6 Best Terminal Illness and Cancer Movies

By Vlad Zakh · April 20, 2026

A terminal diagnosis can inspire powerful dramas about love and what matters. The Fault in Our Stars has two teens with cancer falling in love, 50/50 has a young man’s diagnosis testing his friendship and romance, and My Life has a dying man recording videos for the child he’ll never know. Terms of Endearment, Love Story and Dark Victory round out the six.

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 81% Metacritic 69

Two teenagers with cancer fall in love knowing exactly how limited their time is.

Directed by Josh Boone · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

23 wins & 18 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

50/50 (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A young man's cancer diagnosis tests his friendships, his romance and his sense of humour.

Directed by Jonathan Levine · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

My Life (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A terminally ill man records video messages for the child he will never get to know.

Directed by Bruce Joel Rubin · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Terms of Endearment (1983)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A mother and daughter's stormy, loving relationship survives three decades of heartbreak.

Directed by James L. Brooks · 2h 12m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Love Story (1970)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A wealthy young man's marriage to a working-class woman is tested by a devastating diagnosis.

Directed by Arthur Hiller · 1h 40m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dark Victory (1939)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A carefree socialite confronts her mortality after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Directed by Edmund Goulding · 1h 44m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Terminal Illness and Cancer Movies

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

50/50 (2011)

My Life (1993)

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Love Story (1970)

Dark Victory (1939)

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