42 Films Exploring Eating Disorders
42 titles
- 1In So Many WordsMovie · 2013 · 75mLucy Daniels believes a family secret revealed when she was four profoundly shaped her life and triggered a lifelong mental illness. Growing up in a prominent newspaper family, Lucy always measured her value by her writing. Achieving early success, she suffered severe anorexia, enduring harsh treatment in mental institutions. She survived, published her first bestseller, and won a Guggenheim Prize in literature – all before turning 22. This innovative documentary blends recreated scenes, animated dreams, constructed worlds, and personal interviews to explore a story of survival and creativity, seen through the filmmaker's and subject's perspective.TMDB 5.2
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The Best Little Girl in the WorldMovie · 1981 · 100mCasey Powell, a teenager, is struggling with anorexia nervosa. This mental and physical illness manifests as self-starvation or self-induced vomiting, stemming from her difficulty managing family issues and societal pressures.IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.1 - 3
The Karen Carpenter StoryMovie · 1989 · 92mThis film chronicles the rapid ascent and tragic decline of Karen Carpenter, a singer who achieved widespread fame before struggling with anorexia and bulimia. This authorized biopic of Karen Carpenter was produced with the approval of her brother, Richard Carpenter, and the Carpenter family.IMDb 6.9TMDB 7.2 - 4
Emma Wants to LiveMovie · 2016 · 45mThis Dutch documentary follows the final weeks of Emma Caris, an 18-year-old girl battling anorexia nervosa since she was 16, as she receives care in a Portuguese clinic.IMDb 7.1TMDB 8.7 - 5
Slaughtered Vomit DollsMovie · 2006 · 71m · Horror, DramaA nineteen-year-old woman, struggling with bulimia and having left home to become a stripper and then a prostitute, experiences a terrifying decline as she's haunted by disturbing psychological visions and nightmares, blurring the line between reality and a nightmarish world.IMDb 2.3TMDB 4.0 - 6
LikenessMovie · 2013 · 9m · DramaMia believes beauty defines everything: a prize, a hope, a burden, a dream. It's the only life she knows, and it feels like a prison.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.1 - 7
Sharing the SecretMovie · 2000 · 90mA teenage girl hides a secret: she feels pressured to appear happy for everyone around her – her parents and friends. To cope with the emotional weight, she secretly engages in binge eating followed by purging.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.3 - 8
The Road WithinMovie · 2014 · 100m · Comedy, DramaA young man with Tourette's Syndrome sets out on a road trip carrying his recently deceased mother's ashes.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.9 - 9AnorexiaMovie · 2010 · 4mMarisa battles anorexia, but her condition presents a perplexing mystery to medical professionals.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.8
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BeautifulMovie · 2008 · 88mEun-young possesses a beauty that brings both admiration and resentment. Men are drawn to her, while women harbor jealousy. Her life is disrupted when one of her obsessive admirers breaks into her home.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.1 - 11
Little Miss PerfectMovie · 2016 · 82mA driven freshman in high school attempts to exert control over her existence by obsessively managing her weight.IMDb 4.9TMDB 5.1 - 12
The SnakeMovie · 2009 · 80mKen, a serial womanizer, joins an all-female body image support group with the intention of pursuing Talia, a young woman struggling with an eating disorder.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.0 - 13
The Solitude of Prime NumbersMovie · 2010 · 118m · DramaPrime numbers are only divisible by one and themselves, existing apart from everything else. Alice and Mattia both feel isolated, carrying the weight of difficult childhood experiences. Alice suffered a skiing accident that left a lasting physical effect, while Mattia lost his twin sister.IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.9 - 14
First LoveMovie · 2004 · 100m · Drama, Romance, HorrorVittorio seeks a woman to perfectly fit his ideal. He finds Sonia, a kind, intelligent young woman, through a classified ad. But Vittorio is disturbed by her weight of 125 pounds. A goldsmith, he becomes fixated on reshaping Sonia, like fire working on gold. Slowly, Sonia becomes increasingly compliant, and their relationship evolves into a mutual masochistic dynamic. As they isolate themselves in a country house in the Veneto hills, their grip on reality begins to slip.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.6 - 15
Starving in SuburbiaMovie · 2014 · 84m · Drama, TV MovieSeventeen-year-old Hannah discovers a website called Thinspiration, an online community that promotes anorexia as a lifestyle. She becomes deeply fixated on the site's founder, ButterflyAna. By the time her family understands the extent of her obsession and seeks professional help, Hannah's anorexia has become severe, and she refuses to eat. Can the family overcome this illness and reclaim their lives?IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.5 - 16Eating LunchMovie · 2013 · 13mKlara, a 15-year-old, joins four other teenagers for lunch at an Eating Disorder Clinic, overseen by nurses. They are given a 30-minute window to finish their meals.IMDb 6.8TMDB 5.7
