Movies of the Mind - Rain Man - Autism in Adults and the Wider Spectrum - 10/11/25

Nov, 10 2025

It’s rare that a film touches the heart and soul in such a beautiful way. Allowing the lead actors to carry the film forward in a moving and profound formula yet introducing comedy elements into the picture which adds to the incredible skills of both actors.

In 1988 an American road comedy – drama film was released. Directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. Rain Man tells the story of abrasive and selfish wheeler-dealer Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), an autistic savant whose existence Charlie was unaware of.

Morrow created the character of Raymond after meeting real-life savant Kim Peek; his characterization was based on both Peek and Bill Sackter, a good friend of Morrow who was the subject of Bill, an earlier film that Morrow wrote.

A further testament to it’s legacy as a classic film is found in the following film trailer –

The film went onto critical acclaim after it’s release and was the highest –grossing film of 1988 receiving a leading eight nominations at the 61st Academy Awards, winning four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for Hoffman), and Best Original Screenplay.

Dustin Hoffman’s character was an autistic savant but it has to be said there are different levels of autism and they affect people with it in differing ways. For example, someone may have a higher sensitivity to sound and light whereas others may find interacting on a large scale overwhelming.

The following video will highlight 10 things you need to know about autism-

If you, a family friend or loved one is experiencing symptoms of autism and is as yet undiagnosed the website below will help ease your concerns. Children can be diagnosed early and avoid the anxiety in adulthood whereas adults may receive a late diagnosis as they reach middle aged and find they’ve been struggling most of their lives. If you can relate to this, the website will reduce your worries –

https://lsc.autismunlocked.co.uk/family-resources/

Although Hoffman played a role in Rain Man and shows no significant signs of autism in real life there are a large majority of famous people with autism. Take a look at the list and you’ll be surprised who makes it on there. You’ll notice that a vast percentage of them are highly creative which is part of their autism making them wonders at their work –

https://hes-extraordinary.com/famous-people-with-autism

As of 2025, Rain Man is the only film to win both the Berlin International Film Festival's highest award and the Academy Award for Best Picture in the same year. It was also the last film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to be nominated for Best Picture until Licorice Pizza in 2021 was nominated 33 years later.

The release of Rain Man in 1988 coincided with a tenfold increase in funding for medical research and diagnoses of individuals for autism. The latter is primarily due to autism's being more broadly defined in newer editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, particularly versions III-R and IV. The movie is credited, however, with significantly increasing awareness of autism among the general public.

In 2008, a stage adaptation of the film by Dan Gordon premiered at the West End's Apollo Theatre in a production starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley. This came 20 years after the original film was released demonstrating it’s powerful influence in the 21st century.

Rain Man introduced more awareness of autism around the world and families with children or adults undiagnosed could seriously relate to the content and performance level portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. It’s rare that an actor can acutely act to the infinite details the manner of an adult male with autism but Hoffman did that with so much grace and charm complemented wonderfully by Tom Cruise.

^Alex Ashworth CCG Content Creator