Is someone terminally ill?
Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where someone is terminally ill.
A surprise cancer diagnosis or an unexpected subplot/plot twist about a grave or even terminal disease can be upsetting to viewers, especially if they or one of their loved ones recently went through something similar themselves. It’s often not apparent from the synopsis of a movie/show that illness will be major aspect of the story. Sometimes cancer or a similar sickness is just added for extra drama or raising the stakes or softening the blow of a character’s death, so it’s not foreseeable. It would be very helpful to have this as a category. Thanks everyone! <3
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Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
42
No
1
Movie Report
Yes
40
No
0
4
RamonaRamone
The main character has brain cancer and is given three months to live.
TV Show • 2023 Report
Yes
31
No
2
3
Sid
It’s CADASIL. They mention it in a later episode
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
30
No
0
8
bricker
The antagonist's terminal illness is a key aspect of his characterization
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
30
No
4
6
Kauleal
A character gets rabies
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
26
No
0
1
Pantalones
Godwin is shown to have a large, inoperable tumor.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
19
No
0
3
John has terminal brain cancer
TV Show • 2008 Report
Yes
19
No
0
1
Pantalones
Walt's lung cancer was most likely incurable but not untreatable. There are several scenes where he has discussions with doctors regarding treatment and prognosis. He does NOT ultimately die of cancer.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
18
No
0
2
GrayTheGay
A character dies from cancer
TV Show • 2023 Report
Yes
17
No
1
0
S1
E1
The neighbor elderly relative is in a wheelchair and seems disabled/terminally ill
Video Game • 2020 Report
Yes
17
No
2
2
Basil’s grandmother is in hospice for the latter segments of the game. It isn’t a huge focus but does seem to be a leading factor in his struggles.
TV Show • 2016 Report
Yes
17
No
2
2
thesco
Hopper's daughter, shown in flashbacks, died from terminal cancer
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
16
No
0
0
Many, MANY patients die from terminal illnesses throughout the show
Movie • 2005 Report
Yes
15
No
0
1
twitchywitchygirl
john kramer/jigsaw has terminal cancer
Movie • 1999 Report
Yes
14
No
0
4
Chloe in the cancer support group. She dies later on
Video Game Report
Yes
14
No
0
4
lilpig
(SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) A major character has a medical issue that threatens to kill them with no apparent cure. They spend much of the game in denial about this, but eventually break down and confront their mortality. Their ultimate outcomes are all fairly bleak, some moreso than others. (MORE SPOILERS LOL SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) There are some new outcomes that give glints of hope, but no confirmation as to their ultimate fate.
Movie Report
Yes
14
No
0
0
icexcoldxocean
The setting is similar to a hospice and some background characters have terminal illnesses but it's not the focus of the film
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
13
No
3
2
Gothy17
S2
E2
Someone is revealed to have cancer
Movie Report
Yes
13
No
0
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
13
No
1
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
13
No
1
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
12
No
8
1
JayR
S3
E3
While not an illness, a main character makes a deal with a demon in season 3 and only has a year to live until he is killed and taken to hell. Multiple episodes in this series touch upon the fear and grief this character and his loved ones experience while faced with this information, which may be upsetting to watch
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
12
No
2
4
Anonymous
It is mentioned that a character died of illness
Video Game • 2020 Report
Yes
12
No
0
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
11
No
0
1
Starswirldotpng
Josephine dies of diptheria off-screen towards the end (she is shown sick but we don't see her die) and Napoleon is implied to die of an illness in the final shot
Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
11
No
0
0
MajaLouiseVesterdorfLange
Almost half of the main characters have severe illnesses.
Podcast Report
Yes
11
No
0
0
ErinHollow
A recurring character is terminally ill, but survives through supernatural means. Another recurring character isn't so lucky
Movie • 2006 Report
Yes
11
No
0
0
Unhinged.but.handsome
John
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
11
No
1
2
Pantalones
Jack's wife Bella has terminal cancer.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
11
No
1
1
Pantalones
A woman dies of "wasting sickness." A small child dies of whooping cough.
Someone is thought to be terminally ill but it's implied to be due to poisoning.