Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's Support & Coping Nine Movies About Alzheimer's and Dementia You Shouldn't Miss By Carrie Hill, PhD Carrie Hill, PhD Carrie L. Hill, PhD has over 10 years of experience working for agencies in the health, human service, and senior sectors, including The Alzheimer's Association in St. George, Utah. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 31, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Diana Apetauerova, MD Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD LinkedIn Diana Apetauerova, MD, is board-certified in neurology with a subspecialty in movement disorders. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts School of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Oscar nominations over the years have included multiple nods for performances in movies that deal with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. According to a study published in 2014, movies generally don't portray dementia accurately and that may reinforce stereotypes. However, here are nine movies that attempt to handle this difficult subject. Laura Porter / Verywell 1 Still Alice (2014) In this American movie, based on Lisa Genova's 2007 bestselling book of the same name, Julianne Moore stars as Alice Howland, a professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Her husband is played by Alec Baldwin, and her children are played by Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, and Hunter Parrish. While some critics found the movie powerful, especially since it's told by Alice herself, others criticized the movie for the way it held back, mostly when it came to touching on how this familial type of Alzheimer's may affect Alice's children. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Life Expectancy 2 Away From Her (2007) In "Away From Her," Julie Christie was Oscar-nominated for Best Actress for her portrayal of Fiona, a woman with Alzheimer's who voluntarily enters a long-term care facility to avoid being a burden on Grant, her husband of 50 years. After a 30-day separation (recommended by the facility), Grant visits Fiona and finds that her memory of him has deteriorated and that she's developed a close friendship with another man in the facility. Grant must draw upon the pure love and respect he has for Fiona to choose what will ensure his wife's happiness in the face of the disease. Christie won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) for her performance in this movie. 3 The Savages (2007) Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play siblings in this tragic comedy about adult children caring for a parent with dementia. Laura Linney was Oscar-nominated for Best Actress, and Tamara Jenkins was Oscar-nominated for Best Original Screenplay. With a rare combination of humility, dignity, and humor, Philip Seymour Hoffman was Golden Globe-nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for his performance as the neurotic professor who begrudgingly unites with his sister for the sake of their father. 4 Aurora Borealis (2005) Donald Sutherland and Louise Fletcher steal the show in this movie about relationships and difficult choices. It's considered a well-crafted independent film that was released under the radar. Sutherland plays a grandfather with dementia who requires more care than his wife (Fletcher) can handle. They enlist the help of a home health aide (Juliette Lewis) and their grandson (Joshua Jackson), who forge a friendship as Sutherland's character (who insists he can see the Northern Lights from his window) becomes increasingly impaired. 5 The Notebook (2004) Based on Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel of the same name, "The Notebook," this movie features James Garner as Noah, the loving husband of Allie (Gena Rowlands), who is in a nursing home due to Alzheimer's disease. Noah attempts to rekindle her memories of their long history by reading to her from his notebook. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams play the couple in their younger years. Described as a true romance, the movie was directed by Nick Cassavetes, son of Gena Rowlands. 9 Care Options for People Living With Dementia 6 A Song For Martin (2001) Sven Wollter and Viveka Seldahl (who were married in real life) play married couple Martin and Barbara in this Swedish movie with English subtitles. Martin is a conductor and composer while Barbara is a violinist. They meet and marry in middle-age, but soon after, they find out that Martin has Alzheimer's disease. This moving story is considered one of the most realistic depictions of caregiving on film. Alzheimer's Disease for Caregivers 7 Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch (2001) Based on the book "Elegy for Iris" by John Bayley, this movie tells the true story of English novelist Iris Murdoch's descent into Alzheimer's disease and the unconditional love of Bayley, her partner of 40 years. Jim Broadbent won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bayley in his later years. Judi Dench and Kate Winslet received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, for their portrayal of Murdoch in her older and younger years. 8 Firefly Dreams (2001) This Japanese film with English subtitles won several international film festival awards. It tells the story of Naomi (Maho), a troubled teenager sent to the country for the summer to work for her aunt and uncle. She's asked to care for an aging neighbor with Alzheimer's disease. Naomi is initially unhappy about the arrangement but soon connects with the woman in a transformative way. 9 Age Old Friends (1989) Hume Cronyn achieves another great performance as John Cooper, who chose to live in a retirement home instead of with his daughter (played by real-life daughter Tandy Cronyn), as a symbol of maintaining his independence. He befriends Michael (Vincent Gardenia), who starts showing signs of dementia. When John's daughter extends an offer to live with her again, John must decide between leaving the rigid structure of the retirement home and staying to help his friend cope with his disease. A Word From Verywell While movies are one way to gain some knowledge about Alzheimer's disease, they can be misleading, and often fail to accurately depict the physical symptoms of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. With that, enjoy these heart-touching movies, but also take them for what they are—fictional movies and not necessarily fact. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health. Sign up for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Newsletter and get your free recipe guide today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gerritsen DL, Kuin Y, Nijboer J. Dementia in the movies: the clinical picture. Aging Ment Health. 2014;18(3):276-80. doi:10.1080/13607863.2013.837150