Dementia is a profound and heartbreaking illness that not only changes the person affected but also leaves deep marks on the lives of family and friends. Movies about dementia often capture the pain, love, and confusion in a touching way.
Here are 10 of the best movies about dementia that will move you and make you think about memory, identity, and family.
1. The Father (2020) – The most realistic depiction of dementia
This Oscar-winning movie starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman is one of the most powerful portrayals of dementia ever made.
The movie is told entirely through the eyes of the person with dementia, allowing you to experience the confusion and fear yourself. Rooms change, faces swap, and time seems to jump, just as it does for someone with the disease.
An emotional masterpiece you won’t soon forget.
2. Still Alice (2014) – Early-onset dementia
Julianne Moore plays a highly intelligent linguistics professor who discovers she has early-onset Alzheimer’s.
The movie intensely and subtly shows how she slowly loses her grip on reality and how her family copes.
A poignant drama demonstrating how relentless the disease can be, even in young people.
3. Away from Her (2006) – Love and loss through Alzheimer’s
Based on a short story by Alice Munro, this movie revolves around an elderly couple torn apart by the disease.
When Fiona (Julie Christie) begins to lose her memory, she decides herself to move into a care home. There, she forgets her husband and falls in love with another man.
A subtle and heartbreaking movie about love, letting go, and the pain of being forgotten.
4. Iris (2001) – The tragic decline of a brilliant mind
This movie tells the true story of Iris Murdoch, a famous British novelist who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s.
The movie alternates between flashbacks of her young, brilliant self (played by Kate Winslet) and her older version (Judi Dench), struggling with dementia.
A powerful and emotional portrait of a genius mind slowly fading away.
5. Amour (2012) – A raw and intimate portrait of old age
This French movie, directed by Michael Haneke, won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
The story follows an elderly couple growing old together, until the wife slowly loses her memory and independence. Her husband tries to care for her but eventually must make impossible choices.
A heartbreaking yet beautiful movie about love, suffering, and transience.
6. The Notebook (2004) – Dementia in a romantic story
In this classic romance movie, dementia plays a crucial role.
An old man reads a love story every day to a woman in a nursing home. It slowly becomes clear that she is his wife, and he is trying to make her remember who he is.
A romantic and touching look at dementia, with a beautiful, emotional climax.
7. What They Had (2018) – A family drama about Alzheimer’s
When an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s increasingly wanders off and gets into dangerous situations, her family must decide what is best for her.
The movie focuses on the struggles of the family members, who must choose between keeping her at home or moving her to a care facility.
A realistic and painfully honest portrayal of the difficult decisions surrounding dementia.
8. A Song for Martin (2001) – Music and memories
A touching Swedish movie about two musicians who find each other later in life and fall in love. But shortly after their marriage, Martin develops Alzheimer’s and slowly begins to forget everything, including his love for music and his wife.
The movie poignantly shows how dementia can completely change a relationship and how love endures, even when memories fade.
9. Robot & Frank (2012) – A surprising and original take on dementia
This movie combines dementia with science fiction in a surprisingly touching way.
An elderly man with early-stage dementia receives a care robot to help him with daily tasks. But the man, an ex-burglar, has other plans and involves the robot in a series of heists.
A charming, humorous, and profound movie about aging, technology, and memory loss.
10. The Savages (2007) – How children cope with a demented parent
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney play siblings who must care for their father, suffering from dementia.
The movie shows the chaos, guilt, and frustrations involved in caring for a parent with dementia.
An honest and sometimes darkly comedic look at a subject that affects many families.
Dementia is a difficult and painful subject, but these movies movingly show how love, family, and memories play a crucial role.
Which movie about dementia touched you the most? 🎬💔
