Best Spiritual Spiritual Documentaries of All Time
These are among the updated list of top 100 spiritually inspiring movies. I have selected only a few among them according to the best viewer reviews. These are having more than 75 percent ratings in IMDb, Google, Rotten Tomatoes, and other movie review sites.
The list consists of science fiction, fantasy, thriller, drama, and documentaries. The listed films have a distinctive theme rooted in spirituality and a great knowledge resource that would inspire us to think beyond our present understanding.
Some are purely fantasy tales that share some similar thoughts in spirituality.
Some movies have a distinct storyline and theme that are not directly linked to spirituality. It would further provoke the viewer’s mind to ponder over the matters having spiritual significance. (Read also 8 Most Powerful and Inspiring Quotes in Spirituality)
These are the best films and documentaries in recent times.
1. Inner World Outer World (2012)
Genre: Documentary
The movie interlinks the concepts of physics and spirituality with the microcosm and macrocosm. It signifies consciousness, individuality, and connectedness with the hidden mechanism of the whole world. It has an insightful spiritual touch and would be interpreted based on one’s intuition.
The movie signifies ancient spiritual practices. It also shows that the authentic spiritual practices whatever their source may lead to the same point. These practices are the only way to realize the absolute truth.
It is a quest for exploring the inner self. This film is worth watching and it would influence your understanding of life and the world.
2. Awake. The Life of Yogananda (2014)
Genre: Documentary
This is the film focused on the life and teachings of Yogananda. If you are not familiar with the life of Yogananda, this shows you how exceptional and influential he was where he had huge followers around the world.
This movie would take you to a deeper level of wisdom and ecstatic spiritual experiences.
You feel emotionally active where the discourses and the way of life would leave a long-lasting impact in your mind. The scenes in the movie perfectly blend to give the audience a great feeling. The film presents the yogic nature and deeper connection with the realities of life. (Read also Most Influential Spiritual Yogis in the World)
I felt this film is highlighting what yoga is. Yogananda’s various life moments flash through the screen. In the first look, we feel something different about him. He is an extraordinary person. It’s the power of yoga that transformed him.
What makes us attentive is the lifestyle of that era and the yogic practices that influenced his living. I felt a sense of perfection in him. I think such a level of perfection is hard to attain in a single lifetime.
This film is for those who want to experience a glimpse of the yogic and spiritual way of life. If you have an affinity towards spirituality then this movie is worth watching.
3. Samsara (2011)
Genre: Documentary
This film showed that silence can tell more than that of words. It doesn’t have any commentary where the closely connected images on the screen put you in the trance state. You will become fully absorbed with it.
The film documents the world’s versatility. We evolve and move with the general laws of life and fade off eventually.
The different civilizations that exist in the world are perceptible to the cycle of evolution. It would eventually reach the starting point. This would have a deeply personal impact on a person which would influence his life at the spiritual, personal, and professional levels.
4. The Reality of Me (2011)
Genre: Documentary
There is nothing special in this movie. It presents the laws of life and nature in a simple form but leaves an impression in the audience to ponder over the depths of creation, sustenance, and evolution. It gives factual supports to your beliefs and how such beliefs had evolved. (Read also Why Some People have Consistent Belief in Religion?)
It presents the world as it is without any opinions or views and directly relates to the realities. It is not only confined to the philosophical attributes of life but also has the basis of scientific principles. The essence of lectures and talks adds more credibility to it.
5. Groundhog Day (1993)
Genre: Drama, romance
Groundhog Day is the best funny movie that induces the mind to dig the profound meaning of life. The movie highlights the iteration of the same day over and over. This coincides with the iterative births and deaths in Indian philosophy.
The central theme of the movie is happiness that each of us has to seek within. One of the easy ways to find happiness is by helping others rooted in selflessness. This all matters with the natural incorporation of humor listed in this movie as the most favorite among the fantasy genre.
