Ethics Movies
Movies are one tool that we can use to teach students about ethics. Movies have the advantage of distance. It can be easier for students to discuss what's happening on screen than to talk about what's going on in their personal lives. Discussing the plots of movies, such as those mentioned below may become a powerful way for a class to connect and communicate. Watching these movies in class can be a great way to begin conversations about the way that our values affect our choices and their consequences.
Below is a list of Movies, which are arranged into categories
according to their Moral-Ethical Emphasis.
Click on a Movie title for more information
Abortion
Juno (2007)
Deals with unplanned pregnancy, abortion and adoption.
The Cider House Rules (1999)
Ethical issues surrounding abortion and medical ethics.
Animal Welfare
Earthlings (2005)
Documentary about society’s treatment of animals.
Business Ethics
Norma Rae (1979)
Deals with Business ethics and the strength of human character.
Citizenship/Human Rights/justice
All the President's Men (1976)
Deals with journalism ethics and issues such as; trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, and citizenship.
Gandhi (1982)
Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
Euthanasia
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Deals with gender equality and the ethics behind assisted suicide.
You Don't Know Jack (2010)
Based on the controversial doctor Jack Kevorkian, who facilitated assisted suicide in many cases.
The Sea Inside (2004)
Deals with assisted suicide from the perspective of a paraplegic.
Whose Life Is It Anyway (1981)
Deals with voluntary Euthanasia.
Genetic Engineering
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Genetics, "Designer babies", Saviour siblings, and Child vs. Parent autonomy.
Gattaca (1997)
Deals with genetics and the high cost of seeking perfection.
Identity
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Deals with the ethics of erasing someones memories and issues surrounding identity and love.
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Addresses issues surrounding identity and consciousness.
Inception (2010)
Ethical issues surrounding reality, memory and identity.
IVF
The Kids Are Alright (2010)
Deals with issues surrounding In-vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm donation and the meaning of family.
Medical ethics
Talk To Her (2002)
A Spanish film that focuses on patients in a coma/ persistent vegetative states (PVS) , the film deals professional ethics and boundary violations.
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (2007)
The true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed.
Mental Illness
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A story about a brilliant man struggling with mental illness. Presents a different perspective on mental illness.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
One of the first movies to examine mental health issues. Deals with the nature of mental illness, confinement, and the treatment of people.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Deals with mental illness and the treatment of the mentally ill.
Shutter Island (2010)
Deals with reality, identity and mental illness.
Identity (2003)
An interesting exploration of the issue of responsibility and mental illness.
Privacy
Minority report (2002)
Deals with bio-ethical issues including brain scanning, and also issues such as privacy and freedom.
Racism
Remember the Titans (2000)
Deals with Issues of bigotry, tolerance, racism, respect, responsibility, fairness and citizenship.
American History X (1998)
A classic movie about racism, hate, anger, and reconciliation.
Responsibility
The Kite Runner (2007)
Deals with issues of loyalty, betrayal and responsibility.
All About My Mother (1999)
A film that deals with love and responsibility (it also briefly covers the issue of organ donation.
Suicide
The Hours (2002)
Deals with issues surrounding suicide and the effect it has on three different women’s lives.
Tough Choices
The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993)
Responsibility, race, friendship, loyalty, contending with the influence of society's values; and making the decision to embrace that of equality.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Deals with the inherent values of the freedom of moral choice; and the importance of aspiring to do what is right.
Sophie's Choice (1982)
This movie deals with choosing between the greater of two evils - Situations that are so devastating; that a good choice is impossible.
War/peace
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Deals with military propaganda and the use of human beings as a "means to an end".
The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas (2008)
Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
Others
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
This Movie has Philosophical undertones, which shift to issues of free will and determinism.
Life as a House (2001)
Deals with issues of death, meaning, and relationships.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
One of the major questions in the film is, "What is the meaning of life?"
The Green Mile (1999)
The movie has a lot to do with dealing with how different people react to different situations.
Juno (2007)
Deals with unplanned pregnancy, abortion and adoption.
The Cider House Rules (1999)
Ethical issues surrounding abortion and medical ethics.
Animal Welfare
Earthlings (2005)
Documentary about society’s treatment of animals.
Business Ethics
Norma Rae (1979)
Deals with Business ethics and the strength of human character.
Citizenship/Human Rights/justice
All the President's Men (1976)
Deals with journalism ethics and issues such as; trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, and citizenship.
Gandhi (1982)
Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
Euthanasia
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Deals with gender equality and the ethics behind assisted suicide.
You Don't Know Jack (2010)
Based on the controversial doctor Jack Kevorkian, who facilitated assisted suicide in many cases.
The Sea Inside (2004)
Deals with assisted suicide from the perspective of a paraplegic.
Whose Life Is It Anyway (1981)
Deals with voluntary Euthanasia.
Genetic Engineering
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Genetics, "Designer babies", Saviour siblings, and Child vs. Parent autonomy.
Gattaca (1997)
Deals with genetics and the high cost of seeking perfection.
Identity
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Deals with the ethics of erasing someones memories and issues surrounding identity and love.
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Addresses issues surrounding identity and consciousness.
Inception (2010)
Ethical issues surrounding reality, memory and identity.
IVF
The Kids Are Alright (2010)
Deals with issues surrounding In-vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm donation and the meaning of family.
Medical ethics
Talk To Her (2002)
A Spanish film that focuses on patients in a coma/ persistent vegetative states (PVS) , the film deals professional ethics and boundary violations.
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (2007)
The true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed.
Mental Illness
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A story about a brilliant man struggling with mental illness. Presents a different perspective on mental illness.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
One of the first movies to examine mental health issues. Deals with the nature of mental illness, confinement, and the treatment of people.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Deals with mental illness and the treatment of the mentally ill.
Shutter Island (2010)
Deals with reality, identity and mental illness.
Identity (2003)
An interesting exploration of the issue of responsibility and mental illness.
Privacy
Minority report (2002)
Deals with bio-ethical issues including brain scanning, and also issues such as privacy and freedom.
Racism
Remember the Titans (2000)
Deals with Issues of bigotry, tolerance, racism, respect, responsibility, fairness and citizenship.
American History X (1998)
A classic movie about racism, hate, anger, and reconciliation.
Responsibility
The Kite Runner (2007)
Deals with issues of loyalty, betrayal and responsibility.
All About My Mother (1999)
A film that deals with love and responsibility (it also briefly covers the issue of organ donation.
Suicide
The Hours (2002)
Deals with issues surrounding suicide and the effect it has on three different women’s lives.
Tough Choices
The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993)
Responsibility, race, friendship, loyalty, contending with the influence of society's values; and making the decision to embrace that of equality.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Deals with the inherent values of the freedom of moral choice; and the importance of aspiring to do what is right.
Sophie's Choice (1982)
This movie deals with choosing between the greater of two evils - Situations that are so devastating; that a good choice is impossible.
War/peace
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Deals with military propaganda and the use of human beings as a "means to an end".
The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas (2008)
Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
Others
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
This Movie has Philosophical undertones, which shift to issues of free will and determinism.
Life as a House (2001)
Deals with issues of death, meaning, and relationships.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
One of the major questions in the film is, "What is the meaning of life?"
The Green Mile (1999)
The movie has a lot to do with dealing with how different people react to different situations.