THE 40 MOST EMOTIONAL MOVIES ABOUT AUTISM - ECONOMÍA - 2024

The movies about autism that I bring you in this article will help you understand this disorder a little more and you will enjoy them more if you are one of those who think that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Autism has been seen as a mysterious, strange universe full of riddles to solve. This may be due to the fact that this disease manifests itself very differently in each person who suffers from it: some run and move without stopping, others, however, remain seated or lying down, always looking at the same place.

What all people with autism have in common is their lack of social skills, being unable to relate to others in a healthy way and showing a marked lack of empathy; a resistance to change (they love routines), and deficits in language and communication in general, in fact, many autists do not speak.

Recommended Movies About Autism

1- Mozart and the whale or crazy in love (2005)

The title of the film reflects the moment when they meet to go to the Halloween party and Donald dresses up as a whale and Isabel from Mozart.

But, as is to be expected, the problems they both have with their emotions and the rigidity of their disorders; They will cause conflicts between the two to start to arise.

2-Adam (2009)

Directed by Max Mayer, it tells the story of Adam; a lonely and mysterious boy with Asperger Syndrome who lives alone in Manhattan after the death of his father.

Adam has trouble communicating with others and has repetitive space exploration behaviors that cause problems in his daily life.

One day he meets his neighbor Beth, a beautiful young woman who begins to notice him despite his oddities, and who will try to understand him and help him adapt to a world that seems to be unprepared for him.

3- The Boy Who Could Fly or Beyond Reality (1986)

Film directed by Nick Castle, which tells the story of Milly, a girl who moves with her family to another house after the death of her father.

There they will have to face various problems, such as difficulties in the new school or problems to carry out work, in addition to the bullies who threaten Milly's brother every day.

One day Milly becomes friends with Eric, a boy with autism who is going to change all his schemes.

4-My name is Khan (2010)

It is an Indian-American film directed by Karan Johar, which tells the story of a boy with Asperger syndrome named Rizwan Khan, who causes him problems in his social relationships. After the death of his mother, he traveled to San Francisco to see his brother and settled there.

During this period he meets Mandira, a single mother with whom he falls madly in love.

The adventures begin when, after the 9/11 attacks, the protagonist is arrested for suspicious behavior. Kan will then go on a journey to defend his innocence.

5-The Story of Luke (2012)

It is a comedy directed by Alonso Mayo, it reflects the story of an autistic boy named Luke, who lives with his grandparents.

Things get complicated when his grandmother dies and his dysfunctional family members have to take care of him, not giving him the understanding he needs.

On the other hand, his grandfather, who has senile dementia, asks him before they take him to the residence to do his own request and get a job and a girlfriend. Thus, Luke feels ready to fight: he wants to show everyone that he is capable of fulfilling his grandfather's wishes.

6- Backstreet Dreams or Courage to Love (1990)

It is a drama that recounts the experiences of a couple with their autistic son, although they were unaware of the disease. They noticed the day they decided to take him to a clinic for advice on how to deal with the problem.

The struggle and effort that must be carried out in order to survive the problems caused by the child's behavior is reflected, making things worse when the marriage separates, when the husband discovers that his wife is being unfaithful.

7- Mercury Rising (1998)

This American action movie by Harold Becker is about an FBI agent investigating the case of a missing child.

It turns out that the little boy, Simon Lynch, is a 9-year-old autistic who they are looking for for having deciphered a code called "Mercury" that allowed access to the darkest secrets of the government and that they never thought that someone, not even a machine, I could get to decipher it.

8- Fly Away (2011)

It is a drama that reflects the story of a single mother who has to take care of her teenage daughter named Mandy, who has severe autism.

Everything begins to be worrying when she realizes that her daughter is growing up and has to build her future, Jeanne (the mother) feeling that her daughter is a great chain that oppresses her.

9- I am Sam (2001)

From the hand of Jessie Nelson, we meet Sam Dawson, a man with autistic features who must only take care of his daughter, since the mother abandoned them since she gave birth.

Difficulties manifest themselves as the girl grows older, realizing that at 7 years of age the little girl has more mental capacities than her father.

For this reason, the State will consider that Sam is unfit to have a daughter and will try to take custody of her. However, the protagonist looks for an excellent lawyer to get to stay with the little girl.

10- Little Man Tate (1991)

It is about a child prodigy named Fred Tate, who has Asperger syndrome. At the age of 7 he can play the piano, is an artist and excellent in mathematics. But on the other hand, he has no friends and feels bored at school because he feels that it does not bring him anything.

His mother notices this and decides to make the most of her son's surprising abilities, attending a psychological consultation where they advise him to place the little one in a school for the gifted.

11- Snow Cake (2006)

This Marc Evans film tells the story of Alex, a mature Englishman who on a trip to Canada picks up a girl on the road who was hitchhiking. Unfortunately they suffer a serious traffic accident that ends the girl's life.

Alex, stunned, feels committed to visiting the young woman's mother, who has autism and does not seem very concerned by the news. Alex finally stays with his mother for a few days to help her with her hobbies, and little by little they become friends.

