For Deaf Awareness Month this September, choose one of these films for your next movie night! The Deaf characters of this movie list are played by talented Deaf actors and actresses. Why is authentic representation so important? Just ask Deaf adults who grew up without strong Deaf role models, heroes, or community. Seeing oneself reflected in films makes you feel seen. There’s a power in that.
“I was that Deaf kid. I’m from a small town in Minnesota; I was the only Deaf person I knew. So, when Marlee Matlin won the Oscar when she made it in Hollywood at that high of a level, it lit a fire in me.
It meant that I could do it, too.“
–Daniel Durant, Deaf Actor
Then there’s the immense power of media and movies in shaping public perception. For some, movies serve as a primary introduction to deafness, as 31% of U.S. consumers report that they ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ come into contact with Deaf people. Meanwhile, 76% of Deaf individuals believe that their community’s portrayal in fiction influences how they are perceived in the real world. This insight comes from the Spotlight On: Deaf Representation report by the National Research Group and Deaf West Theatre.
This resource also reminds us that many stories within the Deaf community remain untold. We are excited for an inclusive future of cinema, with more diverse and authentic representations of Deaf individuals. If you are looking for accessibility support for Deaf actors and actresses on the stage or screen, reach out to Inclusive Communication Services for a free consult.
Leave us a comment to add to the list or to request an update to any links! Please check other streaming platforms, some titles may be available on multiple platforms.
Last Update to Movie List: 2024
Movies to Watch with Deaf Talent
Eternals
More Info: Eternals (2021) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Superhero
Deaf Actress: Lauren Ridloff as Makkari
Streaming/Host Service: Disney+
Description: Featuring the first Deaf superhero in the Marvel franchise, The Eternals are a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have secretly lived on the Earth for thousands of years. When the emergence of a new threat, the Deviants, endangers humanity, the Eternals must reunite to protect the world from these destructive creatures.
CODA
More Info: CODA (2021) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Drama
Deaf Actors and Actresses: Troy Kotsur as Frank, Marlee Matlin as Jackie, and Daniel Durant as Leo
Streaming/Host Service: Apple TV+
Description: CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult) is an award-winning coming-of-age comedy-drama that follows the Rossi family in Massachusetts. Ruby, a hearing high school student, has Deaf parents and a Deaf brother. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, she is torn between pursuing her passion for music and the fear of abandoning her family.
A Quiet Place &
A Quiet Place Part II
More Info: A Quiet Place (2018), A Quiet Place Part II (2021) | Part I Trailer | Part II Trailer | Movie Genre: Horror
Deaf Actress: Millicent Simmonds as Regan
Streaming/Host Service: Paramount Plus (Part I) | (Part II)
Description: In a post-apocalyptic world, Earth is overrun by blind, deadly creatures that hunt by sound. The Abbott family, parents Lee and Evelyn, along with their children Regan, Marcus, and Beau, must live in complete silence to survive. They communicate through American Sign Language (ASL) and have adapted their lives to minimize noise. Note: A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), does not feature Deaf characters or sign language.
Four Weddings and a Funeral
More Info: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Romance
Deaf Actor: David Bower as David
Streaming/Host Service: Hulu
Description: Four Weddings and a Funeral is a British romantic comedy that follows the love life of Charles, a charming yet commitment-phobic Englishman, and his circle of friends. The story is structured around five social events, four weddings and one funeral. David, Charles’ Deaf brother, communicates using British Sign Language (BSL).
The Family Stone
More Info: The Family Stone (2005) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Holiday
Deaf Actor: Tyrone Giordano as Thad
Streaming/Host Service: Hulu
Description: A dramedy about the Stone family, whose Christmas gathering turns chaotic when eldest son Everett brings his uptight girlfriend, Meredith, home to meet his eccentric, tight-knit family. The family uses both American Sign Language and spoken English to communicate with Everett’s Deaf brother, Thad.
Feel the Beat
More Info: Feel the Beat (2020) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Family
Deaf Actress: Shaylee Mansfield as ZuZu
Streaming/Host Service: Netflix
Description: A feel-good dance comedy about April Dibrina, a talented but struggling dancer who returns to her hometown after a failed Broadway audition. She reluctantly agrees to coach a group of misfit young dancers for a local competition, including ZuZu, a Deaf dancer who literally feels the beat while dancing with her friends.
