Best Motivational TV Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now

Motivational TV shows, comedies that will make you laugh until your side hurts, ground-breaking documentaries, and all-around feel-good series can be found on Netflix that will get anyone out of their funk and truly inspired. Sometimes, going on a Netflix binge doesn’t always sound like the most productive activity on the weekends, but it can be if an uplifting or informative series feeds the viewers’ minds and boosts their mood. Netflix gives viewers access to intriguing travel series and heartwarming reality shows that people can sit back and enjoy.

A TV series can give anyone the jolt of creativity they are looking for, and with multiple episodes, that creativity can last for a longer period than a single movie. Fictional or real people can give anyone the idea that they were looking for and test out scenarios or conversations that someone may not be able to have. Self-made millionaires, family businesses, balancing work life and family life — there are certain areas of life that most viewers are trying to figure out themselves. Here are a few of the best motivational TV shows on Netflix that may be the inspirational story someone may need.

Updated on November 10th, 2023 by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

20 Cobra Kai

With 5 seasons and 50 episodes, Cobra Kai returned decades after the original Karate Kid films to continue the combustible rivalry between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel Russo. Down-and-out Johnny reopens the Cobra Kai dojo with an aggressive style, straying away from the motto of the art, while the very successful Daniel advocates compassion. Throughout the seasons, we see confrontations and conflicts between their students. But amidst it all, they discover strength, learn about perseverance, and find purpose.

What Makes It Motivational?

The show leads you to believe that it is all about rivalries, whether it is between Johnny and Daniel or the students. However, the truth is that its heart speaks of never giving up on one’s dreams. No matter what age or status. The young leads are seen growing from their mistakes and standing up for their principles. Moreover, the fun pop-culture references also point out the fact that life lessons come from places you least expect.

19 Selling Sunset

Selling Sunset is a Netflix reality series that follows the elite realtors at The Oppenheim Group as they negotiate multi-million dollar deals with top-class buyers in Los Angeles. Chrishell Stause, Christine Quinn, and Mary Fitzgerald comprise the main cast. They hustle daily in their attempts to close high-end deals for celebrity clients while also dealing with their hectic personal lives.

What Makes It Motivational?

Sure, viewers flock in to watch the show for its glamorous backdrops and luxurious homes. But Selling Sunset is so much more than that. It highlights professional women pursuing dreams that are unwavering. It challenges gender norms and sees the same women juggle responsibilities, professions, and relationships. Their spirit under pressure, their wit, and their passion remind us that even we can get through the daily grind.

18 Family Business

After the performance of their kosher butcher shop sees a steady decline, young and hapless entrepreneur Joseph is determined to bring it back to life. At the same time, he hears that cannabis is about to be legalized in France, and the idea of turning the show into the first marijuana coffee shop in the country strikes him. Family Business follows the Parisian family’s struggle to realize this dream.

What Makes It Motivational?

The family takes center stage in the show. By becoming an epitome of empathy and determination against all odds, and working diligently under Joseph’s quiet leadership, they lift each other up. Because it is a family that works together, there are some inevitable differences, but the show particularly resonates with the viewers for its ability to balance the drama and changing dynamics with unconditional support and love.

17 The Good Place

When Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who has lived a less than virtuous life full of deceit and corruption on Earth, unwittingly ends up in the blissful afterlife meant for good souls, she decides to hide her mistaken identity and become a better person instead – one who deserves to be in “the good place.” Paired with characters like Michael, Janet, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason, who strive endlessly to keep their experimental neighborhood in order, she goes through several life-defining moments.

What Makes It Motivational?

Though marked as a comedy, The Good Place asks profound questions about a person’s righteousness, ethics, personal growth, and overall kindness, leaving the audience to ponder on their own life and how it impacts others. Kristen Bell is a phenomenal protagonist and her journey challenges the belief of who deserves to be in a “good” place and who ends up in the “bad” place. Michael is also an inspirational character. His open-minded and understanding nature truly lights up a room.

16 Gilmore Girls

Set in a blissful, picturesque Connecticut town, Stars Hollow, Gilmore Girls is a witty and fast-paced series that follows Lorelai, a single mother who raises her daughter Rory with absolute grace. Their tight bond is the core of the show. From surviving adolescence and pursuing education at Yale to navigating relationships and dealing with heartbreaks, the mother-daughter duo has an unforgettable story.

What Makes It Motivational?

Lorelai and Rory model empowerment from family, which is as rare on television as it is in real life. Gilmore Girls is all about learning and coffee, and the glowing personalities of its lead, played wonderfully by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, only add to the overall charm. Despite them being omnipresent throughout the seven seasons, the show focuses on the shared joys and losses of the supporting characters, who also lend their humor, compassion, and can-do spirit.

15 New Amsterdam

Based on the book 12 Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by former medical director, Eric Manheimer, New Amsterdam is an inspiring medical show for many reasons. The focal character, Dr. Max Goodwin shines in it continuously as an amazing example of kindness, generosity, and someone who cares about helping less fortunate people in any way he can. When he’s appointed as the medical director of the New Amsterdam public hospital, he quickly makes radical and unpopular changes. However, it soon becomes clear that his motivations are pure since his vision is to transform the place into one that prioritizes patient care and provides access to quality healthcare to those who need it most.

