8 Movies That Taught Us to Dream Big

Get your popcorn ready—it's time to get inspired!
by Arra Bayan   |  Dec 16, 2015
ART Trixie Ison
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True enough, a chunk of the life lessons we've learned came from movies. There's just something about these on-screen fantasies that influence our realities—they help us, in one way or another, to develop ourselves into becoming the inner dreamer that we are. Most of these films may have even dictated our ambitions and served as the foundation in setting the goals we hope to achieve someday. We're sure some, if not all, of these movies have already plucked your heartstrings. If not, well it's a good thing it's Christmas break! You can binge on these inspirational films that are guaranteed to give you the motivation that you will need to accomplish anything.

 1  Hercules (1997)

Nothing says "going the distance" better than this movie. Set on a journey to prove himself as a true hero, Hercules teaches us to value each and every step we take in our effort to attain our dreams. We must be willing to learn and grow, despite the consequences and setbacks that may come our way. This movie assures us that if we are properly motivated, no mile we walk will be taken for granted.

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 2  Matilda (1996)

Matilda Wormwood taught us the one thing we often forget, but know to be true—we can stand up to our bullies, no matter how impossible it may seem. She turned to reading books at an early age to escape all the miseries of her life, and it was through this that she had the upper hand in overcoming the difficulties she was faced with–also teaching us that reading is very important. It's all about equipping yourself with the proper foundation and using it to your advantage. As quoted by Roald Dahl who authored the book, "Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable..."

 3  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

This film is perfect for those who dream to travel. Walter Mitty is proof that it is never too late to chase after an adventure, and that doing so could lead to even more adventures. You just have to want to take the risk. Adapted from a short story of the same title by James Thurber, this movie is sure to leave you feeling ambitious about your next destination, may it be in travel or in other aspects of your life.

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 4  Forrest Gump (1994)

This film imparts to us the timeless lesson that we can achieve anything we want, granted, we remain humble. With every milestone he creates, Forrest has always managed to go back to his constants—his mother, for example. This film taught us that in our journey to fulfill our life's purpose, there will be times when our pride will be tested, and this is what will determine our success or failure.

READ10 Movies That Will Inspire You To Travel

 5  Frozen (2013)

Growing up, we've all felt the weight of other people's expectations on our shoulders, often times to the point of redefining ourselves to fit their standards. Frozen teaches us that to reach our full potential, we must not let other people box us in. We must simply "let it go"—what they think of you is not what you think of yourself, and the latter is what is important. To dream big is to set your own standards; it is to let yourself blossom the way you are.

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 6  Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

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Inspired by a true story, this film makes us realize the true meaning of triumphing hardships. When everything seems so unattainable, the main character, Chris Gardner, gives us as much hope as he gave himself; it was this hope that allowed him to create a future for him and his son. The Pursuit of Happyness taught us to not let anything or anyone take away our dreams. We must "protect it,'' we must "go get it".

 7  Big Fish (2003)

The inspiring thing about this film is that it made us believe that anything is possible, even what looks as though it's fantasy. The stories that make up Edward Bloom's life may seem completely out of this world, but they were, in some ways, the truth, and they were, in all ways, about going after what you aspire. A giant in town appears rather hard to believe, but his story did teach us about finding our own place in this world—"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you're not too big? That maybe this place is just too small?"

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 8  Mulan (1998)

Like the blossoms in the film, we must have felt shy and secluded at some point of our lives. This film gave us the realization that although some of us may be late bloomers, when the time comes, we will accomplish great, if not monumental things. Mulan inspired us to possess courage; to travel a step further down the path we're taking. With big dreams come big struggles, but the film proves that we can accomplish just about anything as long as we remain true to ourselves.

Which film will you watch first? Share your thoughts and comments with us below or tweet us at @candymagdotcom.

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About the author
Arra Bayan
Candymag.com Correspondent
Your free-spirited #hugot animal. I am an adrenaline junkie who is always on the look-out for adventure. I live by the three Fs: Food, fitness, and fun!
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