Have you ever stopped for a moment to consider why you love your all-time favourite movies and TV shows so much? Whether you’re a sucker for a romantic drama or an action-packed blockbuster is more your speed, there is something we all share in common when it comes to our top picks – it’s an ability to connect with the story, characters or themes. 

According to social psychologists, empathy and sympathy are huge driving forces behind our ability to connect with what we see on the screen. Empathy allows us to experience someone else’s feelings, while sympathy gives us the ability to understand what they’re going through. The latter is what happens when we connect with someone on an emotional level, like we would a friend or ourselves. 

It goes without saying that we all tend to connect with people that we have things in common with, which is why it has been challenging in the past for those with disabilities to connect with on-screen characters in the past. However, as representation continues to grow with each year, there’s a growing number of movies out there for people from all walks of life to connect with. We’ve put together three of our favourite picks. 

1 — Peanut Butter Falcon 

There’s a reason Peanut Butter Falcon was the highest-grossing independent film of 2019 – it just ticks every box! The movie stars Zack Gottesgen, an actor with Down’s Syndrome, who plays a character with Down’s Syndrome that escapes his care-home to follow his dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. This feel-good movie attracted attention from across the globe for bucking the trend in a number of ways. For example, the casting itself champions the disabled arts community, as well as resulting in a truly authentic portal of life with a disability. From the mannerisms and complaints to Zack’s interests, the film showcases the wins, achievements, challenges and hurdles of having Down’s Syndrome. 

2 — Stranger Things

The Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things had people across the world enthralled by the showdowns between the residents of Hawkins, Indiana and the otherworldly creatures from the Upside Down. The stars of the show are undoubtedly the five-person gang of middle schoolers leading the charge against the monster, but many viewers had a particular soft spot for Dustin. In the show, Dustin is teased for his lisp. However, it’s an all-too-real experience for the actor, whose actual lisp is caused by a congenital disorder that affects his teeth, jaw and other bones. While this is written into his character, the show’s writers left it unexplained to portray him as just another protagonist with his non-disabled friends – the way it should be. 

3 — 50 First Dates

Since 50 First Dates first debuted in 2004, it’s held a special place in the hearts of many people. Just like the classic Groundhog Day concept, this movie follows the storyline of a day that keeps on repeating itself. Only this time, the repetition happens only inside the mind of Drew Barrymore’s character, as a car accident resulted in severe short-term memory loss. After meeting her in a diner, Adam Sandler’s character embarks on a lifetime of making Lucy fall in love with him again every day. We’ll admit the storyline is a little unrealistic at some points, but it’s still a light-hearted and easy to watch a comedy that everyone needs to see at least once. 

It’s super important to ensure that those with a disability are represented in every aspect of life – from on-screen to off – keeping in mind that there are millions out there who can relate to their situation.