5 6 8 9

Gattaca (1997)

FuturisticBrainyBrilliantThought provoking

In a future society in the era of indefinite eugenics, humans are set on a life course depending on their DNA. Young Vincent Freeman is born with a condition that would prevent him from space travel, yet is determined to infiltrate the GATTACA space program.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Niccol
CAST:  Ethan Hawke  •  Jude Law  •  Gore Vidal  •  Uma Thurman

In a future society in the era of indefinite eugenics, humans are set on a life course depending on their DNA. Young Vincent Freeman is born with a condition that would prevent him from space travel, yet is determined to infiltrate the GATTACA space program.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Niccol
CAST:  Ethan Hawke  •  Jude Law  •  Gore Vidal  •  Uma Thurman

Waking Life (2001)

Thought provokingBrainyBrilliantOriginal

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Linklater
CAST:  Wiley Wiggins  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Trevor Jack Brooks  •  Julie Delpy

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Linklater
CAST:  Wiley Wiggins  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Trevor Jack Brooks  •  Julie Delpy

The Maze Runner (2014)

AdventurousAction-packedEpicThought provoking

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, young Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow “runners” for a shot at escape.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wes Ball
CAST:  Will Poulter  •  Dylan O'Brien  •  Thomas Brodie-Sangster  •  Kaya Scodelario

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, young Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow “runners” for a shot at escape.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wes Ball
CAST:  Will Poulter  •  Dylan O'Brien  •  Thomas Brodie-Sangster  •  Kaya Scodelario

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Action-packedFuturisticFast pacedGripping

Set ten years after the events of the original, James Cameron’s classic sci-fi action flick tells the story of a second attempt to get the rid of rebellion leader John Connor, this time targeting the boy himself. However, the rebellion has sent a reprogrammed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Cameron
CAST:  Arnold Schwarzenegger  •  Linda Hamilton  •  Edward Furlong  •  Robert Patrick

Set ten years after the events of the original, James Cameron’s classic sci-fi action flick tells the story of a second attempt to get the rid of rebellion leader John Connor, this time targeting the boy himself. However, the rebellion has sent a reprogrammed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Cameron
CAST:  Arnold Schwarzenegger  •  Linda Hamilton  •  Edward Furlong  •  Robert Patrick

October Sky (1999)

InspiringCharmingCleverBrainy

Based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Johnston
CAST:  Jake Gyllenhaal  •  Chris Cooper  •  Laura Dern  •  Chris Owen

Based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Johnston
CAST:  Jake Gyllenhaal  •  Chris Cooper  •  Laura Dern  •  Chris Owen

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

DarkBrilliantDisturbingWeird

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Tykwer
CAST:  Ben Whishaw  •  Simon Chandler  •  David Calder  •  Richard Felix

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Tykwer
CAST:  Ben Whishaw  •  Simon Chandler  •  David Calder  •  Richard Felix

Cloud Atlas (2012)

ComplexThought provokingBeautifulBrilliant

A set of six nested stories spanning time between the 19th century and a distant post-apocalyptic future. Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lilly Wachowski  •  Lana Wachowski  •  Tom Tykwer
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Halle Berry  •  Jim Broadbent  •  Hugo Weaving

A set of six nested stories spanning time between the 19th century and a distant post-apocalyptic future. Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lilly Wachowski  •  Lana Wachowski  •  Tom Tykwer
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Halle Berry  •  Jim Broadbent  •  Hugo Weaving

American Underdog (2021)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

The true story of Kurt Warner, who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Erwin  •  Jon Erwin
CAST:  Zachary Levi  •  Anna Paquin  •  Hayden Zaller  •  Dennis Quaid

The true story of Kurt Warner, who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Erwin  •  Jon Erwin
CAST:  Zachary Levi  •  Anna Paquin  •  Hayden Zaller  •  Dennis Quaid

The Safety of Objects (2002)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rose Troche
CAST:  Glenn Close  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Jessica Campbell

In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rose Troche
CAST:  Glenn Close  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Jessica Campbell

