Striving for excellence
by ni-sp | created - 24 Jun 2012 | updated - 1 week ago | Publicmain character(s) is/are striving to excel through marked personal sacrifice, dedication and focus
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1. Contact (1997)
PG | 150 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, sending plans for a mysterious machine.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Votes: 293,053 | Gross: $100.92M
2. Ip Man (2008)
R | 106 min | Action, Biography, Drama
During the Japanese invasion of China, a wealthy martial artist is forced to leave his home when his city is occupied. With little means of providing for themselves, Ip Man and the remaining members of the city must find a way to survive.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan, Ka-Tung Lam
Votes: 233,570
3. Billy Elliot (2000)
R | 110 min | Drama, Music
A talented young boy becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family.
Director: Stephen Daldry | Stars: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven
Votes: 142,783 | Gross: $22.00M
4. Gandhi (1982)
PG | 191 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.
Director: Richard Attenborough | Stars: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Seth
Votes: 240,185 | Gross: $52.77M
5. My Best Fiend (1999)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography
The love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, Eva Mattes
Votes: 12,192 | Gross: $0.10M
6. Agora (2009)
R | 127 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hope of pursuing freedom while falling in love with his mistress, the philosophy and mathematics professor Hypatia of Alexandria.
Director: Alejandro Amenábar | Stars: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom
Votes: 73,041 | Gross: $0.62M
7. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
PG | 112 min | Drama, Family
Akeelah, a young gifted girl, comes from a dysfunctional family and is on the verge of quitting school. She discovers that she has a high aptitude for spellings and enters a spelling bee contest.
Director: Doug Atchison | Stars: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong
Votes: 21,624 | Gross: $18.81M
8. Temple Grandin (2010 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 107 min | Biography, Drama
A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.
Director: Mick Jackson | Stars: Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, David Strathairn, Catherine O'Hara
Votes: 32,571
9. The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 95 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto.
Director: John Kent Harrison | Stars: Anna Paquin, Goran Visnjic, Michelle Dockery, Danuta Stenka
Votes: 4,659
10. Freedom Writers (2007)
PG-13 | 123 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves and pursue education beyond high school.
Director: Richard LaGravenese | Stars: Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn
Votes: 85,362 | Gross: $36.61M
11. Stand and Deliver (1988)
PG | 103 min | Biography, Drama
The story of Jaime Escalante, a high school teacher who successfully inspired his dropout-prone students to learn calculus.
Director: Ramón Menéndez | Stars: Edward James Olmos, Estelle Harris, Mark Phelan, Virginia Paris
Votes: 22,329 | Gross: $13.99M
12. I Am Kalam (2010)
Not Rated | 88 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
An impoverished boy forms an unlikely and unstable friendship with the lonely son of a nobleman.
Director: Nila Madhab Panda | Stars: Gulshan Grover, Harsh Mayar, Pitobash, Hussan Saad
Votes: 4,877
13. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
PG-13 | 135 min | Biography, Drama, Mystery
A mathematical genius, John Nash made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a harrowing journey of self-discovery.
Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer
Votes: 986,804 | Gross: $170.74M
14. 3 Idiots (2009)
PG-13 | 170 min | Comedy, Drama
Two friends are searching for their long lost companion. They revisit their college days and recall the memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently, even as the rest of the world called them "idiots".
Director: Rajkumar Hirani | Stars: Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Mona Singh, Sharman Joshi
Votes: 434,418 | Gross: $6.53M
15. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
PG | 224 min | Drama, Musical, Sport
The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers.
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker | Stars: Aamir Khan, Raghubir Yadav, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley
Votes: 120,675 | Gross: $0.91M
16. Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Family, Romance
The life and adventures of the Ingalls family in the nineteenth century American Midwest.
Stars: Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush
Votes: 26,873
17. Borgen (2010–2022)
TV-14 | 58 min | Drama
A political drama about a prime minister's rise to power, and how power changes a prime minister.
Stars: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Søren Malling, Lisbeth Wulff
Votes: 29,909
18. Testament of Youth (2014)
PG-13 | 129 min | Biography, Drama, History
A British woman recalls coming of age during World War I - a story of young love, the futility of war, and how to make sense of the darkest times.
