Movies About Foster Care And Adoption

From Garth Davis, starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Sunny Pawar
Rated PG-13

Lion is the inspiring true story of Saroo Brierley, a five-year-old Indian boy who accidentally boards a train that takes him thousands of miles away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, India, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

From Mike Leigh, starring Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn, Phyllis Logan, Claire Rushbrook
Rated R

Secrets & Lies is a British drama directed by Mike Leigh and released in 1996. The film tells the story of Hortense, a black optometrist who discovers through a DNA test that the white family she had always assumed to be her biological relatives are not actually her blood relatives. This discovery sets off a chain of events as Hortense searches for the truth about her birth family. Along the way, Hortense is forced to confront unresolved issues between her "adoptive" family and her newfound birth mother, and must come to terms with a newfound identity. Secrets & Lies is a complex exploration of family, identity, and the fragility of relationships.

From Destin Daniel Cretton, starring Brie Larson, Frantz Turner, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever
Rated R

Short Term 12 is a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The film stars Brie Larson as Grace, the supervisor of a group home for troubled teenagers. As Grace struggles with the everyday challenges of working with teenagers, she grapples with her own struggles, including her relationship with her long-term boyfriend Mason (John Gallagher Jr.) and the arrival of an unexpected new teen, Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever). Through her interactions with her clients, Grace is forced to confront her own past and come to terms with her own issues. The film follows the lives of the teens as they grapple with difficult issues, as well as the relationships between the staff members of the facility.

From Kenneth Lonergan, starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges
Rated R

Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 American drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. The film follows Lee Chandler, a man from Boston who is suddenly made the legal guardian of his teenage nephew, Patrick, following the death of his older brother, Joe. After moving back to his hometown of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, Lee is forced to confront his past, including the devastating loss of his children and his estrangement from his ex-wife, Randi. As Lee attempts to adjust to his new life, he must also learn to forgive himself and come to terms with the tragedy of his past. Manchester by the Sea is a powerful story of family, love, loss, and redemption.

From David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Julia Ormond
Rated PG-13

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 romantic fantasy drama film directed by David Fincher. The film stars Brad Pitt as eponymous character Benjamin Button, a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards. Throughout his life, Benjamin struggles with the challenges of his rare condition, which causes him to be out of sync with the world around him. Along the way, he meets lifelong friends and the love of his life, Daisy (Cate Blanchett), while having incredible adventures that span decades. As he gets younger, Benjamin must come to terms with his mortality and the idea of starting anew, regardless of his age. Ultimately, the film is a powerful story of love, life, and loss, and explores the idea of living life to its fullest, no matter how much time one has left.

From Stephen Frears, starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Mare Winningham
Rated PG-13

Philomena is a 2013 British-Irish drama film directed by Stephen Frears, written by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, and based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith. It stars Judi Dench as Philomena Lee, a woman searching for her long-lost son, and Steve Coogan as Sixsmith, a cynical journalist who accompanies her. The film begins with the story of Philomena's son, who she gave up for adoption in 1950s Ireland due to the Catholic Church's restrictions on unwed mothers. Years later, she and Sixsmith set out to find him. On their journey, they face numerous obstacles, including a cover-up orchestrated by a nun. Eventually, they discover that Philomena's son had a successful career in the United States and had three children of his own. However, they are unable to reunite before his death. Philomena is a powerful meditation on faith, forgiveness, and the power of love. It is both a heart-warming and heartbreaking story of a mother's love and how it can transcend the boundaries of time and circumstance.

From Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, starring Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews
Rated PG

Despicable Me is a 2010 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the first installment in the Despicable Me franchise and stars Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, and Julie Andrews in the lead roles. The movie follows Gru, a supervillain who plans to steal the moon, as he adopts three orphan girls who have a profound effect on his life. Gru and his minions must face off against a rival villain, Vector, in order to save the world. The movie presented a unique twist on the traditional villain story and was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $543 million worldwide.

