14 of the Best Movies and TV Shows That Dared to Tackle Abortion

For all the cultural and political debate around abortion, it remains a taboo topic of discussion. Studies show that 25% of women will have an abortion by the end of their childbearing years, which means you almost certainly know at least one person who has—but it is rarely talked about. Hell, the president is currently being criticized for not saying the word “abortion” while discussing the leaked draft opinion indicating the Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, effectively bringing the era of safe, legal, and accessible abortion in America to a close. This lack of private and public discussion can lead to confusion and shame for those who are considering or have had an abortion, let alone those looking to educate themselves on the topic of reproductive rights. (Here’s a handy glossary of key abortion-related terms.)

Still, some television shows and movies have pushed to make abortion part of the cultural dialogue in a bigger way. The following films and shows include abortion in their storylines and tell the stories of people seeking or undergoing the procedure in a nuanced, thoughtful, and informative way.

Emile Ardolino’s iconic romantic hit Dirty Dancing was released in 1987, but the story takes place in 1963, a decade before Roe v Wade made abortion legal. Viewers can focus on the love story between Baby and Johnny, but should remember the two would never have become dance partners if Johnny’s original partner, Penny, hadn’t been injured by a botched abortion and rendered unable to dance. At no point in the film do any characters look down on Penny or blame her for what happened. Baby procures the money to fund the abortion from her father, a doctor who later tends to Penny—and is angry at the system that forced her to seek an illegal, unsafe abortion, not her.

Where to stream: Dirty Dancing is streaming on HBO Max.

If you haven’t seen Netflix’s hit show Bridgerton, you likely know it’s set in Regency-era England, so it may come as a surprise to hear that it features an abortion storyline. That’s the thing, though: Regardless of all the debate around abortion as a safe, legal medical procedure carried out in hospital settings, the demand for it has been around for centuries. By showing one character’s failed attempt at a self-managed abortion by drinking a tea that causes her to pass out, Bridgerton makes the point that the desires to manage reproduction and make decisions about when how to have a family will always exist, whether safe, accessible options also exist or not. Making abortion inaccessible will not stop pregnant people from seeking it out; it will only hamper the ability to do so safely.

Where to stream: Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix.

This movie caused a stir when it came out in 2014, proving that a film about abortion was still controversial, even some two decades after Dirty Dancing. Directed and written by Gillian Robespierre, the movie follows a woman named Donna through a breakup, some rebound sex, an unplanned pregnancy, and the series of events leading up to her eventual abortion. It shows a pretty realistic portrayal of what the average abortion-seeking woman in America looks like. For instance, Donna is a comedian who performs in local venues and works a day job at a bookstore. Numerous studies have shown that the average person getting an abortion is low-income. Others have shown that those who are denied abortion are more likely to experience lasting economic hardship and insecurity, and that 60% of those who get abortions are already mothers. We also know many who get abortions do go on to have kids. In Obvious Child, Donna’s mother tells her that she, too, had an abortion in the past.

Where to stream: Obvious Child is streaming on Fubo.

The debate around abortion is hot in America right now, but the quest for safe and legal procedures is globally understood. Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a British-American drama that follows a 17-year-old girl named Autumn as she attempts to determine if she’s pregnant and then decides what to do. She’s counseled at one point in a crisis pregnancy center, which is very true to life: CPCs are often operated by anti-abortion activists who offer women pregnancy tests or other small services, then try to convince them not to terminate their pregnancies. The movie also deals with the parental consent laws that exist in some states, and shows what those mean for the teenage girls who live in them, while touching on the realities of sexual and physical abuse.

Where to stream: Never Rarely Sometimes Always is streaming on Cinemax Go.

This FX show flew under the radar during its five-year run, but had some seriously dedicated fans. That’s because it told a more realistic story than most other romantic comedies do: The protagonists were imperfect people who did not try to fix or save each other and instead, embraced the facts that they sucked, life can suck, and good things can happen alongside the bad because existing isn’t a zero-sum game. The abortion storyline captures those themes well. In a 2016 episode, supporting character Lindsay sought an abortion, and it was hardly dramatic at all. She announces during a very low-key lunch she’s “eating for two for the last time,” then she and her best friend refer to the impending procedure as an “abobo.” There is no agonizing, no drama, and no message other than this is just one of the normal things that happens in a young adult’s life, and is no different from any other medical intervention or life event.

