I’ve always loved the saying “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Though I try to be as original as possible, I can’t help but observe my surroundings and be influenced by what’s going on. If my TikTok FYP is full of self-care videos, then take a guess as to what I’ll be doing that evening. I notice this often happens to me when I watch movies. When I watch a Christmas movie, I can’t help but embrace the holiday spirit, so when I need the motivation to get my school work done, of course I’ll end up watching a movie first.
One important aspect of movies is the visuals. They’re used to manipulate what the viewer sees and how they feel about the story. When I want to watch a motivating academic movie, I want to feel immersed in the world,like I belong in the room with the characters. When they are stressed about deadlines, I want to feel as if I’m right there with them. When they achieve their goal, it’s as if I’ve achieved it too. If you’ve been wanting a movie to help kick-start that motivation, there are six that I recommend.
Mona Lisa Smile
This next pick is a movie I recently ticked off my watch list, and I am so glad I did. The premise follows a class of students attending Wellesley College as they navigate change in their lives and academic careers with the introduction of a new open-minded professor. This film really made me re-evaluate my goals, especially how I want to approach the rest of my academic career as it intersects with my outside life. It’s a great watch that will make you wonder what happens next.
Legally Blonde
Let’s be honest: how many of us have been inspired to pursue law, even slightly, after watching Legally Blonde? Elle Woods has been—and will always be—THAT girl. She is the epitome of “you can do anything you put your mind to,” and she makes it loud and clear. As a girl in a smaller Canadian university, Harvard in and of itself feels like an academic dream, and that feeling only amplifies when I see Elle rock campus life throughout the movie.
Candy Jar
This movie is almost a guilty pleasure of mine, except for the fact that I feel no guilt in watching and sharing it. The film follows Lona and Bennett, two extremely studious enemies who must come together and set aside their differences all in the name of debate. One thing I like about this movie is that it takes place throughout the school year so the story progression feels a bit more natural and realistic. It’s a perfect watch for igniting that drive in me to do my schoolwork.Â
The Theory of Everything
As a kid, studying physics at the University of Cambridge seemed so interesting at the time, and the release of The Theory of Everything solidified that opinion for me. Although the biography focuses on Stephen Hawking’s entire life and battle with ALS, the beginning of the film has a heavy focus on campus life. The movie is a great watch and feels motivating as is, but it’s the Cambridge location that really grips me.Â
Matilda
Although this might be an unconventional pick because of the age demographic, watching Matilda navigate her new school with fresh eyes always leaves me with a bit of whimsy. To have characters who, in such a world of coldness and discipline, care about education and learning that much, really helps to radiate that motivational feeling. I always finish watching this movie in a good mood; it almost makes my world lighter and brighter, even if just for a moment.
Any Harry Potter movie
At the end of the day, any of these movies will always put me in a studious mood. Though there aren’t many story lines in the series that directly relate to education, being engulfed in the world of Hogwarts Academy seems to do the trick for me. If I had to pick, I would probably watch The Order of the Phoenix or The Half-Blood Prince to unleash full academic inspiration.
