Autism films and series
A list of autism films and tv series. Some of the characters have autism, or autism features. I have not personally seen all of the movies or series, so I can't recommend all of them.
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- DirectorMick JacksonStarsClaire DanesJulia OrmondDavid StrathairnA biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.
- DirectorNic BalthazarStarsMarijke PinoyGreg TimmermansCesar De SutterAs an alternative to getting bullied at school, an autistic teenager retreats into the world of online role-playing games.
- DirectorAdam ElliotStarsToni CollettePhilip Seymour HoffmanEric BanaIn 1976 Melbourne, a lonely 8-year-old girl strikes up a correspondence with an unlikely pen pal: a severely obese 44-year-old New Yorker with Asperger's syndrome.
- DirectorMax MayerStarsHugh DancyRose ByrnePeter GallagherAdam, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth.
- DirectorPetter NæssStarsJosh HartnettRadha MitchellGary ColeA love story between two savants with Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism, whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsDustin HoffmanTom CruiseValeria GolinoAfter a selfish L.A. yuppie learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother in Ohio that he didn't know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.
- DirectorKaran JoharStarsShah Rukh KhanKajolSheetal MenonAn Indian Muslim man with Asperger's syndrome takes a challenge to speak to the President of the United States seriously and embarks on a cross-country journey.
- DirectorMarc EvansStarsAlan RickmanSigourney WeaverCarrie-Anne MossA drama focused on the friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman and a man who is traumatized after a fatal car accident.
- DirectorStephen DaldryStarsThomas HornTom HanksSandra BullockA nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsAdam SandlerEmily WatsonPhilip Seymour HoffmanSocially frustrated Barry Egan calls a phone-sex line to curb his loneliness. Little does he know it will land him in deep trouble and will jeopardize his burgeoning romance with the mysterious Lena.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsJohnny DeppLeonardo DiCaprioJuliette LewisA young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally-disabled younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness.
- DirectorJessie NelsonStarsSean PennMichelle PfeifferDakota FanningAn intellectually disabled man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family.
- DirectorElissa DownStarsRhys WakefieldLuke FordToni ColletteAll Thomas wants is a normal adolescence but his autistic brother, Charlie, thwarts his every opportunity. Will Thomas, with the help of his girlfriend, Jackie, accept his brother?
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsChanning TatumAmanda SeyfriedRichard JenkinsA romantic drama about a soldier who falls for a conservative college student while he's home on leave.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsRussell CroweEd HarrisJennifer ConnellyA mathematical genius, John Nash made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a harrowing journey of self-discovery.
- DirectorHarold BeckerStarsBruce WillisMiko HughesAlec BaldwinShadowy elements in the NSA target a nine-year old autistic savant for death when he is able to decipher a top secret code.
- DirectorJohn DuiganStarsElisabeth ShueAaron EckhartJill HennessyA bachelor becomes the unwilling guardian of his autistic, intellectually disabled sister; then an experimental treatment works a dramatic change in her brain and his attitude.
- DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsMichael NyqvistNoomi RapaceEwa FrölingA journalist is aided by a young female hacker in his search for the killer of a woman who has been dead for forty years.
- DirectorDaniel AlfredsonStarsNoomi RapaceMichael NyqvistLena EndreAs computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name.
- DirectorDaniel AlfredsonStarsMichael NyqvistNoomi RapaceLena EndreLisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released. Mikael must prove her innocence, but Lisbeth must be willing to share the details of her sordid experiences with the court.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsDaniel CraigRooney MaraChristopher PlummerJournalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years by young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.
- DirectorPrachya PinkaewStarsJeeJa YaninHiroshi AbePongpat WachirabunjongAn autistic girl with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother's debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money.
- DirectorKaspar RostrupStarsGhita NørbyThure LindhardtFrits HelmuthA mother and her autistic son Brian. One evening he comes home from his evening walk with stained shoes. The next morning it is rumored that a young woman was murdered in the neighboring park. The identity of the suspect is obvious, and while the police break down the door, Fru tries to keep her son in safe waters.
- DirectorWilliam DearStarsLuke SchroderDean CainGeorge CanyonMickey Tussler, an autistic pitcher, joins a minor-league baseball team and has a profound effect on the team and manager Arthur "Murph" Murphy over the course of a season.
- DirectorQuentin LeeStarsBooboo StewartHarry Shum Jr.Joan ChenCelebrate the 10th anniversary of Quentin Lee's gripping mystery of loss and redemption at the intersections of queerness, neurodiversity, and Asian-American identity.