Where to stream: You’re the Worst is streaming on Hulu.

This Romanian art film is harrowing, but makes a strong case for the necessity of legal, affordable, accessible abortion care. It takes place in 1987, three years before abortion was legalized in Romania, and follows two college roommates, Otilia and Găbița, as they try to secure an abortion for Găbița. They arrange to meet a man in a hotel for the procedure and Otilia borrows money to fund it, but the financial cost is only one barrier. The practitioner, who is worried about being charged with murder, pressures the women sexually. The experience stresses not only the women’s friendship, but Otilia’s relationship with her own boyfriend and his family. The movie is far from lighthearted, but shows clearly what a world without safe, legal access to abortion looks like.

Where to stream: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is streaming on AMC+.

It’s rare to find a musical comedy-drama on television, but rarer for it to tackle serious topics like mental health, abortion, and career fulfillment—let alone do so responsibly. A character named Paula initially dismisses the idea of an abortion—”I am a married mother of two, okay? Those options are for teenagers the month after winter formal”—before really considering that having another child would require her to drop out of law school, which she enrolled in later in life. What happens next touches on the reality that many who get abortions are already mothers, and Paula ends up feeling no guilt for prioritizing her schooling, which will ultimately put her family in a better place financially and lead her to a more fulfilled, complete life. What’s more, she really does love her kids, and that’s never questioned.

Where to stream: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is streaming on Netflix.

Where to stream: Maude is streaming on Tubi and DirecTV.

This movie has major star power: Lily Tomlin plays a grandmother determined to help her granddaughter Julia raise the $630 she needs for an abortion in Los Angeles. While the film is funny, it’s also pretty frank: Raising the money in a single day is hard for the two women, who have to confront people from their past to borrow—or extort—it. The themes of low income and past abortions come into play here, as does angry dissent from at least one man, so it’s as realistic as can be.

Where to stream: Grandma is streaming on Hulu.

Where to stream: Degrassi: The Next Generation is streaming on HBO Max.

No, this movie isn’t actually about abortion—but it highlights the onerous burdens that women can face in accessing basic reproductive health services, and how that lack of access can easily lead to them getting pregnant and possibly needing an abortion anyway. Two teens in South Dakota find throughout the film that accessing emergency contraception in their small, conservative town is a lot harder than they thought, so they set out on a road trip to find some. Sexual coercion, unsafe underground transactions, and sexual orientation also come into play here, making for a well-rounded and authentic story.

Where to stream: Plan B is streaming on Hulu.

In case you can’t sense a major theme here, many movies depicting abortion or basic reproductive healthcare feature long roadtrips undertaken by the protagonists. Unpregnant, a 2020 movie from Rachel Lee Goldenberg, is no different. Parental consent is again a key element of the plot, as two teenage girls seek to circumvent the restriction imposed by their state and find their way to a place where one of them can get an abortion without letting her parents know. Stalking, coercion, and a lack of funds get in their way, as does an anti-abortion couple that attempts to stop them. Along the way, they also find support from unlikely allies. This movie gets bonus points for a later scene in which the main character decides to tell the truth about where she went.

Where to stream: Unpregnant is streaming on HBO Max.

Where to stream: Jane the Virgin is streaming on Netflix.

The way Scandal treats main character Olivia Pope’s decision to have an abortion is unique. While many of the other works on this list included deliberation, arguments, or clear depictions of the hurdles and concerns associated with terminating a pregnancy, Scandal’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” opted for something completely different: Olivia does not mention her decision at all. Viewers do not see the decision-making process in any way. The show simply cut to a one-minute sequence showing her undergoing the procedure. There was no dialogue; only “Silent Night” can be heard playing. The abortion is never mentioned again in the series. This poignant moment makes the point that though such a decision can be fraught, the choice and the unique reasons that led to it are no one’s business.

Where to stream: Scandal is streaming on Hulu.