THESE FILMS ARE ORGANIZED BY THE SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER
Teachwithmovies.org is a Character Counts “Six Pillars Partner”
and uses the Six Pillars of Character to organize ethical principles.
RESPECT
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
12 Angry Men
(Fairness; Respect; Citizenship; SEL: Justice; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991 & The Law) [11+]
Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided
(Respect, Responsibility, Fairness; SEL: Families in Crisis; Marriage; Grieving; Leadership; Father/Daughter; Mother/Son; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography) [10+]
The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Courage) [5 – 8]
Agora
Ancient Alexandria, Hypatia, and the Decline of Greco-Roman Civilization
(SEL: Female Role Model; Subjects: World/Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome; Religions (Christianity & Judaism) [14+]
All Quiet on the Western Front
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Citizenship; Caring; SEL: Courage in War; Subjects: World/Germany & WWI) [12+]
Amistad
(Respect; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Justice; Courage; Rebellion, Human Rights; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1860 & Diversity) [14+]
An American Tail
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York; Religions/Judaism) [4 – 8]
Four Films About Anne Frank
(Respect; Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Human Rights; Courage; Subjects: World/WWII & Holland; Biography) [12+]
“Antz” and “A Bug’s Life”
(Respect, Responsibility; SEL: Friendship; Subjects: Science-Technology) [9-12]
Around the World in 80 Days
(Responsibility, Respect, Fairness; SEL: Gambling Addiction; Subjects: Science-Technology; World/England) [8 – 13]
Babe
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Responsibility; Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Caring for Animals; Courage;) [5 – 8]
Beautiful Dreamers
(Char. Dev: Male Role Model; Mental Illness; Breaking Out; Friendship; Subjects: Biography/Whitman; Literature/U.S.; World/Canada; Medicine) [12+; useful for getting students to read and appreciate the poetry of Walt Whitman]
Bend It Like Beckham
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring; SEL: Breaking Out; Parenting; Mother/daughter; SportsmanshipBreaking Out; Parenting; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Sports/Soccer (Football); World/England) [13+]
Billy Elliot
(Caring, Responsibility, Respect; Trustworthiness; SEL Breaking Out, Families in Crisis, Father/Son, Courage, Grieving, Friendship, Parenting, Grandparents; GLBTQ, Education; Subjects: Dance; World/England) [12+]
BlackkKlansman
(U.S. History & Culture: 1991 to Present; The Diversity/African-American Experience and the Civil Rights Movement; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect? [13+; 2 hours 12 minutes]
Born Free
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Caring for Animals; Subjects: World/Africa; the Environment) [10+]
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
(Respect; Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Human Rights; Friendship; Subjects: World/WWII & Germany; ELA) [13+; Literary Devices Analyzed: irony]
Brian’s Song
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship, Grieving, Sportsmanship; Subjects: Sports/Football; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [10+]
A Bugs Life
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Trustworthiness, Respect; Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Courage; Friendship; Teamwork) [5 – 8]
A Call To Spy
The Best of TWM
(World History: The Second World War; England; U.S. History, 1940 – 1945; SEL: — Disabilities; Female Role Model; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship; Respect. [13+]
Camille
(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Cinema; Drama/France; World/France) [12+]
Captains Courageous
(Respect; Responsibility; SEL: Friendship, Parenting; Male Role Model; Subjects: U.S./1929 – 1941 & Massachusets; Seafaring) [8 – 12]
Charlotte’s Web
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Subjects: Science — Biology) [5 – 8]
Charlotte’s Web
(Respect; Caring SEL: Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Subjects: Science — Biology) [5 – 10]
The Chosen
