics to ever so cheerful show tunes, moving originals written specifically for the screen to perfectly placed classics that accentuate the action.

Joy (2015)

First up JOY, the 2015 dramedy written and directed David O.Russell’s in which every musical element hits the perfect ‘can-do’ chord. Teaming up with Music Supervisor Susan Jacobs – story and song are perfectly woven together in this ‘believe in yourself and just go for it’ feeling film. JOY is a mostly fictionalized telling of a true-blue, rags-to-riches journey. It stars Jennifer Lawrence in her Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning role as real-life inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano, The movie opens on a little girl full of big dreams and grand plans. She is smart and driven and resourceful. As the story proceeds we see Joy’s dreams take a backseat to family responsibilities. We witness her growing up surrounded by negativity. We watch as she constantly puts other people’s needs ahead of her own. We witness every hardship and are left only to marvel at how the spirit of that dreamer and brilliant inventor fights to stay alive. There are many life lessons in this movie, but perhaps the greatest take away can be found in the moments when Joy stands up for herself, speaks for herself, believes in herself and goes for it – no matter what. Case in point, the scene where she finally stands up to her step-sister and father – insisting that no one will talk about her business on her behalf anymore. As she marches out to take control of her destiny we hear Elvis Presley’s 1968 classic “A Little Less Conversation.” Time to take action indeed! David O. Selznick said “fundamentally JOY is about the soul of a person – what moves them to stay stuck or trapped and what moves them to break out and create something new – using every colour of life.” He wanted the film to inspire people. I sure hope
watching it inspires YOU to believe in yourself and go for it too in this new year! JOY is streaming now on Disney +.

Last Holiday (2006)

Now I imagine most of you have heard that famous quote from New Age author Deepak Chopra “The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called ‘the present.” It’s a great mantra for any life, but what if you were told your future had a rapidly approaching expiration date? Like let’s say your doctor told you that you only had 3 more weeks to live? That’s the diagnosis a sweet store clerk gets after clunking her head on a cupboard door in the 2006 rom/com LAST HOLIDAY. Queen Latifa plays Georgia Bird who, up until that point had led a very modest life – going to work, dealing with a terrible boss, putting all her money into a savings account and placing all of her ‘someday’ dreams into a scrapbook she entitled The Book of Possibilities. Suddenly faced with a finite lifespan, Georgia decides to make the most of what little life she has left, so she quits that job, empties her bank account and sets out on trip of a lifetime. The soundtrack is jam-packed with stellar tunes from classics by Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye to pop hits from Gwen Stefani and the Queen herself. Given our topic for today and the true meaning behind this oh-so-charming film, I hope you’ll give a special listen to the truly apropos track from Madeleine Peyroux entitled “Don’t Wait too Long.” Hopefully you know by now I’m against spoilers, so I’ll only tell you LAST HOLIDAY has a happy ending and a ton of take-aways like – try new things, be adventurous, face your fears and many more, but fundamentally the biggest message is to make the most of every minute. Life is short so live it to the fullest and find all the happy you can in the right now. That’s a totally great goal for 2026! LAST HOLIDAY is available to rent/buy on Prime Video.

Into the Wild (2007)

When it came time to compile the motivational movies for this list, just like the lead characters in each of them, I knew everyone reading this feature would be facing this new year with a different set of circumstances. Some of you might have the means to make things happen instantly while others might need to fight through all sorts of adversity before realizing your goals. There might even be some folks who are looking to break away from the ‘comfortable’ path in 2026. To leave behind an ‘expectation-filled future’ set forth by your family and forge ahead on the road less travelled. That certainly was the case for Christopher McCandless. whose real-life adventures are chronicled in the 2007 release INTO THE WILD. Oscar winner Sean Penn wrote and directed this riveting story of a top student, premier athlete and son of a wealthy family who abandons all of his possessions, donates all of his savings to charity, leaves his comfortable life behind and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. By ditching the typical conventions and privilege in pursuit of life’s true meaning, Chris discovers every kind of challenge along the way. Emile Hirsch portrays McCandless
brilliantly through every heart-pounding, peaceful and character-building moment of the journey. It was columnist Jon Krakauer who first wrote an article on McCandless which he then expanded to a nonfiction book. It was the cover of that book that caught the eye of Penn and moved him to make the movie. Penn explains that in crafting the screenplay he consciously left out narrative to make room for songs, space to both tell the story and create a bridge between certain scenes. This was an approach he’d used in all his previously films, but with INTO THE WILD he felt he those songs should have a singular voice. Given the fact that Chris faces so much of his journey alone, Penn believed the songs would serve as the interior voice of the character. For that special task the director reached out to Pearl Jam’s front man Eddie Vedder, asking him to watch the movie and “if he felt something – then write it.” Vedder felt something alright – creating 2 pieces immediately after viewing, with 6 more to follow. Eddie reports he couldn’t remember writing the music so much “moving out of the way for the music to come through him.” How’s that for cool?! INTO THE WILD contains all kinds of motivational messages summed up by Chandless himself – “When you want something in life, you just gotta reach out and grab it,” and “The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences.” And while I’d never suggest you copy Chris by cutting up your credit cards and hitting the highway for the wilds of Alaska – I do believe ‘forging your own path no matter what anyone says’ and ‘being true to you’ are some seriously solid goals for 2026 and beyond. INTO THE WILD is available to rent/buy on Apple Movies.

