Films about medicine delve into the complex and dramatic world of healthcare, spotlighting the challenges faced by medical professionals, the ethical dilemmas inherent to the field, as well as the personal stories of patients navigating their journeys through illness and recovery. These films often provide insights into the dedication and empathy required in medical practice, and sometimes they explore the darker sides of the industry, such as negligence, corruption, or the struggle for innovation amidst bureaucratic resistance. By showcasing these stories, films about medicine inspire, entertain, and at times educate their audiences about the intricacies of health and well-being.
Here’s a list of notable films that focus on various aspects of medicine:
“Awakenings”, 1990
Director: Penny Marshall
Based on the true story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks, this film stars Robin Williams as a fictionalized version of Sacks who discovers the beneficial effects of the drug L-Dopa. He administers it to catatonic patients who survived the 1917–1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, awakening them from decades of slumber.
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
“Lorenzo's Oil”, 1992
Director: George Miller
A drama that follows the true story of Augusto and Michaela Odone, played by Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon, who embark on a search for a cure when their son Lorenzo is diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare and deadly nerve disorder.
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
“Philadelphia”, 1993
Director: Jonathan Demme
Tom Hanks stars as Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who is fired from his prestigious law firm after his HIV-positive status is revealed. Denzel Washington plays the only attorney willing to take on his wrongful dismissal suit, bringing attention to the stigma and discrimination faced by people with 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
“Patch Adams”, 1998
Director: Tom Shadyac
Robin Williams portrays the real-life Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams, a physician who believes in the healing power of humor and compassion, often clashing with the conventional medical community due to his unorthodox methods.
Starring: Robin Williams, Daniel London, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Josef Sommer, Irma P. Hall, Frances Lee McCain, Harve Presnell, Daniella Kuhn;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Patch Adams” on the website imdb.com
“Something the Lord Made”, 2004
Director: Joseph Sargent
The film tells the remarkable story of Vivien Thomas (played by Mos Def) and Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman), who together pioneered surgical techniques for treating blue baby syndrome in the 1940s.
Starring: Yasiin Bey, Alan Rickman, Gabrielle Union, Kyra Sedgwick, Merritt Wever, Clayton LeBouef, Charles S. Dutton, Mary Stuart Masterson, Robert F. Chew, Luray Cooper;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, biography;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
“Dallas Buyers Club”, 2013
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
This biographical film stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, an AIDS patient who starts a buyers club to supply his friends and other people living with HIV/AIDS with medications that are not approved in the United States.
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;
“The Theory of Everything”, 2014
Director: James Marsh
While not solely about medicine, this biographical drama recounts the life of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne, and gives insight into his diagnosis with motor neurone disease and its impact on his life and work.
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, David Thewlis, Emily Watson, Maxine Peake, Simon McBurney, Abigail Cruttenden, Harry Lloyd, Michael Marcus Morgan;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: biography, melodrama, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “The Theory of Everything” on the website imdb.com
“Concussion”, 2015
Director: Peter Landesman
Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-American pathologist who challenges the NFL when he discovers the truth about brain damage in football players who have suffered repeated concussions in the course of normal play.
Starring: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Morse, Arliss Howard, Mike O'Malley, Eddie Marsan, Hill Harper, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, biography, sport;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Concussion” on the website imdb.com
“The Big Sick”, 2017
Director: Michael Showalter
A romantic comedy loosely based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon. It becomes a medical drama when Emily suddenly falls into a medically induced coma.
Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff, Adeel Akhtar, Bo Burnham, Aidy Bryant, Kurt Braunohler;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “The Big Sick” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a wide range of perspectives on the medical field, showcasing both the human and scientific elements that make up this critical aspect of society.
In conclusion, films about medicine serve a powerful role in dissecting the complex layers of the medical field, intertwining tales of human struggle, ethical quandaries, and the heartwarming triumphs of the human spirit. Whether they’re depicting the relentless push for innovations against seemingly insurmountable odds in biographical dramas like “The Theory of Everything,” the raw emotional roller-coasters found in thought-provoking pieces like “Wit,” or the nail-biting suspense of medical thrillers such as “Contagion,” these films captivate audiences by bringing to life the stories behind the sterile walls of hospitals and research labs. They challenge viewers to confront the fragile nature of human health and the moral dilemmas of medical practice, while simultaneously celebrating the tenacity and resilience inherent in the quest to heal and extend life. Therefore, films about medicine are not mere entertainment; they are poignant reflections of the human condition and the ceaseless endeavor to comprehend and conquer our greatest vulnerabilities.
