Movies About Foster Care On Netflix

From Stars: Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth, Patricia Hamilton, starring
Rated TV-G

Anne of Green Gables is a 1985 Canadian television film based on the 1908 novel of the same name by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The film stars Megan Follows as Anne Shirley, a young orphan sent to live with Marilla Cuthbert (Colleen Dewhurst) and her brother Matthew (Richard Farnsworth) at their farm on Prince Edward Island. Despite the Cuthberts' intention to adopt a boy to help with the farm work, Anne's vivid imagination and enthusiasm for life quickly win them over. Through her adventures, Anne matures and learns to take responsibility for her mistakes, becoming a beloved member of the Green Gables family and community. Along the way, she wins the affections of Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie) and is mentored by the kindly Marilla and the wise Matthew. The film also stars Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde, a nosy neighbor who takes an interest in Anne's upbringing.

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

Lion is a 2016 drama film directed by Garth Davis and written by Luke Davies, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley. The film stars Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, and Rooney Mara. The film follows the story of Saroo, who, as a five-year-old boy in India in 1986, got lost on a train which took him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo survived alone for weeks on the rough streets of Calcutta 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, Saroo embarks on a journey to find his lost family and finally return to his first home. Along the way, he learns the importance of never giving up hope.

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

Secrets & Lies is a British drama written and directed by Mike Leigh, released in 1996. It follows the story of Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn), a white, lower-middle-class woman, and Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), her adopted African-Caribbean daughter. Cynthia is visited by Hortense, who is now a successful optometrist, and the two set out to find Hortense’s biological mother. As they search, Cynthia must confront her own past and the secrets she has kept from Hortense, while Hortense must confront her own feelings of belonging and identity. Through their journey, the two women discover the complex truths of their family and ultimately learn to embrace one another. The film was met with critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

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 stars Casey Affleck as Lee Chandler, a loner who returns to his hometown of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, after a death in the family. There, he must take care of his teenage nephew, and face the consequences of his past that have left him with a broken heart, a broken spirit and a broken life. The film follows Lee as he struggles to come to terms with the events and people that have shaped his life. Along the way, he discovers a newfound capacity for understanding and compassion as he reconnects with his past and begins to make peace with his future. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning two for Best Actor (Casey Affleck) and Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan).

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

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an American fantasy comedy-drama film directed by David Fincher. Based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film stars Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button, a man who is born in his 80s and ages backwards. Throughout his life, Benjamin experiences losses and love, and is guided by Daisy (Cate Blanchett), the love of his life. As he struggles to make sense of his unique life, Benjamin discovers that the same fate awaits us all. The film also stars Taraji P. Henson, Elle Fanning, Tilda Swinton, and Jason Flemyng.

From Klaus Härö, starring Topi Majaniemi, Marjaana Maijala, Maria Lundqvist, Michael Nyqvist
Rated Not Rated

Mother of Mine is a 2005 Finnish drama directed by Klaus Härö. The film tells the heartbreaking story of a nine-year-old Finnish boy, Eero, who experiences the loss of his mother when she is forced to give him up for adoption to a family in Sweden during World War II. Eero is initially resistant to the move, but gradually comes to accept his new life, while struggling with the guilt of leaving his family behind and the longing to be reunited with his mother. The film follows Eero as he comes of age, grows distant from his Swedish family, and ultimately embarks on a journey to reconnect with his Finnish roots.

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

The Blind Side is a 2009 biographical sports drama directed by John Lee Hancock. It tells the story of Michael Oher, a homeless teenager who is taken in by a wealthy family, the Tuohys, and given an opportunity to play football. With their help and guidance, Michael is able to become an All-American offensive lineman and is eventually accepted into college. The film follows Michael’s journey from poverty to success and celebrates the power of family and education to transform a life. It stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron.

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

"I Am Sam" tells the story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally challenged father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) with the help of his friends, a group of fellow single parents. When Lucy is seven years old, her mother leaves, and the court rules that Sam is unfit to care for her. If Sam is to keep custody of Lucy, he must prove that he is competent enough to be her guardian. With the help of a volunteer lawyer (Michelle Pfeiffer), Sam embarks on a journey to prove his worth, and prove that love can overcome any obstacle.

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

The Book Thief is a 2013 drama based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Markus Zusak. The film follows the story of foster child Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nélisse) as she is taken in by a German couple - Hans and Rosa Hubermann (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) - and begins to learn to read. Liesel soon discovers the power of books, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she steals and shares books with her new family and the Jewish man, Max Vandenburg (Ben Schnetzer), her foster family takes in. During World War II, Liesel and her new family must endure Nazi persecution, while she also witnesses the horrors of war. In the end, Liesel has to make a tough decision on whether to keep the books or let them go.

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 Peter Kosminsky, starring Brooke Kinsella, Colin Salmon, Billy Geraghty, Sharon Small

From Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, starring Thomas Doret, Cécile de France, Jérémie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione
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 Christophe Ruggia, starring Adèle Haenel, Vincent Rottiers, Rochdy Labidi, Jacques Bonnaffé

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

From Jon Gunn, starring Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, Kate Levering
Rated PG-13

From Carl Schultz, starring Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, Nicholas Gledhill, John Hargreaves
Rated PG

From Mark Jean, starring Kim Delaney, Jared Abrahamson, Sarah-Jane Redmond, Paul McGillion
Rated TV-PG

From Antoinette Beumer, starring Carice van Houten, Jelka van Houten, Holly Hunter, Jacob Browne
Rated Not Rated

From Samantha Morton, starring Molly Windsor, Robert Carlyle, Susan Lynch, Craig Parkinson
Rated Not Rated

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