30+ Best Inspiring Movies for Simple Living
UPDATED | SEPTEMBER 2024
With this ultimate updated list of inspirational simple living movies, your next movie night may turn into a movie marathon weekend... And inspire you to connect the life you would love to the life you are living…
Movies, as an art form, often mirror and inspire our personal journeys. In the realm of cinema, we can find characters and stories that reflect the values and rewards of living simply... This blog post provides an ongoing updated list of the best inspiring movies that celebrate the beauty of a minimal, intentional, and uncomplicated lifestyle — perfect for an evening of reflection and inspiration... With this ultimate list of inspirational simple living movies, your next movie night may turn into a movie marathon weekend…
Table of Contents
Living A Life You Love in Simplicity | The Best Inspiring Movies for Simple Living
In a world that often glorifies excess and living at a faster pace, many of us find solace in the idea of simple living... From minimalists looking to pare down their possessions to those aiming to reduce life's complexities, the philosophy of simple living offers an alternative path to happiness and fulfillment.
What Is Simple Living... and Why Does It Matter?
Simple living isn’t necessarily about renouncing all of our wonderful modern comforts and reverting to a pre-digital age... It’s about intentional living. It's a philosophy that encourages us to focus on what truly matters, to live within our means, and to enjoy a life uncluttered by excess.
Choosing to live simply can lead to financial freedom, reduce stress, and pave the way for a more sustainable lifestyle.
Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, the concept of simple living becomes increasingly appealing. By highlighting the movies that exalt these principles, we can not only enjoy great storytelling but also find the motivation and strategies to incorporate these ideals into our own lives.
We have all been there. Watching a movie and getting lost in the story. For a few hours, we can forget our troubles and just enjoy the film. Sometimes we even find ourselves dreaming of taking the adventure of the movie in our own life!
What if — instead of watching fictional characters on the big screen as a detached experience — you watch with an engaged intention of assessing the characters as real people living the simple life you would love to be living?
During the movie, you step into the shoes of the character and test drive simple lifestyle choices you could make in your own life.
Wouldn't that transform the movie into an inspiring story specifically for you? And more exciting to watch as well! At the very least, you are certainly unlikely to fall asleep watching the movie, right?
“Wondering ‘what if’?... Step into the shoes of a character and see what happens...”
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Why Do We Love Movies?
Movies are a relatable art form.
Movies are an art form that we can easily relate to because they often portray scenes and actions from mainstream culture (or more specific cultures) that resemble our everyday lives. After all, we often see ourselves in a character or story, meaning we can relate to their joys and their struggles.
Movies are a shared experience that can be enjoyed with friends or strangers.
Movies provide a common ground for people to connect and bond over. Whether it's laughing at the same jokes, gasping in suspense together, or simply enjoying the company of others while experiencing something new, movies offer a unique way to bring people together.
Movies can be a wonderful way to escape and provide a distraction from real life.
We all know how hectic and stressful life can be. Juggling work, family, and social obligations can leave us feeling exhausted. Sometimes we just need a break from the mundane routine of our everyday lives.
Movies can provide that much-needed escape. They transport us to different worlds where we can forget our troubles and just enjoy an adventure for a couple of hours.
Think of how you felt when you traveled into the world of Forrest Gump. Did you relate to his joy and happiness of owning his first shrimp boat? His simple way of life was filled with both simplicity and success. Although he did not lead an extravagant lifestyle, Forrest Gump had accomplished financial independence and self-sufficiency. Finally leaving us with the hope of what simple living means.
Movies can be a motivation to change your life for the better.
We all have dreams and aspirations. We watch life inspiring movies and see characters living out our wildest dreams and think to ourselves, "Why can't that be me?"
Movies can show you that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and never give up. You can dream big... and live that dream too!
Think of each movie as a vision board for what your life could look like. What would it look like to...
Start a small garden and grow your own food?
Or live with less material possessions?
Or learn how to minimize your carbon footprint?
Or simply make choices based on what truly matters most to you?
Whether the movie is a true story or a fictional story, the journey to live a simple life can play out before your eyes on the screen. And I bet you will start to feel lighter by the end of the movie!
Movies are a way to learn something new.
Movies are a great way to learn about different cultures, lifestyles, and new skills... Even how to live a simpler life.
With so many films set in exotic locations or depicting different eras, you can gain a new perspective on how you could be living your life just by watching a movie. Learn different customs, traditions, and beliefs all from the comfort of your favorite cozy chair.
