Bioethics at the Box Office
CBHD often receives requests from educators and other individuals for popular resources that engage bioethics through various media (fiction, film, and television). In this resource, we offer a recap of relevant materials that have premiered on the silver screen or television. Readers are cautioned that the films represent a wide variety of genres and may not be appropriate for all audiences. The reason for the rating classification is provided where available. Viewers are encouraged to read annotations/synopses available through such websites as www.movieweb.com or www.imdb.com. If there is a film you think we missed, email us at info@cbhd.org.
Biotechnology | Clinical Ethics | Cloning | Disability Ethics | Emerging Technology | End-of-Life | Genetic Ethics | Global Bioethics | Healthcare | Human Dignity | Human Enhancement | Neuroethics | Organ Donation & Transplantation | Patient's Rights / Informed Consent / Human Dignity | Public Health | Public Policy | Reproductive Ethics | Research Ethics | Transhumanism
Biotechnology
- I Am Legend (2007, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence)
- Repo! The Genetic Opera! (2008, R for strong bloody violence and fore, language, some drug and sexual content)
Clinical Ethics
- Awakenings (1990, PG-13)
- A Clockwork Orange (1972, R)
- The Constant Gardener (2005, R for language, some violent images and sexual content/nudity)
- Doc Hollywood (1991, PG-13)
- The Doctor (1991, PG-13)
- Dying Young (1991, R)
- Elephant Man (1980, PG)
- Extreme Measures (1996, R for violence, language, some nudity, and graphic ER activity)
- Heartsounds (1984, PG)
- The Hospital (1972, PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content and drug references)
- K-Pax (2001, PG-13 for a sequence of violent images, brief language, and sensuality)
- Losing Isaiah (1995, R for drug related material and brief strong language)
- Miss Evers’ Boys (1997, PG for theme and related elements)
- My Sister’s Keeper (2009, PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language, and brief teen drinking)
- Passion Fish (1992, R)
- A Place for Annie (1994, PG for thematic elements and language)
- Regarding Henry (1991, PG-13)
- Side Effects (2013, R for sexuality, nudity, violence, and language)
- Something the Lord Made (2004, NR)
- The Verdict (1982, R)
Cloning
- Blade Runner (1982, R for violence)
- The Boys from Brazil (1978, R)
- Cloud Atlas (2012, R for violence, language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use)
- Godsend (2004, PG-13 for violence including frightening images, a scene of sexuality, and some thematic material)
- The Island (2005, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexuality and language)
- Moon (2010, R for language)
- Never Let Me Go (2010, Rated R for some sexuality and nudity)
- Oblivion (2013, PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity)
Disability Ethics
- Away from Her (2007, PG-13 for some strong language)
- Charly (1968, PG)
- Elephant Man (1980, PG)
- Guarding Eddy (2005, PG for thematic elements, language, some mild violent content and brief smoking)
- The Intouchables (2012, R for language and some drug use)
- Mask (1985, R)
- Music Within (2007, R for including sexual references and some drug content)
- Praying with Lior (2008, NR, documentary)
Emerging Technology
- Artificial Intelligence (2001, PG-13 for some sexual content and violent images)
- Avatar (2009, PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action, violence and destruction, and for some suggestive comments)
- Babylon A.D. (2008, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality)
- Bicentennial Man (1999, PG for language and some sexual content)
- Chappie (2015, R for violence, language, and brief nudity)
- Elysium (2013, R for strong bloody violence and language throughout)
- Ex Machina (2015, R for graphic nudity, language, sexual references, and some violence)
- Gamer (2009, R for frenetic sequences of strong brutal violence throughout, sexual content, nudity, and language)
- Her (2013, R for language, sexual content, and brief graphic nudity)
- Inception (2010, PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout)
- Maze Runner (2014, PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images)
- Real Steel (2011, PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language)
- Repo Men (2010, R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, language, and some sexuality/nudity)
- Robot & Frank (2012, PG-13 for some language)
- Surrogates (2009, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality, and a drug-related scene)
- Terminator Genisys (2015, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and gunplay throughout, partial nudity and brief strong language)
- Terminator Salvation (2010, PG-13 for language and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action)
- Transcendence (2014, PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, some bloody images, brief strong language and sensuality)
- Tron Legacy (2010, PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language)
- Ultraviolet (2006, PG-13 for sequences of violent action throughout, partial nudity, and language)
End-of-Life
- 50/50 (2011, R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use)
- Amour (2012, PG-13 for mature thematic material including a disturbing act, and for brief language)
- Away From Her (2007, PG-13 for some strong language)
- Barbarian Invasions (2003, R for language, sexual dialogue, and drug content)
- The Descendants (2011, R for language including some sexual references)
- Exit: The Right to Die (in French with subtitles) (2006, NR, documentary)
- The Fault in Our Stars (2014, PG-13 for thematic elements, some sexuality and brief strong language)
- The Giver (2014, PG-13 for a mature thematic image and some sci-fi action/violence)
- Griffin and Phoenix (2006, PG-13 for sexual content, some thematic elements, and brief strong language)
