Movies and Documentaries About Disability
Lights, camera, disability! Hollywood has rolled out a variety of blockbusters, films, and documentaries that focus on disability. We've gathered a selection of films that celebrate the lives and stories of individuals with disabilities Whether you're interested in learning about prominent figures like Stephen Hawking and Judy Heumann or the fictional story of Forrest Gump, this list has something for everyone. Grab your popcorn and cozy up with this list of films and documentaries that offer both fictional and biographical views into the world of disability.
Crip Camp (2020)
- Genre: Documentary
- Main Cast: Judy Heumann, James Lebrecht, Denise Sherer Jacobson
- Streaming: Netflix; freely available on YouTube
"Crip Camp" is a documentary that explores the transformative impact of a summer camp for disabled teenagers in the 1970s. The film highlights how the experiences at Camp Jened, a camp for disabled youth in New York, helped ignite a disability rights movement. Through personal stories and real-life footage, the documentary showcases the journey of disabled people as they become advocates for accessibility and equality, leading to significant U.S. legislations like Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Main Cast: Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez
- Streaming: Netflix
This film follows Ben, a retired writer turned caregiver, who takes on a job caring for Trevor, a sarcastic teenager with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As they embark on a road trip, the journey becomes one of self-discovery and healing. Along the way, they encounter various characters, including Dot, a hitchhiker who joins their adventure. The film explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and the challenges of living with a disability.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
- Genre: Biography/Romance/Drama
- Main Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
This is a movie about the life of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. It begins as a simple love story between Stephen and Jane. When Hawking is diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, ALS, at age 21 and told he has two years to live, the complexity grows. He tries to cut Jane out of his life, but she stays loyal. The film follows their journey navigating family, ALS, and Hawking’s rise to fame as a world-renowned physicist.
Gleason (2016)
- Genre: Documentary/Sport
- Main Cast: Steve Gleason, Mike Gleason, Scott Fujita, Mike McKenzie
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
This is a documentary about the life of former New Orleans Saints football player Steve Gleason. At 34, he is given two to five years to live after an ALS diagnosis. When he discovers shortly after his diagnosis that his wife is pregnant, he begins recording a journal for their child. The video becomes more than a diary and acts as a chronicle of Steve’s journey to make the most of his time, adapt to his changing body, and help other ALS patients in their journeys.
Rising Phoenix
- Genre: Documentary/Sport
- Main Cast: Tatyana McFadden, Jonnie Peacock, Jean-Baptiste Alaize
- Streaming: Netflix
"Rising Phoenix" tells the story of the Paralympic Games. The documentary highlights how the Paralympics have grown to become the world’s largest sporting event for disabled athletes, showcasing the power of sport to drive social change. Through the personal stories of athletes, the film explores the challenges and triumphs of the Paralympic movement, emphasizing its impact on global attitudes towards disability and inclusion.
Forrest Gump (1994)
- Genre: Drama/Romance
- Main Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
- Streaming: Paramount+
"Forrest Gump" follows the life of Forrest, a man with an intellectual disability and a mobility challenge in his early life, wearing leg braces due to a spinal condition. Taking place during the 1950s-1980s, Gump becomes a college football star, serves heroically in the Vietnam War, and meets multiple U.S. Presidents. His journey also includes becoming a successful businessman with the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and gaining national attention for his spontaneous cross-country run.
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
- Genre: Adventure/Comedy
- Main Cast: Zack Gottsagen, Ann Pierce, Dakota Johnson
- Streaming: Netflix
"The Peanut Butter Falcon" is a 2019 drama adventure film written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. It’s the story of the disarmingly sweet and funny Zak, who lives with Down syndrome and dreams of a career as a professional wrestler. The character is played by Gottsagen, who also has Down syndrome. Zak is running away from his care facility when he meets Tyler, who is also on the run, but from the law. Together, they start a journey to make Zak’s dream a reality, meeting a whole cast of characters and growing their friendship along the way.
Through film, disabled actors and characters offer a deeper understanding of disability advocacy and inclusion. To learn more about disability representation and disability rights, read the related articles below.
