There are many movies and films that delve into the topic of autism or feature characters with autism.
While there have been older movies and series about autism, in recent years, several movies have been released with great success and international impact.
Autism, clinically known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a condition that can manifest in various forms and with different levels of severity.
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Until a few years ago, autism was not widely known by society, but that is changing today.
In fact, there are currently several movies and series that discuss autism, and we are confident that this has helped raise awareness and promote understanding of ASD within society.
If you are searching for movies that tackle autism, here is a list of 6 autism movies you shouldn’t miss.
💥 What is Autism?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core difficulties in communication, social interaction, and cognitive rigidity.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex condition as it can manifest in various ways and can also be accompanied by other associated disorders or difficulties.
Since autism is such a complex topic, we consider it important to provide a brief explanation of what autism is in this article.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means that the origin of autism lies in an abnormal neurological development of the individual.
Therefore, autism develops because the child’s brain follows an atypical course of development, resulting in the characteristic symptoms of autism.
Hence, the old theories that attributed autism to poor parenting or inadequate stimulation by parents towards their child are completely discarded.
Throughout history, several theories have attempted to explain the origin of autism, and many of them unfairly blamed parents.
Today, we know that no one is to blame for a child developing autism since its origin lies in the neurodevelopment of the autistic individual’s brain.
The Core Difficulties of Autism
Autism is a condition that can manifest in various ways and can affect different areas of a child’s development.
Autism is categorized into three levels based on severity, ranging from mild autism to moderate autism to severe autism.
However, all individuals with autism experience difficulties in three core areas of development known as the “core difficulties of autism” or the “Wing’s triad.”
These three core areas, in which all individuals with autism face challenges, are as follows:
- Communication
- Social interaction
- Cognitive rigidity
Therefore, individuals with autism will have difficulties in communication, social interaction, and exhibit cognitive rigidity.
Other Associated Difficulties with Autism
Individuals with autism may experience difficulties in areas beyond the core affected areas of autism.
Difficulties in other areas of development do not occur in all individuals with autism but can be present in some of them.
Here is a list of the most common associated difficulties in individuals with autism:
- Sensory alterations
- ADHD
- Sleep disorders
- Intellectual disability
- Language disorders
- Feeding problems
🎬 6 MOVIES ABOUT AUTISM
The 6 autism movies we will talk about in this article are as follows:
- ⚡ Rain Man (1988)
- ⚡ I Am Sam (2001)
- ⚡ Radio (2003)
- ⚡ The Lighthouse of Orcas (2016)
- ⚡ Mozart and the Whale (2005)
- ⚡ Temple Grandin (2010)
Rain Man (1988)
Rain Man is a classic film that achieved the remarkable feat of winning 4 Oscars.
In this movie, Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise), a self-centered young man hoping to inherit his late father’s fortune, discovers that the beneficiary is his brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), a person with autism whom he has never met because Raymond has always lived in a specialized center.
The two brothers embark on a long journey across the United States to claim their father’s inheritance.
Initially, Charlie is irritated and bothered by his brother’s eccentric behavior due to autism.
However, as time goes by, he gradually learns to understand and love him.
I Am Sam (2001)
Sam Dawson (Sean Penn) is a person with autism who must fight to retain custody of his young daughter, as the state deems him unfit to provide for her education.
His defense is taken on by a prestigious lawyer, Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), whose initial disinterest and coldness change after getting to know Sam, witnessing his love for his daughter, and witnessing his determination to fight for his rights as a father.
Radio (2003)
Based on a true story, this movie follows a lonely young man with autism nicknamed “Radio” in his town due to his love for radio and music.
He doesn’t speak to anyone, but one day Harold Jones, the high school football coach and the most respected man in town, befriends him and gains his trust.
From that point on, a whole new world opens up for the young man: he helps Jones with training and games and even attends classes at the school.
The Lighthouse of Orcas (2016)
A Spanish film in which Lola travels with her son Tristan, who has autism, to Patagonia to meet Beto, a park ranger who has a special bond with wild orcas.
Once in Patagonia, Tristan shows a unique empathy and response to the stimuli of the orcas.
Lola’s determination to fight for her son’s improvement, Tristan’s peculiar personality, and his relationship with nature will forever change their lives.
Mozart and the Whale (2005)
A love story about two individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism that comes with emotional dysfunctions that can jeopardize their romance.
Donald, a young taxi driver obsessed with birds and numerical calculations, lives his life according to strict patterns and routines.
In his free time, he leads a group of people who also have this type of autism.
However, everything changes with the arrival of the beautiful and complex Isabel, who turns his life and his heart upside down.
Temple Grandin (2010)
A biographical film about Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who became one of the brightest scientists of her generation.
In fact, Temple Grandin revolutionized the study of livestock, reforming slaughterhouses and ranches across the United States in support of the humane treatment of animals.
She also provided crucial insights into the treatment of autism when little was known about it.
The film portrays a brilliant mind that, despite her autism, earned a Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois and went on to become a professor at Colorado State University.
Grandin is an active advocate for animal welfare, particularly for those exploited in the livestock industry.
📺 Television Series and Autism
There are many television series that feature one or more characters with autism, and some of them have gained great popularity.
Therefore, in addition to movies with characters with autism, there are also series that portray characters with this condition.
Here are some of the most popular series where characters with autism appear:
- Love on the Spectrum
- The Big Bang Theory
- Young Sheldon
- Atypical
- The Good Doctor
These series, distributed on platforms like Netflix, HBO, or Amazon Prime, have succeeded in bringing visibility to autism in society.
While it is true that in the most popular series, characters with autism and high abilities are often depicted, we believe it is positive, as long as certain minimum criteria of fidelity are met, to have characters with autism on screen.
❓ FAQS about AUTISM MOVIES
What is the movie called about a child with autism?
Movies like Rain Man (1988), Radio (2003), and The Lighthouse of Orcas (2016) feature children or young individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
What is the Netflix series about an autistic child called?
The most popular series on Netflix featuring a protagonist who is a child (or teenager) with autism is Atypical.
Which series include characters with autism?
Some of the series that include characters with autism are:
- Love on the Spectrum (2019)
- The Big Bang Theory (2007)
- Young Sheldon (2007)
- Atypical (2017)
- The Good Doctor (2017)
