Even though you see the real thing every day, once in a while it’s entertaining to see how Hollywood does it — if only to catch the made-up absurdities! Whether you’re in the mood for a vintage drama or a wacky comedy, these top Scrubs reader picks will be sure to entertain you as they have many nurses from generations past.
10 must-see medical movies
1. Patch Adams (1998) – Touching comedy with Robin Williams
“It’s the best medical movie — even if it’s sad.” – Nurse Amber Owens
“It’s usually the nurses who bring the smiles, so I’d love to see a Patch Adams-type movie made about a nurse. In the meantime, this is the movie that inspires me to connect with patients more than any other.” – Melanie Fisher
Next: A Classic Psych Drama Starring Jack Nicholson 2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) – Drama with Jack Nicholson
“Why do I love this movie even though the nurse is evil? I guess because I see the darkest part of me in Nurse Ratched. And I know I’d never do what she does.” – Anonymous
“Every nurse should see this movie, just so they know what patients are referencing when they talk about the horrible nurse from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” – Nurse Patricia R.
Next: An 80s Medical Comedy with Steven Guttenberg 3. Bad Medicine (1985) – Comedy with Steve Guttenberg
“I voted for this movie because it’s totally hilarious, even though it’s dated. You must have worked with at least one doctor who graduated from a university like this…” – Nurse Frankie Collins
Next: A Medical Spoof/Comedy that has ALL the Stereotypes 4. Young Doctors in Love (1982) – Spoof/Comedy that has ALL the Stereotypes
“Funniest. Movie. Ever.” – Katherine Alspaugh
“I couldn’t believe the number of recognizable people (bet they wish they could remove this from their resumé!) were in this forgettable movie.” – Anonymous
Next: A Medical Comedy with Michael Keaton
5. The Dream Team (1989) – Comedy with Michael Keaton
“It’s awful, but in a ‘good’ awful 80s sort of way. This one’s definitely for the psych nurses.” – Ann Zucker
“Very funny psych movie.” – Danielle Thomas Morrison
Next: A Tearjerker Starring Robert DeNiro 6. Awakenings (1990) – Tearjerker with Robert DeNiro
“I love this because a nurse is key to helping the doctor arrive at the best conclusions. Go nurses!” – Anonymous
Next: A 2004 Medical Drama Starring Alan Rickman 7. Something the Lord Made (2004) – Drama with Alan Rickman
“Movies that show breakthroughs inspire me. This one is about breaking the color barrier in medicine. I get chills when I see it!” – Nurse Shirley Eaves
Next: A 1991 Medical Drama Starring William Hurt 8. The Doctor (1991) – Drama with William Hurt
“This is so good…I recommend it to the physicians I work with. It’s about a doctor who gets sick and has to deal with doctors from a patient’s POV. Very powerful.” – Anonymous
Next: A Psychological Medical Drama Starring Sally Field 9. Sybil (1976) – Drama with Sally Field
“I both read the book and watched the movie. It’s a horrific story but a wonderful demonstration of how a medical professional (in this case a psychiatrist) can connect with and ultimately help a patient.” – Nurse Jasmine Carter
“What made this story stand out for me was the inaction of her childhood doctor, even though there was clear evidence of abuse. Ever since I saw this movie I have been extra cautious to make sure that my patients aren’t being victimized.” – Anonymous
Next: A 70s Black Comedy Starring George C. Scott 10. The Hospital (1971) – Black comedy with George C. Scott
“I love watching old medical movies to see the archaic equipment, the extreme stereotypes, and the nurse-doctor relationships (wow, they really got away with everything!). This one has some good zingers about nurses, too.” – Bea
Patient: So at 9:15 this morning I rang for my nurse…
Dr. Bock: Rang for your nurse?
Patient: To ensure one full hour of uninterrupted privacy.
Dr. Bock: Good.
What’s your favorite medical movie?
Best medical movie ever made!
Should be a part of medical school, maybe it would teach doctors to have a better bedside manner!
There is a movie called “The Verdict ” with Paul Newman. The plot of the story is a group of doctors had a nurse falsify documents after a pregnant mom aspirated and died.
There is a movie called The Doctor (?) with Wm Hurt that is the BEST movie about the medical profession ever. He is a doctor w/ a God complex, and finds out he has CA. He learns how humbling it is to be a patient, and does not get any special Tx because he is a doctor. Great movie!!
OOPS!! There is is, number 8!! BEST MOVIE EVER!!!
the movie White Coats is very entertaining. It is a comedy about med students. I highly recomend it if you like comedies!
I think John Q is a great medical movie. It shows how uninsured/under insured people can’t get treatment cause they can’t pay.
“Bringing Out The Dead” was a no-show… so was “Whose Life Is It Anyway?”
brendan fraser and harrison ford in extraordinary measures.
Check out COMA, of the ’80s? Hauntingly, near reality 30+ yrs later…
I absolutely love “Patch Adams”. I have yet to meet a Dr like him though. It is very inspirational to me, and I think about it as I work sometimes.
Wit, starring Emma Thompson is easily the best medical movie I have ever seen.
I totally agree. Wit is by far the best movie.
RN
Registered Nurse
I would like to add to the Movie list, Dragonfly(2002 w/ Kevin Costner) and Seven Pounds(2008 w/ Will Smith)…
A classic!
RN
Registered Nurse
They left out an important but little known movie called The Diving Bell and The Butterfly. It’s french but I HIGHLY recommend seeing it if you are in our profession in any capacity.
RN
Registered Nurse
Loved the diving bell & the butterfly!!! Poignant, mvoing, excellent! Abolutley loved it!!!I rented it twice & watched it 4 times. Probably one of the most mvoing films ever made!!Very inspirational, very bittersweet! And it is a true story!!
We had to watch “The Doctor” as part of our English class in RN school. Amazing movie!
we also had to watch “Wit” which is not listed here but was another really good movie!
RN
Registered Nurse
RE; psych movies, Also, “couch Trip”with Dan Ackroyd was funny, as was “Crazy People’ with Dudley Moore & Daryl Hannah. Of course, “One Flew Over…” a classic never to be repeated!!! Poor Ol’ nurse Ratchett could hardly get a jpart after that! Saw her in some awful B movie, that as it! I think its’ called “Typecasted!”.
Patch Adams is one of the best movies to see. I laugh, I cry, and laugh some more and still would love to work with the man! He’s probably 100 by now LOL
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Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009, played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) was inspirational. It’s based on the true life story of a African American neurosurgeon, who had to overcome difficulties in school and temperament to reach his goals and make a difference in others’ lives.