The 15 Best Movies About Autism and Autistic Characters
By: By Georgia May (whatNerd)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The 15 Best Movies About Autism and Autistic Characters
Autism is rarely featured in cinema, and it's even rarer to see an autistic protagonist. These movies took that to task and succeeded!
Autism encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions that can involve difficulties with social interactions, unusual responses to environmental or sensory stimuli, and repetitive behaviors.
In an individual, the manifestation of autism can be anywhere from mild to full-blown Asperger's Syndrome. No two people with autism are exactly alike in their autism.
TV shows like Atypical and The Good Doctor have brought autism awareness to the small screen, featuring autistic protagonists navigating their complicated lives. But what about in the movies?
Here are my picks for the best movies about autism and autistic characters that depict the struggles and victories of living with autism.
15. House of Cards (1993)
Directed by Michael Lessac
Starring Kathleen Turner, Tommy Lee Jones, Asha Menina
Drama (1h 49m)
6.1 on IMDb — 60% on RT
Not to be confused with the 2013 Netflix series or the 1968 mystery movie, House of Cards is one of Tommy Lee Jones's lesser-known films but his performance in it is simply spectacular.
House of Cards centers on a grieving suburban family. Traumatized by the death of her father, little Sally (played by Asha Menina) turns mute and begins to build elaborate card sculptures. Furthermore, Sally's mother (played by Kathleen Turner) denies her growing signs of autism.
Michael Lessac's drama was met with mixed reviews for being unable to find a plausible connection between Jones's character Jake Beerlander and the family he insists on helping. Yet, we remain sympathetic towards all the story's heartfelt players.
14. I Am Sam (2001)
Directed by Jessie Nelson
Starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning
Drama (2h 12m)
7.6 on IMDb — 36% on RT
If the aforementioned House of Cards had mixed reviews, then I Am Sam 's reception was even worse. This one inverts the usual narrative, giving us a parent on the spectrum instead of a child.
On the one hand, the cast of Jessie Nelson's sickly sweet drama outshines the predictable direction, earning Sean Penn an Oscar nomination and launching seven-year-old Dakota Fanning's acting career. On the other hand, though, sentimentality seems to override the plot's logic.
Narrative issues aside, Sean Penn's titular role as an autistic father is accurate, kind, and never once condescending. When Sam's daughter surpasses his own mental age, he loses custody and hires a lawyer (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) to get her back.
13. The Accountant (2016)
Directed by Gavin O'Connor
Starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons
Action, Thriller (2h 8m)
7.3 on IMDb — 52% on RT
Christian Wolff (played by Ben Affleck) was trained by his father to adapt ever since he was diagnosed with autism as a child. Rather than getting special treatment, Christian is forced to face his triggers, attend martial arts classes, and nurture his cognitive skills.
All these things lead Christian Wolff to be the only autistic character in cinema history to hold a rifle on the movie poster!
Although it might feel disconcerting to marry autism with gun violence, it's clear that The Accountant wants to offer viewers who are on the spectrum with their own, relatable hero.
Directed by Gavin O'Connor, The Accountant is swaddled in darkness but still has fun with its thrills and fight scenes. When he isn't separating all the food groups on his plate, Christian spends his days "uncooking" the books for criminals worldwide.
12. I Used to Be Famous (2022)
Directed by Eddie Sternberg
Starring Ed Skrein, Eleanor Matsuura, Leo Long
Comedy, Drama, Music (1h 44m)
6.6 on IMDb — 80% on RT
Released on Netflix, I Used to Be Famous centers on a two-man boyband in Peckham who are worlds away from the charismatic teen heartthrobs that usually plaster magazine covers.
Vince (played by Ed Skrein) is a washed-up musician and Stevie (played by Leo Long) is a young, autistic drummer. After an impromptu street jam brings their paths together, Vince eventually tries to atone for his past failures through Stevie.
Leo Long, who's actually diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in real life, was a passionate folk musician determined to break into the film industry—and he succeeded with his exceptional performance as Stevie. Eddie Sternberg's comedy-drama is indulgent yet endearing.
