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'Awakenings' (1990) -

Robin Williams plays Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a fictional character based on neurologist Oliver Sacks whose memoir of the same name this drama is based on. Sacks discovered beneficial effects of the drug L-Dopa after administering it to catatonic patients. In the movie, Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro) is one of several patients awakened from their state of psycho-motor immobility by Dr. Sayer.

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'The Hospital' (1971) -

George C. Scott stars as Dr. Herbert Bock in this satirical medical drama that sees the over-burdened Bock's life falling apart, along with the hospital he works in. Furthermore, the hospital is dealing with the sudden deaths of two doctors and a nurse, with murder appearing as the probable cause.

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'Coma' (1978) -

Dr. Susan Wheeler (Geneviève Bujold), surgery resident at Boston Memorial Hospital, becomes aware of an unnatural amount of comas occurring in her hospital. Investigating further, she uncovers a terrible conspiracy. Feeling isolated and threatened, she wonders if she can trust her own partner and colleague, Dr. Mark Meadows (Michael Douglas).

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'Something the Lord Made' (2004) -

Alan Rickman stars as Dr. Alfred Blalock in this made-for-television biographical drama film that examines Blalock's complex and often volatile partnership with the Black cardiac pioneer Vivien Thomas at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Blalock and Thomas were noted for their work on the medical condition known as blue baby syndrome.

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'Patch Adams' (1998) -

Based on the life story of American physician Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, this movie stars Robin Williams as Adams, who changes the way doctors think and treat their patients using humor and pathos.

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'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1975) -

Nurse Mildred Ratched (Louise Fletcher) casts a critical eye over Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) and Hap Arlich (Ted Markland) in a scene from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'

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'Dead Ringers' (1988) -

David Cronenberg's creepy psychological thriller stars Jeremy Irons in a dual role as identical, but duplicitous, twin gynecologists. When patient Claire Niveau (Geneviève Bujold) enter their lives, the deceit starts to unravel.

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'Whose Life Is It Anyway?' (1981) -

Sculptor Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss), paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident, seeks to have his life legally terminated. Dr. Emerson (John Cassavetes), however, is staunchly opposed to euthanasia. Meanwhile, Harrison's sympathetic physician develops personal feelings for him, and wants to keep him alive. Ultimately though, it's up to a judge whether the patient has a moral, ethical, and legal right to choose to die.

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'The Doctor' (1991) -

Self-centered Dr. Jack McKee (William Hurt) is devastated when he learns he has cancer. But as he comes to terms with his illness and commences treatment, Dr. McKee undergoes a transformation in his views about life, illness, and human relationships.

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'No Way Out' (1950) -

Made in 1950, this edgy film noir stars Sidney Poitier (in his big screen debut) as Luther Brooks, a doctor tending to slum residents whose ethics are tested when confronted with racism. Ray Biddle (Richard Widmark) is one of those whose hate and prejudice towards the physician is particularly vicious.

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'Doc Hollywood' (1991) -

This romantic comedy stars Michael J. Fox as Dr. Benjamin "Ben" Stone, an aspiring surgeon who ends up working at a hospital in a rural backwater town before ending up in Beverly Hills. However, Tinseltown's superficiality soon leaves Ben yearning for small-town country life again, and for the girl he left behind.

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'The Fugitive' (1993) -

Framed for the murder of his wife and unjustly sentenced to death, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) escapes from custody and sets out to prove his innocence while at the same time avoiding recapture by US Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his crack team of law enforcement officers.

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'County Hospital' (1932) -

Laurel and Hardy end up in another fine mess in this rib-tickling short film. Ollie is in hospital with a broken leg, Stan comes to visit but both get kicked out by a doctor after misbehaving. Stan attempts to drive Ollie home but only succeeds in steering them both into more trouble!

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'The Good Doctor' (2011) -

Orlando Bloom stars as Dr. Martin E. Blake, the eponymous "good doctor," in this thriller that centers on Blake's increasing obsession with a young patient whom he's treating for a kidney infection.

