Top 11 movies every Millennial or young person should watch

I really love watching movies. They can show you a different perspective on life, provide you with a couple precious hours of relaxation, or completely shock you and make you wonder and question many things. Movies can be quite powerful.

You are confronted by many challenges on your way to becoming independent and finding your place in the world. When you feel like these challenges are getting the best of you, it is always good to take some time to let your mind deal with something else. I have made a list of movies that I think are good for every Millennial to watch when they need some inspiration.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire is a really inspiring movie that paints the life of 18-year-old Jamal Malik. It follows an interesting storytelling form through which you discover a life full of hardship by way of questions asked on a gameshow. It is a story that follows the truly hard existence of Jamal Malik and his relentless will to persevere.

Prem Kumar:“Final question for twenty million rupees, and he's smiling. I guess you know the answer.”

Jamal Malik: “Do you believe it, I don't!”

Prem Kumar: “You don't? So you take the ten million and walk?”

Jamal Malik: “No. I'll play.”

Slumdog Millionaire - IMDB

Searching for Sugarman

This is a documentary that left me in awe, because it is a Hollywood movie becoming reality. Sixto Rodriguez is one of the most famous musicians from early 70’s…if you ask people in South Africa. The rest of the world didn’t hear about him until very recently. Watch a truly inspiring movie about how it is never too late for your dreams to become reality, even when you least expect it.

“What he's demonstrated, very clearly, is that you have a choice. He took all that torment, all that agony, all that confusion and pain, and he transformed it into something beautiful. He's like the silkworm, you know? You take this raw material, and you transform it. You come out with something that wasn't there before. Something beautiful. Something perhaps transcendent. Something perhaps eternal. Insofar as he does that, I think he's representative of the human spirit, of what's possible. That you have a choice "And this has been my choice, to give you Sugar Man". Now, have you done that? Ask yourself”

Secret Life of Walter Mitty 

This is a movie for every dreamer out there. You will definitely recognize yourself in it! Watch the epic journey of Walter Mitty, and how he found adventure in his sleepy, everyday life.

“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”

Walter Mitty reciting Life Magazine’s motto - IMDB

500 Days of Summer 

This is a move about love or, more accurately, break-up. However, it also deals with finding your passions, daring to pursue what you believe in ,and understanding that, sometimes, life takes you in different directions than you anticipated.

“This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New Jersey, grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy until the day he met ‘the one.’ This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total misreading of the movie 'The Graduate.' The girl, Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief. Since the disintegration of her parent's marriage she'd only loved two things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she could cut it off and not feel a thing. Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.”

Narrator in 500 days of Summer - IMDB

Dead Poets Society

This movie is not just about poetry; it is about making the most of life. You will watch an inspiring teacher showing his students how to think differently, and teaching them about having passion and pursuing all that life has to offer.

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."

John Keating in Dead Poets Society - Bustle

Good Will Hunting

This is a movie about letting go of your past, recognizing and reaching for your potential, and the meaning of growing up.

“You’ll never have that kind of relationship in a world where you’re afraid to take the first step because all you see is every negative thing 10 miles down the road.”

Good Will Hunting - The Epoch Times

Rocky

This movie is one of the greatest underdog stories of all time. It tells the story of a small-time boxer who gets an unexpected chance at fighting the heavyweight champion. Everybody is expecting an easy win for the champion, which sets Rocky on the road to proving to himself and everyone else that he can stand his ground!

“Ah come on, Adrian, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood.”

Rocky - IMDB

Gladiator

For all the action and Roman Empire lovers out there, this movie brings you a fantastic story about strength, honor, and following your heart and what you believe is right.

"Brothers, what we do in life... echoes in eternity."

Maximus in Gladiator - Odyssey

Up

This very touching movie portrays the life of a grumpy retiree in pursuit of the adventures that life didn’t give him when he was younger. This movie is animated, but it will truly leave you thinking about all the odd and wonderful adventures you might embark on.

“Adventure is out there!”

Charles Muntz in UP - IMDB

The Princess and the frog

What can I say, I love animated movies! I think they can give you a few wonderful hours of escapism, but at the same time they remind you of the idealism and dreams that you had as a child. They can also jog your memory of past wishes or hopes. The Princess and the frog does exactly that through a story about striking the balance between hard work, ambition, and enjoying the other things that life has to offer! It’s a Disney story about work-life balance!

“My daddy never did get what he wanted. But he had what he needed. He had love! He never lost sight of what was really important. And neither will I!”

Tiana in The Princess and the frog - Wikiquotes

The pursuit of happiness 

No list of inspirational movies would be complete without The Pursuit of happiness. This is a movie that takes you through tough, dark times, and it teaches you many things about life, hardship, perseverance, and taking care of others.

“Christopher Gardner: Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. Not even me. All right?

Christopher: All right.

Christopher Gardner: You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.”

Pursuit of happiness - IMDB