10 Must-Watch Movies About Autism

Autism is a lifelong disorder that affects how people communicate and interact with others.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. In the United States, about 1 in 68 children has been identified as having ASD.

The increase in autism diagnosis over recent years has been primarily due to changes in diagnostic criteria and greater awareness of the condition among parents, educators, and healthcare professionals.

This article will be discussing 10 must-watch movies about Autism.

Jack of the Red Hearts

While many movies about autism focus on the experiences of high-functioning children on the spectrum, Jack of the Red Hearts is a great movie that presents what it’s like for people who are low-functioning and how it’s still possible to have a fulfilling life. 

I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for some poignancy. The story revolves around a girl who, to keep her sister from foster care, takes up a job she's not qualified for. They struggle their way through tough situations. Jack (or Jacqueline, the main character) meets Glory (the Autism child) and comes out emotionally bonded as friends.

Photo Credit: Entertainment Weekly

As you watch Glory learn and grow at school, you will notice that Jack is slowly changing too. She's beginning to communicate better and everyone is learning to understand her more with time.

Jack hides behind tall tales and misguided aspirations to keep herself safe, but it was all stripped away by the end of the film when she formed a genuine connection with Glory and her family.

This story of autism and the way it impacts both the individual and their family members is truly inspirational.

It's a movie that everyone in your family can appreciate because it relates to each and every person.

Atypical 

Atypical is not the only show on this list that makes use of amazing individuals with autism. A great thing about this show is that it hired individuals with autism both behind & in front of the camera.

The Netflix team had lots of discussions about disability and wanted to create characters who would stay true to life. They wanted to make a show that was inclusive and allowed people with disabilities to watch at their leisure.

This series follows Sam, an autistic teen who is at a crossroads in life. Working to gain independence while dealing with school and work and chasing love, he's helped along the way by his family. At the same time, they explore their own inner turmoil.

This show tackles the stress that people may experience as they grow up, and how their loved ones must let them go in order to help.

The conversations with his therapist give added depth to the show. It's a unique depiction of the mind of hormone-raging teen navigating their mental health.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a film based on the book of the same title, which is about an autistic boy who leaves school to journey through Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks happen in the first few minutes of the film.

In this touching film, we see Oskar Schell's internal struggle with his autism as he encounters the dangers of the city. The key to solving what it unlocks is put before him, but can he find it?

Oskar sees the world through unique eyes, and his abilities allow him to solve puzzles in ways other people cannot. His Asperger's syndrome is often a barrier for him at first, but it eventually leads him to make some profound connections with his father by transforming into someone he always wanted to be.

It's important to remember that autism may limit somebody but it also provides a powerful gift. And they can still find ways of connecting with people.

Inside Out 

This is not your typical film and deserves to be seen by everyone.

As Temple Grandin states: “All people and animals have the same core emotion systems in the brain.” 

The movie follows a young girl named Riley(-), she deals with the stress of moving and Joy as she tries to lead Riley’s emotions (Riley) through this life-changing event.

During their journey to the depths of Riley's mind, Joy & Sadness got sucked up and transferred to Riley’s personality structures while Anger, Fear, and Disgust were left at the headquarters.

One of the great things about watching snippets from this movie is that they can also be used for therapy and other therapeutic techniques. Specific scenes can be used to identify certain emotions in certain situations.

It can be especially effective when dealing with difficult situations, sensory overload, or emotional stress.

Lilo & Stitch

I love the movie Lilo and Stitch where you get to see both sides of the story. The female protagonist, a young Hawaiian girl, struggles with her emotions and feels misunderstood but finds happiness in befriending a mischievous most-wanted extraterrestrial creature, Stitch.

Determined & faithful, Lilo guides Stitch to find love and together they learn about family.

This heart-warming movie is one that many individuals on the autistic spectrum can relate to and so have found great joy in watching.

If this story resonates with you, then you'll know what your child is going through when they feel like the world is passing them by.

Love on the Spectrum

This entertaining reality TV show reveals what it’s like for couples on the spectrum to explore their relationship, develop social skills and find love.

This show, tells the diverse and wonderful life stories of many people. They ultimately all want to feel accepted and connected.

The show not only shows the adventures of neurodivergent people but also highlights the ways they can achieve their goals.

Others also use their diagnosis as a superpower to create success and a sense of community for people who in the past would be shamed for being different but now can be praised instead.

Miracle Run

We've all been there: taking the news of a loved one's autism diagnosis and not being sure how to deal with it. 'Miracle Run' is a tender movie that many parents can relate to.

This story follows Corrine, the mother of two twin sons who share the life-changing news that her boys are autistic.

We are taken on the emotional rollercoaster with Corinne as she must constantly battle denial and disbelief but has to remain strong in the face of her boyfriend leaving her and their son’s school suggesting that the boys leave following their diagnosis.

The boys started to get better when they were in their teenage years. They finally started to progress past echolalia (Repeating words or phrases) and being mute. Now, they are thriving and are more than tuned into the world around them.

The Miracle Run team sheds light on the struggles of autism and shows that they are not life sentences. Phillip & Stephen's personal stories show that even those who live with autism can have successful careers in the future.

Please Stand By

It can be hard enough to make sense of the world when you're neurotypical. For Wendy, fiercely independent and high-functioning with autism spectrum disorder, people and situations are indecipherable pieces of a cryptic puzzle.

The protagonist of Please Stand By is an autistic woman who goes on a road trip to finish her script as well as enter the screenwriting competition.

It's a great movie for the whole family and is sure to leave you with some new insights into how we connect with each other & the world.

Temple Grandin

There's no question that the movie based on Temple Grandin's life is one of the best autism movies of all time.

The film is based on the life of a young woman with autism who's able to overcome the limitations and barriers that exist because of her diagnosis.

We discovered that she only learned to speak at the age of four and that she struggled through high school.

She overcame so many obstacles to graduate from college and get her Ph.D. in animal husbandry. What an inspiring woman, giving back to the autism community too!

Based on a true story, this inspirational film is one about overcoming diversity. This heart-warming tale is a great pick-me-up film, watch as Temple learns to focus on her abilities rather than her disabilities.

The Other Sister

In "The Other Sister", Carla Tate is the only non-neurotypical child of her family. After being home-schooled for a while following her return from an institute for children with intellectual impairments, she finally comes back home. Wanting more independence, she now struggles to find a way to balance dependency and independence.

This movie is great for the whole family to watch as it shows how giving your child a sense of their own independence can be hugely stressful for parents. It's often more difficult for parents

A lot of parents feel relieved when their kid finally goes off to college after years of hard work. However, for Carla's mom, this is an alarming moment because she knows her daughter will not be as close by as she would like.

Carla’s autism-diagnosed boyfriend Danny also has Autism and they prove that they can live a “normal” life.

Watch the trailers and snippets of these films HERE.