This is a list of feature films that include philosophers, or in which philosophers play a significant role.

Biographical films

Biographical films based on real-life philosophers: * '' Adi Shankaracharya'' (1983) – The life of Adi Shankaracharya, played by

Sarvadaman D. Banerjee Sarvadaman D. Banerjee is an Indian film and television actor known for his works in Hindi cinema, Bengali cinema and Telugu cinema. He is best known for playing Krishna in Ramanand Sagar's hit television series ''Krishna'' (1993). He played t ...

. * ''

Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...

'' (1972), played by Dary Berkani, a

Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such ...

film. * ''

Agora The agora (; grc, ἀγορά, romanized: ', meaning "market" in Modern Greek) was a central public space in ancient Greek city-states. It is the best representation of a city-state's response to accommodate the social and political order of t ...

'' (2009) – The life of Hypatia, played by Rachel Weisz. * ''Beyond Good and Evil'' (1977) – About the

love triangle A love triangle or eternal triangle is a scenario or circumstance, usually depicted as a rivalry, in which two people are pursuing or involved in a romantic relationship with one person, or in which one person in a romantic relationship with so ...

between

Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (; or ; 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, prose poet, cultural critic, philologist, and composer whose work has exerted a profound influence on contemporary philosophy. He began his ...

Paul Rée Paul Ludwig Carl Heinrich Rée (21 November 1849 – 28 October 1901) was a German author, physician, philosopher, and friend of Friedrich Nietzsche. Early life Rée was born in Bartelshagen, Province of Pomerania, Prussia on the noble estat ...

and a young Russian intellectual. * (1972) – The life of

Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal ( , , ; ; 19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic Church, Catholic writer. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen. Pa ...

, played by

Pierre Arditi Pierre Arditi (born 1 December 1944) is a French actor. He is the brother of French actress Catherine Arditi. Life and career Born in Paris, his father was the painter Georges Arditi, from Marseille of Jewish descent, and his mother Yvonne L ...

, a

film. * (1973) - The life of

René Descartes René Descartes ( or ; ; Latinized: Renatus Cartesius; 31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650) was a French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician, widely considered a seminal figure in the emergence of modern philosophy and science. Mathem ...

, played by , a

film. * ''

Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...

'' (2010) – The life of

, played by Chow Yun-fat. *''

Days of Nietzsche in Turin ''Days of Nietzsche in Turin'' ( pt, Dias de Nietzsche em Turim) is a 2001 biographical-drama Brazilian film directed by Júlio Bressane about the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Plot A cinematographic essay, without dialogues, about t ...

'' (2001) – About Nietzsche's time in

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

. * ''

The Death of Empedocles ''The Death of Empedocles'' (german: Der Tod des Empedokles) is an unfinished drama by Friedrich Hölderlin. It exists in three versions written from 1797 to 1800, the first of which is the most complete. The third version was published by itself ...

'' (1987) – About the pre-Socratic philosopher

Empedocles Empedocles (; grc-gre, Ἐμπεδοκλῆς; , 444–443 BC) was a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and a native citizen of Akragas, a Greek city in Sicily. Empedocles' philosophy is best known for originating the cosmogonic theory of the fo ...

, directed by Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub. * '' Destiny'' (1997) – The life of Averroes, played by

Nour El-Sherif Nour El-Sherif ( ar, نور الشريف; 28 April 1946 – 11 August 2015), born Mohamad Geber Mohamad Abd Allah ( ar, محمد جابر محمد عبد الله) was a prominent Egyptian actor. He has 6 films in the Top 100 Egyptian films list. ...

. * ''

Giordano Bruno Giordano Bruno (; ; la, Iordanus Brunus Nolanus; born Filippo Bruno, January or February 1548 – 17 February 1600) was an Italian philosopher, mathematician, poet, cosmological theorist, and Hermetic occultist. He is known for his cosmologic ...

'' (1973) – The life of

, played by

Gian Maria Volonté Gian Maria Volonté (9 April 1933 – 6 December 1994) was an Italian actor, including roles in four Spaghetti Western films: Ramón Rojo in Sergio Leone's ''A Fistful of Dollars'' (1964) and El Indio in Leone's '' For a Few Dollars More'' ( ...

. * ''

Hannah Arendt Hannah Arendt (, , ; 14 October 1906 – 4 December 1975) was a political philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor. She is widely considered to be one of the most influential political theorists of the 20th century. Arendt was born ...

'' (2012) – The life of

, played by Barbara Sukowa. * ''

Socrates Socrates (; ; –399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no te ...

'' (1971) – The life of

, played by , a Roberto Rossellini film. * '' The Young Karl Marx'' (2017) –

Karl Marx Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...

played by

August Diehl August Diehl (; born 4 January 1976) is a German actor, primarily known to international audiences for playing Gestapo major Dieter Hellstrom in Quentin Tarantino's ''Inglourious Basterds'' and Michael "Mike" Krause, Evelyn Salt's husband, in the ...

. * ''

Trial and Death of Socrates In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, ...

