On June 14, 2006 the American Film Institute (AFI) announced its list of the top 100 most inspiring movies of all time. These movies were chosen by a jury of 1500 film artists, critics and historians from a ballot of over 300 nominated films.

1. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946
2. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 1962
3. SCHINDLER'S LIST 1993
4. ROCKY 1976
5. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON 1939
   
   
6. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982
7. THE GRAPES OF WRATH 1940
8. BREAKING AWAY 1979
9. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 1947
10. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998
    
    
11. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES 1946
12. APOLLO 13 1995
13. HOOSIERS 1986
14. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957
15. THE MIRACLE WORKER 1962
    
    
16. NORMA RAE 1979
17. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST 1975
18. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK 1959
19. THE RIGHT STUFF 1983
20. PHILADELPHIA 1993
    
    
21. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967
22. THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES 1942
23. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1994
24. NATIONAL VELVET 1944
25. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS 1941
    
    
26. THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939
27. HIGH NOON 1952
28. FIELD OF DREAMS 1989
29. GANDHI 1982
30. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962
    
    
31. GLORY 1989
32. CASABLANCA 1942
33. CITY LIGHTS 1931
34. ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN 1976
35. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER 1967
    
    
36. ON THE WATERFRONT 1954
37. FORREST GUMP 1994
38. PINOCCHIO 1940
39. STAR WARS 1977
40. MRS. MINIVER 1942
    
    
41. THE SOUND OF MUSIC 1965
42. 12 ANGRY MEN 1957
43. GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
44. SPARTACUS 1960
45. ON GOLDEN POND 1981
    
    
46. LILIES OF THE FIELD 1963
47. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
48. THE AFRICAN QUEEN 1951
49. MEET JOHN DOE 1941
50. SEABISCUIT 2003
    
    
51. THE COLOR PURPLE 1985
52. DEAD POET'S SOCIETY 1989
53. SHANE 1953
54. RUDY 1994
55. THE DEFIANT ONES 1958
    
    
56. BEN-HUR 1959
57. SERGEANT YORK 1941
58. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 1977
59. DANCES WITH WOLVES 1990
60. THE KILLING FIELDS 1984
    
    
61. SOUNDER 1972
62. BRAVEHEART 1995
63. RAIN MAN 1988
64. THE BLACK STALLION 1979
65. A RAISIN IN THE SUN 1961
    
    
66. SILKWOOD 1983
67. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL 1951
68. AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN 1982
69. THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS 1957
70. COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER 1980
    
    
71. COOL HAND LUKE 1967
72. DARK VICTORY 1939
73. ERIN BROCKOVICH 2000
74. GUNGA DIN 1939
75. THE VERDICT 1982
    
    
76. BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ 1962
77. DRIVING MISS DAISY 1989
78. THELMA & LOUISE 1991
79. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 1956
80. BABE 1995
    
    
81. BOYS TOWN 1938
82. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF 1971
83. MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN 1936
84. SERPICO 1973
85. WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT 1993
    
    
86. STAND AND DELIVER 1988
87. WORKING GIRL 1988
88. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
89. HAROLD AND MAUDE 1972
90. HOTEL RWANDA 2004
    
    
91. THE PAPER CHASE 1973
92. FAME 1980
93. A BEAUTIFUL MIND 2001
94. CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS 1937
95. PLACES IN THE HEART 1984
    
    
96. SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER 1993
97. MADAME CURIE 1943
98. THE KARATE KID 1984
99. RAY 2004
100. CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1981

To this distinguished list of inspiring movies I would like to add two of my own personal favorites:

• WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS 2003
• JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO 1990

Love and Fondest Best Wishes,
Sharon Iezzi
(a.k.a. "Fearless Reader")