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Perfect BodyMovie · 1997 · 100mDriven by a relentless pursuit of perfection, aspiring gymnast Andie Bradley pushes herself to the point of near starvation in her desperate attempt to achieve her Olympic dream.IMDb 6.2TMDB 5.8 - 18
Slow Torture Puke Chamber!Movie · 2010 · 75mAngela Aberdeen fulfills a pact with Satan and is thrust into Hell. However, Satan has further torment prepared for her. He sends her back to Earth to hunt and destroy another person. This return triggers a transformation in Angela, as she becomes increasingly afflicted by a demonic curse. The young woman she targets suffers a horrific ordeal, including severe eating disorders, incest, and abuse. Gradually, the two Angelas merge into a single being, destined for eternal suffering in Hell.IMDb 2.7TMDB 3.0 - 19
FeedMovie · 2017 · 96m · DramaOlivia and Matthew Grey are 18-year-old twins raised in a world of wealth and lofty expectations. They share an unusually close bond, to the point where their dreams feel intertwined.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.9 - 20FEMMEfilleMovie · 2014This is the story of Isabelle Caro, the model who gained notoriety after appearing in Oliviero Toscani's controversial NO-Anorexia campaign. Using family photos and video diaries, the film explores different periods of Isabelle's life and the environment she lived in.IMDb 6.4TMDB 9.0
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Black SwanMovie · 2010 · 108m · Drama, Thriller, HorrorA dedicated dancer finds herself battling to stay grounded after landing the principal role in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s "Swan Lake."IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.7 - 22
Center StageMovie · 2000 · 115m · Drama, MusicTwelve teenagers from diverse backgrounds join the American Ballet Academy in New York, all striving to become professional ballet dancers. The film follows their individual struggles and pressures as they navigate rigorous training and the competitive world of dance.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.9 - 23
Self PortraitMovie · 2020 · 80mThis documentary explores the life of Lene Marie Fossen, a talented photographer battling severe anorexia. "Self Portrait" examines the strength found in art and the will to survive, while also prompting reflection on the necessary care for individuals with this serious eating disorder.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.4 - 24
AbzurdahMovie · 2015 · 90m · DramaA lonely 16-year-old girl finds connection with an older man online. Their brief online relationship evolves, leading to obsession and the development of an eating disorder.IMDb 5.4TMDB 6.5 - 25
The MachinistMovie · 2004 · 102m · Thriller, DramaTrevor, a lathe operator plagued by insomnia, begins to experience unsettling events both at his job and in his personal life. He's relentlessly pursued by an odd stranger, though no one else appears to see him.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.5 - 26
MaledimieleMovie · 2012 · 93mMaledimiele follows Sara, a teenager whose gradual descent into anorexia consumes her life.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.1 - 27
Kate's SecretMovie · 1986 · 100mThe seemingly perfect life of a woman – beautiful, married to a successful lawyer, and a devoted suburban mother – hides a secret. Beneath the surface, she struggles with a hidden battle against bulimia.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.0 - 28
To the BoneMovie · 2017 · 107m · DramaA young woman struggling with anorexia encounters an unusual doctor who encourages her to confront her illness and rediscover the joy of living.IMDb 6.7TMDB 7.2 - 29BricioleMovie · 2005IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.8
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For the Love of NancyMovie · 1994 · 100mA woman battles anorexia, and her parents desperately struggle to help her recover.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.9 - 31
My Skinny SisterMovie · 2015 · 105m · DramaAs Stella begins her teenage years, she learns that her older sister Katja, her idol, is struggling with an eating disorder. This illness gradually strains their family relationships. It's a story about jealousy, love, and betrayal, presented with warmth, depth, and humor – both on and off the ice.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.9 - 32
God Help the GirlMovie · 2014 · 111m · Comedy, Drama, MusicEve struggles with self-doubt but has a vivid imagination, particularly when it comes to music. During a summer in Glasgow, she connects with Cass, a privileged young woman, and James, a very particular guy, who are also adrift. The three of them decide to start a band together.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.5 - 33
Girl, InterruptedMovie · 1999 · 127m · DramaSet in the late 1960s, this film is based on the true story of Susanna Kaysen. After a brief meeting with a psychiatrist, she's committed to a mental institution, disrupting her life. What starts as a short stay becomes a struggle to escape the institution’s strange world.