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'Carry On Doctor' (1967) -

The 15th in a series of 31 British 'Carry On' comedy films (1958–1992), 'Carry On Doctor' features an assortment of patients who side with popular Dr. Kilmore (Jim Dale), sacked after being found in a compromising position with a nurse. Mirth and mayhem ensue, of course.

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'Extreme Measures' (1996) -

Dr. Guy Luthan (Hugh Grant) ends up becoming embroiled with an underground medical organization led by Dr. Lawrence Myrick (Gene Hackman), who carries out experimental and highly unethical spinal operations on homeless people in order to find a cure for paralysis.

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'Not as a Stranger' (1955) -

Aspiring physician Lucas March (Robert Mitchum) is indifferent towards his nurse wife Kristina (Olivia de Havilland) and others around him, including best friend and fellow doctor Alfred Boone (Frank Sinatra). The film follows their attempts to humanize the self-serving March and teach him that all doctors sometimes make mistakes.

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'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1920) -

John Barrymore stars as Dr. Henry Jekyll and as Mr. Edward Hyde in this early silent film adaptation of the 1886 novella 'Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson.

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'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' (2007) -

The true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, who after suffering a massive stroke was left in a condition known as locked-in syndrome, 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' follows an almost completely paralyzed Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) and the relationship he develops with his speech and language therapist. Amazingly, Bauby was eventually able to dictate his memoir using just the blink of an eye.

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'John Q' (2002) -

John Quincy Archibald (Denzel Washington) and his wife Denise (Kimberly Elise) are informed by cardiologist Dr. Raymond Turner (James Woods) that their son requires a urgent heart transplant. However, the couple's health insurance will not cover the cost of the surgery. John Q takes matters into his own hands.

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'Side Effects' (2013) -

Psychiatrists Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) and Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones) are treating Emily (Rooney Mara, pictured) with prescribed experimental drugs. The side effects, however, prove unexpected and ultimately devastating.

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'Flatliners' (1990) -

Five medical students, including Rachel Manus (Julia Roberts), attempt to find out what lies beyond death by conducting clandestine experiments that produce near-death experiences. However, the dark consequences of past tragedies come back to haunt them.

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'Arrowsmith' (1931) -

Dr. Martin Arrowsmith (Ronald Colman) is sent to the West Indies, where a virulent outbreak of bubonic plague has arisen. The doctor administers a serum to the infected islanders, but has no idea if the vaccine will work.

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'Critical Condition' (1987) -

Con man Kevin Lenahan (Richard Prior) poses as surgeon Dr. Eddie Slattery at a local hospital and ends up taking charge of patients and procedure in a most unorthodox way.

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'The Men' (1950) -

Marlon Brando's film debut sees him playing Ken Wiloeck, a WWII lieutenant seriously injured in combat and recovering in hospital. In order to prepare for the role, the actor "admitted" himself to Birmingham General Army Hospital in Van Nuys, California—the hospital used in the film—and also spent a lot of time in a wheelchair.

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'Young Dr. Kildare' (1938) -

One of the best-known screen doctors, the character "Dr. Kildare" appeared in a total of nine films. Lew Ayres portrays the eponymous physician in all nine, starting with 'Young Dr. Kildare.' He's seen here with actress Lynne Carver in a publicity still for the film.

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'Awake' (2007) -

Terrence Howard plays Dr. Jack Harper, a heart surgeon with murder on his mind in this intriguing conspiracy thriller. Will he get away with it? Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba costar.

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'Doctor at Large' (1957) -

The 'Doctor' series of British films made in the 1950s and early '60s proved popular entertainment. Dirk Bogarde starred in four of the seven productions as Dr. Simon Sparrow, seen here in 'Doctor at Large,' the third in the series. 

Sources: (American Scientist)

See also: The best prison movies ever released

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