Top 5 Best Movies about Adoption and Foster Care
Best Movies About Adopting a Foster Child
Adopting a foster child is one of the most rewarding life journeys a person can make. Virginia has more children in foster care than there are families to care for them: consistently over 5,000 kids. How many are looking for forever families? More than 1,700 foster children and teens need loving adoptive parents and a family where they can feel the warmth of belonging.
Whether you're looking for entertainment or to learn more about the foster care system, watching a movie may fit the bill. Thinking about children and youth in the child welfare system without a permanent family can feel overwhelming at times. Movies have a way of helping us relax, learn, or just immerse stress-free.
If you considering foster-to-adoption, grab a family member and turn on the movies. Here are our top 5 picks for excellent movies about foster homes, kids, and adoptive families.
1. Instant Family
This heartwarming comedy-drama stars Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. The two play a couple who decides to adopt one child and ends up adopting three siblings! The movie inspired Richard and Andrea Kingswell, founders of FosterUS, in their mission to help foster children. A brilliant movie for anyone, especially people considering adopting a teenager or siblings in foster care.
In Instant Family, the oldest sibling is a teenage girl who feels cynical about her new adoptive parents. She works had to drive them away and harden herself against them.
Adoption isn't always easy, but this movie adds humor to the challenge and is a joy to watch. Keep the Kleenex close for the adoption ending; sure to bring a few happy tears to even the toughest audience.
2. Martian Child
The movie Martian Child is about a recently adopted child who believes he is from Mars. John Cusack plays his adoptive dad, a perfect actor choice for this family-friendly comedy-drama.
Being from Mars, the young boy behaves oddly and doesn't feel he fits in on Earth. If you are considering becoming a single parent to a foster or adopted child, this movie is a great choice.
This movie shows how a parent can help their foster or adopted child go through an identity crisis while lovingly accepting them as they are.
3. Anne of Green Gables
This film about foster children is based on the classic children's novel that families have cherished for decades.
The story of Anne of Green Gables takes place in Nova Scotia, Canada, during the early 20th century. It depicts the story of an 11-year-old girl who lives as a servant before ending up in an orphanage. A family adopts her from the orphanage, and we witness her struggles and adventures as she grows up.
If you enjoyed this imaginative and strong-willed orphan in the books, you will love seeing her come to live in the movie.
4. The Blind Side
The Blind Side is a sports-oriented drama based on the true story of Michael Oher. Oher was a foster child who played as an offensive lineman at Ole Miss. He later had a successful career in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.
The movie stars Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as Oher's foster and adoptive parents. The film covers his story, including his adoption during high school after his birth mother could not support him. Oher's adoptive mother initially grew concerned after noticing him walking alone on the streets. She offered to take him in temporarily, though he quickly grew into a beloved member of the family.
The idealized "instant family" rarely happens in real-life fostering and adoptive parenting. The inspiring and well-acted story earned acclaim and criticism, showing the development of relationships among family members. In the end, the resilience and hard work of this young man paid off. Supported by a family and community who believed in him, he achieved his dreams from foster care to the NFL.
5. Annie
Annie is among the most famous and beloved orphan stories in the United States and around the world. The tale of this resilient red-haired child has three film adaptations to its credit. Annie inspired a popular Broadway musical, comic strip, and radio show that audiences worldwide have enjoyed. Annie is one of the best stories ever told about a foster child's emotional and physical journey.
The movie takes place during the Great Depression in a New York orphanage. Annie suffers terrible mistreatment there and dreams of her birth parents rescuing her and taking her home. By chance, a billionaire gentleman fosters her hoping that a child might improve his image. The story's antagonists kidnap Annie for ransom before she eventually returns to her foster home.
The happy and heartwarming end of Annie's tale is when Daddy Warbucks adopts her as his own. This is a must-watch classic for movie lovers who want to learn about the emotional journey of foster care and adoption.
Watching Movies About Foster Care & Adoption
Movies make the journey from foster care to forever family tangible. Stories are an impactful way to understand the importance of stability and belonging for children. A caring, nurturing family can truly change a child's life.
AdoptionVA can help you learn more about adopting a child from foster care. Browse through our website or contact us to ask questions or learn more about whether adopting a foster child is right for you.