11. Mozart and the Whale (2005)
Directed by Petter Nss
Starring Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, Gary Cole
Comedy, Drama, Romance (1h 34m)
6.7 on IMDb — 80% on RT
Released as Crazy in Love in Europe, Mozart and the Whale is a feel-good rom-com with a sprinkling of drama. Petter Nss directs Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell as a couple who meet in an autism support group.
Although it's good to share company with someone who actually shares your condition, it can also make a relationship explosive, fragile, and vulnerable to triggers... as they soon find out.
While both Hartnett and Mitchell were praised for their honest, rough-edged performances, Mozart and the Whale was criticized for intentionally perpetuating the idea that all autistic people have savant skills (for the sake of "uplifting" neurotypical viewers).
That said, the film's depiction of Asperger's syndrome is pretty accurate. Not so surprising when you learn that Mozart and the Whale was written by Ron Bass, who penned Rain Man 17 years prior.
10. Snow Cake (2006)
Directed by Marc Evans
Starring Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss
Drama, Romance (1h 52m)
7.4 on IMDb — 65% on RT
The plot of Snow Cake might sound a little dull and short-lived, but the established cast injects it with vibrant color.
Alan Rickman plays a typical middle-aged British man named Alex, who reluctantly picks up a teen hitchhiker one day. When a car accident kills the girl, Alex travels to her home in Ontario to inform her mother Linda.
After hearing the news, Linda seems to understand the situation but displays no visible signs of grief. That isn't because Linda is a cold, heartless person; rather, she's unable to express emotions.
Sigourney Weaver does a brilliant job portraying the autistic mother with cleanliness mania, whom Alex refuses to leave until he can find someone to take out her garbage (which her daughter used to do).
Marc Evans directs this lowkey indie drama that's a bittersweet rendition of what it's like to live under the unstable dictation of autism.
9. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Starring Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock
Adventure, Drama, Mystery (2h 9m)
6.9 on IMDb — 45% on RT
The death of a father is traumatic enough as it is. But when your brain doesn't know how to process it? That's even tougher.
Stephen Daldry's heartbreaking movie Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close stars Tom Hanks as a lovable dad who's caught in the September 11 attacks. He leaves behind his nine-year-old autistic son Oskar, who crumbles at the thought of living without his main support system.
Sure, Oskar's mom does the best she can (expertly played by Sandra Bullock), but it was always Oskar's dad who understood him the most.
Thomas Horn's raw portrayal of Oskar holds the somewhat pretentious film together. Oskar is painfully honest and self-destructive, but he has golden intentions—and is surprisingly relatable to all viewers.
8. Mary and Max (2009)
Directed by Adam Elliot
Starring Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana
Animation, Comedy, Drama (1h 32m)
8.1 on IMDb — 95% on RT
Critics absolutely loved Mary and Max , but it's definitely a niche taste. The Australian stop-motion animation is one for adults rather than kids, as it explores themes like depression, addiction, neglect, and suicide.
That's not exactly a recipe for laughs! But it's these timely subjects—and Adam Elliot's handling of them—that make this such an important film.
Mary begins the movie as an eight-year-old girl in the 1970s who's bullied at school and neglected by her alcoholic mother. Mary's only friend is her pen pal Max, an obese middle-aged man who's prone to panic attacks.
As we watch Mary grow up, she continues her correspondence with Max, who eventually admits he has Asperger's syndrome.
Despite its bleak themes and color palette that echo a drizzly noir, Mary and Max is an inspirational story at its core.
7. My Name Is Khan (2010)
Directed by Karan Johar
Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Sheetal Menon
Adventure, Drama, Romance (2h 45m)
7.9 on IMDb — 83% on RT
Branching out of mainstream Hollywood, we have My Name Is Khan , a Hindi-language social drama directed by Karan Johar. It received high praise, both domestically and overseas, not only for its representation of Islamophobia but autism as well.