'' (1939),

played by Ermete Zaccoini, directed by

Corrado d'Errico Corrado D'Errico (1902–1941) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. D'Errico was one of a number of directors in the Fascist era to graduate from the Instituto Luce.Brunetta p.76 Selected filmography Director * '' Golden Arrow'' ( ...

. * ''

Wittgenstein Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein ( ; ; 26 April 1889 – 29 April 1951) was an Austrians, Austrian-British people, British philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy o ...

'' (1993) – The life of

Ludwig Wittgenstein Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein ( ; ; 26 April 1889 – 29 April 1951) was an Austrian-British philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He is considere ...

, directed by Derek Jarman.

Documentaries about philosophers

Feature documentary films about real philosophers: *

(2013), part of ''In Our Time'' (TV series). * ''Derrida'' (2002) – A documentary about

Jacques Derrida Jacques Derrida (; ; born Jackie Élie Derrida; See also . 15 July 1930 – 9 October 2004) was an Algerian-born French philosopher. He developed the philosophy of deconstruction, which he utilized in numerous texts, and which was developed t ...

. *

Examined Life ''Examined Life'' is a 2008 Canadian documentary film directed by Astra Taylor about philosophers. The film has eight influential modern philosophers walking around New York and other metropolises, discussing the practical application of their i ...

(2008) – Follows several contemporary philosophers as they try to apply their thought in practice. * ''

The Pervert's Guide to Cinema ''The Pervert's Guide to Cinema'' is a 2006 documentary directed and produced by Sophie Fiennes, scripted and presented by Slavoj Žižek. It explores a number of films from a psychoanalytic theoretical perspective. Fiennes and Žižek released a ...

'' (2006) – A film critique of several well-known works by

Slavoj Žižek Slavoj Žižek (, ; ; born 21 March 1949) is a Slovenian philosopher, cultural theorist and public intellectual. He is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London, visiting professor at New Y ...

. *''

Zizek! ''Zizek!'' or ''Žižek!'', is a 2005 documentary film directed by Astra Taylor. An international co-production of the United States and Canada, its subject is philosopher and psychoanalyst Slavoj Žižek, a prolific author and former candidate f ...

'' (2005) – A film following a speaking tour by

. *

Badiou Alain Badiou (; ; born 17 January 1937) is a French philosopher, formerly chair of Philosophy at the École normale supérieure (ENS) and founder of the faculty of Philosophy of the Université de Paris VIII with Gilles Deleuze, Michel Fouca ...

(2018) – A film on the life of eminent French philosopher,

Alain Badiou Alain Badiou (; ; born 17 January 1937) is a French philosopher, formerly chair of Philosophy at the École normale supérieure (ENS) and founder of the faculty of Philosophy of the Université de Paris VIII with Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucau ...

Starring philosophers

Films where one or more philosopher play the main role, but that are not otherwise about philosophy: *''

Irrational Man ''Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy'' is a 1958 book by the philosopher William Barrett, in which the author explains the philosophical background of existentialism and provides a discussion of several major existentialist thinke ...

'' (2015) – A philosophy professor (

Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (; né Bottom; born October 28, 1974) is an American actor. He is known for playing dark and unconventional characters in independent films. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academ ...

) finds himself in an existential crisis, but eventually discovers a new purpose in life. * ''

The Life of David Gale ''The Life of David Gale'' is a 2003 dramatic crime thriller film directed by Alan Parker and written by Charles Randolph. The film is an international co-production, between the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. It was Parker's final ...

'' (2003) – A philosophy professor (

Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Fowler (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor. He began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, obtaining supporting roles before gaining a leading man status in film and television. Spacey has received various accolades ...

), and longtime activist against capital punishment, is sentenced to death for killing a fellow capital punishment abolitionist. * '' L'Avenir'' (2016) – Middle-aged philosophy professor Nathalie Chazeaux's (

Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Described as "one of the best actresses in the world", she is known for her portrayals of cold and disdainful characters devoid of morality. She is the recipient of sev ...

) life is going through a series of separations. * '' Late Marriage'' (2001) - Zaza (

Lior Ashkenazi Lior Ashkenazi ( he, ליאור אשכנזי; born 28 December 1968) is an Israeli actor, voice actor, comedian and television presenter. Biography Lior Ashkenazi was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, and grew up in the Neveh Yehoshua neighborhood. His ...

) is a 31-year-old Georgian-Israeli

PhD student A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

, studying the

philosophy of religion Philosophy of religion is "the philosophical examination of the central themes and concepts involved in religious traditions". Philosophical discussions on such topics date from ancient times, and appear in the earliest known texts concerning ph ...

Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv University (TAU) ( he, אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטַת תֵּל אָבִיב, ''Universitat Tel Aviv'') is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. With over 30,000 students, it is the largest university in the country. Locate ...

, whose family is trying to arrange a marriage for him within the Georgian community against his will.

Featuring philosophers

Films where one or more of the members of the main cast are philosophers: * '' Alexander'' (2004) – Based on the life of Alexander the Great, who is mentored by

Aristotle Aristotle (; grc-gre, Ἀριστοτέλης ''Aristotélēs'', ; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Peripatetic school of phil ...