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Parenting; Father/Son; Friendship; Breaking Out; Subjects: Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: Theme, Symbol,Irony; Religions/Judaism; U.S.: 1941 – 1945 & New York) [10+]
The Color Purple
(Respect; SEL: Breaking Out; Self-esteem; Subjects: Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: motif, theme, symbol, characterization; U.S./1865 – 1913, 1913 – 1929; & Diversity/African-American) [15+]
Conquest
(Respect; Responsibility; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Biography/Napoleon Bonaparte; World/France, Poland & The 1800s) [12+]
Conrack
(Respect SEL: Male Role Model; Work/Career; Education; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & South Carolina) [10+]
Coppelia
(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Dance/Performance) [5+]
Countdown to Year Zero
Academic Version
(The Environment; U.S. History & Culture 1991 to present; SEL: Caring for Animals; Taking Care of Yourself; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility) [15+; 52 minutes]
The Cove
(The Environment; SEL: Caring for Animals; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [12+]
Cry, the Beloved Country
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Grieving; Crime; Subjects: World/South Africa) [10+]
Cyrano de Bergerac
(SEL: Romantic Relationship; Self-esteem; Subjects: Drama/France; World/France) [12+] (In French with English Subtitles)
Degas and the Dancer
(Respect; Responsibility; Caring; SEL — Talent, Ambition, Mother/Daughter, Sisters; Subjects — Visual Arts; World/France; Dance) [8 – 13]
Edward Scissorhands
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Peer Pressure; Surviving; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991; ELA) [13+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase, setting, character; development, theme.]
El Norte
Respect; SEL: Human Rights; Subjects: U.S./1945 to present, Diversity & California; World/Guatamala) [14+]
Emma
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Literature/England; World/England) [12+]
Fahrenheit 451
(SEL: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Rebellion; Subjects: Science Fiction) [12+]
Fiddler on the Roof
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Parenting; Subjects: Drama/Musicals; Religions/Judaism; U.S./Diversity; World/Russia; Dance/Performance) [7+]
Finding Nemo
(Responsibility; Respect; SEL: Father/Son; Friendship; Subjects: Marine Biology (Science/Technology)) [9-12]
Fruitvale Station
(Respect; SEL: Human Rights; Subjects: U.S./1991 to present, Diversity & California) [13+]
Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Brothers; Education; Subjects: Biography; Science-Technology; World/Italy & the Renaissance) [8 – 13]
Gandhi
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Rebellion; Peace/Peacemakers; Subjects:Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions;) [10+]
Gattaca
(Respect; Fairness; SEL Breaking Out; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Human Rights; Brothers; Friendship; Suicide; Subjects: Science Fiction) [14+]
Gentleman’s Agreement
The Best of TWM
(Respect; SEL: Female Role Model; Male Role Model; Parenting; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [12+]
The Glenn Miller Story
(SEL: Talent; Subjects:Biography; Music/Popular; U.S./1929 – 1945) [12+]
The Gods Must be Crazy
(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: World/Africa) [9+]
The Gods Must Be Crazy II
(SEL: Male Role Model; Subjects: Environment; World/Africa) [10+]
Gorillas in the Mist
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Citizenship; SEL — Caring for Animals; Courage; Human Rights; Romantic Relationships; Subjects — The Environment; Science-Technology; World/Africa) [13+]
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
(SEL: Families in Crisis; Subjects: U.S./ 1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [10+]
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Revenge, Fighting, Grieving; Subjects: Drama/England) [12+]
Happy Feet
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Responsibility; Respect; CaringSEL: Friendship; Courage; Self-Esteem; Disabilities) [5 – 8]
The Help
(US 1945-1991, Diversity & Mississippi; SEL: Self-Esteem, Friendship, Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
High School Musical
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Breaking Out; Friendship, Peer Pressure; Father/Son; Talent; Subjects: Dance; Drama/Musicals) [8 – 14]
Horton Hears a Who!