It's pretty cool, right? You can simply watch tv and create a "good life to-do list" filled with ideas for how to save time, spend less money, live with less stress and spend time on more quality time activities.
Can Movies Change Your Life?
According to experts, you can find significance even in movies meant to be more entertaining than inspiring. Meaningful movies (those that elicit empathy and compassion) can even help us develop greater resilience and aspirational behavior.
Bottom line? Watching meaningful films helps us become better people.
So, in a way, yes – films can change your life.
All in all, movies can be a great source of inspiration for simple living. They can teach us new things, help us see the world in a different light, and motivate us to make changes in our own lives.
So next time you're looking for some inspiration to connect the life you would love to the life you are living, consider popping in one of these best inspiring movies.
You might just find "the life" you're looking for.
VIDEOS | BEST INSPIRING MOVIES FOR SIMPLE LIVING
• Part 1 | Movies 1 - 10
• Part 2 | Movies 11 - 20
↑ Click On Any Video Above To Play ↑
Below is a list of my top picks for Best Inspiring Movies for Simple Living…
If you're looking for inspiration to simplify your life, look no further than these best inspiring movies. Films that have story elements or characters that can provide you with a deeper insight into living a simple life.
Each of these films provides a unique look at living simply and happily. From movies that explore the joys of choosing your unique path in life to dramas about letting go of what's not important, these films will move and motivate you to focus on what truly matters most to you.
So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy! Watching these life inspiring movies could be a "life changer" for you!... ✨😎✨
BEST INSPIRING MOVIES LIST
Here are my updated top picks (in no particular order) for the Best Inspiring Movies for Simple Living to watch this year...
NOTE: Links for each movie are current as of the latest update of this post (September 2024). I will do my best to keep the links updated as streaming availability shifts... If you find a link is no longer working, please let me know!… ✨😎✨
1. The Simple Life Of Noah Dearborn (with Sidney Poitier, Dianne Wiest & Mary-Louise Parker)
A quiet local hero becomes the talk of the town.
2. The Bear (Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud)
One of my favorite films of all time!... A young bear cub and an adult grizzly are thrown together in 19th century British Columbia. Each peril in their mountain habitat turns a reluctant friendship into a deeper understanding... There is very little dialogue in this movie. And you will be amazed how rich the story is even with such a simple script.
NOTE: If you can find the DVD, be sure to also watch the behind-the-scenes footage of filming this movie.
3. Promised Land (with Matt Damon, Frances McDormand & John Krasinski)
A rural Pennsylvania town challenged by a struggling economy is the focus of a corporate attempt to purchase their natural gas drilling rights... An internal and external struggle of navigating what matters most in your life.
4. The Hundred Foot Journey (with Helen Mirren)
A rivalry between an established Michelin star French restaurant and a new Indian restaurant across the street flares as cultures, competition and cuisine clash... A great example of how much we have to learn from each other.
5. We Bought A Zoo (with Matt Damon & Scarlett Johansson)
A young family buys a rundown zoo as a way to start a new meaningful life together after a tragic loss.
6. No Reservations (with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart & Abigail Breslin)
Two chefs — one a perfectionist and the other fueled by spontaneity — navigate what it means to live their best life when a young girl enters the scene.
7. The High Note (with Dakota Johnson & Tracee Ellis Ross)
A superstar diva and her personal assistant search for personal and work balance as each one tries to move towards their dreams in the LA music scene.
8. Little Women (Directed by Greta Gerwig)
Fabulous new adaptation of this beloved classic story of four sisters who each strive to live their life on their terms while balancing the challenges of being a woman who has progressive aspirations.
9. Private Benjamin (with Goldie Hawn)
The transformative journey of a woman who goes from total dependency to being able to stand on her own two feet... Finding her purpose and sense of self with each obstacle conquered.
10. The Razor’s Edge (with Tyrone Power & Gene Tierney)
Based on the Somerset Maugham novel, a WWI veteran returns home with different values of what matters most in his life and finds a world turned upside down at home awaiting him... A fascinating study of balancing our ties to values with the people who we tie ourselves to in life.
11. Begin Again (with Keira Knightley & Mark Ruffalo)
A singer-songwriter and a record producer collide in a serendipitous story that completely changes both of their lives as they combine their creative talents and move forward come what may... This movie is a total Valentine to NYC! One of the most authentic movies I have ever seen depicting what it really looks like to live in NYC as an aspiring artist... And the music is primo perfect!
