Movies about gifted kids

Often gifted kids think they are different, weird, and therefore alone.  One way to help them realize they are not the only ones who are gifted is through books and movies.

Please use care in deciding which stories to share with your child as some may be disconcerting for emotionally sensitive gifted children.  For example, Matilda includes a Disneyesque mean principal.  They can be good starting points for conversations, but should not be blithely used as babysitters or entertainment without parental involvement.

The collection (easy books, juvenile fiction, young adult fiction, or adult fiction) can be a good aid in determine whether a book is appropriate.

Bee Season. Perf. Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche.  2006.  Fiction DVD  Call#: BEE

Finding Forrester.  Perf. Sean Connery, Busta Rhymes.  2001.  Reclusive Pulitzer Prize-winning author mentors a talented teenage basketball player / writer.

Good Will Hunting. Dir. Robin Williams. Perf. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck.  1998.  Ivy League professor discovers a young genius working as a janitor and tries to mentor him, then struggles with knowing his pupil is smarter than he is.

Little Man Tate.  Perf. Jodie Foster.  2001.  Young single mom struggles with how to handle a young genius.

Matilda. Perf. Danny DeVito.  2005.  Based on book by Roald Dahl.  Young genius is belittled by parents, terrorized by principal, but loved by a teacher who appreciates her talents. Simplistic story about a gifted child who doesn’t feel she fits in.  Juvenile Fiction DVD  Call#: MAT

October Sky. Dir. Joe Johnson.  1999.  Uplifting true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes.

Spellbound. Dir. Jeffrey Blitz.  2004.  Follows the journey of eight students ages 10-14 through the 1999 National Spelling Bee held in Washington, DC.  Nonfiction DVD  Call#: 372.632 SPE

For more movies visit the Hoagies Gifted Education website – a GREAT resource!