List of Orphan Trope / Adoptee / Adoption Narrative IP
This is a work in progress. It is an incomplete, unordered list that includes myths and legends, books, characters, musicals, films, TV, and video games that feature orphans, foster youth, or adoptees as a central or significant plot point, theme, or character. *Originally posted on a website I created for my film project FORK MOUNTAIN – a short film based on my real life experiences as a transracial adoptee.
Stories about adoption, foster care, or that feature orphans, or adoptees.
Stories, characters, IP that features an adoptee, FFY or an adoption / orphan narrative as a major story element.
The Wild Robot (animated film, 2024)
Sophicles
Oedipus
Hercules
Moses (The Bible)
Loki
Jane Eyre
David Copperfield
Tangled (animated film, 2010)
Malignant (horror film, 2021)
School of Life (2017)
The Dark Matter of Love (2012)
Like Dandelion Dust (2009)
Cinderella
Snow White
Rapunzel
Tarzan
Peter Pan
Pippi Longstocking
Winston Smith (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
Anne of Green Gables
Mowgli
The Secret Garden (1993)
Wuthering Heights (Heathcliff)
King Arthur
Inigo Montoya (The Princess Bride)
Nancy Olesen (Little House on the Prairie)
The Glass House (2001)
Glass House: The Good Mother (2006)
The Rescuers (1977), and The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The Official Story (1985)
Twitches (2005)
Anya (Anastasia), Beast (Beauty & The Beast)
The Dark Crystal
Huckleberry Finn
Great Expectations
The Giver
The Shunning (2011)
Little Orphan Annie
Then She Found Me (2007)
Philomena (2013)
Adopting Terror (2012)
The Christmas Card (2006)
Newsies
Les Miserables (Cosette)
Leon The Professional
Losing Isaiah (1995)
Oliver Twist
Stuart Little
Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort
Sarutobi Sasuke
Naruto
Matilda
The Boarder (2012)
Sarah Connor
Adopting Audrey (2022)
Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
Foster (2011)
Jagged Little Pill
Little Shop of Horrors (Stage Version)
Chance at Romance (2013)
Arrested Development
The Christmas Secret (2014)
Taken Away (2014)
The Fosters
Killing Eve
Dark
Omen
Adopted (2021)
The Adopted (2011)
Hanna
Masters of the Universe: Revelations
Orphan Black
Bojack Horseman
Mike and Molly
Finding Father Christmas (2016)
Hey Arnold
You People (2018)
Umbrella Academy
Martian Child (2007)
Ratched
Laurie Strode (Halloween)
Samara (The Ring)
A Daughter’s Deception (2019)
Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)
Damien Thorn (The Oman)
Sudden Fury: A Family Torn Apart (1993)
Before I Wake
Malignant
Orphan
Luce (2019)
Mikey (1992)
Reborn (2018)
Mommy’s Little Angel (2018)
Case 39 (2009)
The Abandoned (2006)
The Witches (2020)
Prey for the Devil
Kwai Chang Caine (Kung Fu)
John Wick
Patrik, Age 1.5 (2008)
Batman
Robin
Superman
Green Hornet
Spiderman
Blade
The Flash
Logan/The Wolverine
Black Widow
Thor
Iron Man
Black Panther
Star-Lord, Gamora, and Mantis (Guardians of the Galaxy)
Scarlett Witch
Mystique
Captain America
Killmonger
Professor X
Magneto
Daredevil
Joker
Admission (2013)
Mother and Child (2009)
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (2000)
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Modern Family
Adult Adoption (2022)
Adopt a Highway (2019)
Little Fires Everywhere
Yours, Mine, and Ours
A Christmas Wish (2019)
Dumb and Dumber To
Losing Isaiah
Bling Empire
Orange is the New Black
Angels in the Outfield
Grey’s Anatomy
Come Away (2020)
This is Us
Blue Bayou
The Creator (2023)
The Little Mermaid (live action)
Pirates of the Carribean
GI Joe: Snake Eyes
Catdog The Movie
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Rapunzel
The Boxtrolls
Instant Family
Slumdog Millionaire
Switched at Birth
The Waltons
Parenthood (series)
Paddington Bear
The Queen’s Gambit
Juno
June (2015)
Child of Mine (2005)
In Safe Hands (2018)
Reclaim (2014)
Luke, Leia, Han Solo, Boba Fett, and others (Star Wars)
The Lord of the Rings (Frodo)
Peeta Mellark (Hunger Games)
Eragon
The Hollow Child (2017)
Possessing Piper Rose (2011)
Stevie (2008)
The Red House (1947)
Through the Mirror (2018)
Hostage (2021)
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
Ready Player One
Big Hero 6
Bambi
Chosen (2021)
A Wrinkle in Time
The BFG
Simba (The Lion King)
Despicable Me
The Angry Birds Movie
Moonrise Kingdom
Cruella
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Elf
A Christmas Prince
Coraline
The Croods: A New Age
Pauly Shore: Adopted (2009)
The Leftovers (series)
Po (Kung Fu Panda)
Moana (2016)
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Tangled (2010)
Frozen (2013)
After Yang
Ladybird (Miguel)
Ju Ju (The Chair)
James Bond
Yuna & Tidus (Final Fantasy)
Ang (Avatar the Last Aibender)
Eliza (The Shape of Water)
Clemintine (The Walking Dead)
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
M3GAN
Audrey Sullivan (Joy Ride)
Poor Things (2023)
Before I Wake (2016)
Stories based on a TRUE adoptee, foster care, or orphan story.
Stories where it’s been confirmed to be based on a true story, but the subject of the story (adoptee / orphan, FFY) themselves did not have significant control over the storytelling behind the scenes (such as a writing or directing role on the production side of a film or documentary. NOT as a documentary or biography subject).
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
Michael Oher (The Blind Side)
A Thread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy (2020)
Found (2021)
Lion (film)
I Lived on Parker Avenue (2018)
Lifemark (2022)
Philomena (film, 2015)
Somewhere Between (2011)
I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story (2019)
Sound Of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot (2024)
Blue Miracle (2021)
Stories by adoptees or former foster youth.
IP where it’s been confirmed that an adoptee had significant creative control over the storytelling.
Twinsters (documentary) – Director is an adoptee
Return to Seoul (film) – Co-Writer is an adoptee
Meet the Robinsons (animated film, 2007) – Director is an adoptee
White Fever (tv series, 2024) – Creator is an adoptee