31 Films Exploring Mental Health and Addiction
31 titles
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Requiem for a DreamMovie · 2000 · 102m · Crime, DramaFour people living in Coney Island find their carefully constructed escapes through drugs crumbling as their dependencies intensify.IMDb 8.3TMDB 8.0 - 2
HelenMovie · 2009 · 120m · DramaHelen appears to have a perfect life: a supportive family and a thriving career. However, when a long-hidden mental illness returns, her world falls apart. Overwhelmed by depression, Helen finds comfort in her friendship with Mathilda, who also battles bipolar disorder.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.5 - 3
Still AliceMovie · 2014 · 101m · DramaAlice Howland, a linguistics professor with a fulfilling marriage and three adult children, begins experiencing word-related memory loss. Following a difficult diagnosis, Alice and her family grapple with the challenges it presents, straining their relationships.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.5 - 4
NebraskaMovie · 2013 · 115m · Drama, AdventureA father, struggling with alcoholism and old age, travels with his estranged son from Montana to Nebraska. Their shared goal: to collect a sweepstakes prize the father is convinced he won – a prize worth a million dollars.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.5 - 5
Silver Linings PlaybookMovie · 2012 · 122m · Drama, Comedy, RomanceFollowing a job loss, divorce, and a period of institutionalization, a former teacher returns home to live with his parents. He's determined to rebuild his life and win back his wife, but his father's enthusiasm for the Philadelphia Eagles presents a challenge. His plans become complicated when he meets Tiffany Maxwell, who offers assistance in reconnecting with his wife – for a significant favor.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.1 - 6
MelancholiaMovie · 2011 · 130m · Drama, Science FictionA difficult relationship between two sisters is further tested when a strange new planet appears on a collision course with Earth.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.2 - 7
A Beautiful MindMovie · 2001 · 135m · Drama, RomanceJohn Forbes Nash Jr. rises to fame as a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician, poised for international recognition after a major discovery. However, accepting a classified cryptography assignment draws him into a shadowy conspiracy. His life spirals into turmoil, forcing him to confront a difficult and deeply personal path toward understanding himself.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.9 - 8
Inside OutMovie · 2015 · 95m · Animation, Family, AdventureWhen 11-year-old Riley relocates to a new city, her core emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness – work as a team to guide her. However, when Joy and Sadness get lost on their way back to headquarters, they embark on an unexpected adventure through the unfamiliar landscape of Riley's mind.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.9 - 9
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 - 10
The Dark HorseMovie · 2014 · 124m · Drama, HistoryGenesis Potini, a former Maori speed-chess champion, lives with bipolar disorder. He faces prejudice and violence as he fights to save his struggling chess club, his family, and his own well-being.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.3 - 11
It's Kind of a Funny StoryMovie · 2010 · 102m · Comedy, DramaA teenager struggling with severe depression begins a new chapter when he voluntarily admits himself to an adult psychiatric facility.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 12
Lars and the Real GirlMovie · 2007 · 107m · Comedy, Drama, RomanceLars struggles with shyness and finds connecting with people difficult. Concerned for his well-being, his brother and sister-in-law are thrilled when he says he has a girlfriend he met online. However, Lars' new girlfriend is a life-size plastic woman. Following a doctor's recommendation, his family and community support his belief.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 13
GaslightMovie · 1944 · 114m · Thriller, Drama, MysteryA newlywed moves into her in-laws' imposing, isolated estate and starts experiencing strange events that make her question her sanity. As things become more disturbing, she can't tell if what's happening is real or in her head – is it the house's past, or her own mind? Suspicion grows as she tries to find out what's really going on, all while adjusting to marriage and a new home. Her investigation forces her to face her greatest fears in a place where secrets lurk in the shadows.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.5 - 14
KrishaMovie · 2016 · 82m · Drama, ThrillerKrisha goes home for Thanksgiving, but old problems resurface and put her family gathering in jeopardy.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.8 - 15
The Perks of Being a WallflowerMovie · 2012 · 103m · DramaIn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991, shy freshman Charlie observes life from a distance. His world changes when two seniors, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, take him under their wing. They guide him toward friendship, music, and the experience of first love.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.8 - 16
The Skeleton TwinsMovie · 2014 · 92m · DramaMaggie and Milo, twins who have drifted apart, both narrowly escape a fatal accident on the same day. This shared experience brings them back together, forcing them to address the issues that fractured their past. As they reconnect, they begin to understand that rebuilding their relationship might be the path to healing their lives.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.6 - 17
The Lost WeekendMovie · 1945 · 101m · DramaDon Birnam, a man struggling with alcoholism, achieves ten days of sobriety. But his cravings don't lessen; they become more intense and persistent. Unable to cope with a planned family weekend, Don descends into a dangerous four-day binge that could be his last chance at redemption or lead to devastating consequences.