- DirectorAlonso MayoStarsLou Taylor PucciJayne EastwoodPam HyattSheltered by his grandparents, Luke, a young man with autism, is thrust into a world that doesn't expect anything from him. But Luke is on a quest for a job and true love. And he isn't taking no for an answer.
- DirectorBirger LarsenStarsLucas Odin CloriusViktor Kruse PalshøjAndrea ReimerA young boy wishes he could improve his and his autistic big brother's lives somehow. One day a magic remote falls from the sky and changes everything. But can the boy control such a powerful device?
- DirectorJanet GrilloStarsBeth BroderickAshley RickardsAramazd StepanianThe story of Jeanne and her autistic teenage daughter, Mandy. Jeanne has cared for Mandy since the day she was born, growing closer every day to a child who is charmingly offbeat one moment and nearly impossible to manage the next.
- DirectorMichael WorthStarsMargot FarleyMichael WorthJohn SaxonNoah Connelly is a boxer with a tireless opponent: Autism. But when he meets a dancer named Alexia, the two discover together that the toughest fight may be not be of the body, but of the heart.
- DirectorAndreas ÖhmanStarsBill SkarsgårdMartin WallströmCecilia ForssA younger brother with Aspergers syndrome helps his older brother find a girlfriend.
- DirectorMichael Ray FoxStarsRhys Bevan-JohnChristina CuffariCory BowlesA socially introverted game designer named William Borchert has barely left his house in years. Once reunited with Olivia, the girl he had loved since high school, he fights to live with his condition of undiagnosed Autism and to form a hopeful future.
- DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsSol Kyung-guMoon So-riAhn Nae-sangAn irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
- DirectorYoon-Chul JungStarsCho Seung-wooKim Mi-sookLee Ki-youngAn autistic boy discovers he has a talent for running and with the help of the mother participates in a major marathon.
- DirectorMorten TyldumStarsBenedict CumberbatchKeira KnightleyMatthew GoodeDuring World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
- DirectorCarlos BrooksStarsBriana EviganCharlie TahanGarret DillahuntA thriller centered on a young woman and her autistic little brother who are trapped in a house with a ravenous tiger during a hurricane.
- DirectorChuck RussellStarsKim BasingerJimmy SmitsRufus SewellCody, a little girl abandoned by her mother and raised by her aunt, a nurse, is kidnapped. The girl's guardian, aided by an F.B.I. agent, learn that Cody has supernatural abilities, and the abductees are a Satanic cult willing to do anything to gain them.
- DirectorNick CastleStarsLucy DeakinsJay UnderwoodBonnie BedeliaAn autistic boy who dreams of flying touches everyone he meets, including a new family who has moved in after their father dies.
- DirectorMichael LessacStarsKathleen TurnerTommy Lee JonesAsha MeninaA widow tries to find out why her daughter's strange behavior, a reaction to her father's death, is progressively worsening.
- DirectorXiaolu XueStarsJet LiZhang WenGwei Lun-MeiExplores the subject of parental love and autism in kids.
- DirectorBruce BeresfordStarsRichard DreyfussLinda HamiltonJohn LithgowAn autistic boy witnesses his parents' double murder. A controversial therapist seeks to probe the child's mind in order to solve the case.
- DirectorJohn ErmanStarsNathan LaneRobert Sean LeonardTony GoldwynJack Palmer is a social worker whose job has taken precedence over his personal life. Mainly, his job is to help four mentally challenged men live regular lives in a home. They consist of: Norman, who works at a donut shop and has a thing for keys; Barry, who thinks he is a golf pro and doesn't communicate well with his father; Arnold, who is into all things Russian and has a habit of spending money; and Lucien, who is into Spider Man and must testify before the state senate. Jack wants to help them, but he also thinks it is time to move on with his life. The hard part is trying to say goodbye to the guys he cares about.
- DirectorGregg ChampionStarsMary-Louise ParkerAidan QuinnZac EfronA mom is alone with her fraternal twin sons after they're diagnosed with autism. She tries to give them a normal childhood.
- DirectorRob BrownStarsAndrew ScottGeorgia GroomeAntonia Campbell-HughesAn autistic man and woman's friendship becomes tested when a 15-year old girl comes between them.
- DirectorTricia BrockStarsLucas BlackWilliam Lee ScottFred WillardA guitar playing car thief meets an autistic savant piano player, and together they transform a group of reluctant halfway house convicts into The Killer Diller Blues Band.
- DirectorGuerdon TruebloodStarsTiffany BollingBen PiazzaSusan SennettA nonverbal autistic boy stumbles upon a teenage heiress who has been kidnapped by a trio of young psychopaths, who are intent on extorting diamonds from her stepfather.
