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9. Roofman (2025)
This film changed how I look at criminals. Former soldier Jeffrey Manchester, or the “Roofman,” robs over 40 fast food restaurants and hides out in a Toys R Us for months. Far from violent, dangerous, or manipulative, this thief had a heart I deeply sympathized with. My eyes opened a bit wider when understanding that someone’s bad decisions don’t necessarily mean they’re a bad person.Â
8. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Walt Disney’s 20-year quest to secure movie rights to P.L. Travers’ book Mary Poppins (1934) touched my heart unexpectedly. I was touched by Travers’ difficult childhood and her fierce determination to protect her creative vision. She reminds me that the stories I create, even in fiction, become a part of me. This film conveys that with a punchy grace — it hits deeply, but in an elegant and charming way.      Â
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7. The Imitation Game (2014)
Alan Turing, the man who cracked the Nazi code in 1939 during the Second World War, became the focus of a war film unlike any I had seen before. Instead of having back-to-back violence, the story unfolded from behind the scenes, centering on the inner world of a brilliant man. Turing’s exceptional intellect replaced the spectacle of combat with internal dialogue crafted by emotion — not words — and its poignancy is what drove the impact of his story, making us feel as though the fate of our world rests desperately on our shoulders too.
6. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Erin Brockovich works tirelessly as a law firm secretary to demand accountability for a small town being polluted, and my stamp of approval comes from its powerful message: we should break the rules and bust down doors to make our voices heard. Although it goes deeper than relentless passion –– its impact is served from an unforgiving desperation for justice I’ve never forgotten.Â
5. Beautiful Boy (2018)Â
It’s the most raw and emotionally delicate true story I’ve seen. Nic Sheff spirals into drug addiction while his father, David Sheff, fights desperately to save him — it’s the definition of an emotional rollercoaster. Each unfiltered scene unfolds through fractured, painfully realistic interactions, and I found myself swept into their struggle as if it were my own. It was a stab through the heart. Â
4. Lion (2016)
At just five-years-old, Saroo Brierley gets lost on a train in India, separated from his family for 25 years. Watching this made me appreciate how much my family protected me growing up. The reality bleeds through the screen as if no barrier existed at all — giving me a reality check that’s both terrifying and deeply engaging.  Â
3. Remember the Titans (2000)
In Virginia, an all-white high school football team struggles to hold on to the unity needed when an all-black school is integrated. This film isn’t just about football, but about the willingness to put aside differences and accept each other. The progression from heavy racial discrimination to genuine acceptance created a revitalizing story that resonated profoundly with me.
2. The Blind Side (2009)
The impact of this movie lies in how inspiring it is. Leigh Anne Tuohy takes in Michael Oher, a homeless teen, and helps him find his potential as a football player. Watching their journey, I felt a personal connection — I thought of my mother’s words: “All you need is one good friend.” This story showed me that one good person can change a life for the better.Â
1. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Chris Gardner is a father trying to build a better life for him and his son after getting evicted from their home. Forced to survive together in the streets, their story becomes one of resilience and courage to chase dreams. The world is a constant barrier, yet his love for his son gives it meaning –– if you want something bad enough, you’ll achieve it through passion and never giving up.Â
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.