Rizwan Khan is a middle-class Muslim with Asperger's, who moves out of Mumbai to live in San Francisco. The timing is pretty terrible for Khan, however, as the 9/11 attacks leave him facing an onslaught of prejudice.
Karan Johar does try a little too hard to make Khan into a superman, but at least he isn't an autistic genius stereotype. Johar was mostly known for his romance movies, so this genre deviation was risky. But it worked!
6. A Brilliant Young Mind (2014)
Directed by Morgan Matthews
Starring Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins
Drama, Romance (1h 51m)
7.1 on IMDb — 87% on RT
A Brilliant Young Mind (titled X Plus Y outside the US) is the story of, well, a brilliant young mind! It was inspired by the director's own documentary— Beautiful Young Minds —from seven years prior.
In this film, director Morgan Matthews explores the link between autism and mathematical ability. Asa Butterfield stars as Nathan, a teenage prodigy who's competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad.
With the help of his single mom (played by Sally Hawkins) and teacher (played by Rafe Spall), Nathan ventures out of his comfort zone and into Taiwan. His social anxiety nearly gets the better of him, but Nathan pulls through to the finals.
Unlike most kids his age, Nathan finds algebra much easier to understand than people, including himself. A Brilliant Young Mind is an elegant look at ambition, grief, and love.
5. What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom
Starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis
Drama (1h 58m)
7.7 on IMDb — 90% on RT
Arnie Grape is never explicitly diagnosed with ASD, but experts agree he falls somewhere on the spectrum. He's terrified of water, gets up to tons of mischief, and some viewers suspect he also has a splash of OCD.
Leonardo DiCaprio's depiction of a special needs character proved he was going to be more than a pretty face for Hollywood. At just 19, DiCaprio got an Oscar nomination for playing Arnie—the first in a string of Academy Award teases until he won one for The Revenant in 2015.
Although Arnie's character is the most memorable in Lasse Hallstrom's coming-of-age drama, he's not the main one. Johnny Depp co-stars as the titular Gilbert Grape, who's forced to care for his brother Arnie and their morbidly obese mother (who's the tragic laughing stock of the town).
4. Temple Grandin (2010)
Directed by Mick Jackson
Starring Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, David Strathairn
Biography, Drama (1h 47m)
8.2 on IMDb — 100% on RT
Some of the movies on this list got a bad rap for trying to turn their autistic characters into geniuses of some sort, but Temple Grandin truly was a genius! In fact, Time nominated her in 2010 as one of the most influential people in the world under the category "Heroes."
Although studying animals is her passion, she also goes out of her way to help people like herself. An autistic activist and author, Temple Grandin speaks out for both animal rights and neurodiverse acceptance.
Mick Jackson's biopic takes us through her life from a difficult childhood (back when autism was considered a type of schizophrenia) to her revolutionary career. Claire Danes holds the screen firmly, all while dodging most of the tropes that exist in this territory.
3. The Imitation Game (2014)
Directed by Morten Tyldum
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
Biography, Drama, Thriller (1h 54m)
8.0 on IMDb — 90% on RT
The Imitation Game never uses the word "autism," but that's because autism wasn't really known about in the mid-20th century. Morten Tyldum's biopic recounts the true story of Alan Turing, an iconic figure in scientific history who had a huge impact on WWII.
Inventor of the first computer blueprint, Turing saved thousands of lives by decrypting the Nazi's Enigma machine. Sadly, Turing took his own life at just 41 after he was arrested for homosexuality.
Benedict Cumberbatch immortalized the mathematical legend in this wartime drama, orbiting around the invention of his machine and his struggles with his sexuality. Turing was posthumously diagnosed with autism, crediting some of his genius to likely Asperger's syndrome.
Even if it wasn't said outright, Turing's hidden autism was hinted at in the movie with quotes like: "When people talk to each other, they never say what they mean, they say something else—and you're expected to just know what they mean. Only I never do."