- Happy Tears (2010, R for language, drug use, and some sexual content including brief nudity)
- It’s My Party (1996, R for language and brief nudity)
- A Little Bit of Heaven (2012, PG-13 for sexual content, including crude references, and language)
- Lorenzo’s Oil (1993, PG-13)
- Love and Other Drugs (2010, R for strong sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, and some drug material)
- Marvin’s Room (1997, PG-13 for thematic elements and brief language)
- Million Dollar Baby (2005, PG-13 for violence, some disturbing images, thematic material, and language)
- My Life (1993, PG-13 for mature subject matter)
- The Sea Inside (2004, PG-13 for intense depiction of mature thematic material)
- Seven Pounds (2008, PG-13 for thematic material, some disturbing content, and a scene of sensuality)
- Source Code (2011, PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images, and for language)
- Still Alive (2014, PG-13 for mature thematic material, and brief language including a sexual reference)
- Tuesdays with Morrie (1999, NR)
- When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007, PG-13 for sexual content, thematic material, and brief strong language)
- Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981, R)
- Wit (2001, PG-13 for some thematic material)
Genetic Ethics
- Avatar (2009, PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking)
- Babylon A.D. (2008, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality)
- Bourne Legacy (2012, PG-13 for violence and action sequences)
- Code 46 (2004, R for a scene of sexuality, including brief graphic nudity)
- Extraordinary Measures (2010, PG for thematic material, language, and a mild suggestive moment)
- Gattaca (1997, PG-13 for brief violent images, language, and some sexuality)
- The Giver (2014, PG-13 for a mature thematic image and some sci-fi action/violence)
- Hanna (2011, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual material and language)
- I Am Legend (2007, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence)
- In the Family (2008, NR, documentary)
- In Time (2011, PG-13 for violence, some sexuality and partial nudity, and strong language)
- The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996, PG-13 for sci-fi violence, horror, and gore involving mutant creatures)
- Isolation (2006, R for violence/gore, language, and a scene of sexuality)
- Jurassic Park (1993, PG-13 for intense science fiction terror)
- Man of Steel (2013, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, and for some language)
- Memory (2007, R for language and frightening images)
- My Sister’s Keeper (2009, PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language, and brief teen drinking)
- Resident Evil: Extinction (2007, R for strong horror violence throughout and some nudity)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, PG-13 for intense and frightening sequences of action and violence)
- Splice (2010, R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language)
- The Twilight of the Golds (1997, PG-13 for thematic elements and brief language)
- Ultraviolet (2006, PG-13 for sequences of violent action throughout, partial nudity, and language)
Global Bioethics
- The Constant Gardener (2005, R for language, some violent images and sexual content/nudity)
- Pregnant in America (2008, NR, documentary)
Healthcare
- And the Band Played On (1993, PG-13)
- Critical Care (1997, R for language and a scene of sexuality)
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007, PG-13 for nudity, sexual content, and some language)
- The Doctor (1991, PG-13)
- Elysium (2013, R for strong bloody violence and language throughout)
- An Enemy of the People (1978, G)
- John Q (2002, PG-13 for violence, language, and intense thematic elements)
- Patch Adams (1998, PG-13 for some strong language and crude humor)
- Side Effects (2013, R for sexuality, nudity, violence, and language)
Human Dignity
- Children of a Lesser God (1986, R)
- Coming Home (1979, R)
- Do You Remember Love? (1985, NR)
- Elephant Man (1980, PG)
- Erin Brockovich (2000, R for language)
- Good Will Hunting (1998, R for strong language, including some sex-related dialogue)
- The Intouchables (2012, R for language and some drug use)
- Iris (2001, R)
- Miss Evers’ Boys (1997, PG for theme and related elements)
- My Left Foot (1989, R)
- My Life (1993, PG-13 for mature subject matter)
- Normal (2003, NR)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1976, R)
- Philadelphia (1993, PG-13 for some graphic language and thematic material)
- Rain Man (1988, R)
- When a Man Loves a Woman (1994, R for language)
Human Enhancement
- The Age of Adaline (2015, PG-13 for a suggestive comment)
- Elysium (2013, R for strong bloody violence and language throughout)
- Gattaca (1997, PG-13 for brief violent images, language, and some sexuality)
- Hanna (2011, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual material and language)
- In Time (2011, PG-13 for violence, some sexuality and partial nudity, and strong language)
- The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996, PG-13 for sci-fi violence, horror, and gore involving mutant creatures)
- Limitless (2011, PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language)
- Lucy (2014, R for strong violence, disturbing images, and sexuality)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, PG-13 for intense and frightening sequences of action and violence)
- Self/less (2015, PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language)
- Transcendence (2014, PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, some bloody images, brief strong language and sensuality)
- Tron Legacy (2010, PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language)
- Youth Knows No Pain (2009, NR, documentary)
Neuroethics
- Elysium (2013, R for strong bloody violence and language throughout)
- Gamer (2009, R for frenetic sequences of strong brutal violence throughout, sexual content, nudity, and language)