- DirectorSimon ShoreStarsKeeley HawesBen MilesSheila HancockA true story about a couple's struggles to meet the challenges of their son's autism.
- DirectorGlenn JordanStarsJames FarentinoKathryn HarroldStephen ElliottA young couple is overjoyed when they find out that, after having had two girls, the wife is pregnant again, and this time it will be a son. However, the boy turns out to autistic. Unhappy with the diagnoses and treatments available, they decide to work out their own therapy program for their son.
- DirectorChristophe RuggiaStarsVincent RottiersAdèle HaenelRochdy LabidiOrphaned 12-year-old twins Joseph and Chloé have been on the run together. Chloé is autistic, non-verbal and fears being touched. Joseph dearly loves her and dreams she will recover if they find their parents and fight the system.
- DirectorMichael SwitzerStarsPatty DukeMelissa GilbertBradley PierceMichael, a young autistic boy who has trouble with verbalization but a real talent for technology, uses a computer to plead for help after being molested at his school.
- DirectorRobert Allan AckermanStarsKirstie AlleySam WaterstonStockard ChanningA woman estranged from her husband and family insists on caring for her autistic son alone.
- DirectorStefan ScainiStarsAmanda PlummerMegan FollowsTeresa StratasAn autistic child growing up in the 1940's and 50's with a mother who is bitter because her fear of success has denied to herself a possible career in opera. This anger translates into an over-protectiveness of her mentally ill daughter, even into the child's adulthood. But a loving sister, herself having an arm that is paralyzed, is a bastion against the limitations imposed by the mother and finally helps her sister to live a more full life.
- DirectorSherri KaukStarsRobert LoggiaCharles DurningMartin KoveThe rare story of an autistic sauvant, whose prodigious skill is fighting - and maybe more.
- DirectorKenneth GlenaanStarsHelena Bonham CarterThomas RedfordChristopher ParkinsonInspired by the life of Jacqui Jackson. Helena Bonham Carter stars as Maggi, a mother with seven children - three 'normal' daughters and four sons who are each, in one form or another, autistic.
- DirectorMicheline LanctôtStarsMicheline LanctôtGabriel GaudreaultPascale BussièresSuzie, a 58 year old depressed taxi driver on the night shift. On Halloween, she finds a 10 year old autistic boy in the back seat of her taxi with 50$ and an address. As Suzie arrived at the father's address, she realizes the mess this family is in. This child and her own troubled past lead her down a surprising road.
- DirectorKaushik RoyStarsIrrfan KhanShobanaDhruv Piyush PanjuaniIn order to make their autistic child a genius, a couple injects a drug into his body, only to face drastic consequences later.
- DirectorAnkush KohliChad WaterhouseStarsJesse JamesRosanna ArquetteAdrien FinkelSet in 1974 Texas, three teen siblings struggle with the death of their father and try to live with their abusive mother. When one of the teens is sent away because the mother can't cope with his autism, the teens embark on a life changing road trip to freedom.
- DirectorAnne WheelerStarsBrooke BurnsKatie BolandAmanda TappingMartha is an autistic mathematical genius. Suddenly, her mother is viciously murdered before her eyes and she along with her cousin Nicole must use her unique abilites to catch the killer.
- DirectorNicholas GrayStarsMarin IrelandAlvin KeithGerry LehaneAn unapologetically romantic tale about an adulterous young woman struggling to rebuild her life and a painter suffering from undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome.
- DirectorEric LeiserStarsEd K. GildersleeveNikki HaddadJessi HaddadDr. Reineger is a child neuro-psychologist who has become confident that the twin Anna has a form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome, rendering her unable to cope with reality. As for her blind sister, Sarah, the Doctor cannot say for sure why her visions map so closely to Anna's. At home, their father leaves the family. To escape the pain, the girls sink deeper and deeper into their imaginations. When a major earthquake takes their mother's life, Reineger is left with helping the now-orphaned twins cope, while at the same time dealing with his own struggle concerning the girls' prophetic visions. The girls escape the institution. The subsequent search party can't track them. Have they indeed transcended the physical realm?
- DirectorBetsan Morris EvansStarsLinda BassettElla JonesHelen McCroryAn autistic girl comes to terms with the fact she's dying of Cancer.
- StarsCheyn ColeDavid TerrellDominick MozeeA film highlighting the misunderstood diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and unintended consequences of bullying and social media.
- DirectorJeff WoolnoughStarsJohn SavageBarbara SukowaRichard LinternAs a family moves into their new country home, strange events occur, making them believe that their autistic daughter is communicating with the spirits of two murdered children.