2. The Reason I Jump (2020)
Directed by Jerry Rothwell
Starring Donna Budway, Emma Budway, Jeremy Dear
Documentary, Drama (1h 22m)
7.4 on IMDb — 97% on RT
A poetic documentary based on the best-selling novel by Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump is a movie that taps into the richness and overwhelming nature of a sensory universe.
The book, which Higashida wrote when he was still a child, is like an inner map of his mind as he views the world through nonverbal autism. Jerry Rothwell captures the sensitivity of this profound biography with grace and understanding.
The Reason I Jump opened up a dialogue about autism through its non-speaking creator, immersing us in a life experienced differently but not less. Rothwell uses the language of cinema—rather than words—to paint a dreamy portrait that distills Higashida's spirit and experiences.
1. Rain Man (1988)
Directed by Barry Levinson
Starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino
Drama (2h 13m)
8.0 on IMDb — 89% on RT
Before Rain Man , autism was rarely seen on the big screen. It took many years for the disorder to be properly researched and diagnosed, so it wasn't really a thing in cinema—and Rain Man was a first.
Barry Levinson's Oscar-winning road drama gave space to neurodiverse voices in Hollywood, and much of its success came on the back of Dustin Hoffman's performance as the autistic savant Raymond.
Tom Cruise stars as Raymond's estranged brother Charlie Babbitt, a scheming and materialistic car salesman. When Charlie discovers he has a brother—one that unlocks his inheritance—he selfishly ups Raymond from an institution.
At first, Charlie uses Raymond's superb recall and talent for blackjack for his own gain. But the high maintenance nature of Raymond's disability eventually brings Charlie's conscience to light.
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I have watched 4 of these movies, all of them more than once. The Accountant, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Imitation Game and Rain Man, all more than once. There is a movie that IMO should have been on the list, Shine, a1996 movie starring Geoffrey Rush who played the part of a brilliant pianist (well before he became a pirate captain in the Caribbean).
I never knew much about autism until I served on the board of Variety Club of Ontario. A very wealthy man who was a devoted member of the club passed on and his estate bequeathed to Variety Club his farm that was close to Toronto on which stood a large home with many bedrooms. Upon learning of the great need for one we decided to turn it into a short-term home for autistic children to allow their parents a short-term relief from the required endless care of their autistic children. The staff included a doctor and nurses who were schooled in caring for the condition. I spent time there and learned something about autism.
My experience enabled me to well understand the condition acted so well by the actors who did so.
I didnt even know there were 15 movies about autism. I guess I'd have to go with Rain Man and The Imitation Game from this list.
Neither did I, and I only knew about the 5 I named, but the author said these 15 were the BEST, indicating that there probably are more.
I have never seen any of these movies. but I had read about Turing and his briliant decrypting of the Enigma machine.(Tur was quite the genius!)
IF the actor's depiction of him was anywhere near accurate, he was quite an odd-ball.
Since this is the only article or seed that I have left on the Front (Home) Page it's the only place even if not completely relevant (although it IS about a movie) where I can post this. I just watched a movie that has more well known stars than any other that I can remember. Besides ones I didn't recognize, these are the ones I did:
Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Haile Berry, Cary Elwes, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Ashton Kutcher, Jim Belushi, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank, Hector Elizondo, Matthew Broderick, John Lithgow and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Although the movie "New Year's Eve" got bad reviews it got excellent box office.
For a number of years I worked in an "SDS" (Special Developmentn School ). After a 35 year career in banking, this was an eye opener, so many things that in ordinary "civvy" life you wouldn't think twice about. Students ranged from pre-kinder to adult. One of the most enlightening times of my life.
Also my wife worked for 20 years in a nursing home that housed many "old age" dementia and autistic cases. I often sat in on her training lessons, what I learnt about autism was "mind boggling"
Your experience is so similar to mine. After retiring from a 37 year law practice and then a few years of various types of positions I found that teaching high school students in China the most enjoyable and satisfying thing I had ever done in my life. Of course, one of the things that made it so wonderful was that in China teachers are highly respected and admired not only by the students but by everyone - it is traditional, and you would NEVER find a 'Blackboard Jungle' in China.