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Responsibility; Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Courage) [4 – 8]
Ice Princess
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Fairness; Caring; SEL: Breaking Out; Parenting; Mother/daughter; Sportsmanship; Subjects: Sports/Ice Skating) [9+]
Iron Jawed Angels
The Best of TWM
(U.S. 1913 – 1929; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Leadership; Female Role Model. Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness) [11+]
The Jackie Robinson Story
(Trustworthiness, Respect, Citizenship; SEL: Male Role Model; Subjects: Biography; Sports/Baseball; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [8+]
James’ Journey to Jerusalem
(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Respect; Fairness; SEL: Friendship; Father/Son; Subjects: World/Israel; Religions) [12+]
The Jazz Singer
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Breaking Out; Talent; Subjects: Cinema; U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & New York; Music/Popular) [12+]
Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar Acceptance Speech – February 9, 2020
ELA; Civics; Social Emotional Learning: Human Rights, Justice, Redemption; Animal Rights
Judgment at Nuremberg
(Respect, Responsibility; Fairness; SEL: Justice; Human Rights, Male Role Model; Ethical Emphasis: Subjects: U.S./1941 – 1945 & The Law; World/WWII) [10+]
Julius Caesar
(SEL: Ambition; Rebellion; Subjects: Drama/England; World/Ancient Rome) [12+]
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Talking and Playing for Growth
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Coming of Age; Talent; Friendship; Courage) [5 – 8]
The King and I
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Courage, Education Subjects: Drama/Musicals; World/Thailand; U.S./1860 – 1865; Dance/Performance) [8+]
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
(Respect; Caring; Trustworthiness; Citizenship; SEL: Ambition; Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Friendship; Subjects: U.S./1929 – 1941 (the Great Depression) [6-10]
La Traviata
(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Music/Opera; World/France) (12+) (In Italian with English Subtitles)
A Life on our Planet
(The Environment; SEL: Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [9+]
Liszts’ Rhapsody
(SEL: Talent; Subjects: Biography; Music/Classical;) [6 – 12]
The Long Walk Home
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Female Role Model; Breaking Out; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Alabama) [12+]
Matewan
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Male Role Model; Fighting; Subjects: U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & West Virginia; Religions/Christianity) [12+]
This is America Charlie Brown
The Mayflower Voyagers
Short Subject
(Subjects: U.S./1629 – 1750) [7 – 11; 24 minutes]
Michael Collins
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Peace/Peacemakers; Courage in War; Breaking Out; Rebellion; Subjects: World/Ireland; Biography) [14+]
The Mission
(SEL: Brothers; Redemption; Courage; Rebellion; Subjects: Religions/Christianity; World/South America, Paraguay, Brazil) [13+]
Mr. Holland’s Opus
(Responsibility; Citizenship; Caring; Respect; SEL: Education; Male Role Model; Parenting; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Marriage; Disabilities; Subjects: Music/Classical; U.S. 1945 – 1991) [10+]
Music Within
(U.S. 1945 – 1991; Health (disabilities; effects of early-life trauma); SEL: Disabilities; Work/Career; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Citizenship) [14+]
Native Son
(Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; SEL: Justice; Friendship; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Literature/U.S.) [15+]
Never Cry Wolf
(Caring for Animals; Courage; Subjects: Science-Technology, The Environment; U.S./1945 – 1991; Alaska) [10+]
The Nutcracker
(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Dance) [5+]
The Outsiders
(Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring; SEL: Brothers; Coming of Age; Courage; Fighting; Friendship; Peer Pressure; Redemption; Subjects: Literature/U.S.; U.S./1945 – 1991) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase; flashback; symbol; foreshadowing; Bildungsroman; irony; protagonist/antagonist confusion and theme]
A Passage To India
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Friendship; Romantic Relationships; Justice; Subjects: World/India & England; Literature/England) [12+]
Patton
(SEL: Leadership; Subjects: U.S./1941 – 1945) [12+]
Pride and Prejudice