12. Larry Crowne (with Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts)
A man comes to terms with redefining and reshaping his life which includes going back to college to complete his education... While his teacher comes to terms with stepping back into life itself.
13. Moonstruck (with Cher, Nicolas Cage & Olympia Dukakis)
Two unlikely people who have each given up on their dreams... Surrounded by a cast of family and friends who are all questioning life and discovering what matters most to them.
14. Miss Potter (with Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor & Emily Watson)
Inspired by the life of the children’s author, Beatrix Potter... Exploring how she faced her challenges to achieve both business success, personal happiness and discovered an expansive purpose from simple living.
15. Passengers (with Jennifer Lawrence & Chris Pratt)
A futuristic story of two people moving to a different planet to start a new life... Along the way, they are each faced with unexpected challenges to adapt as the environment they are in changes.
16. Baby Boom (with Diane Keaton & Sam Shepard)
A corporate businesswoman powerhouse has her feet knocked out from under her when she “inherits” a baby... A completely entertaining and insightful story of a woman struggling to learn when to let go and when to hold on.
17. Babette’s Feast (Directed by Gabriel Axel)
My number one favorite movie of all time!... Set in an isolated coastal village in Denmark in the late 19th century. Two devout sisters take in a French woman refugee. For years, she offers her service to the sisters as their simple cook and servant. Years later, she asks for permission to prepare a feast for the entire village in appreciation for their kindness. As the feast approaches, the village becomes more and more anxious as to what they have agreed to... Subtitled in English and based on a short story by Isak Dinesen... A true masterpiece of inspiration for simple living and what it means to live your best life.
18. Hobson's Choice (with Charles Laughton, John Mills & Brenda de Banzie)
Such a wonderful classic film directed by David Lean... A successful – and utterly miserly – Victorian era bootmaker refuses to let his daughters marry as they keep his house and shop without wages. The eldest daughter intends to do just that and sets out to create the “man of her dreams” from a timid employee who works in the boot shop... I absolutely adored the story and loved the arcs of each character as they step-by-step moved forward with a simple plan to create the life they wanted.
19. Working Girl (with Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford & Sigourney Weaver)
A secretary combines hard work, gumption and a generous dose of creative ingenuity to break into the life she wants to be living.
20. Regarding Henry (with Harrison Ford & Annette Bening)
After an unexpected accident, a family’s life turns upside down and starts to look at life, home and family in a new way.
21. Becoming Jane (with Anne Hathaway & James McAvoy)
Inspired by the life of Jane Austen... A young Jane experiences the nature of courtship, love and obligation in navigating what the heart wants and ultimately what your heart may choose.
22. La La Land (with Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)
A modern day fairy tale of a story crossing time and realities as a young actress and jazz pianist meet in LA while both are struggling to make it in their respective fields. As circumstances move forward, they each attempt to find a way towards a life together and towards their dreams as well... This is a visual stunner and the music is fabulous!... Reserve the biggest screen in your house for streaming.
23. Julie & Julia (with Amy Adams & Meryl Streep)
Two true story storylines — from two different time periods — converge as the life of Julia Child moves toward her dream of writing and publishing a groundbreaking cookbook and the modern day Julie Powell attempts to become a writer by writing a blog focused on cooking her way thru Julia’s cookbook... A wonderful movie of how these two women who never met both shared the same dream of connecting the life they would love to the life they were living.
24. Music and Lyrics (with Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore)
A former pop star who is now relegated to “has been” appearances only and an aspiring writer who is afraid to put herself out there are teamed up to write a song together. Both are forced to face their fears and see if both their work and their hearts will be able to connect with their dreams.
25. Under The Tuscan Sun (with Diane Lane)
Based on Frances Mayes novel... This movie has one of my favorite quotes in assimilating a home to a re-do or simpler life… A San Francisco teacher/writer undergoes a major life change and finds herself spontaneously purchasing a run-down Italian villa while on vacation in Italy... Thus begins a wonderful transformative tale of creating a new life filled with what matters most to you.
26. Cross Creek (with Mary Steenburgen)
Based on Marjorie Kinnan Rawling’s memoir... Marjorie moves from the Northeast to the Florida backcountry area of Cross Creek in the 1920’s. There she not only managed her 72 acre orange grove with no experience but also began to write her book “The Yearling”, inspired by her experiences in Cross Creek... Step back in time and experience the determination she had to live a simpler life in order to pursue her dream of being a writer... We are all the better for it.
