"Moral-Ethical Emphasis" refers to Character Counts' Six Pillars of Character. The suggested ages for each movie are shown in brackets. For a complete list of Social-Emotional Learning Topics Click Here.

HUMILITY

• Amadeus (Humility; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Biography/Mozart; Music/Classical; World/Austria) [12+]
• Moby Dick (Revenge, Humility; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Literature/U.S.; Seafaring; U.S./1812 - 1860 & Massachusetts) [10+]
• The Odyssey (Humility; Surviving; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: World/Ancient Greece; Mythology; Literature & Literary Devices; Seafaring [14+ for the movie; 11+ for the book. Literary devices analyzed: simile, metaphor, flashback; symbol]
• Pride and Prejudice (Romantic Relationships; Sisters, Humility; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: World/England; Literature/England) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: theme; foils, contrasting characters; character development; subplot; irony; and use of letters read by a character]

ILLNESS (SERIOUS)

• Goya: Awakened in a Dream (Father/Son; Friendship; Illness; Human Rights; Talent; Disabilities; Ethical Emphasis --- Caring;Subjects --- Visual Arts; World/Spain & the Enlightenment; Biography) [8 - 13]
• Lorenzo's Oil (Illness, Disabilities; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Parenting; Sisters; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Medicine) [13+]

JUSTICE

• 12 Angry Men (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness; Respect; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & The Law) [11+]
• Amistad (Justice; Courage; Rebellion; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1812 - 1860 & Diversity) [14+]
• Barbary Coast (Male Role Model; Justice; Bad Associations; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier and the West & California) [12+]
• Charlotte's Web - Talking and Playing for Growth (Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Science -- Biology) [5 - 8]
• Charlotte's Web (Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Science -- Biology) [5 - 10]
• The Crucible (Justice; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1629 - 1750, 1945-1991 & Massachusetts; Drama/U.S.) (Two versions, one in French with English Subtitles) [12+]
• A Dry White Season (Courage; Justice; Human Rights; Grieving; Father/Son; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: World/South Africa) [14+]
• Ghosts of Mississippi (Courage, Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1945 - Present, Diversity, the Law & Mississippi) [12+]
• An Ideal Husband (Families in Crisis; Marriage, Friendship, Romantic Relationships, Justice, Redemption; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Drama/England; World/England)[12+]
• Inherit the Wind (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: Cinema; U.S./1913 - 1929, 1945 - 1991 & Tennessee)[12+]
• Judgment at Nuremberg (Justice; Human Rights, Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect, Responsibility; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1941 - 1945 & The Law; World/WW II) [10+]
• The Life of Emile Zola (Justice; Talent; Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness; Subjects: Biography; World/France; Literature/France) [10+]
• Native Son (Justice; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Literature/U.S.) [15+]
• The Ox-Bow Incident (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier and the West; 1865 - 1913; the Law & Nevada) [12+]
• A Passage To India (Friendship; Romantic Relationships; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects: World/India & England; Literature/England) [12+]
• To Kill A Mockingbird (Justice; Male Role Model; Courage; Mental Illness; Parenting; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibilility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1929 - 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor]

LEADERSHIP

• Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided (Families in Crisis; Marriage; Grieving; Leadership; Father/Daughter; Mother/Son; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect, Responsiblity, Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1812 - 1865; Biography) [10+]
• Beau Geste (Leadership; Families in Crisis; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: World/France) [12+]
• Courage Under Fire (Marriage, Redemption; Leadership; Suicide; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1991 - Present) [12+]
• The Crossing (Courage in War, Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility & Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1750 - 1812, New Jersey & Pennsylvania) [13+]
• Dr. Strangelove (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991) [10+]
• Edge of America (Breaking Out; Leadership; Teamwork; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Respect; Caring; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S./1945-1991; Diversity/Native American & African American and New Mexico) [12+]
• Fail-Safe (Leadership; Ethical Emphasis --- Responsibility, Carin; Subjects --- U.S./1945 - 1991; World/Cold War) [14+]
• Gettysburg (Courage in War; Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship; Subjects U.S./1860 - 1865 & Pennsylvania) [10+]
• Glory (Courage in War; Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship; Trustworthiness; Subjects U.S./1860 - 1865 & Massachusetts) [14+]
• High Noon (Marriage; Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier & West, 1865 - 1913; 1945 - 1991) [11+]
• Iron Jawed Angels (Human Rights; Courage; Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness; Subjects: U.S.: 1913 - 1929) [11+]
• Knute Rockne, All American (Leadership, Sportsmanship, Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Sports/Football; U.S./1913 - 1929) [8+]
• Kundun (Rebellion; Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: World/Tibet & China; Religions/Buddhism) [13+]
• Memphis Belle (Leadership; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Aviation; U.S./1941 - 1945) [12+]
• Patton (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Biography; U.S./1941 - 1945) [12+]
• Princess Mononoke (Male Role Model; Leadership; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: World/Japan; The Environment; Mythology; Cinema) [12+]
• Remember the Titans (Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football) [11+]
• Eleanor Roosevelt (Leadership; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring, Citizenship; Subjects: Biography; U.S./1865 - 1991; Politics) [10+]
• Thirteen Days (Leadership; Peace/Peacemakers; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991; World/Russia & The Cold War) [12+]
• Truman (Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Biography; U.S./1941 - 1991) [12+]
• Twelve O'Clock High (Leadership; Courage in War; Subjects: Aviation; U.S./1941-1945; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [10+]
• War of the Buttons - Using Characterization in Literary Analysis (Fighting; Friendship; Leadership; Parenting; Subjects: Literature/Literary Devices: characterization; World/Ireland; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring) [10+]