What Makes It Motivational?

Across its five seasons, the show was often a real tear-jerker at times. It was also known for tackling many social justice themes and shining a light on issues such as racism, profits versus patient care, and immigrant struggles. Given all it does to imbue its main characters with plenty of heart, it’s no coincidence that Max and the show’s catchphrase is “How can I help?”

14 Sweet Magnolias

Based on the books by Sheryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias has so far proven to be a very popular show. With its third season premiering recently, the show follows three women from South Carolina. They’ve been friends since childhood, each well accustomed to small-town life in a town called Serenity.

What Makes It Motivational?

Featuring many sweet, funny, and dramatic plots, the show charts the lives of the three friends as they help each other through everything from family life, relationships, their respective careers, and other struggles. With strong themes of friendship, values, and love, these amazing women each show us how important it is to have strong connections and a firm foundation of people we can rely on.

13 Arnold

Netflix’s docuseries Arnold charts the amazing life and career of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s known for his many successes in Hollywood over the decades that made him a legend of the screen. His roles in films like Terminator have become iconic and made him one of the most recognizable action stars around the world as a result. He may have been embroiled in his fair share of controversies and had a divisive tenure as a Governor too, but one thing that Arnold Schwarzenegger can never be accused of is being lazy or unmotivated.

What Makes It Motivational?

With all the fame he’s acquired as a movie star over the years, many people may not even realize that he came to America as an immigrant with nothing to his name. Despite this, his enterprising ethic, fondness for fitness, and sheer hard work and determination saw him rise to be a millionaire long before he ever was an action star. With fascinating insights into his life, career, and move into politics, the series makes it easy to see why his story has become a very inspirational one to many people around the world.

12 Ugly Betty

On the surface, Ugly Betty is just a fun, quirky, and lighthearted show with a great cast and interesting characters. However, beneath its humor, there’s also a dramatic undertone with some very poignant themes. It stars America Ferrera as Betty, a young Mexican-American woman who has a great heart but is negatively labeled for her fashion sense and appearance. When Betty unexpectedly lands a job at a high-end fashion magazine, she initially sticks out like a sore thumb among its glamorous employees and work culture.

What Makes It Motivational?

A very popular show that was also very acclaimed, it often tackled issues such as immigration, love, and friendship, but also took stabs at the fashion industry for its superficial reputation. A great show about learning to be true to ourselves, Ugly Betty also shows us that true beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and that self-acceptance is more important than what others think of us.

11 Love on the Spectrum

An Australian reality show with plenty of heart, Love on the Spectrum is a dating show with a difference. It features persons on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating, love, and unique daily challenges. With some amazing people driving it, the show is an inspiring one that celebrates life, love, and human connection. Noted for treating its main theme with the respect it deserves, the show has been hailed for educating audiences who may not have been familiar with the actual realities of the full lives that people with autism lead.

What Makes It Motivational?

Amid all the superficial reality shows out there that feature nauseating people obsessed with money, glamor, and beauty, this show provides a refreshing alternative. With more heart and packed with inspirational people and stories, Love on the Spectrum reminds us that being different is never a bad thing. Its inspirational stars also remind us that no matter how challenging life can be, those challenges needn’t stop us from living our lives to the fullest.

10 Orange Is the New Black

Based on a memoir by Piper Kerman, Orange Is the New Black talks about her experiences at FCI Danbury, which is a minimum-security federal prison. The show follows Piper Chapman who seems to have her life together as a public relations executive and a fiancé. However, her life gets turned upside down when her past catches up to her, and she is sentenced to a minimum-security prison in Connecticut for her old ties to a drug runner from 10 years ago.

What Makes It Motivational?

OINTB has a lot going on for itself. First of all, it gives a new definition of women’s empowerment by featuring a majority of female stars in primary roles. From Laura Prepon to Natasha Lyonne, there are women who are witty, relatable, and simply breathtaking. Secondly, the concept of the show is quite interesting. It fashions a stage for all the characters to learn and grow, eventually teaching the audience important lessons about self-acceptance, healing, and identity.

9 Tidying Up With Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo wrote the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: The Japanese Art, which came to life in the new Netflix original series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. As a reality TV show, it carries a candid tone where the host is speaking directly to us while also indulging in a healthy lifestyle of organized space and a better environment.

What Makes It Motivational?

House Beautiful says Kondo visits people’s homes to help them de-clutter and figure out what gives them joy in their lives while also giving a few tips for those watching. This means the show has plenty of relatability because you can never be way off in terms of organization. Episode after episode, she proves that organizing isn’t just about tidying up space but creating habits that give someone inner peace and joy.

8 She’s Gotta Have It

In She’s Gotta Have It, Brooklyn artist Nola Darling is trying to navigate life. She’s a free-spirited feminist who refuses to abide by socially acceptable standards starting with monogamy. Nola’s lifestyle seems wild, but she is bound and determined to maneuver through life her way as a Millennial. Even though that leaves her as a semi-starving artist, Nola is determined to develop her sense of self no matter what life throws her way.

