For this weeks blog we have created a list of the best TV programmes and films you can watch about autism.

We’ve included a summary of what the film or TV show is about, how its been rated, what people thought of it and where you can find it, as well as linking the trailer.

We hope that this will not only keep you entertained during this crazy time but also offer you an alternative way to learn about autism.

Miracle Run (The Unexpected Journey) – 2004

Miracle Run is a film set out to challenge the social stigmatisation and discrimination of autistic children. A mother of twin boys Phillip and Stephen, life drastically changes once her boys get diagnosed with autism.

The film sets out some of the challenges that autistic parents and individuals may find themselves in, such as the struggle of being diagnosed.

In the film, Corrine Morgan-Thomas, the mother of the twins has to visit many doctors and a specialist before her boys are diagnosed with autism. Philip has echolalia, which is where he repeats words that he hears people say while Stephen is the opposite and is completely mute.

Furthermore, it demonstrates the challenge of acceptance with Corrine herself in shock and disbelief at first, her boyfriend leaving her, and her children saying that he does not want to deal with autism; and the boys’ new school telling her she should find another school for the boys when they find out that they are autistic. The film follows the boys into their teenage years where we see them develop and succeed; proving that autistic children are capable of doing things that all other children can.

Miracle Run is currently on amazon prime if you would like to watch it however you will have to pay to watch it as it is not included within the prime subscription.

To watch the trailer please click here

• IMDb rating – 7.4/10
• Rotten Tomatoes – 89%

‘This film shows how hard bringing up children with autism is, and how some people have narrowed views about the children. For parent of autistic children or anyone who comes into contact with someone on the spectrum it shows how certain strategies can be used.

What makes this film even better is that it is based on a true story. If I had to rate this film i would give it 10 out of 10, as it nails all the stereotypes and gives a brilliant and insightful look into the life of a family who’s children are autistic. ‘

This review comes from an independent blog post

‘I wonder if this was a made-for-TV movie? It’s a sappy, sentimental film about a strong mother who refuses to give up on her autistic sons. I can’t fault the film’s messages about not treating the kids any differently and refusing to acknowledge autism as a disability.

However, I would have liked to see the mother’s character struggle a bit more. She never seemed to have a moment of doubt, or throw her hands up and not know what to do’

Review left on Rotten Tomatoes rating it a 3/5 *

A-typical

A-typical is a TV series that follows the life of an 18-year old boy called Sam who is on the autism spectrum. In this series we watch Sam decide that he wants to have a girlfriend and gain more independence from his family. We see how he copes with high school, friendships, work and family life.

Series one to three is available to stream on Netflix. The show has proven to be a hit after they announced they’re producing a fourth series earlier this year.

To watch the trailer please click here

• IMDb rating – 8.3/10
• Rotten tomatoes – 87%

‘As a person with higher functioning autism, I find some aspects of this show relatable and depicted in a funny and wholesome way. If you are at all interested in the topic of autism (which you should be) I suggest giving this show a watch.’

Review published to the metacritic from frederikb.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a film based on a novel. It portrays a young boy with autism and his relationship with his father who dies in the 9/11 attack shortly into the film.

Oskar, the young boy finds a key in a vase and sets out on a mission across the 6 boroughs to find out what the key was for. Throughout the film we see him breaking down the barriers of his autism as he has to use the subway and enter large busy bustling cities.

You can rent Extremely loud and incredibly close on amazon or buy/rent it from the google play store.

To watch the extremely loud and incredible close trailer please click here

• IMDb rating – 6.9
• Rotten Tomatoes – 46%

‘Extremely loud and incredibly close. Is a hard movie to watch. And not for the reasons you might think. As the parent of a autistic child. I found Thomas Horn’s performance almost uncannily like my son’s. The movie has a simple plot.

Oskar lost his father in 9/11. He was incredibly devoted to his father. His Father Tom always found things for him to do that got him involved in one way or the other in the real world. His mother wonderfully played by Sandra Bullock stands at the sidelines and let’s the father and son Bond.

Tom creates a searching game. He gives Oskar a mission and provided the clues. After his father dies. Oskar finds a key in a blue vase, in his father’s closet. He takes this to mean it’s a quest from his Dad. Struggling with his loss he goes on this quest to find his Dad. What he finds and what he experiences will change his life and his mother’s life forever. As well as the people he meets on his quest.

Tom Hanks has basically a extended cameo but he turns in a startling job. Hanks does a emotional job that is refreshing and vibrant. As Tom Schell he wants his son to transcend the boundaries of his Asperger’s. He want’s Oskar to learn how to function in the real world by interacting with people.

As a parent of a child with Asperger’s this movie was so hard to watch at times. Simply because I saw my own son reflected in the movie. I enjoyed this movie because it felt so true to life for me. Worth watching if you like this kind of story.’

Review left on IMDb

The Good Doctor

Shaun Murphy is a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome who relocates from the country to join a prestigious hospital surgical unit. He struggles to connect to those around him and uses his medical gifts to save lives and challenge the skepticism around him.

