10 Best Movies About Prodigies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies About Prodigies

Moviegoers who enjoyed the film Gifted will be intrigued to hear about these other fantastic films that feature gifted children and young adults.

Gifted, starring Chris Evans and the promising Mckenna Grace, was a critical and economic triumph, cementing Marc Webb’s reputation as a great director after his previous work on 500 Days of Summer and The Amazing Spider-Man.

Gifted isn’t the only film about child or teen prodigies, but it’s not the only one out there. Mary and Frank’s relationship in the film is one of the few that manages to be as complex as it is in the film.

10 Little Man Tate (1991)

Little Man Tate (1991)

With Dianne Wiest and Adam Hann-Byrd in the supporting cast, Little Man Tate was a critically and commercially praised debut for Jodie Foster.

While Dede Tate raises Fred Tate as a child prodigy in her single mother’s home, she tries to provide him with the opportunity that his talents demand.

9 Matilda (1996)

Matilda, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s best-known book, was directed by none other thanDanny DeVito, who also appeared in the movie and narrated it. Critics lauded its faithfulness to the source material, despite the film’s lack of success at the box office.

Matilda, a prodigy and psychokinetic, is the protagonist of the novel. She then uses her powers to deal with her family’s problems and her school principal’s oppressiveness.

8 La Bamba (1987)

La Bamba (1987)

Despite its obscurity, the film La Bamba was a box office and critical triumph, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama.

According to facts, it recounts Ritchie Valens’s early life and success, his relationship with his girlfriend and family, and his tragic death at a very young age.

7 A Brilliant Young Mind (2014)

A Brilliant Young Mind (also known as X+Y) stars Asa Butterfield and Sally Hawkins, among others, in a short but charming film. Despite its shortcomings, the film is nonetheless a worthwhile experience.

Beautiful Young Minds, a documentary about a young English mathematician, inspired this story of Nathan, who struggles to connect with others.

6 Akeelah And The Bee (2006)

Akeelah And The Bee (2006)

The film Akeelah and the Bee, a critical and financial hit, is another one to watch when facing difficulties.

In addition to Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer stars as Akeelah Anderson.

Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl who wanted to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and win, is the focus of the story.

5 Finding Forrester (2000)

The character of Sean Connery in Finding Forrester was modeled by J.D. Salinger, despite the fact that the film is not based on a true tale. As a result of its critical and financial success, the film was a box-office hit.

Jamal Wallace, a Black adolescent, is given the opportunity to attend a prominent private high school in this novel. William Forrester, a recluse writer who Jamal befriends, helps him improve his writing talents.

4 Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993)

Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993)

Searching for Bobby Fischer, also known as Innocent Moves, was well-received by reviewers and audiences alike, yet it did poorly at the box office. Despite this, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography..

Adapted from Joshua Waitzkin’s autobiography, the film follows the young chess prodigy as he refuses to harden his character in order to become the world’s best player.

3 Vitus (2006)

Vitus, while being a lesser-known Swiss film, garnered a positive reception from reviewers and audiences alike. The main character Vitus is played by Teo Gheorghiu, a real-life piano prodigy, which adds an interesting twist to the story.

As a 12-year-old piano prodigy, Vitus doesn’t appreciate his parents’ lofty expectations for him in the film. He makes the decision, with the support of his grandfather, to run away from home and pursue his own ambitions.

2 Queen Of Katwe (2016)

Queen Of Katwe (2016)

David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga star in the critically acclaimed film Queen of Katwe, which was a box office flop but received excellent reviews.

It is set in Katwe, a slum in Kampala, Uganda, based on the book by Tim Crothers. After winning many tournaments in the Chess Olympiad, Phiona Mutesi, the protagonist, begins to play chess and swiftly rises to the rank of Woman Candidate Master.

1 Good Will Hunting (1997)

What may be the most well-known movie about a genius, Good Will Hunting was the picture that propelled Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to popularity not only for their writing (they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), but as actors as well.

Idiosyncratic janitor Will Hunting, 20, lives in South Boston and is a genius, but he refuses to use it. His life and relationships are changed once he is persuaded to seek therapy after he assaults a police officer.