The Intern (2015)

It’s crazy when you think about it since it’s really just one day rolling into the next, but generation after generation folks all around the world recognize the momentousness of that particular stroke of midnight. When the calendar officially flips to a brand new year it feels like a fresh new start, like a clean slate – providing the perfect occasion embrace a new lease on life, no matter what stage of life you might find yourself. Something new was exactly what 70-year old widower Ben Whittaker was after in 2015 dramedy THE INTERN. Fed up with the boredom brought on by retirement Ben (played by Robert Dinero) applies for a ‘senior internship’ at a hip and happening online fashion website run by the relatively young and beyond brilliant Jules Ostin (played by Anne Hathaway.) Nancy Meyers wrote and directed this beautiful buddy film that illustrates oh so perfectly how people can make a difference at every age! The soundtrack pops with a delightful blend of current hits from the likes of Megan Trainor, Kendrick Lamar and Busta Rhymes mixed with legendary music makers like Ray Charles and Benny Goodman to name but a few. Oh, and the score crafted by Theodore Shapiro is pure perfection! For the record, I’m a huge fan of all things Nancy Meyers and THE INTERN is no exception. Amidst the unlikely friendships forged when a senior citizen joins the staff of a young start-up you’ll enjoy great laughs, sweet tears and some very important life lessons including ‘it’s never too late for a fresh start.’ THE INTERN is streaming now on Netflix.

Legally Blonde (2001)

Now I’ll be the first to admit, on the surface, this next feature film can come across as more fashion and fluff than moving and motivational, but fundamentally it’s a perfect fit for our focus today as it’s chock-o-block full of life lessons. Like ‘you can do anything you set your mind to,’ ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover,’ ‘follow your gut instincts,’ ‘be kind,stay positive’ and ‘just be you!’ And those are just a few of the motivational mantras to be found in the 2001 rom/com LEGALLY BLONDE starring Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. A character now etched in movie history, burst onto the big screen as a pretty sorority girl who proved, with enough focus and hard work, you can achieve anything – and still look fabulous while you do it! The movie’s soundtrack is just as sweet complete with the big ear candy hit “Perfect Day” by Hoku. And for anyone out there whose goals include writing a book this year you might be keen to learn “Legally Blonde” began as a book written and self-published by first time author Amanda Brown. Since then, in addition to the Golden Globe nominated original film, there has been a sequel, LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE & BLONDE, a Broadway musical, as well as a straight-to-home video release starring twins Camilla and Rebecca Rosso entitled LEGALLY BLONDES. And if that weren’t enough – stay tuned for the Prime Video prequel series ELLE set to premiere this summer. LEGALLY BLONDE is streaming now on CraveTV in Canada.

Forrest Gump (1994)

While there are thousands and thousands of films that could be featured in this ‘make the most of it’ list, there was no denying 6-time Oscar-winning FORREST GUMP just had to be on it. With Tom Hanks in the title role, this film is full to the brim with brilliant life lessons and motivational messages. And the soundtrack?! Well, that’s truly next level!!! You see, when director Bob Zemeckis tapped legendary music supervisor Joe Sill to assemble the soundtrack for his film about “the presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal and ton of other historical events as told from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart,” his direction was simple – just make sure that each track be “recognizable material that would pinpoint specific time periods – and be American.” The result was a two-disc album, with more than 30 stellar songs from the likes of Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The
Beach Boys, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, The Doobie Brothers, and Fleetwood Mac to name but a few. Layer on top of that Alan Silvestri’s truly moving score and audiences were transported into every amazing moment that Forrest experiences, including all those times with all those strangers beside him on the bench. The musical theme acts as a thread that weaves in and out of Forrest’s incredible tapestry of trials and tribulations, all the while being guided by his mama’s words of wisdom. From the simple quiet start to the ever so peaceful end, and all the ups and downs in between. “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Just as Forrest said “Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.” I believe Forrest had a way of living life simply, so that we could understand what’s really important: to not take yourself too seriously, to appreciate life while you have it, and to do what you love. FORREST GUMP proved that everyone has something to contribute and as such everyone should be valued. Indeed, it’s a motion pictured filled with mantras to embrace as you make the most of this new year for yourself. FORREST GUMP is streaming now on Paramount Plus.