At that moment is when the protagonist meets Maggie, a neighbor with whom he will have a special relationship. However, a local police officer begins to investigate Alex's past.

12- Rain Man (1988)

It's about a young man named Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise) who has a good life and works for a major car company.

He is eager to inherit the fortune left by his father when he died, however, when he reads the will, he realizes that the entire inheritance is for his older brother: an autistic man he did not know because he had always lived isolated in a special center.

Charlie tries to kidnap his brother so that he gives him half of the inheritance, but little by little, he will begin to care for him.

13- Mater amatísima (1980)

Directed by José Antonio Salgot and based on a story by Bigas Luna, it tells the story of Clara, a woman who has a baby with autism. Upon learning of the disease, she refuses to take him to a special center and dedicates herself exclusively to giving him all the care he needs.

As time goes by, the child grows and the attention and care he needs are greater and greater. Both end up seeing themselves involved in a pathological relationship, which causes Clara to isolate herself little by little from the world, losing her job.

14- Autism: The musical (2007)

It is a documentary by Tricia Regan, reflecting the lives of 5 children with autism and their families. Together they work to write and rehearse a theater production.

Thanks to this documentary we can see what the characteristics of children with autism are like, for example, one is an expert on dinosaurs and another plays the cello and sings. While we can also know how families live this disease.

Some of the parents who appear in this situation are famous like Rosanne Katon-Walden and her husband Richard Walden or Stephen Stills.

15- Nell (1994)

This film by Michael Apted starring Jodie Foster, tells the life of a young woman who since she was little has spent her days locked alone in a cabin in the middle of the forest.

It seems that, after his mother and sister died, he has not had any contact with the outside and this has undermined his mind: he speaks in a strange language and presents totally unusual customs.

Some scientists find her and begin to study her and try to get her to interact with other people. However, it is Nell, the girl, who ends up changing the way the scientists who analyze her see things.

We cannot claim that Nell is autistic, but we can see in the film how her behavior resembles that of a person with autism, as if she were living in an isolated world and apart from human contact.

16- The Black Balloon (2008)

The protagonist of this Australian film is Thomas, a teenager who wants to lead a normal life. However, his brother who is diagnosed with autism (Charlie) always ruins every opportunity he has to grow and be able to opt for a little independence.

The only one trying to resolve these differences between siblings is Thomas's girlfriend, a girl named Jackie who wants him to understand that he must accept her brother despite his problems.

17- House of Cards or Sally's secret (1993)

Through director Michael Lessac comes the story of a girl named Sally, who has begun to behave strangely after learning of the sudden death of her father. Her behavior is becoming more and more worrisome, which is why her mother, Ruth, asks for help from an expert in childhood autism.

However, it seems that conventional therapies have no effect on the little girl. In this way, Ruth tries to do something different: understand her daughter by trying to understand her eccentricities, which puts her own mental health at stake.

18- Elle s'appelle Sabine or her name is Sabine (2007)

It is a documentary directed by actress Sandrine Bonnaire that portrays the life of her younger sister, Sabine Bonnaire, an autistic woman who requires permanent attention.

In fact, he lives in a specialized center. Over the years Sandrine has accumulated family photos and videos in which the protagonist is her sister, with the aim of bringing her illness closer to the world.

He also tries to imply that his decline over the years may be due to the internment in a psychiatric center, and mainly, the drugs that were given there.

19- David's Mother or a very special affection (1994)

Sally, a single mother, is dedicated to taking care of her autistic son David with whom she has too strong a bond. And it is that deep down Sally holds a feeling of guilt, maintaining the belief that her son has this condition because of her.

His sister Bea realizes the situation and tries to make Sally change her life and leave some space for her son; Since being so overprotective has caused her various conflicts in the past.

The problem arises when a social worker, Gladys, visits her and indicates that David should go to a foster home to be properly treated.

20- After Thomas (2006)

Based on real events, it recounts the struggle and headaches that the parents of a child with this disease have to suffer.

The director, Simon Shore, shows us the life of Kyle, a 6-year-old boy who is terrified by any activity of daily life. This is made even more difficult by not being able to share his fears and concerns, since, among other things, he is not able to speak or relate to others.

All this are clear manifestations of autism, something that has his parents desperate because they do not know how to understand him and enter their world. This is hurting them to the point that the mother, Nicola, is having obsessive behaviors with the son.

At this time, the father is going to try to make his wife understand that the child should stay in a special center.

Other movies about autism

21- Fairy tales to sleep crocodiles (2002)

22- Planète Autisme or Autistic Universe (2013) (documentary)

23- Mario (1984)

24- The Other Sister (1999)

25- Silence (1974)

26- The Pit (1981)

27- Silent Fall (1994)

28- Cube (1997)

29- San zimske noci or a winter night's dream (2004)

30- Maria and me (2010) (documentary)

31- Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love (1979)

32- Meat (1991)

33- Molly (1999)

34- Run Wild, Run Free or Wild and Free (1969)

35- Under the piano or a sky without tears (1996)

36- Marathon (2005)

37- Miracle Run or An Unexpected Journey (2004)

38- Cries from the Heart or The Hidden Truth (1994)

39- What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

40- Chocolate (2008)