Films about illness often delve into the human experience of dealing with sickness, whether it be physical or mental. They explore the impact that illness can have on individuals and those around them, touching on themes such as mortality, perseverance, the healthcare system, and the resilience of the human spirit. These films can provide comfort, raise awareness, or offer insight into the myriad ways that health issues affect lives. They range from biographical dramas to documentaries, and from heart-wrenching tragedies to stories of overcoming adversity.
Here is a list of notable films that center around the theme of illness:
“The Fault in Our Stars”, 2014
Director: Josh Boone
This romantic drama follows two teenagers, Hazel and Gus, who meet in a cancer support group and fall in love. Both characters have different experiences with cancer, which heavily influences their outlook on life and their relationship.
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Nat Wolff, Willem Dafoe, Lotte Verbeek, Ana Dela Cruz, Randy Kovitz, Toni Saladna;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “The Fault in Our Stars” on the website imdb.com
“Dallas Buyers Club”, 2013
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
This biographical film tells the story of Ron Woodroof, a man diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1980s. After being given a limited time to live, Woodroof begins smuggling unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into Texas to help treat his symptoms and distributes them to others with AIDS while facing opposition from the FDA.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Denis O'Hare, Steve Zahn, Michael O'Neill, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin, Donna DuPlantier;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 118 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
“Still Alice”, 2014
Director: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Julianne Moore stars as Alice Howland, a Columbia linguistics professor who faces an early onset of Alzheimer's disease. The film chronicles her struggle to stay connected to the person she once was as her cognitive abilities begin to fade.
Starring: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Shane McRae, Hunter Parrish, Seth Gilliam, Stephen Kunken, Erin Darke, Daniel Gerroll;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Still Alice” on the website imdb.com
“Wit”, 2001
Director: Mike Nichols
Emma Thompson plays Vivian Bearing, a university professor who is diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. The film is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Margaret Edson and deals with themes of compassion, patient care, and the personal journey through terminal illness.
Starring: Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Atkins, Audra McDonald, Jonathan M. Woodward, Harold Pinter, Rebecca Laurie, Su Lin Looi, Raffaello Degruttola, Miquel Brown;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 99 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “Wit” on the website imdb.com
“My Sister's Keeper”, 2009
Director: Nick Cassavetes
This film follows the Fitzgerald family, whose daughter Kate suffers from leukemia. In a controversial decision, the parents conceive another child, Anna, with the hope that she will be able to donate compatible organs, blood, and tissue to save her sister's life, leading to legal and emotional challenges.
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Alec Baldwin, Jason Patric, Evan Ellingson, Heather Wahlquist, Joan Cusack, Thomas Dekker, Walter Raney;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: drama, family;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “My Sister's Keeper” on the website imdb.com
“50/50”, 2011
Director: Jonathan Levine
Inspired by a true story, this comedy-drama stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam, a 27-year-old who learns that he has a rare form of spinal cancer. The film explores Adam's journey through diagnosis, treatment, and the support he receives from his best friend, played by Seth Rogen.
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, Serge Houde, Andrew Airlie, Matt Frewer, Philip Baker Hall, Donna Yamamoto;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
“Lorenzo's Oil”, 1992
Director: George Miller
Based on a true story, this film follows Augusto and Michaela Odone, whose son Lorenzo is diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare and incurable nerve disease. The Odones set out on a mission to find a treatment for their son, culminating in their discovery of an oil that slows the disease's progression.
Starring: Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon, Peter Ustinov, Kathleen Wilhoite, Zack O'Malley Greenburg, James Rebhorn, Laura Linney, Gerry Bamman, Margo Martindale, Ann Hearn;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Lorenzo's Oil” on the website imdb.com
“Awakenings”, 1990
Director: Penny Marshall
Robin Williams and Robert De Niro star in this film based on the true story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks. It chronicles the experiences of a group of patients who are given a new drug that “awakens” them from catatonic states caused by an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica decades earlier.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, John Heard, Julie Kavner, Penelope Ann Miller, Max von Sydow, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, Ruth Nelson, Alice Drummond;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Awakenings” on the website imdb.com
“Brain on Fire”, 2016
Director: Gerard Barrett
This biographical drama is based on Susannah Cahalan's memoir of the same name, which recounts the author's struggle with a rare autoimmune disease that affects the brain, leading to psychosis, memory loss, and seizures.
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Thomas Mann, Richard Armitage, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jenny Slate, Tyler Perry, Alex Zahara, Jenn MacLean-Angus, Ken Tremblett, Navid Negahban;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 88 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Brain on Fire” on the website imdb.com
“Philadelphia”, 1993
Director: Jonathan Demme
One of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia, “Philadelphia” stars Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett, a gay attorney who sues his law firm for discrimination after they fire him upon discovering he has AIDS.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Joanne Woodward, Charles Napier, Robert Ridgely, Bradley Whitford, Ron Vawter;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Philadelphia” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a look into the unique and varied experiences individuals have when faced with illness, providing narratives that can be deeply affecting and eye-opening.
In conclusion, films about illness serve a profound purpose in our society, as they provide not only a window into the struggles and triumphs of those battling health adversities but also offer a catalyst for empathy and understanding within the audience. They humanize the statistics and bring to life the emotional and psychological dimensions of disease, often inspiring and moving viewers in unimaginable ways. Whether it is the raw depiction of a character's descent into illness, the heartfelt narrative of a loved one providing support, or the resilient fight against all odds, these films remind us of the fragility of life and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Their stories linger long after the credits roll, urging us to cherish our own health, to reach out to those in need, and to confront the realities of illness with courage and compassion. Through the lens of cinema, we not only bear witness to the individual stories of suffering and resilience but are also united in our shared human experience.