Baby Driver
More Info: Baby Driver (2017) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Action
Deaf Actor: CJ Jones as Joseph
Streaming/Host Service: Amazon $3.99 and recently added to Netflix
Description: An action-packed heist film about Baby, a skilled getaway driver who uses music to mask his tinnitus. Forced to work for a crime boss, Baby dreams of escaping his life of crime and starting anew with a waitress named Deborah. The film features a Deaf character, Joseph, who plays Baby’s foster father.
No Ordinary Hero
More Info: No Ordinary Hero (2013) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Kids
Deaf Actors: John Maucere and Zane Hencker
Streaming/Host Service: Amazon
Description: A heartwarming film about a Deaf superhero named “The Silver Skull” who inspires a young Deaf boy and his family. The story follows the superhero’s journey as he navigates the challenges of being a role model while managing his own personal struggles.
Children of a Lesser God
More Info: Children of a Lesser God (1989) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Classic
Deaf Actress: Marlee Matlin
Streaming/Host Service: Amazon $3.79
Description: What list of Deaf films would be complete without Children of a Lesser God? This drama explores the relationship between James Leeds, a speech teacher at a school for the Deaf, and Sarah Norman, a former student who is Deaf and chooses to live within the Deaf community. As James attempts to bridge the gap between hearing and Deaf worlds, Sarah confronts her own views on the role of speech and sign language in her life.
The Hammer
More Info: The Hammer (2010) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Biography
Deaf Actor: Russell Harvard as Matt Hamill
Streaming/Host Service: YouTube $3.99
Description: This film is the inspiring true story of Matt Hamill, a Deaf wrestler who overcomes significant obstacles to achieve success in the sport. From early struggles with communication and acceptance to his rise as a collegiate wrestling champion, The Hammer highlights the power of perseverance and determination.
The Silent Child
More Info: The Silent Child (2017) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Short
Deaf Actor: Maisie Sly as Libby
Streaming/Host Service: YouTube
Description: An Oscar-winning short film that tells the story of Libby, a profoundly Deaf four-year-old girl who lives in a world of silence. Her parents, struggling to communicate with her, are focused on her integration into the hearing world through traditional methods. However, when a social worker named Joanne arrives to teach Libby British Sign Language (BSL), the child begins to flourish.
Audible
More Info: Audible (2021) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Sports
Deaf Actor: Amaree McKenstry-Hall
Streaming/Host Service: Netflix
Description: A documentary short film that follows a group of Deaf high school athletes at the Maryland School for the Deaf as they navigate their final year before graduation. The film focuses on Amaree, a senior on the school’s football team, as he copes with the loss of a friend to suicide.
Sound and Fury
More Info: Sound and Fury (2000) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Documentary
Deaf Actors and Actresses: Artinian Family Members
Streaming/Host Service: Amazon
Description: A documentary that provides an intimate look into the lives of a Deaf family and their experiences with the cochlear implant controversy. The film focuses on the decision-making process of the family regarding whether to allow their Deaf children to receive cochlear implants, a technology that could potentially restore hearing but is also a source of significant debate within the Deaf community.
The Tribe
More Info: The Tribe (2014) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Silent
Deaf Actors: Hryhoriy Fesenko, Yana Novikova and Roza Babiy
Streaming/Host Service: Tubi
Description: A Ukrainian drama set in a boarding school for Deaf teenagers, where the entire film is communicated through Ukrainian Sign Language without subtitles or voiceovers. The story follows a new student, Sergey, who gets drawn into the school’s underground world of crime and violence, including theft, prostitution, and gang activity.
A Silent Voice
More Info: A Silent Voice Koe no Katachi (2016) | Trailer | Movie Genre: Animated
Deaf Actress: Lexi Marman is the English dub voice for Shoko
Streaming/Host Service: Amazon $2.99
Description: A Japanese animated film that depicts Japanese Sign Language (JSL) and explores themes of bullying, disability, forgiveness, mental health, and suicide. It follows Shoya Ishida, a former bully turned social outcast, as he seeks to reconnect with and befriend Shoko Nishimiya, the Deaf girl he tormented years earlier. This movie won the Japanese Movie Critics Awards for Best Animated Feature Film.
The Importance of Deaf Actors in Deaf Roles
To wrap things up, casting Deaf and hard of hearing actors in roles that reflect their own experiences is essential. It brings authenticity to the characters and helps break down stereotypes, offering everyone a chance to see the world from a new perspective. By supporting these actors and their stories, we contribute to greater visibility and pave the way for a more inclusive future in film.
If you’re looking for more titles to watch, be sure to check out our blog on free documentaries about Deaf culture! Let’s keep celebrating and supporting authentic representation across all forms of media, all year long!