- DirectorMichelle Chen MiaoStarsJing LiangJiangdi ZhuHong JinZhengZheng, a young mother of an autistic child, travels the great distance from northern China to DongGuan, the land of tens of thousands of factories, looking for her husband. With her special-needs child XinXin in tow, she finds herself alone in the enormous city, with nothing but her wits and inner strength to guide her. When she realizes her husband is nowhere to be found, she is forced to take a factory job, earning just enough to support herself and her little boy, whom she hands over to the care of a community home. With hard work, ZhengZheng is promoted, moves into an apartment, and even finds a new love. Life is looking up...but the relationship is not without strings attached, and caring for an autistic son proves more and more challenging. It seems the one thing holding ZhengZheng back from happiness is her son. But things are not always as they seem.
- DirectorMimi LederStarsKelsey GrammerPolly DraperJeff KoberThe owner of a drugstore is killed in a hold-up. The only witness who saw one of the murderers without his mask is Gregory, a nine year old autistic boy. Cop Barlow is sure they'll try to silence him. He tries to get him to draw a picture of the man he saw.
- DirectorAxel BraunsStarsBedia DemirSuntje FreierKlaus FrevertAn autistic young woman and a dancer are trying to build up a friendship. The autistic doesn't know the meaning of friendship. It will take a lot of lessons in order that she gets a feeling of this exotic concept.
- DirectorSam FleischnerStarsJesus Sanchez-VelezAndrea Suarez PazAzul ZorrillaIn this intense, immersive journey, a young boy finds himself lost in the lively, dangerous world of the New York City subway, while his mother fiercely searches for him above ground in a race against the clock as Hurricane Sandy nears.
- DirectorAwi SuryadiStarsChristian BautistaIra WibowoIra Maya SophaA Philippine-born comes home to Indonesia to become a teacher but ends up being touched by his unique disabled students.
- DirectorRodolfo CarnevaleStarsEduardo BlancoPatricia PalmerAna FontánPilar does not communicate with other people, she lives in her own world of fantasies, until her family takes a decision that will change the course of their lives.
- DirectorAnders GustafssonStarsKarl Oskar MeyerErik SchmidtJan Meyer'Lukas & the Aspies' is a story about 12-year old Lukas. In many ways Lukas is a normal kid: He plays in a band, hangs out with his friends and fights with his kid brother. But Lukas' has also Asperger syndrome - and hence his own set of unique problems.
- DirectorTracy WrenStarsEdward AsnerLauren KatzChase EdmundsA grandfather struggles with the acceptance of his autistic grandson.
- DirectorBob SabistonStarsRyan PowerAn austistic boy visits a convenience store for a "snack and drink"; we see his rituals, particularly the mixing of flavors of soda, with a wild variety of animation styles.
- DirectorTane McClureStarsKendall Ryan SandersDenver DowridgeStephen EnloeAn Autistic boy's journey as he enters public middle school and has difficulty in communicating and connecting with his teacher and classmates.
- DirectorRoberto MitrottiRob VanAlkemadeFollows six families with autistic children for two years and takes us deep inside the world of autism.
- DirectorOsca HumphreysA fascinating portrait of upcoming young drivers with autism that casts a light on the challenges hey face of the road and the freedom that comes with driving and owning a car.
- DirectorNicholas BrennanThe uniforms are the same, the equipment is the same, but for this little league team there are no longer any limits. In this riveting four-minute documentary shot on 16mm film, an autistic little league team in New York City rounds the bases, hits home runs, and enjoys the thrill of America's favorite pastime while their dedicated coach, Paul Colliton, cheers them on.
- DirectorTony F. MarquezStarsAlyssa BrodieKeith ZalmanElsa NaranjoAn out of control autistic man is committed to a mental hospital where he rallies fellow patients to produce a movie but is met with opposition by Nurse Mara, a tyrant control freak.
- DirectorKirsten SheridanStarsBen EngelJoshua Gregory McCarthyJayne SnowJimmy and Tommy are inseperable brothers. Tommy is older, he is autistic. He lives in a world of patterns he has created in his mind. Jimmy is a visitor to this honest world and falls into its rhythm.
- DirectorKacey BakerStarsRoy BillingDamian SommerladRachel MyskivThe struggle of James and Candice to find a cure for their autistic son.
- DirectorHassan SaidStarsVanessa DonleyJesse MuellerDan HigginsOliver, a retired single parent, comes home from the store to find his autistic daughter, Ana, brutally abused. Taking matters into his own hands, the father sets off on a hunt to reap his revenge.
