The American Film Institute's Top 10 Most Inspirational Films

The American Film Institute (AFI) named the 100 best most inspiring films of all time in 2000 and revises the list every 10 years. Many memorable films like the Wizard of Oz, Norma Rae and Field of Dreams, made the list of the century.

Remember these aren't the greatest films of all time. That's another list. These are just the top 10 from the list of 100 years of cheers at AFI!

For those of you who have seen these marvelous films you'll notice a thread of consistency in every story. Each one deals with an "everyman" who makes a difference. Each one causes you to cry or laugh or just celebrate the goodness in the world, and they ALL put us in a great mood and higher spiritual vibration allowing us to believe all things are possible.

The first movie to top this list is It's a Wonderful Life. Released in 1946 the film was a box office dud, but has become one of the best holiday films of all time because of its popularity among cable viewers. Produced and directed by the great Frank Capra, the story shows how one person's life can make all the difference in the world. The original story, The Greatest Gift was published in 1939 and written by Philip Van Doren Stern .

The story was sent to Cary Grant's agent with the intention of it becoming a Grant vehicle. But Cary was too busy making another holiday favorite, The Bishop's Wife that year. Capra, who secured Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, the poor unfortunate who discovers he is the richest man in town, later discovered the film.

To Kill a Mockingbird slides into second place and has the distinction of earning the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. Taught in 72 percent of classrooms in America, the book remains a prime example of how a person can fight for what they believe in whether it's a popular fight or not. It is an example of courage, selfishness, hatred, prejudice. It shows the worst of people and best of people. The movie premiered in 1962, starring Gregory Peck.