Nine Lives (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Jason Isaacs  •  Robin Wright  •  Amy Brenneman  •  Elpidia Carrillo

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Jason Isaacs  •  Robin Wright  •  Amy Brenneman  •  Elpidia Carrillo

Perfect Sense (2011)

OriginalEmotionalThought provokingMind blowing

In Glasgow, Scotland, while a mysterious pandemic begins to spread around the world, Susan, a brilliant epidemiologist, falls in love with Michael, a skillful cook.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Mackenzie
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Eva Green  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Stephen Dillane

In Glasgow, Scotland, while a mysterious pandemic begins to spread around the world, Susan, a brilliant epidemiologist, falls in love with Michael, a skillful cook.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Mackenzie
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Eva Green  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Stephen Dillane

National Champions (2021)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A star quarterback ignites a players’ strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality, and respect for the athletes who put their bodies and health on the line for their schools.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ric Roman Waugh
CAST:  Stephan James  •  J.K. Simmons  •  Uzo Aduba  •  Alexander Ludwig

A star quarterback ignites a players’ strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality, and respect for the athletes who put their bodies and health on the line for their schools.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ric Roman Waugh
CAST:  Stephan James  •  J.K. Simmons  •  Uzo Aduba  •  Alexander Ludwig

When the Game Stands Tall (2014)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A young coach turns a losing high school football program around to go undefeated for 12 consecutive seasons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carter
CAST:  Jim Caviezel  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Laura Dern  •  Clancy Brown

A young coach turns a losing high school football program around to go undefeated for 12 consecutive seasons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carter
CAST:  Jim Caviezel  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Laura Dern  •  Clancy Brown

Friday Night Lights (2004)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Berg
CAST:  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Lucas Black  •  Garrett Hedlund  •  Derek Luke

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Berg
CAST:  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Lucas Black  •  Garrett Hedlund  •  Derek Luke

Concussion (2015)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Landesman
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Elizabeth Tulloch  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Alec Baldwin

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Landesman
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Elizabeth Tulloch  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Alec Baldwin

Storm Boy (2019)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

Storm Boy lives a lonely life with his reclusive father on a desolate coastline, but when he forms a close bond with a pelican, Mr. Percival, his life takes a new and unexpected turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shawn Seet
CAST:  Geoffrey Rush  •  Jai Courtney  •  Erik Thomson  •  Morgan Davies

Storm Boy lives a lonely life with his reclusive father on a desolate coastline, but when he forms a close bond with a pelican, Mr. Percival, his life takes a new and unexpected turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shawn Seet
CAST:  Geoffrey Rush  •  Jai Courtney  •  Erik Thomson  •  Morgan Davies

Warrior (2011)

PowerfulDramaticEmotionalGripping

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

Happy (2011)

Thought provokingInspiringUpliftingBeautiful

Happy is a 2011 feature documentary film directed, written, and co-produced by Roko Belic. It explores human happiness through interviews with people from all walks of life in 14 different countries, weaving in the newest findings of positive psychology. Director ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roko Belic
CAST:  Gregory Berns  •  Roy Blanchard  •  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  •  Tenzin Gyatso

Happy is a 2011 feature documentary film directed, written, and co-produced by Roko Belic. It explores human happiness through interviews with people from all walks of life in 14 different countries, weaving in the newest findings of positive psychology. Director ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roko Belic
CAST:  Gregory Berns  •  Roy Blanchard  •  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  •  Tenzin Gyatso

Inside Out (2015)

EmotionalBeautifulThought provokingCute

When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pete Docter
CAST:  Amy Poehler  •  Bill Hader  •  Lewis Black  •  Mindy Kaling

When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pete Docter
CAST:  Amy Poehler  •  Bill Hader  •  Lewis Black  •  Mindy Kaling

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

FunnyBrilliantClassicDark

A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Miloš Forman
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Louise Fletcher  •  Danny DeVito  •  William Redfield

A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Miloš Forman
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Louise Fletcher  •  Danny DeVito  •  William Redfield
5 6 8 9