10 Inspiring Movies to Get You Through the Holidays

The Holidays are upon us and, unfortunately, if you're laid up from surgery or on crutches, all of the merriment can be a bit overwhelming. Our suggestion? Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and settle in to a marathon of movies featuring inspirational characters who beat the odds.

Image by *USB* ; Creative Commons

Borrowing from "Best Inspirational Movie" lists by Movies Crunch, TopTenz, and Couples Company, we compiled this list of 10 inspiring movies.

In no particular order...

1. It's a Wonderful Life  A man is visited on Christmas Eve by his guardian angel who shows him all that he's done for others during his life.  
2. Chariots of Fire Two competing Olympic athletes forge a friendship against all odds.  
3. Field of Dreams An Iowa farmer builds a baseball diamond in his fields where legends from the Chicago Black Sox come to play. 
4. Mr. Holland's Opus High school music teacher and composer realizes success is in how you define it. 
5. Rocky A struggling boxer gets his one chance against a heavyweight champion. 
6. Cinderella Man Another story of a boxer who became an unexpected champion. 
7. World's Fastest Indian A New Zealander builds an Indian motorcycle and sets a world record. 
8. The Sound of Music A woman leaves the convent and becomes a governess to children - finding unforeseen love and family. 
9. The Pursuit of Happiness A struggling businessman loses everything, yet with custody of his son, preservers to make ends meet.  
10. Shawshank Redemption Two men, while in prison, forge an uncommon friendship.  

What would you add?