Good Will Hunting is a timeless classic that has inspired and moved audiences for over two decades. The story of a brilliant but troubled young man who finds guidance from an unlikely mentor resonates with so many because of its powerful themes – discovering your potential, overcoming your past, and allowing yourself to form meaningful connections.
If you loved the raw emotion, compelling characters and uplifting message of Good Will Hunting, here are 18 more films that explore similar ideas and will leave you feeling inspired. These movies showcase the transformative power of mentorship, the struggle to rise above your circumstances, and the courage it takes to confront your inner demons on the path to reaching your full potential.
1. Finding Forrester (2000)
Directed by Gus Van Sant, who also helmed Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester follows a similar mentor-mentee dynamic. Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) is a gifted student and basketball player from the Bronx who befriends reclusive writer William Forrester (Sean Connery). As Forrester helps Jamal hone his writing talents, the two form an unlikely bond that changes both their lives. Like Will Hunting, Jamal must navigate others’ preconceptions and prejudices about his background to prove his true abilities. And Forrester, not unlike Robin Williams’ Sean Maguire, is a guiding force who has wisdom to impart, but also inner pain to confront.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
2. Dead Poets Society (1989)
Dead Poets Society showcases Robin Williams in one of his most iconic and inspirational roles, not unlike his part in Good Will Hunting. As unorthodox English teacher John Keating, Williams encourages his students at an elite prep school to reject conformity and seize the day. His stirring lessons impact his pupils profoundly, especially shy Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) and passionate Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard). While set in a very different environment than Good Will Hunting‘s rough Boston streets, Dead Poets Society shares core themes of breaking free from others’ expectations to become your authentic self. John Keating’s influence on his students mirrors Sean’s on Will – urging them to think for themselves and embrace their unique gifts.
Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV
3. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Starring Russell Crowe as real-life mathematician John Nash, A Beautiful Mind is a stirring portrait of a brilliant but troubled individual. The biographical drama follows Nash from his time as a promising young scholar at Princeton to his groundbreaking work in game theory and his struggles with paranoid schizophrenia. Like Will Hunting, John Nash possesses staggering intellectual gifts that set him apart. He also wrestles with inner turmoil that threatens to derail his potential. A Beautiful Mind powerfully depicts Nash’s journey to achieve greatness while battling his own mind. It’s a moving story of genius, madness and the unbreakable human spirit.
Where to watch: Peacock
4. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
Searching for Bobby Fischer tells the true story of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin. A seven-year-old Josh (Max Pomeranc) astounds everyone with his natural skill at the game. His parents hire a strict instructor (Ben Kingsley) to train him to become a grandmaster. But Josh feels immense pressure from the weight of expectations. Like Will Hunting, he’s a young phenom grappling with his singular talent and how it fits into his life. Searching for Bobby Fischer thoughtfully explores themes of childhood gifts, parental hopes, and finding your own path amid others’ ambitions for you. It’s a poignant look at the burdens and blessings of being exceptional at a young age.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Apple TV
5. Stand and Deliver (1988)
In Stand and Deliver, Edward James Olmos plays real-life math teacher Jaime Escalante, who inspired his underprivileged students to shatter low expectations. At an East Los Angeles high school known more for gangs than academics, Escalante used unconventional methods to help a group of kids ace the AP Calculus exam. Despite coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, they discovered a passion for learning and achieved what others thought impossible. Like Good Will Hunting, Stand and Deliver is a powerful testament to the impact one dedicated mentor can make. It shows how students from tough circumstances can excel when someone believes in them and equips them to dream bigger.
Where to watch: HBO Max, Apple TV
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Based on the beloved novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows shy freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) as he navigates the ups and downs of high school. Charlie is a gifted writer but a bit of a loner, still reeling from childhood trauma and the recent suicide of his best friend. His world changes when he meets free-spirited seniors Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), who embrace Charlie into their friend group. Like Will Hunting, Charlie is a sensitive soul with a painful past that holds him back. And similar to Will’s bond with Sean, Charlie finds a mentor in his English teacher (Paul Rudd), who nurtures his literary talents. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a poignant coming-of-age story about confronting your demons, forging meaningful friendships, and coming into your own.
Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu
7. October Sky (1999)
October Sky, based on a true story, follows Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal), a coal miner’s son in 1950s West Virginia. Inspired by the launch of Sputnik, Homer and his friends set out to build their own rockets, despite everyone in their small town thinking they should stick to mining. With the help of an encouraging teacher (Laura Dern), the “Rocket Boys” defy the odds and the skepticism of Homer’s father (Chris Cooper) to pursue their scientific passions. Like Good Will Hunting, October Sky is an uplifting underdog tale about a gifted young person transcending his blue-collar roots to reach for something greater. It’s a powerful story of intellectual curiosity, unlikely mentors, and proving your potential when others doubt you.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
8. Little Man Tate (1991)
Jodie Foster made her directorial debut with Little Man Tate, in which she also stars as working-class single mom Dede. Her son Fred (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a child prodigy who is brilliant at math, science, art and music. Dede wants Fred to have a normal childhood, but a psychologist (Dianne Wiest) believes he would thrive at a school for gifted children. As Fred navigates between the two worlds, he struggles to fit in anywhere. Like Will Hunting, Fred has extraordinary mental abilities that can feel more isolating than empowering. Little Man Tate poignantly captures the challenges of being exceptional and the importance of forging your own identity outside of your talents.
Where to watch: Pluto TV, Tubi, Crackle
9. Antwone Fisher (2002)
Denzel Washington made his directorial debut with Antwone Fisher, the true story of a young Navy sailor with a violent temper. Ordered to see a psychiatrist, Antwone (Derek Luke) initially resists opening up to Jerome Davenport (Washington). But as their sessions continue, Antwone reveals a childhood marred by abuse and abandonment. Davenport helps him work through his anger and pain to take control of his life. Like Good Will Hunting, Antwone Fisher powerfully portrays the scars of childhood trauma and the healing that can happen when someone takes the time to break through your defenses. It’s a moving story of confronting your past to have a better future.
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max
10. The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side tells the real-life story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless Black teen taken in by a wealthy white family. Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) becomes a fierce advocate for Michael, nurturing his football talent and defending him against prejudice. Like Will Hunting, Michael has innate gifts that have gone overlooked because of his rough background. The Tuohys’ support, especially Leigh Anne’s, allows him to envision a better life for himself. The Blind Side shares Good Will Hunting‘s themes of unlikely mentors, overcoming a difficult upbringing, and daring to want more than what society expects of you.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
11. Gifted (2017)
In Gifted, Chris Evans plays Frank, a boat mechanic raising his seven-year-old niece Mary (McKenna Grace) on his own. Mary is a math prodigy like her late mother, but Frank is determined to give her a normal childhood, even as her teacher (Jenny Slate) pushes for her to be placed in a school for exceptional children. When Frank’s mother (Lindsay Duncan) initiates a custody battle to enroll Mary in a high-pressure academy, Frank fights to protect her. Similar to Good Will Hunting, Gifted grapples with the costs of being a genius and the importance of the whole person beyond their mental talents. It’s a touching drama about honoring a child’s gifts while preserving their innocence.
Where to watch: Hulu
12. The Emperor’s Club (2002)
Kevin Kline stars in The Emperor’s Club as William Hundert, a passionate classics professor at an elite prep school. Hundert strives to mold his students into principled young men, following the teachings of the ancient Greeks and Romans. His beliefs are tested by Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch), a defiant new student who openly questions the value of a moral life. Hundert takes a special interest in the rebellious teen, convinced he can reach him. But years later, a school reunion reveals the true impact, or lack thereof, of his lessons. Like Good Will Hunting, The Emperor’s Club thoughtfully explores the complex dynamic between a brilliant but rudderless youth and the mentor desperate to set him on the right path. It’s a poignant meditation on the limits of how much one person can change another, even with the best of intentions.