Director: James Kent | Stars: Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton, Dominic West
Votes: 30,504 | Gross: $1.82M
19. The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
PG-13 | 108 min | Biography, Drama
The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his friendship with his mentor, Professor G.H. Hardy.
Director: Matt Brown | Stars: Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Malcolm Sinclair, Raghuvir Joshi
Votes: 62,115 | Gross: $3.87M
20. Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)
Not Rated | 150 min | Comedy, Drama
A story of a fresh graduate trying to find a balance between the maddening demands of the 'professional' way, and the way of his heart.
Director: Shimit Amin | Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Prem Chopra, Mukesh S. Bhatt, D. Santosh
Votes: 21,987
21. Vision - Aus dem Leben der Hildegard von Bingen (2009)
Unrated | 110 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life story of the multi-talented German nun Hildegard von Bingen. The film portrays an original woman - best known as a composer and religious visionary - whose grand claims often run ... See full summary »
Director: Margarethe von Trotta | Stars: Barbara Sukowa, Heino Ferch, Hannah Herzsprung, Lena Stolze
Votes: 1,304 | Gross: $0.43M
22. The Physician (2013)
R | 155 min | Adventure, Drama, History
In 11th-century Persia, a surgeon's apprentice disguises himself as a Jew to study at a school that does not admit Christians.
Director: Philipp Stölzl | Stars: Tom Payne, Stellan Skarsgård, Olivier Martinez, Emma Rigby
Votes: 41,938
23. Dakteoseu (2016)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A rebellious young woman encounters a compassionate teacher whose impact motivates her to transform her life, aspiring to become a neurosurgeon.
Stars: Park Shin-hye, Lee Sung-Kyung, Kim Rae-won, Park Ji-ah
Votes: 3,120
24. My Mister (2018)
TV-14 | 70 min | Drama, Family
A man in his 40s withstands the weight of life. A woman in her 20s goes through different experiences, but also withstands the weight of her life. The man and woman get together to help each other.
Stars: Lee Sun-kyun, IU, Lee Ji-ah, Park Ho-san
Votes: 9,476
25. Misaeng (2014)
60 min | Drama
This a Drama series about a group of co-workers in their twenties who started their job at a big multinational company. This is a story about their everyday life, about their journey each day at the office.
Stars: Im Si-wan, Lee Sung-min, Kang So-ra, Kang Ha-neul
Votes: 2,579
26. Dream High (2011–2012)
70 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
The story of six students at Kirin Art High School who work to achieve their dreams of becoming stars in the Korean music industry. Along the way, they discover the true meaning of friendship, love and life.
Stars: J.Y. Park, Bae Suzy, Kim Soo-hyun, IU
Votes: 3,559
27. Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)
62 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A gifted writer who's the youngest editor-in-chief ever at his publishing company gets enmeshed in the life of a former copywriter desperate for a job.
Stars: Lee Na-young, Lee Jong-suk, Jeong Eu-gene, Wi Ha-joon
Votes: 7,717
28. Don't Dare to Dream (2016)
Comedy, Romance
Getting ahead in a broadcasting station is tough and the competition is fierce -- but when a news anchor and meteorologist start to fall for each other, things get much more complicated.
Stars: Jo Jung-Suk, Kong Hyo-jin, Go Kyung-pyo, Seo Ji-hye
Votes: 1,833
29. As One (2012)
PG-13 | 127 min | Drama, Sport
"As One" is the cinematic retelling of the first ever post-war Unified Korea sports team, hastily formed to participate in the 41st World Table Tennis Championships in 1991. Following the ... See full summary »
Director: Hyun-Sung Moon | Stars: Ha Ji-Won, Bae Doona, Han Yeri, Yoon-young Choi
Votes: 1,322
30. Dong Yi (2010)
TV-Y | 60 min | Adventure, Drama, History
Story a simple maid that rises high in the royal harem as a consort and, ultimately, mother of the Korean king.
Stars: Han Hyo-joo, Lee So-yeon, Kim So-yi, Julia Lim
Votes: 2,125
31. Lakshmi (II) (2018)
130 min | Drama
A young girl dreams of winning the 'Pride of India Jr.' title in the National dance competition.