The film examines the complexities of addiction and the constant fight of those affected by it. It explores self-destruction and the blurred line between wanting something and needing it desperately. Don's journey reveals the harsh reality of alcoholism, offering a raw look at a man battling his inner demons for survival.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.6 - 18
Matchstick MenMovie · 2003 · 116m · Comedy, Drama, CrimeA con artist with a severe phobia and his apprentice are about to execute a big score when the con artist’s teenage daughter shows up unexpectedly.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.0 - 19
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 - 20
Ordinary PeopleMovie · 1980 · 124m · DramaFollowing the death of another child, Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad grapple with the difficult realities of life. Conrad is deeply affected by grief and internal struggles, battling guilt and contemplating suicide. He begins therapy, slowly seeking a way to heal. But Beth, who had always favored their deceased son, finds it hard to support Conrad, creating further tension between them. Calvin works tirelessly to keep the family together, navigating the emotional turmoil of his grieving mother and troubled brother as they try to rebuild after tragedy. This story explores grief, guilt, love, and forgiveness within a family facing overwhelming challenges.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.5 - 21
The BabadookMovie · 2014 · 94m · Drama, HorrorGrief-stricken and alone, a mother struggles to protect her son from his fear of a monster in their home. As she tries to comfort him, she begins to suspect a more terrifying presence is surrounding them all.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.5 - 22
Elizabeth BlueMovie · 2017 · 95mA young woman adjusts to life after leaving a mental institution, while continuing to experience episodes of schizophrenia.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.0 - 23
What's Eating Gilbert GrapeMovie · 1993 · 118m · Romance, DramaGilbert Grape lives in a quiet town and bears a heavy burden. He's the primary caregiver for his mother, who is housebound due to her weight and emotional struggles. He also constantly looks after Arnie, his younger brother, who has mental disabilities and often gets into difficulties. While Gilbert tries to hold onto some normalcy with a relationship with Betty Carver and a job at the grocery store, his life is disrupted by the arrival of Becky. She forces him to confront unfamiliar feelings and experiences that could dramatically alter his future.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.7 - 24
The SoloistMovie · 2009 · 109m · Drama, MusicIn Los Angeles, a journalist searching for a story connects with a homeless musician who once studied at Juilliard.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.7 - 25
Bipolar Rock 'N RollerMovie · 2018 · 70mThis film chronicles Mauro Ranallo's career, highlighting his involvement in two of the largest pay-per-view events in television history, and his unwavering dedication to a childhood aspiration despite facing significant obstacles. This intimate portrait aims to inspire viewers to keep pursuing their dreams, even when dealing with mental health challenges.IMDb 7.6TMDB 8.0 - 26
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 - 27
ShineMovie · 1996 · 105m · DramaThis moving film chronicles pianist David Helfgott's challenging path through classical music, shaped by the demanding expectations of his father and instructors. The film shows how this relentless pressure affects David's mental well-being, ultimately leading to a severe breakdown. It also explores the strength of the human spirit and art's ability to heal. Years later, Helfgott re-enters the music world, finding comfort and renewed purpose. His return to performing, despite divided critical responses, demonstrates the power of overcoming personal struggles through music.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4 - 28
Welcome to MeMovie · 2015 · 87m · Comedy, DramaThis film follows Alice Klieg, a woman living with Borderline personality disorder. After winning the Mega Millions lottery, she stops taking her medication and embarks on an ambitious project: creating and hosting her own talk show. The story chronicles a year of her life as she navigates this unexpected new reality.IMDb 5.9TMDB 5.8 - 29
Infinitely Polar BearMovie · 2014 · 87m · Drama, ComedyA father struggling with bipolar disorder desperately tries to reconnect with his wife by dedicating himself to caring for their two lively young daughters. However, the demanding task proves more challenging than he anticipated.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.6 - 30
Rain ManMovie · 1988 · 134mWhen car dealer Charlie Babbitt learns his estranged father has died, he returns to Cincinnati and discovers he has a brilliant older brother named Raymond. Charlie learns his father's $3 million fortune is to be donated to Raymond's mental institution. Hoping to inherit the money, Charlie arranges for Raymond's release and takes him back to Los Angeles. The journey across the country unexpectedly transforms both brothers.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.7 - 31
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestMovie · 1975 · 133m · DramaA small-time criminal schemes to get a sentence in a mental institution instead of prison. Inside, he unexpectedly becomes a mentor to the other patients, who are dealing with their own mental health issues. But the fragile peace is threatened by a cruel and powerful nurse. As tensions rise, the protagonist must navigate complex relationships and hidden motives to protect his new community and fight back against the nurse's oppressive control.IMDb 8.6TMDB 8.4