(Respect; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Sisters; Humility; Subjects: Literature/England; World/England) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: theme; foils, contrasting characters; character development; subplot; irony; and use of letters read by a character]
Princess Mononoke
(Respect; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Male Role Model; Leadership; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: World/Japan; The Environment; Mythology; Cinema) [12+]
Rabbit-Proof Fence
(Respect; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Subjects: World/Australia) [10+]
A Raisin in the Sun
(Respect; Fairness; SEL: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Drama/U.S.) [12+]
Remember the Titans
(Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship; SEL: Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football) [11+]
Romeo and Juliet
(Respect; Caring; SEL: Fighting; Romantic Relationships; Suicide; Revenge; Subjects: Drama/England) [12+]
Roots Vol. II
(SEL: Surviving; Subjects: U.S./1629 – 1750 & Diversity) [12+]
Roots Vol. III
(SEL: Surviving; Subjects: U.S./1750 – 1812; & Diversity) [12+]
Roots Vol. IV
(SEL: Rebellion; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1860 & Diversity) [12+]
Roots Vol. V
(SEL: Father/Son; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1860 & Diversity) [12+]
Roots Vol. VI
(Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913 & Diversity) [12+]
Ryan’s Daughter
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: World/Ireland & WWI) [15+]
Sayonara
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Male Role Model; Friendship; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity; World/Japan) [12+]
Schindler’s List
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring; SEL: Courage; Rebellion; Subjects: Biography; World/WWII) [15+]
The Shootist
(Respect; Caring SEL: Coming of Age; Illness (Serious); Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913; Literature/Myths of the Western Genre; Literary Devices: theme & characterization; Cinema) [14+]
Show Boat
(SEL: Marriage; Romantic Relationships; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Gambling Addiction; Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913 & Diversity; Cinema; Drama/Musicals; Dance/Performance) [11+]
South Pacific
(Respect; Citizenship; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Drama/Musicals; U.S./1941 – 1945 & Diversity) [10+]
Spartacus
(SEL: Rebellion; Subjects: Biography; World/Ancient Rome) [13+]
Strictly Ballroom
(SEL: Breaking Out; Talent; Families in Crisis; Subjects: Dance; World/Australia) [9+]
To Kill A Mockingbird
(Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Justice; Male Role Model; Courage; Mental Illness; Parenting; Disabilities; Subjects: U.S./1929 – 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor]
Tootsie
(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York; Drama/U.S.) [13+]
The Tuskegee Airmen
(Respect; Responsibility; SEL: Courage; Courage in War; Friendship; Self-esteem; Grieving; Suicide; Surviving; Subjects: Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945; Diversity & Alabama) [10+]
TWO CONTRASTING TRADITIONS RELATING TO RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA and a Tragic Irony of the American Revolution: the Sacrifice of Freedom for the African-American Slaves on the Altar of Representative Democracy
(U.S.: all time periods & Diversity/African-American and World: The Enlightenment and all time periods thereafter; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect)
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
(Respect; Fairness; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1865; 1865 – 1913; and African Americans & the Civil Rights Movement; Literature/U.S. (Narrative Writing)) [10+]
Water
(Respect; Caring; Fairness; SEL: Human Rights; Suicide; Breaking Out; Subjects: World/India; Religions/Hinduism; ELA) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony]
West Side Story
(Respect; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Fighting; Revenge; Romantic Relationships; Bad Associations; Subjects: Drama/Musicals; U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & New York; Dance/Performance) [12+]
Whale Rider
(Respect; SEL: Breaking Out; Female Role Model; Subjects: World/New Zealand; ELA, including characterization, symbol and foil) [12+]
White Nights
(Trustworthiness; Respect; SEL: Breaking Out; Courage; Subjects: Dance; World/Cold War & Russia; U.S./Diversity) [13+]
The Wizard of Oz
(Trustworthiness, Respect, Caring; SEL: Self-esteem; Friendship; Taking Care of Yourself; Breaking Out; Subject: Drama/Musicals; U.S./1865-1913; Cinema) [5+]
The Year Earth Changed
(The Environment; SEL: Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [8+]