MALE ROLE MODEL

• Apollo 13 (Teamwork; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991; Space Exploration) [8+]
• Barbary Coast (Male Role Model; Justice; Bad Associations; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier and the West & California) [12+]
• Beautiful Dreamers (Male Role Model; Mental Illness; Breaking Out; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Biography/Whitman; Literature/U.S.; World/Canada; Medicine) [12+; useful for getting students to read and appreciate the poetry of Walt Whitman]
• Boystown (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Citizienship; Subjects: U.S./1913 - 1929 & Nebraska) [10+]
• Captains Courageous (Friendship, Parenting; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1929 - 1941 & Massachusets; Seafaring) [8 - 12]
• Cool Runnings (Sportsmanship; Redemption; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness; Subjects: World/Jamaica; Sports/Olympics) [8+]
• A Gentleman's Agreement (Female Role Model; Male Role Model; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & Diversity) [12+]
• The Gods Must Be Crazy II (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: World/Africa; Environment) [10+]
• Good Will Hunting (Child Abuse; Marriage; Romantic Relationships; Fighting; Friendship; Male Role Model; Talent; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Medicine (Psychiatry); U.S./1991 to present & Massachusetts) [14+]
• Hoosiers (Teamwork; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Male Role Model; Father/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Caring; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1945 - 1991 & Indiana) [11+] S
• It's a Wonderful Life (Male Role Model; Suicide; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1913 - 1945) [10+]
• The Jackie Robinson Story (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Respect, Citizenship; Subjects: Biography; Sports/Baseball; U.S./1945 - 1991 & Diversity) [8+]
• Judgment at Nuremberg (Justice; Human Rights, Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect, Responsibility; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1941 - 1945 & The Law; World/WW II) [10+]
• A Man for All Seasons (Courage; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: Biography/Thomas More; World/England & the Renaissance; Religions/Christianity; Drama/England) [12+]
• Matewan (Male Role Model; Fighting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects: U.S./1913 - 1929, Diversity & West Virginia; Religions/Christianity) [12+]
• Mr. Holland's Opus (Education; Male Role Model; Parenting; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Marriage; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship; Caring; Respect; Subjects: Music/Classical; U.S. 1945 - 1991) [10+]
• Pride of the Yankees (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Biography/Gehrig; Sports/Baseball) [8+]
• Princess Mononoke (Male Role Model; Leadership; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: World/Japan; The Environment; Mythology; Cinema) [12+]
• The Pursuit of Happyness (Father/Son; Parenting; Surviving, Work/Career; add the following SEL topics when using TeachWithMovies.com's student handout for this film entitled Episodes in the Life of Chris Gardner (What's Not in the Movie): Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Breaking Out; Spousal Abuse; Child Abuse; Education; Male Role Model; Ambition; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - current and Biography) [12+]
• Remember the Titans (Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football) [11+]
• Sayonara (Male Role Model; Romantic Relationships; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & Diversity; World/Japan) [12+]
• Stand and Deliver (Education; Male Role Model; Self-esteem; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1941 - 1996, Diversity & California; Mathematics; Literature/Literary Devices) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony]
• To Kill A Mockingbird (Justice; Male Role Model; Courage; Mental Illness; Parenting; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibilility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1929 - 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor]
• The Turning Point (Marriage; Mother/Daughter; Friendship; Male Role Model; Talent; Work/Career; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Dance; U.S./1945 - 1991) [14+]
• The Yearling (Male Role Model; Coming of Age; Running Away; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S.) [8 - 12]