27. Fisherman’s Friends (with James Purefoy & David Hayman)
Based on the true story of a group of Cornish fishermen from Port Isaac who would sing sea shanties... On a prank, a music executive pursued and eventually secured a record deal for their group, Fisherman’s Friends, with Universal Records. And their first album included a Top 10 hit too!... Yes... Dreams can come true.
LATEST UPDATES | SEPTEMBER 2024
NOTE: These updates do not necessarily represent movies that have been released this month… But new updates (in no particular order) as I discover more inspiring movies for simple living…
28. The Family Man (with Nicolas Cage & Tea Leoni)
A corporate hot shot has an unexpected glimpse at the life he could have had if he made different choices. A powerful and emotional story about the true meaning of success and what matters most in life... And a reminder to always stay connected with your dreams and never lose sight of who you truly are.
29. It Could Happen To You (with Nicolas Cage & Bridget Fonda)
A New York cop who is short on cash, promises a waitress half of his lottery winnings if he wins. When he does win, he follows through with his promise and their unexpected journey begins... A heartwarming story about kindness, compassion, and the beauty of honesty in a world that can seem pretty tough.
30. Joy (with Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper & Isabella Rossellini)
Based on the real life story of Joy Mangano, a divorced mother of two who rises to become the founder of a multi-million dollar business empire. An empowering and inspirational film about following your dreams and never giving up despite the obstacles that come your way... A must-watch for all entrepreneurs and dreamers alike.
31. Hoosiers (with Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper & Barbara Hershey)
Inspired by a true story, this film follows a small-town Indiana high school basketball team and their coach as they face challenges and overcome obstacles to win the state championship... A classic underdog story that teaches us about teamwork, perseverance, and chasing our dreams against all odds.
32. Yesterday (with Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran & Kate McKinnon)
After a mysterious global blackout, a struggling singer-songwriter wakes up to find that he is the only person who remembers The Beatles. He starts performing their songs and becomes an overnight sensation, but at what cost?... A heartwarming and feel-good movie about chasing your dreams, staying true to yourself, and the power of music... And the music is wonderful!
➾ Interested in watching Minimalist Documentaries or Holiday Movies to inspire Simple Living?...
➾ What's your favorite best inspiring movie for simple living?
Let me know in the comments below… I am always looking for another movie to add to my watch list!… ✨😎✨
Final Thoughts | The Power To Transform
Movies have the power to educate, inspire, and transform our perspectives. For those on the path to simple living, the shared experiences of on-screen characters can be invaluable sources of guidance and encouragement.
By watching these best inspiring movies about simple living, you can observe the characters' experiences and potentially become motivated to find your own joy in pursuing the less complex and more authentic aspects of life... Connecting the life you would love to the life you are living...
“Lose yourself in a story... And gain a new perspective...”
3 Simple Living Tips for Best Inspired Movies Watching Experience
BEFORE | Inspiring Change Through Cinema
Open your mind and spirit to the potential of change...
Each of these films offers a unique and compelling perspective on the virtues of simple living, urging us to reassess our priorities and make room for what truly nurtures our souls. They remind us that abundance is not measured by material possessions, but by the richness of our experiences, the depth of our relationships, and the authenticity of our journeys.
DURING | Incorporating Simplicity into Your Watching Experience
To fully appreciate these movies, consider creating a simple and intentional environment for viewing...
Turn off distractions, like phones and computers, and perhaps dim the lights for a more immersive experience. Enjoy the storytelling, and allow the protagonists' journeys to spark your own reflections on leading a more tranquil and meaningful life.
AFTER | Reflecting on the Journey to Simple Living
After watching these films, take time to reflect on the themes presented...
Consider journaling your thoughts or discussing the movies with friends and family. How can you apply the lessons of simplicity and mindful living to your own circumstances? What changes, however small, can you make to bring more meaning and contentment into your life?
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I hope you have enjoyed learning more about how you can start connecting the life you would love to the life you are living... If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments below … I love hearing from you!... ✨😎✨
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Inspiring Movies for Simple Living Film Journal
Reference List | Film Journal
My favorite fun and inspiring movie suggestions to entertain while providing insight and inspiration for choosing a life filled with what matters most to you.
Also serves as a film journal to document your favorite takeaways as you watch each movie…
With room to document “Your Favorite Movies” too.
10 pages
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