Inside, Susanna meets a variety of people who challenge her ideas about what's normal. As she deals with her emotional struggles, she questions her own identity and the nature of reality.
Susanna discovers that leaving the institution is difficult, if not impossible. She must choose between the safety of the institution and the uncertainty of life outside, in a world that feels just as confusing.
This drama explores the complicated relationship between mental health, societal expectations, and personal freedom during a time of great change. It asks viewers to consider their own definitions of sanity and madness while connecting with Susanna's fight to find her place in an often illogical and harsh world.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.6 - 34
ThinMovie · 2006 · 102mThis film follows four women in South Florida as they grapple with anorexia and bulimia.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.9 - 35
Life Is SweetMovie · 1990 · 103m · Comedy, DramaJust outside London, Wendy and Andy manage their lives and their adult twins, Natalie and Nicola. Wendy works as a shop clerk, while Andy juggles cooking with endless home repairs. Natalie is a plumber, and Nicola struggles with unemployment and finding direction. The film explores the intricacies of family, showing both affection and conflict between these individuals with different personalities and goals. Through a close look at their everyday lives, we see this unconventional family grow together, facing challenges and ultimately deepening their bonds.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.0 - 36
Dying to DanceMovie · 2001A young man takes it upon himself to teach a woman how to dance, pursuing his goal with unwavering determination.IMDb 6.0TMDB 4.0 - 37Alice or Life in Black and WhiteMovie · 2005 · 15mAlice struggles with how she sees herself and tries to keep her weight and eating disorder a secret from her school and family.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.0
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I'm a Cyborg, But That's OKMovie · 2006 · 105m · Drama, Comedy, RomanceYoung-goon, a woman with mental instability who frequently shocks herself with a transistor radio, is in a mental institution. She believes she's a cyborg and refuses to eat like a normal person. Il-soon, another patient, befriends Young-goon. Now, Il-soon faces the challenge of helping Young-goon overcome her mental issues and learn to eat regular food.IMDb 6.9TMDB 7.0 - 39
Malos hábitosMovie · 2007 · 103mSister Matilde, a nun who believes in the power of faith, undertakes a secret, extreme fast to stop what she sees as a modern-day flood. Meanwhile, Elena, preoccupied with appearances, desperately wants her daughter Linda to lose weight so she'll look beautiful for her first communion. At the same time, Elena’s husband Gustavo, an architecture professor, finds his wife's thinness physically bothersome and seeks solace in a relationship with a lively female student.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.1 - 40
My Name Is 'A' by AnonymousMovie · 2012 · 90mShane Ryan's film, made soon after the real-life events that inspired it (the 2007 murder of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten by 15-year-old Alyssa Bustamante), challenges viewers with its unflinching portrayal of difficult topics. Drawing comparisons to the work of David Lynch, Larry Clark, Harmony Korine, and John Cassavetes, the movie confronts the harsh realities often glossed over in Hollywood depictions of adolescence. It explores serious issues including self-harm among teenage girls, bullying, rape, bulimia (showing its physical toll), and murder.IMDb 4.8TMDB 1.5 - 41
When Friendship KillsMovie · 1996 · 96mLexi Archer relocates to Chicago with her mother after their divorce and quickly befriends Jennifer at her new school. When Lexi’s volleyball coach pressures her to lose weight, Jennifer confesses to having bulimia. The two girls team up to support each other, but their efforts lead to serious problems.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.4 - 42
Hunger PointMovie · 2003 · 88mA woman grapples with her sense of self while living in a home dominated by her mother's preoccupation with weight. Her younger sister's eating disorder becomes intertwined with devastating events.IMDb 5.5TMDB 4.0