( Christopher Plummer). * ''

Gladiator A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...

'' (2000) – The Roman general Maximus is betrayed when

Commodus Commodus (; 31 August 161 – 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. He served jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius from 176 until the latter's death in 180, and thereafter he reigned alone until his assassination. ...

, the ambitious son of Emperor

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Latin: áːɾkus̠ auɾέːli.us̠ antɔ́ːni.us̠ English: ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good ...

( Richard Harris), murders his father and seizes the throne. * ''

The Fall of the Roman Empire The fall of the Western Roman Empire (also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome) was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vas ...

'' (1964) Features Roman emperor and stoic philosopher

(

Alec Guinness Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. After an early career on the stage, Guinness was featured in several of the Ealing comedies, including ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (194 ...

) during the first segment of the film. * '' The Oxford Murders'' (2008) – A student ( Elijah Wood) finds out about mysterious killings in Oxford and helped by a

philosopher of mathematics The philosophy of mathematics is the branch of philosophy that studies the assumptions, foundations, and implications of mathematics. It aims to understand the nature and methods of mathematics, and find out the place of mathematics in people ...

(

John Hurt Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 25 January 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors. Director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in ...

), they reveal the patterns used by the killer. * ''

When Nietzsche Wept ''When Nietzsche Wept'' is a 2007 American art drama film directed by Pinchas Perry and starring Armand Assante, Ben Cross and Katheryn Winnick. It is based on the novel of the same name by Irvin D. Yalom. It was filmed in Bulgaria. Plot The ...

'' (2007) – A Viennese doctor named Josef Breuer ( Ben Cross) meets with

( Armand Assante) to help him deal with his despair

About philosophy

Films where philosophy is central to the plot: * '' I Heart Huckabees'' (2004) – A comedy with existential themes. *'' Mindwalk'' (1990) – A wide-ranging discussion between three individuals. *'' My Dinner with Andre'' (1981) – A film featuring philosophical discussions. *''

My Night at Maud's ''My Night at Maud's'' (french: Ma nuit chez Maud), also known as ''My Night with Maud'' (UK), is a 1969 French New Wave drama film by Éric Rohmer. It is the third film (fourth in order of release) in his series of ''Six Moral Tales''. Over the ...

'' (1969) – A film centred around philosophical discussions. * ''Rope'' (1948) – A film about a Nietzsche-inspired experiment. *''

Sophie's World ''Sophie's World'' (Norwegian: ''Sofies verden'') is a 1991 novel by Norwegian writer Jostein Gaarder. It follows Sophie Amundsen, a Norwegian teenager, who is introduced to the history of philosophy as she is asked "Who are you?" in a letter ...

'' (1999) – The story of a teenage girl (

Silje Storstein Silje Storstein (born March 30, 1984, in Oslo) is a Norwegian actress. Storstein was educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Theatre from 2005 to 2008. She has appeared in performances at Det Norske Teatret, Trøndelag Teater, and the Natio ...

) living in Norway, and a middle-aged philosopher (

Tomas von Brömssen Tomas Birger von Brömssen (born 8 May 1943) is a Swedish actor. He played leading roles in ''Albert & Herbert'', ''My Life as a Dog'' ( sv, Mitt liv som hund), ' (English title ''Baltic Sea'', ''Salvation'' or ''The Diver''), Mannen från Mall ...

), who introduces her to philosophical thinking and the history of philosophy; based on a novel by

Jostein Gaarder Jostein Gaarder (; born 8 August 1952) is a Norwegian intellectual and author of several novels, short stories, and children's books. Gaarder often writes from the perspective of children, exploring their sense of wonder about the world. He often ...

. * ''The Fountainhead'' (1949) – Based on ''

The Fountainhead ''The Fountainhead'' is a 1943 novel by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, her first major literary success. The novel's protagonist, Howard Roark, is an intransigent young architect, who battles against conventional standards and refuses to com ...

'' by

Ayn Rand Alice O'Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum;, . Most sources transliterate her given name as either ''Alisa'' or ''Alissa''. , 1905 – March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (), was a Russian-born American writer and p ...

. * ''The Ister'' (2004) – a documentary discussing technology, identity and politics, based on the work of

Martin Heidegger Martin Heidegger (; ; 26 September 188926 May 1976) was a German philosopher who is best known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. He is among the most important and influential philosophers of the 20th centur ...

. * ''The Stranger'' (1967) – Based on ''The Stranger'' by

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

. * '' Waking Life'' (2001) – The film explores the nature of reality, dreams, consciousness, the meaning of life, free will, and existentialism.

References

{{Reflist
Philosophical Films
a non-profit resource for philosophy teachers who want to incorporate films into their classes
"I watch therefore I am: seven movies that teach us key philosophy lessons"
by Julian Baggini, Christine Korsgaard, Ursula Coope, Peter Singer, Susan Haack, Kenneth Taylor and

. Philosophers

Films about philosophers A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...