Mental illness in movies can be troublesome at times. Whether just completely inaccurate or done for shock value, Hollywood isn’t always kind when it comes to telling stories about mental illness. So we decided to chat to our own therapists to see what mental illness movies they recommended.
Below are fifteen therapist-recommended movies about mental illness.
1. A Beautiful Mind
Multiple therapists recommended this critically-acclaimed Russel Crowe film featuring mathematician Josh Nash, who suffered from schizophrenia and delusional episodes. Laurie Hollman, Ph.D., says the film is certainly worth a watch.
“He gets help from a psychiatrist at a hospital and then manages to stunningly control his mind to the degree that by the end he casually asks a student if what he sees is real which she confirms, then he receives to his surprise and wonder a great accolade and honor as a scientist,” she says.
Kimberly Panganiban, LMFT, also says the film does a great job of depicting mental illness.
2. Silver Linings Playbook
This one showed up in multiple therapists lists too. Erin Miers, PsyD, calls it one of the most accurate movies portraying bipolar disorder. “It demonstrates that bipolar isn’t what we usually think it is (rapid mood swings every day, all day), and the impact of living with such a disorder on someone’s life and the challenges that they go through. I remember when I watched it the first time, how impacted I was by the accuracy of the representation, so rare in big Hollywood productions.”
3. The Soloist
Matthew Welsh, MS, Ph.D., says this is one of his favorite mental health movies. Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, it documents the friendship between a Los Angeles journalist who befriends a schizophrenic, homeless, Julliard-trained musician.
Throughout the film, Downey struggles between being a good friend and trying to “fix” Foxx, ultimately delivering a powerful theme. “Steve is conflicted throughout the movie about whether or not he should try to treat or ‘fix’ Nathaniel’s schizophrenic condition; or if he should accept Nathaniel for who he is and just try to be his friend,” Welsh says. “The resolution of the movie, without spoiling the plot, helped me realize that true friendship means to love and accept others for who they are and also for who they are not even if they have a mental illness that is inhibiting their life. This perspective can open our hearts to allow ourselves the freedom to be who we are and who we are not.”
4. Good Will Hunting
Laurie Hollman, Ph.D., also recommended this critically-acclaimed classic starring Robin Williams and Matt Damon. Damon plays a young man who works as a custodian at Harvard after being violently abused by his father growing up. “He secretly solves an equation on a blackboard in the hall, is eventually discovered by a professor who gets him away from being imprisoned for a fight, and then meets Robin Williams, his dear therapist who helps him find love and meaning in his life.”
5. A Beautiful Boy
Kimberly Panganiban, LMFT, calls A Beautiful Boy a film about “addiction that accurately depicts the struggles a family can challenge when addiction is present. It also shows the power of letting go vs. enabling.” Steve Carrell plays a father who struggles to support his son through a series of drug addictions that have painful repercussions on their family.
Michael Damioli, LCSW also included it on his list of addiction movies. “It shows the pain addiction imparts on a family and the lengths that a father will go through in order to try and save his son’s life.”
6. A Star is Born
Most people remember this movie for Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s impressive performances as two rising musicians, but Dianne Grande, Ph.D., appreciated this film for its depiction of addiction in a loving relationship. “Too often addicted persons are looked down upon, without compassion for their struggles and best intentions to recover. It also makes the point that addiction is a life-threatening condition, both due to the risk of serious health consequences and the risk of suicide.”
7. 500 Days of Summer
If you’re surprised by this one, so were we. But Eric Patterson, LPC, says the popular romantic drama does a good job of outlining the mental health issues in a relationship. “The film explores a failed relationship from the main character’s point of view and eventually shows how his flawed perceptions kept him from viewing the relationship in an objective way, “Patterson says.
“Once Tom begins to build empathy and see the situation from Summer’s perspective, he understands why the relationship fell apart and how he can move on to a more successful one.”
8. The Basketball Diaries
This autobiographical film on addiction in adolescents does a great job of portraying the debilitating effects of drug use, according to two of our therapists.
Dr. Stephanie Nichols, says “The Basketball Diaries forcefully reminds viewers that addiction, substance abuse, and the consequences, can happen to anybody.”
“There is a powerful scene in the movie where Leonardo Dicaprio’s character is withdrawing from heroin in his friend’s apartment that is the most painfully accurate representation of opioid detox I have ever seen,” Michael Damioli, LCSW, says. “The Basketball Diaries finishes on a note of hope and recovery which I think is extremely important when making movies about addiction.”
9. Trainspotting
This British film follows several heroin addicts living in urban poverty in Edinburgh, Scotland. Michael Damioli, LCSW says this film “depicts not only drug use but also the culture of drug users during this time cultural time period and even touches on the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Trainspotting depicts not only drug use but also the culture of drug users during this time cultural time period and even touches on the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Trainspotting is artistic and evolved at times but pulls no punches when it shows the true pain and suffering of drug addiction.”
10. Being Charlie
This 2015 film follows 18-year old Charlie who breaks out of a drug treatment facility and struggles with drug addiction until his parents force him into adult rehab. Michael Damioli, LCSW, likes this one for its accurate portrayal of addiction treatment. “It’s a heartwarming and heart-wrenching story of a young man as he navigates drugs, friends, and most importantly, his family while in his early stages of treatment and recovery.”
11. The Anonymous People
“The Anonymous People is a documentary that describes the state of the addiction recovery community as it attempts to adapt and evolve traditional 12 step ideology into a modern world. It highlights several personal recovery stories while taking a new look at how the growing number of recovering people in our world can support each other,” Michael Damioli, LCSW, says.
12. The Story of the Weeping Camel
Dmitri Oster, LCSW, appreciates this indigenous-made film for its willingness to explore impaired mental health that can be traced back to insufficient parent-child relations. “In a day and age when many people consider medication as a form of preferred mental health intervention, this film reminds you that many mental health disorders (barring severe neurological, biochemical imbalance, and/or cognitive dysfunction) are disorders of the psyche and are amenable to treatment via focused and compassionate human intervention.”
13. Rain Man
Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman star in this road trip film following two brothers in the wake of their father’s death, complicated by the fact that the two had never met each other. Hoffman plays an autistic savant who is left with his father’s multimillion-dollar estate, much to the chagrin of Tom Cruise’s character. Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW, says Hoffman does an amazing job portraying autism in this film.
14. Still Alice
Based on the book of the same name by Lisa Genova, Still Alice stars Julianna Moore as a linguistics professor diagnosed with familial Alzheimer’s disease. Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW says this film does a great job portraying the horror of Alzheimer’s disease and the devastating effects it can have on a family.
15. Girl, Interrupted
This 1999 drama starring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie is based on Susanna Kaysen’s memoir of the same name. It follows a young woman who spends a year and a half at a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt in the 1960s. Jolie won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this film, but Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW preferred Ryder’s portrayal of a woman with a borderline personality disorder.
When to See a Therapist
If you’re struggling with mental illness like some of these movie characters, you may want to see a therapist. They can help you identify what mental health concerns you may be suffering from and can recommend treatment. Using a directory of mental health professionals is a great way to find a therapist in your area to help you get the care you deserve.