Director: A.L. Vijay | Stars: Ditya Bhande, Prabhu Deva, Aishwarya Rajesh, Salman Yusuff Khan
Votes: 782
33. Aspirants (2021– )
45 min | Drama
It is the story of the journey of three UPSC (public service competitive exams in India) aspirants and their friendship against all odds.
Stars: Naveen Kasturia, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sunny Hinduja
Votes: 311,276
34. Sleepeeer Hit! (2016– )
54 min | Comedy, Drama
A woman who used to be a contender for the Olympic Judo Team had to give up on her dream due to an injury. She ends up working at manga magazine when the publishing industry is going through a turbulent time.
Stars: Haru Kuroki, Joe Odagiri, Kentarô Sakaguchi, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa
Votes: 511
35. Queen Marie of Romania (2019)
110 min | Drama
Devastated by the First World War and plunged into political controversy, Romania's every hope accompanies its queen on her mission to Paris to lobby for international recognition of its great unification at the 1919 peace talks.
Directors: Alexis Cahill, Brigitte Drodtloff | Stars: Roxana Lupu, Daniel Plier, Richard Elfyn, Patrick Drury
Votes: 2,388
36. The Full Throttle Girl (2011– )
54 min | Comedy, Romance
Ayukawa Wakaba is full of ambition. She lands a job at an international law firm, but to her disappointment, the first prestigious assignment that is given to her is to babysit the boss' 5 year old daughter, Hinata.
Stars: Yui Aragaki, Ryô Nishikido, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Misako Renbutsu
Votes: 215
37. On the Verge of Insanity (2021)
65 min | Comedy, Drama
It follows the story of middle-aged office workers struggling to survive in a turbulent workplace.
Stars: Moon So-ri, Jeong Jae-yeong, Lee Sang-Yeob, Goo Min-Hyuk
Votes: 95
38. Gibo to Musume no Blues (2018)
Family
Akiko Iwaki is a career woman who works very hard at her job. She gets married to Ryoichi Miyamoto who has a daughter. Akiko must now deal with housework and raising her stepdaughter.
Stars: Takeru Satoh, Haruka Ayase, Yumi Asô, Yutaka Takenouchi
Votes: 333
39. Love for Rent (2015–2017)
120 min | Comedy, Romance
When Defne's brother gets into debt and is held captive, Defne is forced to accept an offer in exchange for the money. She has to make Omer, a wealthy shoe designer who owns a company, fall in love with her and marry her.
Stars: Elçin Sangu, Baris Arduç, Salih Bademci, Nergis Kumbasar
Votes: 9,743
40. The Queen's Gambit (2020)
TV-MA | 57 min | Drama
Orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chloe Pirrie, Bill Camp, Marcin Dorocinski
Votes: 552,848
41. Lessons in Chemistry (2023)
TV-MA | Drama
Set in the 1950s, Elizabeth Zott's dream of being a chemist is put on hold when she finds herself pregnant, alone, and fired from her lab.
Stars: Brie Larson, Lewis Pullman, Aja Naomi King, Stephanie Koenig
Votes: 34,999
42. The Imitation Game (2014)
PG-13 | 114 min | Biography, Drama, Thriller
During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
Director: Morten Tyldum | Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech
Votes: 824,914 | Gross: $91.13M
43. Today's Webtoon (2022)
TV-14 | 70 min | Comedy, Drama
The story is about a woman who struggles together with her coworkers to mature into a true webtoon editor after joining the webtoon editorial department.
Stars: Kim Sejeong, Daniel Choi, Ha Do-kwon, Ha Yul-Ri
Votes: 625
44. Let's Go Jets (2017)
121 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
Hikari Tomonaga (Suzu Hirose) enrolls at Fukui Chuo High School, and joins its cheer dance club for the sole reason of cheering on a boy she has known from their junior high days. However, ... See full summary »
Director: Hayato Kawai | Stars: Suzu Hirose, Yûki Amami, Ayami Nakajô, Miu Tomita
Votes: 844
45. Ricchiman Puauman (2012)
54 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Hyuga Toru who run an internet website from his small room and doesn't like to socialize makes a lot of money. He then meets Sawaki Chihiro, a hardworking student who by an unexpected occurrence begins to work for Toru.
Stars: Shun Oguri, Satomi Ishihara, Saki Aibu, Arata Iura
Votes: 1,084
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