Note no zombie movies as they are their own genre. But what are your favourite movies where a disease is the villain? For me Outbreak Contagion The Andromeda Strain (both versions) Nothing can top the original AS but the remake wasn't that bad and I did like it for what it was.
Can I count Rise of the Planet of the Apes? Cabin Fever, and depending on how you look at it, the Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies.
The Stand, though it hasn't aged as well as I might have hoped, especially with repeat viewings, and it's unfortunate that it's a made-for-TV film.
I loved most of those examples so I will list a few not mentioned and that is: "28 Days After" and "The Crazies" and no they aren't zombies. They are infected humans. Also "Philadelphia" which has got to be the most important movie about AIDS of all time with maybe "The Normal Heart" I think it was called maybe being the only thing that can compete. Jason
Heston was great in the disaster/dystopia/post-apocalyptic phase of his career. Omega Man: no people, Soylent Green: too many people, Planet of the Apes: people no longer dominant, Earthquake: people trapped under buildings..
I was going to list 28 Days Later, but wasn't sure if it was on the dividing line between disease and zombie movie.
Got a few more: "Girl Interupted" and "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" which is about mental illness which is a disease. "The Avaitor" about Howard Hughes also fits in that category. "Black Snake Moan" is about a sex addict. "50/50" is comedy that deals with cancer. Jason
Another vote for The Andromeda Strain, original version. If we're counting mental illness, then A Beautiful Mind certainly deserves mention.
Agree, these are my choices too. 1971 was a good year for film. The Omega Man(1971) The Andromeda Strain(1971)
If we're counting mental illness, then Memento would be at the top of my list...for at least the next few minutes.