What Makes It Motivational?

Through the show, iconic director Spike Lee revisits his own feature film and rehashes the same sentiment for the small screen. The show is quite refreshing, honest, clever, and funny. Given the time we live in, Nola’s character is someone we can all relate to, which makes her struggles, her triumphs and losses, her aspirations, and her dreams all the more resonant. In a way, the show acts as a firsthand guide for dealing with things you’re too afraid to face by having faith that it all turns out best in the end.

7 Workin’ Moms

Mom entrepreneurs are the hardest-working people to be in today’s workforce. Life after motherhood can get complicated, and for these four moms, going back to the working world is a challenge they weren’t ready for. Catherine Reitman stars as Kate Forman, a PR executive attending a group session with her best friend Anne, and making friends with two other working mothers, Jenny and Frankie. Together, the four women deal with everything that constitutes womanhood.

What Makes It Motivational?

The fast-paced and competitive work culture can get tense. Workin’ Moms sheds light on the realities of trying to balance a work life and a professional life. Not to mention the hormonal, mental, and bodily changes that each of the women went through before deciding they were prepared to enter the office again. Other than Reitman, the show stars Jessalyn Wanlim, Dani Kind, and Juno Rinaldi, who are simply breathtaking in their lead roles.

6 Girlboss

Sophia Amoruso founded the fashion empire Nasty Girl which quickly grew into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Girlboss follows Amoruso, who started by selling vintage clothes on eBay from her own closet. After five years, she finally attracted several big capital ventures worth over $100 million.

What Makes It Motivational?

The series shows how strong a woman can be when she finds the one thing she is passionate about. With the help of Sophia, a woman determined to make it big against all odds, it empowers women — ambitious women, to be specific — and challenges gender norms. Sometimes hitting rock bottom can be just the thing someone needs to finally succeed in what they actually want to do.

5 Queer Eye

In Queer Eye, The Fab Five believe that they have the best taste when it comes to interior design, fashion, wine, and even food. The main cast includes Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, and Jonathan Van Ness. Through each person’s unique perspective, audiences get to see that self-love can truly change their lives.

What Makes It Motivational?

A show that redefined reality TV and the very meaning of the term “makeover,” Queer Eye became a sensation immediately after its first season aired on Netflix. The streaming service made inclusivity accessible to all and imbued every episode with empathy and affirmation. With every season, the Fab Five come together to help someone rediscover who they are.

4 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

If a total re-haul in life is needed, then watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt needs to be queued up immediately. Kimmy has lived in a bunker in the ground for the last 15 years due to being kidnapped, abused, and held captive. The one that took her ran a cult, and after being arrested, Kimmy can live her life again in New York City.

What Makes It Motivational?

The show is built around a very bleak premise, but it is a hilarious comedy that can give anyone the inspiration they need to go about their day. After shining as Erin in The Office (US) for several seasons, Ellie Kemper takes up the screen with this brilliant four-season-long drama where she’s the center of attraction. Plus, it is written and created by Tina Fey, who brings her signature blend of heart and humor to the show.

3 Glow

Glow follows Ruth Wilder who is having a hard time landing an acting role during a time when the industry is mostly dominated by males. Finding herself with only $87, she ends up working at GLOW, which stands for Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Through all the glitz and glamour, Ruth and her team of very dramatic divas show the world that rules are meant to be broken.

What Makes It Motivational?

Alison Brie and Marc Maron are sure the powerhouse of this empowering series, but its heart lies in the message it gives, which is the fact that women can do anything a man can do but better. Being set in the ’80s, it carries an aesthetic of men dominating major industries like showbiz and sports. Subverting that and emerging as an inspiration to its viewers, Glow features a mix of hilarity, emotion, important conversations, and motivation.

2 The Last Dance

A wide array of NBA stars make it into the series, but it centers around Michael Jordan and his career with the Chicago Bulls. We start from the very beginning and flash forward to when Jordan was at the peak of his fame. A film crew was allowed to capture an intimate portrait of the Bulls’ 1997-98 season from start to finish. Each episode will leave viewers walking away with something to step up their game in their own lives.

What Makes It Motivational?

Basketball was the game that Michael Jordan gave his entire life to. Someone doesn’t have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this latest docuseries created by Netflix. The Last Dance teaches everyone to never give up on their dream, but more importantly, never give up on yourself and what you believe in.

1 Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Madam C.J. Walker built a hair care empire that made her a self-made millionaire in this inspirational four-part series. Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker tells the true story behind how Walker was able to become America’s first woman millionaire. She was determined to succeed no matter what everyone kept telling her. She was shown going through plenty of struggles, but her creativity and tenacity made her succeed in the end.

What Makes It Motivational?

EU-Startups describes Walker as an inspiration for any woman who wants to blaze their own path. Through the story of one woman who fights for success against all odds, the series advocates faith, perseverance, and agility. Walker also dealt with systematic racism in an era struggling with its repercussions.