Julie & Julia (2009)

Another such film features the tasty tale of two real-life women – legendary Chef and TV host Julia Child, and a young blogger by the name of Julie Powell. Powell’s determined to emulate her culinary idol by cooking every single one of the 524 recipes in Child’s best selling cook book,“Mastering the Art of French Cooking” within just one year. The late great Nora Ephron wrote and directed this parallel telling of JULIE & JULIA (2009). Meryl Streep earned an Oscar nomination for her ever so brilliant performance as Julia Child and Amy Adams was equally engaging as the often flustered, but charmingly focused Julie Powell. While the characters are separated by time and place they are united in their love of cooking, by there integrity and grit, and their willingness to face a challenge and persevere no matter the obstacles. Rise to the challenge and persevere! Now that’s a stellar mantra for this new year. Ephron ensures the music meets the moment with perfect punctuation including Doris Day’s “A Bushel and A Peck.” It’s worth noting that before there was Martha Stewart and Gordon Ramsay there was Julia Child, who built an empire for herself and began a whole new genre for TV the cooking show! And I’ll further note she did all of that while in her 50’s! Julia Powell needed an outlet for her culinary creativity along with her affinity for Child which resulted in a wildly successful blog, a best-selling book and a major motion picture. If all those facts aren’t reason enough to establish your goals go for them – I don’t know what is! JULIE AND JULIA is available to stream on CBC GEM.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

While the majority of the movies in our mix for this edition are fiction, it’s important to note four of them feature real life folks as is the case in this next
truly moving major motion picture inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner – THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS. The movie depicts the homeless salesman who struggles to take care of his little boy amidst all life’s adversities, and through hard work and determination turns an unpaid internship into a wildly successful career. Will Smith stars as Gardner while Smith’s real-life son Jaden plays his on-screen son Christopher. That real-life bond is undeniable, as is this inspirational message delivered from father to son “Don’t let anyone tell you – you can’t do something – not even me – you got a dream – you gotta protect it . You want something – go get it – period.” How’s that for motivational?! Director Gabriele Muccino and music supervisor Pilar McCurry worked to ensure the soundtrack echoed the onscreen emotion – from heartbreaking and tender to ‘dust yourself off and do it’ – every song and sequence of score was en pointe. That includes Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” which captures the Gardner’s tenacity to be sure of it. The epilogue to the film reveals that Chris Gardner went on to form his own multi-million-dollar brokerage firm, proving no amount of adversity could derail him from his vision. I trust you’ll stay true to yours and like Chris – keep moving forward! THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS is streaming now on Netflix.

CODA (2021)

Of all the films featured in my motivational list – this next one is the most recently released. It’s also one of only three movies in this New Year’s collection to have earned that oh-so-coveted Academy Award for Best Picture. It’s the 2021 coming-of-age comedy-drama, the incredible CODA, written and directed by Sian Heder. Emilia Jones stars as Ruby Rossi, the only hearing child of 2 deaf parents who does her best to support her family’s struggling fishing business while following her dreams of becoming a singer. As hard as it is to break away from the expected burden of the family business, Ruby seizes the opportunity she’s been given to audition at Berklee College of Music. A monumental moment in the film for sure and as far as the director was concerned there was only one song for Ruby to sing – Joni Mitchell’s 1968 masterpiece “Both Sides Now.” Emelia Jones felt the same, admitting as intimating as it was at first, she couldn’t have envisioned a better metaphor for her character who was torn between the people whom she loves and her desire to create an identity of her own. There’s no way to watch without crying so considered yourself warned. For the record, Ms.Mitchell was a huge fan of the
cover – calling Emelia’s rendition “an incredible performance” High praise indeed! #FYI CODA is an acronym for children of deaf adults. Another cool thing to note – the song was performed in two languages simultaneously; it was sung in English and by hand using ASL so that Ruby’s deaf parents played by Oscar winners Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur (who sneak into the audition) can understand the words she’s singing. CODA is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Rocky (1976)

And with that, we’ve come to the last of our motivational movies, another Best Picture Academy Award Winner, but with the inspirational message of fighting for your dreams with everything you’ve got. Now all you young readers (aka whippersnappers) might find it hard to believe with a franchise that now totals nine, but production of this very first instalment of ROCKY back in 1976 mirrored the on-screen underdog-like battle faced by its lead character. Armed with a mere million dollars, a shoestring of a budget even back then, it’s fair to say writer/director Sylvester Stallone was looking at a mean, lean operation. As the story goes, Stallone was down to his last canister of film on the picture, and still faced with shooting the pivotal and poignant monologue he knew he needed to nail his delivery in 1 take. Fortunately for all concerned, he did that and then some, and that meagre million of a budget gave way to over $225 million in revenue with the franchise now totalling over 1.7 billion in sales. Hey and just like the character Rocky Balboa faced adversity head on to go from rags to riches so did screenwriter and star Sylvester Stallone who’s fortune is now estimated at $400million. Not to imply in anyway that money should be your primary motivator, especially when it comes to screenwriting, but if Sly can craft a truly motivational story amid abject poverty and have it resonate with so many folks for so long – surely you can too! This year marks 50 years since ROCKY first found it’s way into theatres and that incredible Oscar-winning score by Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” still rings as true. Put it on and turn it up – I guarantee you’ll be ready to take on whatever 2026 may bring your way. I am wishing with all my heart that’s everything wonderful. You got this dear reader! Now go get ‘em! ROCKY is streaming now on CraveTV.