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Top 10 Movies about the Power of Hope in Dark Times

Photo via Disney on EPK.tv

Top 10 Movies about the Power of Hope in Dark Times

By Movieguide® Contributor

The ultimate mood-boost is watching a story of a hope in the midst of darkness and adversity. From underdogs conquering their fears, to families banding together to get through difficult times, we’ve got you covered with our top ten movies to fill you with hope. Allow yourself to be drawn in by beautiful stories like MUFASA: THE LION KING or LITTLE WOMEN and be inspired to do great things.

MUFASA: THE LION KING

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
MUFASA: THE LION KING is an animated action adventure musical that tells the exciting story of how Simba’s father became King. MUFASA: THE LION KING is a beautifully animated adventure story with two memorable songs, some great voice work, lots of jeopardy, and strong, inspiring ideas of what makes a great leader, but some of the action and fighting is too intense for younger children.

OUT OF MY MIND

Quality:
****
Content:
+3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
OUT OF MY MIND on Disney+ highlights the abilities of those with disabilities as a young girl with cerebral palsy proves she’s just as capable as a normal girl. OUT OF MY MIND is a wonderful, uplifting movie stressing the inherent value all humans have along with the importance of a strong family and includes some prayers and positive references to God.

MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN

Quality:
****
Content:
+4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN is a heartrending, faith-affirming drama about the true story of a 12-year-old girl suffering from a very serious medical disorder. The cast and the filmmakers do a beautiful job making this story come alive.

YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA

Quality:
****
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA is a terrific movie about the first woman to try swimming the English Channel in 1926, an American-born Olympic swimmer from a German immigrant family. YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA is one of the best movies in a long time. It’s extremely well plotted, superbly directed and beautifully acted, with a rich musical score and a strong morally uplifting worldview with strong Christian, biblical references and values celebrating courage, forgiveness, loyalty, and fortitude.

FINDING DORY

Quality:
****
Content:
+3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
FINDING DORY, the animated sequel to the classic family movie FINDING NEMO, shows Dory suddenly remembering she has a mommy and a daddy and getting help from her friends, both old and new, to reunite with them. FINDING DORY is another heartwarming, funny, whimsical fish story from Pixar and Disney showing that family and friends make life worth living.

LITTLE WOMEN

Quality:
****
Content:
+3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
LITTLE WOMEN is Louisa May Alcott's classic story of four sisters in Civil War era New England. While the strong religious themes in Alcott's book are toned down, the movie does contain positive Christian characters & actions, strong parental figures, chaste courtships, and especially winning performances by Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst and Claire Danes.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a wonderful movie starring Tom Hanks as the famous children’s television host, Fred Rogers, whose simple Christian wisdom helps a troubled reporter become a better man and reconcile with his estranged father. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a delightful, winsome, powerful, heartrending movie that exalts forgiveness, kindness, grace, and love.

THE HILL (2023)

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
THE HILL tells the inspiring true story of Rickey Hill, a young boy with a degenerative spinal disease whose dream is to play Major League Baseball and, despite having to wear leg braces for most of his childhood, and his father’s strong desire for him to become a pastor, perseveres. THE HILL is a morally uplifting story of a real-life miracle and champions courage, perseverance, faith, and forgiveness, but it does have brief, light foul language and two scenes of drunkenness.

WONKA

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
WONKA is a colorful fantasy that tells how Willy became Willy Wonka and overcomes a government-sanctioned cartel of three large chocolate makers to start his own chocolate factory. WONKA is a delight to watch, a very fun and funny movie with memorable songs and a positive story about good triumphing over evil through the magic of joy and great dreams, but the criminal chocolate makers bribe a group of chocoholic clergy to look the other way.

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND

Quality:
****
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND chronicles the true story of a plucky teenage boy, who dramatically changes his Malawian village forever by harnessing wind power to irrigate crops. His MacGyver-like ingenuity saves the agrarian culture from starvation during a famine. A redemptive story between father and son is a highlight of THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND, which offers media-wise moviegoers an inspiring, compelling story.

Watch THE BISHOP’S WIFE
Quality: - Content: +3
Watch MUSIC OF THE HEART
Quality: - Content: +1