AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers...the 100 Most Inspiring Films Of All Time  

AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers...the 100 Most Inspiring Films Of All Time, broadcast on TV on June 14, 2006 on CBS was compiled from a jury of 1,500 film artists, critics and historians. The professionals chose It's A Wonderful Life , starring James Stewart, as the most inspiring movie of all time.

Comments about each film were offered throughout the three- hour show with commentary from Hollywood actors and filmmakers, including Jessica Alba, Don Cheadle, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sidney Poitier, Mickey Rooney and Steven Spielberg.

Sidney Poitier was the most recognized actor of the evening, appearing in five of the films.

AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers...100 Most Inspiring Films Of All Time and a few of the comments made about them.

1. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1962)

"There are moments of such blinding truth in that movie," said William H. Macy. "It shows how every person on the planet matters, and that's a powerful message. It's a five-hankie movie - always has been with me," said Stephen Spielberg.

2. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

"It said what's right is right and you stand up even though the whole town might be against you," Melissa Etheridge.

3. Schindler's List (1993)

4. Rocky (1976)

"It's inspirational because it's about getting up! That's what life is about," said George Foreman.

5. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)

"Here's this character who is easy to understand in the beginning and then is made broken by the burden of the truth," said Ron Howard.

6. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

"My sentimental favorite moment is when Elliott flies across the moon. It's so inspirational," said Stephen Spielberg.

7. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

"It gave me my earliest sense of what a soul is. It's one of the most beloved speeches in the history of movies," said Jane Fonda.

8. Breaking Away (1979)

9. Miracle On 34th Street (1947)

"We cheer for the belief that there is magic," said Ralph Macchio.

10. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

11. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

"It shows the war isn't over when it's over," said Gary Ross.

12. Apollo 13 (1995)

13. Hoosiers (1986)

14. The Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957)

"It celebrates in a complicated way what human beings are capable of," said Ron Howard. 15. The Miracle Worker (1962)

"Every time I watch it my mouth hangs in awe, because it says so much about...that person inside of Helen," said Marlee Matlin.

16. Norma Rae (1979)

"When you get to be a part of really wonderfully done films, it changes who you are and how you feel about life," said Sally Field.

17. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

"Anytime you have a character (chief) that bursts the chain of bondage, that's great drama," said Gary Sinise.

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 (1944)

"It showed that if you work at it (anything) everyday, your life can mean something," said George Forman.

24. National Velvet (1944)

25. Sullivan's Travels (1941)

26. The Wizard of OZ (1939)

27. High Noon (1952)

"That ballad comes in at just the right moment," said Stephen Spielberg.

28. Field of Dreams (1989)

29. Gandhi (1982)

30. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

"One of my favorite movies ever made. One man thinks he can make a difference and he does," said Stephen Spielberg..

31. Glory (1989)

32. Casablanca (1942)

"He cannot get away from who he is - a man of character, moral fiber and strength," said Lou Diamond Phillips.

33. City Lights (1931)

34. All the President's Men (1976)

35. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)

36. On the Waterfront (1954)

Marlon Brando pulls himself up and out of the gang life and that's inspiring," said Eva Marie Saint.

37. Forrest Gump (1994)

38. Pinocchio (1940)

"There's always somebody out there that will love you unconditionally," said Jessica Alba. 39. Star Wars (1977)

40.Mrs. Miniver

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)

"The point is not what we put into things but what we get out of things, and how we feel about things" said Lou Gossett, Jr.

47. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

48. The African Queen (1951)

"What's inspirational is that he gets her to let her hair down and feel the blood rushing through her veins. It's a great love story," said Lou Diamond Phillips.

49. Meet John Doe (1941)

50. Seabiscuit (2003)

51. The Color Purple (1985)

52. Dead Poet's Society (1989)

53. Shane (1953)

"Shane helped define our American character," said Lou Diamond Phillips.

54. Rudy (1993)

55. The Defiant Ones (1958)

"I had not been accustomed to making films like that. The Defiant Ones was a part of the larger whole," said Sidney Poitier.

56. Ben Hur (1959)

"It's the greatest race scene in cinema. You kind of levitate watching it," said Sean Astin.

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 Raison in the Sun (1961)

"It had to do with all the things we were as African Americans in this country because what we were in the 1950s, was an integral part of what grew out of the days of slavery," said Sidney Poitier.

66. Silkwood (1983)

67. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

"It's about brotherhood and getting along with one another," said Lou Diamond Phillips.

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)

"It was one of the greatest heroes of all time and only Paul Newman could have done that," said William H. Macy.

72. Dark Victory (1939)

"That knowledge (of her illness) sets her free and gives her the ability to live her life as she wanted," said Jeff Bridges.

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. Boy's Town (1938)

82. Fiddler On The Roof (1971)

83. Mr. Deeds Goes To Town (1936)

"It's a classic story of the little guy wanting to sacrifice himself for the good of evil," said Sean Astin.

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)

"From the first frame to the last frame it's total inspiration with Cagney singing and Cagney dancing," said Sidney Lumet..

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)

I loved Captains Courageous, that ??? who is spoiled and wealthy then you get the ?? of Spencer Tracy," said Norman Jewison.

95. Places In The Heart (1984)

96. Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993 )

97. Madame Curie (1943)

98. The Karate Kid (1984)

"I loved Ralph Macchio," said Jessica Alba. "I imitated wax on wax off when I was a kid, but I didn't have any idea what that meant."

99. Ray (2004)

100. Chariots Of Fire (1981)