6. Kumare (2011)
Genre: Documentary
It is an award-winning documentary that showed the superstitions and beliefs among the people which lead to the false path. It is about a man who seeks spiritual wisdom where he encounters the fake and illegitimate path.
It shows that we are responsible for our future. Everything has its role and execute uniquely. And, whatever our faith is, it has its own effects.
After watching this film probably, many thoughts arise in our minds regarding spirituality, the system of practices, the role of gurus, and disciples.
7. Baraka (1992)
Genre: Documentary
An inspiring film that induces sensations in our minds and makes us spiritually triggered. It is a documentary that reflects on diversity and its effects on the environment.
It reminds us that we are moving through imperfections. We are looking for solutions that cannot be solved in the same line.
This is a nonverbal film yet it takes us to the profound meaning of life and manifestation. We try to find answers to all our questions that might be spiritually appealing and reflects the real nature of existence.
8. Tuning In (2008)
Genre: Documentary
Everything works according to the universal laws of nature. Nothing is apart from it. And, when we hear the truth that we have experienced, or that is in harmony with our lives and thoughts, we feel a sense of connectedness with it. (Read also Powerful Truths to Transform Your Life from Swami Vivekananda)
Tuning in is the channeling of truths. What we see are the truths that are slightly shielded and may find twisted around the realities. At some point, the viewers might feel contradictory and induced to think according to the beliefs and moral precepts.
9. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, … and Spring (2003)
Genre: Drama, romantic thriller
This is a movie about life activities, life cycles, human nature, human qualities, and the influence of the world’s systems. Like the cover poster, the film is not centered along with the Buddhist monasteries. It is a unique piece of drama that gives a spiritual experience.
The film remarks on the cycles of life of a boy who eventually returns to the same point after different stages of life. This gives an of glimpse firm laws of nature with dynamic qualities of life.
We are in a constant dynamic impact of this force where our life is of endless cycles. This movie really thought-provoking and takes us to the source where we began.
10. Samadhi (2017)
Genre: Documentary
Samadhi: Maya the illusion of the self is the most welcomed film in the sect of meditation and spiritual wisdom. Daniel Schmidt’s documentary ‘Inner World Outer World’ had a great impact on the film industry.
The series of movies Samadhi also awaits to meet the expectations of the audience. As in the previous movie, it would be crafted with rich visuals and acoustics to subdue the mind of the audience.
11. Fightclub (1999)
Genre: Drama
If you are looking for an action rock-star movie then this would disappoint you. This is a movie about our life circumstances. It shows there are good and bad things in life and that moves in an unpredicted way.
The film pictures with little violence and black comedy with inspiring moments. The unexpected end of the story makes one think about the profound values of life. It is just a simple movie with no more complications that is reflecting the realities of life along with the spiritual essence.
12. The Matrix (1999)
Genre: Science fiction, Thriller
The matrix is one of the popular movies that slipped into the favorite list of different groups of people. More than the fantasy side, it enriches with the philosophical and ethical values of life. The audience may not find anything appealing in the short moment but soon you would fall into the deeper insights of the movie.
The thought-provoking experiences lead one to interpret the moments according to their own belief system. The film won’t disappoint you in watching over and over at later times and to come up with different meanings each time. It is because the philosophical and metaphysical content in the film is not shallow.
13. The Thought Exchange (2012)
Genre: Documentary
Like the title, the film is about the truth of life and the fact that thoughts shape our lives. It gives importance to positive thinking and why our thoughts fail to evolve around it. The movie is based on the personal development book and as the film is focusing on vibrant thoughts, it has spiritual significance.
14. Avatar (2009)
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller
It is an inspiring movie for all age groups. The movie depicts the ability to port one’s soul to another body using scientific equipment. It resemblance the siddhis ‘parakaya pravesam’ depicted in yoga. The movie shows a sense of a deep spiritual interconnection with everything else.
Inspiring sceneries and vivid style of artistic imagination put you in the deep exhilarating moments of scientific and spiritual pursuits. It seems like a science fiction movie yet it conveys the message that you are part of universality.
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