- The Giver (2014, PG-13 for a mature thematic image and some sci-fi action/violence)
- Inception (2010, PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout)
- Just Another Love Story (2008, NR)
- Limitless (2011, PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language)
- Lucy (2014, R for strong violence, disturbing images, and sexuality)
- Maze Runner (2014, PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images)
- Self/less (2015, PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language)
- Side Effects (2013, R for sexuality, nudity, violence, and language)
- Source Code (2011, PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images, and for language)
- Surrogates (2009, PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality, and a drug-related scene)
- Total Recall (2012, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, some sexual content, brief nudity, and language)
- Transcendence (2014, PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, some bloody images, brief strong language and sensuality)
Organ Donation & Transplantation
- Coma (1978, PG)
- Dirty Pretty Things (2002, R for sexual content, disturbing images, and language)
- The Eye (2008, PG-13 for violence/terror and disturbing content)
- John Q (2002, PG-13 for violence, language, and intense thematic elements)
- Never Let Me Go (2010, R for some sexuality and nudity)
- Repo! The Genetic Opera! (2008, R for strong bloody violence and fore, language, some drug and sexual content)
- Repo Men (2010, R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, language, and some sexuality/nudity)
- Seven Pounds (2008, PG-13 for thematic material, some disturbing content, and a scene of sensuality)
- Steel Magnolias (1989, PG)
Patient’s Rights / Informed Consent / Human Dignity
- Children of a Lesser God (1986, R)
- Coming Home (1979, R)
- Do You Remember Love? (1985, NR)
- Elephant Man (1980, PG)
- Erin Brockovich (2000, R for language)
- Good Will Hunting (1998, R for strong language, including some sex-related dialogue)
- The Intouchables (2012, R for language and some drug use)
- Iris (2001, R)
- Miss Evers’ Boys (1997, PG for theme and related elements)
- My Left Foot (1989, R)
- My Life (1993, PG-13 for mature subject matter)
- Normal (2003, NR)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1976, R)
- Philadelphia (1993, PG-13 for some graphic language and thematic material)
- Rain Man (1988, R)
- When a Man Loves a Woman (1994, R for language)
Public Health
- Contagion (2011, PG-13 for disturbing content and some language)
- The Insider (1999, R for language)
- The Ryan White Story (1998, NR)
Public Policy
- Delivery Man (2013, PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, some drug material, brief violence and language)
Reproductive Ethics
- 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2008, NR)
- Baby Mama (2008, PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a drug reference)
- The Back-Up Plan (2010, PG-13 for sexual content including references, some crude material and language)
- The Brothers Solomon (2007, R for language and sexual content)
- Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story (1995, NR)
- Delivery Man (2013, PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, some drug material, brief violence and language)
- Flatliners (1990, R)
- The Giver (2014, PG-13 for a mature thematic image and some sci-fi action/violence)
- The Handmaid’s Tale (1990, R)
- If These Walls Could Talk (1996, R for realistic depiction of abortions, a graphic shooting and some language)
- Interstellar (2014, PG-13 for some intense perilous action and brief strong language)
- Juno (2007, PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language)
- The Kids Are All Right (2010, R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, and some teen drug and alcohol use)
- Kids Like These (1987, NR)
- Malice (1993, R for sexuality, language and some violence)
- Maybe Baby (2001, R for sexual content and language)
- Misconception (2010, NR)
- Miss Conception (2008, R for language and some sexual content)
- My Sister’s Keeper (2009, PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language, and brief teen drinking)
- Pregnant in America (2008, NR, documentary)
- A Private Matter (1992, PG-13)
- The Switch (2010, PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use, and language)
- A Walk to Beautiful (2008, NR, documentary)
Research Ethics
- Autopsy (2009, R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, language and drug content)
- Bourne Legacy (2012, PG-13 for violence and action sequences)
- The Constant Gardener (2005, R for language, some violent images and sexual content/nudity)
- Extraordinary Measures (2010, PG for thematic material, language, and a mild suggestive moment)
- Gamer (2009, R for frenetic sequences of strong brutal violence throughout, sexual content, nudity, and language)
- I Am Legend (2007, PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence)
- Isolation (2006, R for violence/gore, language, and a scene of sexuality)
- Maze Runner (2014, PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, PG-13 for intense and frightening sequences of action and violence)
- Shutter Island(2010, R for disturbing violent content, language, and some nudity)
- Source Code (2011, PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images, and for language)
- Splice (2010, R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language)
Transhumanism
- Lucy (2014, R for strong violence, disturbing images, and sexuality)
- Self/less (2015, PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language)
- Source Code (2011, PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images, and for language)
- Tron Legacy (2010, PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language)
- Transcendence (2014, PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, some bloody images, brief strong language and sensuality)
Updated December 2016