The 15 Best Shows & Movies About OCD Behaviors

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is commonly misunderstood as a disorder where someone is just extremely neat or afraid of germs. People might say “I’m OCD about” fill in the blank, without recognizing the true experiences of individuals with persistent uncontrollable and unwelcome obsessions, compulsions or both – that come with the disorder. The misperceptions can be further exacerbated by inaccurate media portrayals that make light of the seriousness of the condition. But when a movie gets it right, people living with the disorder can see themselves represented in a way that respects their experiences, and help them explain what they’re going through to others. The movies on this list do a great job of showcasing OCD in an honest way.

The Most Accurate Movies About OCD

People living with OCD can often be disappointed by the inaccuracies of how the disorder is represented on the big screen. For instance, it isn’t commonly known that adults and children can experience OCD and quite often it can stem from youth. The movies in this list accurately portray how the disorder impacts various demographics, whether through identifying symptoms, treatments, or other nuances of the condition.

1.The Aviator (2004)

Tackling contamination OCD and germaphobia-related OCD, this movie is about a successful filmmaker whose struggles with his disorder lead to his eventual downfall. Though not inspiring at first glance, this story can help someone struggling with the condition who has also been sabotaged by it to feel understood. It highlights just how debilitating a disorder that is often not taken so seriously really is for those experiencing it.

2. As Good As It Gets (1997)

As Good As It Gets is a classic comedy, drama, and romance film that highlights the silent struggle of OCD when no one knows you have it. While many believe that OCD doesn’t allow people to function normally, the main character, Melvin, debunks this and shows that while OCD can make life more challenging, many people living the condition have productive and happy lives.

3. Unstuck: An OCD Kids Movie (2017)

Unstuck is an award-winning documentary short about six kids with OCD who learn to gain control over their fears, rituals and lives. Kids don’t often get to voice their experiences with OCD, but this movie changes that by telling the story through the perspective of the young people experiencing it. A film that will encourage people suffering from OCD to believe that it is possible to change with the right treatment.

The Best OCD Movie Characters

Having well-portrayed movie characters offer insight into mental health conditions, like OCD. A good character can highlight the disorder in a way that raises empathy and understanding. The characters in the movies below have an OCD character who stands out from the crowd.

4. Jasmine in Blue Jasmine (2013)

Jasmine, the main character, arrives at her sister’s door in her socialite attire after her relationship, and consequently, upscale lifestyle ends. A film about a woman with multiple mental illnesses that includes OCD, she displays a hygiene obsession that shows up throughout the film. Jasmine in Blue Jasmine is a troubling film that highlights the way in which mental illness can impact people of different walks of life.

5. Raymond Babbitt from “Rain Main” (1988)

Usually a movie thought to be about autism, Rain Man showcases how OCD can coexist with other disorders like autism. The main character, Raymond Babbitt, follows routines and schedules like they are law and does not appreciate deviations from them. When his older brother forces him on a road trip, there is a new experience ahead for both of them.

6. Mark in Dirty Filthy Love (2004)

The story of an architect whose life falls apart due to OCD coupled with Tourette’s syndrome, Mark in Dirty Filthy Love offers a realistic portrayal of mental illness and how OCD can turn someone’s life upside down. Technically a single 2-hour television drama, the tv-movie has been nominated for several awards with 1 win in its corner.

The Worst Movies About OCD

A poor portrayal of mental health conditions can perpetuate stereotypes and cause further harm to those already suffering. OCD is often stereotypically characterized behavior that is dismissed as quirky, offbeat or abnormal or by a demonizing caricature of someone living with the disorder. While the movies below may be excellent in their own right, they push this negative narrative to the forefront and don’t offer the best options to learn about OCD.

7. What About Bob? (1991)

While not the worst portrayal of OCD, this film is lacking in the department of treatment for OCD. When the main character Bob follows the suggestions of a self-help book called Baby Steps it can leave the wrong impression that self-help is all a person needs to treat OCD and lead many to believe they don’t need the support of a professional.

8.Matchstick Men (2003)

Movie characters can unintentionally demonize OCD by further perpetuating stereotypes of OCD symptoms. While Matchstick Men does an excellent job of portraying how OCD manifests for one man, it also can come across as a caricature of how a person with OCD experiences the disorder. This only adds to the list of stereotypes people with OCD already face.

9. Mommie Dearest (1981)

While Mommie Dearest is a classic that can be cited for accurately portraying how someone suffering from narcissistic personality disorder can appear one way in public and another behind closed doors, it is not one to recommend for getting a full understanding of OCD. While her obsessions with orderliness and cleaning could be seen as manifestations of OCD that many can relate to, Joan’s definitive hangers’ scene is the kind of scene that can foster misunderstanding of OCD as simply erratic, unhinged and downright dangerous for anyone in the vicinity.

The Worst OCD Movie Characters

Movies can easily stereotype mental health conditions by creating characters that inaccurately portray the condition. People with OCD are often portrayed as unhinged, aggressive and disconnected in movies that use the disorder as a stand-in for eccentricity and dismiss the real experiences of those suffering with the disorder. Here are 3 movies that miss the mark when representing characters with OCD.

10. Bruno in Encanto (2021)

A sweet and endearing movie on its own with so much else to offer for viewers, Bruno in Encanto does not offer the best representation of OCD. Bruno’s superstitious behaviors have sparked online conversations about his superstitions possibly being manifestations of OCD. Admittedly, the film may offer a good starting point for discussing OCD with children; however, first impressions can be difficult to shake so if you’re looking to educate about OCD, it may not be the best place to start.

The Best Series Portraying Characters With OCD

Accurately portraying sympathetic characters with OCD in television allows more people access to understanding the condition and to get to know and love a character over time. The shows below use tasteful humor, drama and a wide range of human experiences to showcase OCD accurately in a television series.

13. The Good Place (2016 -2020)

A less talked about manifestation of OCD dealing with moral scrupulosity is displayed in this sitcom through the character Chidi Anagoney. He is consistently plagued by the gray areas of life and has a difficult time navigating around them often freezing up with moral quandaries. His character is realistic, endearing and helpful for understanding this kind of OCD.

14. United States of Tara (2009-2011)

Another comedy, Tara Gregson displays the characteristics of someone dealing with both OCD and dissociative identity disorder (DID). In this series, Tara displays a need for order and symmetry, repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts, all symptoms that people with OCD may find familiar. It offers a more realistic than most portrayal of OCD and how it impacts a person’s life.

15. Girls (2012 -2017)

Offering a rare look at how OCD impacts the lives of teenage girls, this show introduces OCD through Hannah, the main protagonist. With poignant accuracy, the series shows how deeply shame, embarrassment, and anxiety can go for people with OCD and especially during formative years when fitting in feels critical to life.