Where to watch: Hoopla, Pluto TV
13. The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
The Man Who Knew Infinity depicts the real-life story of Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a self-taught Indian mathematician. Despite having no formal training, Ramanujan earns admittance to Cambridge University, where he studies under renowned professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons). As Ramanujan struggles to be accepted in the elite British academic circles, Hardy becomes his champion. Similar to Good Will Hunting, The Man Who Knew Infinity centers on an unlikely pairing of a young math genius from a humble background and an established scholar who becomes his mentor. It’s an inspiring true story of intellectual brilliance against all odds.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
14. Freedom Writers (2007)
Hilary Swank stars in Freedom Writers as Erin Gruwell, a new teacher at an inner-city high school in Long Beach, California. Erin’s at-risk students, many of whom are involved with gangs, balk at her attempts to engage them in learning. But she slowly gains their trust by encouraging them to write about their own experiences. Based on a true story, Freedom Writers shares Good Will Hunting‘s theme of a dedicated mentor helping disadvantaged young people see their own potential. Like Will Hunting’s transformation through Sean’s guidance, Erin’s students undergo powerful changes as they find their voices on the page. It’s a moving drama about the impact one person can make by believing in those society has written off.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Apple TV
15. Proof (2005)
Proof stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Catherine, a young woman who dropped out of college to care for her mentally ill father Robert (Anthony Hopkins), a once-brilliant mathematician. After Robert’s death, his former student Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal) discovers a groundbreaking proof in his office. The question becomes whether it was Robert’s work in a rare moment of lucidity or Catherine’s own unrecognized genius. Like Good Will Hunting, Proof grapples with the fine line between brilliance and madness. It also explores the burden of living up to a parent’s towering legacy and intellect. The film is a powerful reflection on identity, family secrets, and the nature of genius.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
16. The Chorus (2004)
The Chorus (original French title: Les Choristes) takes place at a bleak boarding school for troubled boys in post-World War II France. The new prefect of discipline, Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), is an unsuccessful musician who forms a choir to instill a love of music in his unruly charges. Though he faces resistance from the ruthless headmaster, Mathieu persists, believing the experience will positively impact the boys. He takes a special interest in Pierre Morhange (Jean-Baptiste Maunier), an angry young student with a beautiful singing voice. Like Good Will Hunting, The Chorus is a touching story of a compassionate mentor helping a gifted but aimless youth find his purpose. It’s a testament to the transformative power of the arts and the difference one caring teacher can make.
Where to watch: Hoopla, Pluto TV
17. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Akeelah and the Bee follows 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a bright student from South Los Angeles with a talent for spelling. With the encouragement of her principal and the coaching of reclusive English professor Dr. Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), Akeelah prepares for the National Spelling Bee. Like Will Hunting, Akeelah is a diamond in the rough, with gifts that have gone unrecognized. And Dr. Larabee, though reluctant at first, becomes the mentor she needs to soar. Akeelah and the Bee is an inspiring underdog story about a young girl daring to dream big with the help of a guiding hand.
Where to watch: Peacock, Tubi
18. The Great Debaters (2007)
Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters is based on the true story of the debate team at historically black Wiley College in 1930s Texas. English professor Melvin Tolson (Washington) coaches the scrappy squad to a series of victories against far more privileged schools, culminating in a match with Harvard. One of Tolson’s star debaters is Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), a firebrand with a chip on his shoulder not unlike Will Hunting. The two men often butt heads, but Tolson becomes a father figure to Henry, channeling his anger into intellectual pursuits. Similar to Good Will Hunting, The Great Debaters is a powerful story of a mentor molding a gifted but rudderless young mind. It’s a testament to the importance of intellectual spaces where the disadvantaged can thrive.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
These 18 films, combined with the other excellent examples provided, showcase the enduring power of movies that celebrate the human capacity for connection, growth and defying expectations. They remind us that with the right guidance and a belief in ourselves, we all have the potential to transcend our circumstances and make the most of our gifts.