From John Lee Hancock, starring Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Jae Head
Rated PG-13

The Blind Side is a 2009 sports drama film written and directed by John Lee Hancock and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. The film follows the lives of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, and the Tuohy family, who take him in. Oher faces many challenges in adapting to his new lifestyle, but with the help of the Tuohys and his own determination, he eventually succeeds in his new home and at school. The story also touches on themes of racism, social class, and education, as well as family values. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron, and was released on November 20, 2009, by Warner Bros. It was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $309 million on a budget of $29 million and receiving an Academy Award for Best Picture.

From Jessie Nelson, starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest
Rated PG-13

I Am Sam is a 2001 American drama film written and directed by Jessie Nelson, and starring Sean Penn as a father with a developmental disability, Dianne Wiest and Michele Pfeiffer as his lawyers, and Dakota Fanning as his daughter. The story follows Sam Dawson, a man with a developmental disability who has the responsibility of raising his seven-year-old daughter, Lucy. When Lucy is taken away by the state, Sam attempts to fight for custody, with the help of two advocate lawyers. In the end, the court decides that Sam is an unfit parent and Lucy will be placed with foster parents. Despite this, Sam is able to form a bond with his daughter, and fights to stay in her life.

From Brian Percival, starring Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer
Rated PG-13

The Book Thief is a 2013 film directed by Brian Percival and based on the bestselling novel by Markus Zusak. The film follows the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl living in Nazi Germany, who is sent to live with a foster family in the small town of Molching. As Liesel begins her new life, she discovers a passion for books and the power of words. Throughout her struggles with the harsh realities of life during World War II, Liesel is able to find solace and joy in her newfound love of books. With the help of her compassionate foster parents, a kind-hearted Jewish man who is hiding in her basement, and her newfound friends, Liesel is able to find strength and hope in the face of adversity. The Book Thief is a powerful story about the power of words, love, and courage in the face of tragedy.

From Jason Reitman, starring Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Rated PG-13

Juno is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. The movie follows 16-year-old Juno MacGuff, a high school girl from Minnesota, who discovers that she is pregnant after a one-time sexual encounter with her best friend Paulie Bleeker. With the help of her friend Leah, Juno decides to give her baby up for adoption to a yuppie couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring, who she finds through a newspaper listing. Juno carries out her plans while also trying to maintain her relationships with her family and friends, while also navigating the challenges of being a pregnant teen. Ultimately, Juno discovers strength she never knew she had and learns important lessons about life, love, family and relationships.

From Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, starring Thomas Doret, Cécile de France, Jérémie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione
Rated PG-13

From Kirsten Sheridan, starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard
Rated PG

From Lasse Hallström, starring Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Delroy Lindo
Rated PG-13

From Lee Daniels, starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey
Rated R

From Rodrigo García, starring Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Kerry Washington, Alexandria M. Salling
Rated R

From Vic Sarin, starring Connie Nielsen, Aidan Quinn, John Bell, Jack Gleeson
Rated PG

From Peter Kosminsky, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zellweger, Robin Wright, Alison Lohman
Rated PG-13

From Norman Taurog, starring Cary Grant, Betsy Drake, Lurene Tuttle, Randy Stuart
Rated Approved

From Bruce Beresford, starring Pierce Brosnan, Julianna Margulies, Aidan Quinn, Sophie Vavasseur
Rated PG

From Alison Eastwood, starring Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Miles Heizer, Marin Hinkle
Rated PG-13

From Menno Meyjes, starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Bobby Coleman, Sophie Okonedo
Rated PG

From Wiebke von Carolsfeld, starring Molly Parker, Rebecca Jenkins, Stacy Smith, Marguerite McNeil
Rated Unrated

From Mike Binder, starring Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Gillian Jacobs, Anthony Mackie
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin, starring Rachel Hendrix, Jason Burkey, John Schneider, Jasmine Guy
Rated PG-13