MARRIAGE

• Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided (Families in Crisis; Marriage; Grieving; Leadership; Father/Daughter; Mother/Son; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect, Responsiblity, Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1812 - 1865; Biography) [10+]
• All My Sons (Crime; Marriage; Father/Son; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1941 - 1991; Drama/U.S.) [13+]
• Courage Under Fire (Marriage, Redemption; Leadership; Suicide; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1991 - Present) [12+]
• The Crucible (Justice; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1629 - 1750, 1945-1991 & Massachusetts; Drama/U.S.) (Two versions, one in French with English Subtitles) [12+]
• A Dry White Season (Courage; Justice; Human Rights; Grieving; Father/Son; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: World/South Africa) [14+]
• Good Will Hunting (Child Abuse; Marriage; Romantic Relationships; Fighting; Friendship; Male Role Model; Talent; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Medicine (Psychiatry); U.S./1991 to present & Massachusetts) [14+]
• Hester Street (Families in Crisis; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Trustworthiness; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913; Diversity & New York) [12+]
• High Noon (Marriage; Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier & West, 1865 - 1913; 1945 - 1991) [11+]
• An Ideal Husband (Families in Crisis; Marriage, Friendship, Romantic Relationships, Justice, Redemption; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Drama/England; World/England)[12+]
• The Inner Circle (Marriage; Human Rights; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: World/Russia) [15+]
• The Insider (Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Families in Crisis, Marriage, Crime, Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Citizenship Subjects: U.S./1991 to present) [13+]
• Life With Father (Coming of Age; Father/Son; Marriage; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913 & New York) [8+]
• Lorenzo's Oil (Illness, Disabilities; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Parenting; Sisters; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Medicine) [13+]
• Mr. Holland's Opus (Education; Male Role Model; Parenting; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Marriage; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship; Caring; Respect; Subjects: Music/Classical; U.S. 1945 - 1991) [10+]
• The Odyssey (Humility; Surviving; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: World/Ancient Greece; Mythology; Literature & Literary Devices; Seafaring [14+ for the movie; 11+ for the book. Literary devices analyzed: simile, metaphor, flashback; symbol]
• A Raisin in the Sun (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Drama/U.S.) [12+]
• Shall We Dance? (Breaking Out; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Dance; World/Japan) [12+]
• Show Boat (Marriage; Romantic Relationships; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Gambling Addiction; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913 & Diversity; Cinema; Drama/Musicals; Dance/Performance) [11+]
• The Turning Point (Marriage; Mother/Daughter; Friendship; Male Role Model; Talent; Work/Career; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Dance; U.S./1945 - 1991) [14+]
• When a Man Loves a Woman (Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Romantic Relationships; Marriage; Parenting; Father/daughter; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - current) [13+]

MENTAL ILLNESS

• Beautiful Dreamers (Male Role Model; Mental Illness; Breaking Out; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Biography/Whitman; Literature/U.S.; World/Canada; Medicine) [12+; useful for getting students to read and appreciate the poetry of Walt Whitman]
• Lust for Life (Talent; Brothers; Mental Illness; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Biography/Van Gogh; World/France; Visual Arts) [12+]
• To Kill A Mockingbird (Justice; Male Role Model; Courage; Mental Illness; Parenting; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibilility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1929 - 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor]
• Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (Talent; Brothers, Mental Illness; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Biography; World/France; Visual Arts) [12+]
• Winslow Homer: An American Original (Talent; Grieving; Mental Illness; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1861 - 1913; Visual Arts; Medicine-Psychiatry; Biography) [8 - 12]

MOTHER/DAUGHTER

• Degas and the Dancer (Talent, Ambition, Mother/Daughter, Sisters; Ethical Emphasis --- Respect; Responsibility; Caring; Subjects --- Visual Arts; World/France; Dance) [8 - 13]
• The Glass Menagerie (Families in Crisis; Mother/Son; Mother/Daughter; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Drama/U.S.; U.S./Missouri)[12+]
• Gracie's Choice (Alcohol & Drug; Abuse; Families In Crisis; Mother/Daughter; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring; Subjects: Health; U.S./1991 to Present) [10+]
• Ice Princess (Breaking Out; Parenting; Mother/daughter; Sportsmanship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Fairness; Caring; Subjects: Sports/Ice Skating) [9+]
• The Joy Luck Club (Mother/Daughter/ Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & California; World/China) [14+]
• Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye (Female Role Model; Mother/Daughter; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Biography; World/France & WW I; Medicine; Science-Technology) [8 - 12]
• The Turning Point (Marriage; Mother/Daughter; Friendship; Male Role Model; Talent; Work/Career; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Dance; U.S./1945 - 1991) [14+]