The Good Doctor currently has three series and can be watched and streamed on Sky, Now TV, Amazon and ABC.

To watch the trailer please click here

• IMDb rating – 8.2
• Rotten Tomatoes – 63%

‘There have been few storylines that stand out beyond the typical medical drama; this one’s just done well enough to make you buy in, thanks especially to Freddie Highmore’s committed, layered turn.’

Review published to Rotten tomatoes by top critic Ben Travers

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Temple Grandin

Temple Gradin is a film based on the life of a young autistic woman who overcomes the limitations and barriers facing her as a result of her disability to graduate with a Ph.D. and become an expert in her field of animal husbandry.

With a passion for animals developed from spending time at her Aunt and Uncles ranch, the audience learns that she did not speak until she was four years old and struggled through high school.

Most notably, however, she is known for creating her “huge box” which is a widely recognised way of relieving stress in autistic children and her humane design for the treatment of cattle in processing plants which have been published in several books and won her awards.

Today, however, she is a professor at a university in the United States and a well-known speaker on autism and animal handling.

Temple Gradin can be streamed on Amazon Prime and Google Play.

To watch the trailer for Temple Gradin please click here

• IMDb rating – 8.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes – 100%

‘Riveting true story of a young autistic woman’s journey.’

Published on Rotten on Tomatoes

‘Inspirational, insightful, uniquely realized, and undoubtedly fascinating, Temple Grandin is yet another strong biopic from HBO. Based on the life of Temple Grandin, an amazing woman with autism who has added both hope and understanding to the condition. It’s through her work that we understand the autistic mind as a complex one, capable of remarkable brilliance, thinking visually and able to replicate and recall images to an unbelievable degree.

The film goes through Temple’s life and major experiences, but does so without a “by the numbers approach”. It accomplishes this through an amazing performance from Claire Danes, who completely inhibits Temple Grandin. The narrative allows us to better understand her mind by giving us flashes of the sort of visuals she experiences, while always keeping narrative focus.

The film doesn’t pander to her or those with autism, but rather transcends condescending notions by showing the underling ability that often goes unnoticed and cultivated. Overall, it’s an effective, resonate, and strongly executed biopic. 4/5 Stars’

Review left on Rotten Tomatoes

The A word

The Hughes family work and love and fight like every other family. Then, their youngest son is diagnosed with autism and they don’t feel like every other family anymore. The series shows a journey of how the family cope with the revelation that their son has autism.

The A word is a British Broadcasting Corporation programme and can be watched on BBC One or streamed for catch up through the BBC Iplayer.

To watch the trailer of The A word please click here

• IMDb rating – 7.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes – 89%

‘The A Word is a tapestry reflecting that autism diagnoses affect how families live and view the world but do not necessarily consume them… This structure allows The A Word to take a break from the serious and real in order to be funny.’

Review left on Rotten Tomatoes by a top critic

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Rain Man

Charlie Babbit is a self-centered Los Angles-based automobile dealer who is estranged from his father.

As a teenager, Charlie crashes his father’s car and ends up in jail for two days as his father had reported it stolen.

It is then that Charlie learns his estranged father has died and left him a huge bed of roses and a car in his will.

His father also leaves another gift of $3 Million in a trust fund, however, this was not left to Charlie but someone else.

Charlie pretty angry by this, decides to look into this matter. It seems as if that “someone” is Raymond, Charlie’s unknown brother, an autistic savant who lives in a world of his own, resides at the Walbrook Institute.

Charlie then kidnaps Raymond and decides to take him on a lust for life trip to the west coast as a threat to get the $3 Million inheritance.

Rain man is available to watch and stream on Amazon, iTunes and Google play.

To watch the trailer please click here

• IMDb rating – 8/10
• Rotten tomatoes – 89%

‘Rain Man is a moving story about two brothers, one a selfish yuppie named Charlie Babbitt who cares only about the importance of money and the other named Raymond who is a autistic and doesn’t know anything about the importance of money. Charlie realizes that his father left three million dollars to Raymond and little to him, as he also realizes Raymond is his brother! Charlie kidnaps Raymond from his residential home and begins a long journey and discovery that will forever change both their lives.

Rain Man is a completely moving, emotional, funny, and unforgettable movie. Dustin Hoffman is one of my favorite actors and plays his most memorable role as well as Tom Cruise, who gives a great performance that helped a lot in launching most of his career. The direction by Barry Levinson is stunning and of course, his best yet. Overall, the film is a timeless classic that moves me in every way. This is definitely one of the best films of the 80’s and one of my all time favorites. Yea, definitely, definitely, recommend it!’

Review left on IMDb

‘Rain Man cheers up its audience but avoids sentimentality. Films like that are rare.’

Review left on Rotten Tomatoes

More…

For a more extensive list of films and television show on autism please click here

We hope that you have found this list of films and TV programmes to be enjoyable and that it has not only entertained you but offered you a greater insight into autism. As well as giving you an alternative method of learning about the barriers and challenges facing autistic individuals and their families. Other great recreational activities we are suggesting, you can find here.