- DirectorDenise SchamensTim S. MillerStarsEllise TrewynGrayson DugallJacob SchamensNarrator Ellise Trewyn ties together art and real-life accounts of middle school students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in this autism awareness and peer acceptance film intended for audiences of 12- to 15-year-olds.
- DirectorLu LippoldStarsShelli AinsworthDietrich SielingAn artist with autism keeps creating his work as his mother forges a path for him through the maze of the art world.
- DirectorCalixte DavisStarsLayke AndersonMignonne CoxElliot HillA beautiful and poignant story exploring the emotional trauma experienced by an autistic teenager struggling to understand and come to terms with the recent death of his father.
- DirectorQinti AnimaStarsAnne AparicioGeorge CasanovaMyriam EspinozaMoribund Elena (55) lives her last days. Alone, she seeks desperate for the future of her autistic daughter (20). Both rejected, don't have money and the disease increases gradually. The search doesn't give result, the time is over.
- DirectorLynsey MillerStarsMolly HarmonLucy SpeedMarcella JustSam, a 10-year-old girl who suffers with Asperger's Syndrome, overcomes her struggle to make friends through the kindness of another child.
- DirectorNigel Parkinson Jr.StarsBrandi L. DavisCharles RilesJB, who has Asperger's syndrome, is sitting alone eating his ice cream on the steps. He is bullied by another man, Keith, who is a martial artist. JB ends up confronting Keith in a martial arts gym for ruining his enjoyment of his ice cream.
- DirectorHannah MoonStarsLachlan AventClaire MoonFelix MoonWhen Claire's unlikely friend "Hamish" goes missing she worries his ability to survive outside the safety of his home. Claire Moon, a bright, curious adolescent, who lives with Asperger's syndrome, also knows what it is like to be an outsider
- DirectorErik AndersonStarsRenita DraperJames GilbertJoseph GilbertUpon discovering an odd pair of autistic twins in a 1966 state psychiatric hospital, a student physician attempts to solve the mystery of their strange numerical communication.
- StarsGus ColburnJames ColburnMary-Lou Supple ColburnJames Colburn was born with Fragile X Syndrome. At 26, he is a child at heart who finds joy in the smallest things and uses his gift of comedic timing to inspire those around him. James is living proof there is love and laughter in the face of autism.
- DirectorKaz GambleStarsJamie FreedKaz GambleBozena SobiechFilmmaker Kaz Gamble shares a first-hand portrait of his brother's struggle in this humorous yet heartbreaking documentary about growing up with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. MY BROTHER TOM, follows Kaz's misunderstood and isolated brother until his family discovers a form of autism the world is only beginning to recognize.
- DirectorLiz BloorStarsJames HobleyCraig Kelly
- DirectorJohnathan Wei DickinsonStarsDebra SchimanBearsac is a teddy bear that lives a life all of his own through his owner Debra. This touching story witnesses what it is like living with Asperger's syndrome and explores people's reactions to things beyond their sense of 'normal'.
- DirectorRussell KilbeyMark Boerebach lives in a black and white world but he dreams in color. A nearly blind recluse with Aspergers Syndrome, can he break out of his constrictive routine and show his amazing music chart recall on a TV quiz show?
- DirectorAnn PirvuStarsBruce III McIntoshLaura Kirby-McIntoshPaul Ceretti'bencMARKED' follows two remarkable families as they struggle with the harsh reality of living with autism. Candid, raw and emotional - the film documents the fierce passion and determination of parents cornered by a new government policy that threatens their children's future. It not only gives us a fascinating look at the complexity of this life-long disorder that has no cause or cure, but also reveals the endurance of the human spirit, and is a true testament of how profoundly autism can change people's lives.
- DirectorAlexa DiCambioStarsBonnie BrayBrian HooverAvery HorneA documentary that follows a 10 year old boy with autism.
- DirectorMariano JerezVicente is a 17-year-old with Asperger's Syndrome. This short documentary's director, tries to show us the Vicente that usually isn't seen, through their everyday family life and his passion for video-games.
- DirectorChristina FrenzelDocumentary exploring the relationship between an eleven year old girl and her five year old non-verbal autistic brother.
- DirectorTom HewettJack is a film about a 17 year old boy called Jack who has Asperger's syndrome providing an insight in to his world, how he sees things differently and how he copes with being different.
- DirectorMike RauchTim RauchStarsJoshua LittmanSarah LittmanTwelve-year-old Joshua Littman, who has Asperger's Syndrome, interviews his mother Sarah on everything from animals to her feelings about him as a son.