People often turn to cinema to gain new perspectives on their life experiences, to learn about something new or to simply be entertained. When mental illness is introduced on screen, filmmakers and actors are tasked with bringing accurate portrayals that also serve the purpose of entertaining and audiences are tasked with discernment between the two. Often this leaves the stage for learning, growing and opening dialogue on previously taboo topics. Bipolar disorder is one of those topics and it is through film that many people come to understand the disorder and understand what it is like for their loved one or themselves to experience the cycling of elevated mood and deep despair.
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What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of mania and depression. Mania includes an elevated mood, increased energy, and impulsiveness while depressive episodes are marked by sadness, low energy, and feelings of worthlessness. The frequency of cycling between the two varies and requires medication management among other lifestyle adjustments.
25 Movies About Bipolar Disorder
It is important to have accurate representation in media surrounding bipolar disorder for the people suffering from it as well as for public consumption. These portrayals can influence public understanding and stigma which in turn impacts bipolar disorder treatment, diagnosis, and everyday experiences of people living with the disorder. Bipolar disorder is a complex condition, and the fact is, movies can only capture certain aspects of it. The list below shares some films that portrayed bipolar well enough to win critical acclaim or audience positive reception.
1. The Year Between (2022)
This film is for anyone newly diagnosed and their loved ones. It’s an independent dramedy about Clemence Miller, a sophomore in college, who has severed most of her relationships during bouts of mania and depression. Her undiagnosed bipolar symptoms lead her to drop out. She returns home, visits a psychologist, receives a bipolar disorder diagnosis, and starts taking prescribed lithium while attempting to put her life back together. The film is written and directed by the lead actress, Alex Heller who was commended for her character’s “wildly funny” “deadpan charisma” and authenticity.
2. Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)
People with Bipolar I or II know the fear of how their disorder may impact their romantic relationship. In “Infinitely Polar Bear” Cameron Stuart played by Mark Buffalo, and his wife Maggie, played by Zoe Saldana, attempt to repair their love after a lost job, and a manic episode forces Maggie to institutionalize Cameron. When Cameron returns home, their love is tested further as Maggie takes off to New York to pursue her MBA leaving Cameron in charge of their two girls for eighteen months. It’s a test of love, faith, and healing for all.
3. Bipolar Rock ’n’ Roller (2018)
A compelling and raw documentary recounting renowned combat-sports broadcaster Mauro Ranallo and his lifelong battle with bipolar disorder. The inspiring story of Ranallo’s pursuit of his dreams to be a broadcast personality and DJ in the early 90s while battling a seemingly unbeatable disorder. If you’re looking for a motivating true story, this is it.
4. Sylvia (2003)
Centering on the real-life romance of famous poets Sylvia Plath, played by Gwenyth Paltrow, and Ted Hughes, played by Daniel Craig, this biographical drama sheds light on what it is like to love someone with bipolar disorder. Their love story is wrought with sexual jealousy, professional envy, and the emotional turmoil characteristic of many relationships between bipolar individuals.
5. Boy Interrupted (2009)
With a Sundance Film nomination, “Boy Interrupted” is based on the life of Evan Perry, a 15-year-old boy who suffered from bipolar depression and took his own life. Evan’s parents began filming their son to help healthcare professionals understand what they witnessed at home after their attempts to share his suicidal comments weren’t heeded. While difficult to watch, the film highlights how this disorder impacts young people who suffer from it and those who love them. It also brings to light the challenge of getting the right diagnosis for children suffering from bipolar disorder.
6. At Eternity’s Gate (2018)
We often glamorize the life of an artist, especially when they have a mental illness, but the life and death of Vincent Van Gogh showcase how hindering the disorder can be. This film is a dramatized biography of the life and death of Vincent van Gogh, played by William Dafoe, who has bipolar disorder while bringing the world beautiful works like The Starry Night and Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers. The film received three awards at the Venice International Film Festival and raked in “Best Actor” for William Dafoe’s portrayal at the Satellite Awards.
7. The Devil And Daniel Johnston (2005)
We often glamorize the life of an artist, especially when they have a mental illness, but the life and death of Vincent Van Gogh showcase how hindering the disorder can be. This film is a dramatized biography of the life and death of Vincent van Gogh, played by William Dafoe, who has bipolar disorder while bringing the world beautiful works like The Starry Night and Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers. The film received three awards at the Venice International Film Festival and raked in “Best Actor” for William Dafoe’s portrayal at the Satellite Awards.
8. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
This critically acclaimed film follows Patrizio “Pat” Solitano Jr., played by Bradley Cooper, a former teacher recently released from a psychiatric hospital. Pat must move into his parent’s home and decides this is a perfect time to win back his ex-wife Tiffany Maxwell, played by Jennifer Lawrence. On his path, he meets a widow who agrees to help him win back his estranged wife if he participates in a dance competition with her. The film is about Pat’s struggle and showcases how the disorder impacts his parents and those who love him.
9. Call Me Crazy
A compilation of 5 stories of mental illness, Call Me Crazy features the often unheard experience of the teenage daughter of a mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. In the story, her mother’s manic episode turns dangerous. Mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, and PTSD are told through the short stories of other characters making this film a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about their mental health or the mental health of someone close to them.
10. Mad Love (1995)
This teenage love story was originally centered on the romance between a straight-laced high school senior named Matt Leland, played by Chris O’Donnell, and his beautiful neighbor, Drew Barrymore, and Casey Roberts, who has bipolar disorder. Casey’s symptoms of bipolar disorder didn’t make the original film cut and instead were downplayed to be depression. This was a sign of the times when topics like mental illness were considered taboo only a little over 20 years ago.
Help for Bipolar Disorder
Online Psychiatry for Bipolar Disorder – Talkiatry can match you with a real psychiatrist who takes your insurance and is seeing new patients. They’re in-network with major insurers and offer medication management. Most psychiatry visits cost patients $30 or less* Free Assessment
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11. Manic (2001)
Teenage years are challenging as teens rapidly change physically, psychologically, and emotionally. A mental health diagnosis can exacerbate these changes but seeing their experiences represented in film makes for a less isolating experience. This film showcases several disorders and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. It tells the story of Lyle Jensenm a teen whose impulsive and aggressive behavior led him to brutally beat another teen with a bat during a baseball game. He is admitted to a juvenile psychiatric ward where he meets Chad, a teen suffering from bipolar disorder and agoraphobia. Despite their individual struggles the two hatch a plan to go to Amsterdam with Chad’s trust fund money.
12. The Dark Horse (2014)
Based on a true story, the film follows a New Zealand chess prodigy, Genisis Potini, who has bipolar disorder. Potini takes his skillset and teaches it to disadvantaged youth while battling his mental illness with the ups and downs of teaching young minds. Among many notable awards the film won, are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Score at the 2014 New Zealand Film Awards and New York Times Critics’ Pick.
13. Shine (1996)
Shine is an Australian biographical psychological drama about a pianist who experiences a mental breakdown and finds himself in and out of psychiatric institutions. Starring Geoffrey Rush and Lynn Redgrave, among other notable actors, the film received an incredible 91% Rotten Tomatoes rating and has been cited as both inspirational and a realistic portrayal of living with bipolar disorder.
14. Of Two Minds (2012)
This film won the Los Angeles Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary and follows the lives of three people who live with bipolar disorder. The raw movie obtains first-person accounts of the grandiosity, sensuality, depression, and despair that often accompany bipolar disorder and puts faces to the mental illness. The most poignant aspects of the film are the daily struggles with relationships and maintaining stable employment.
15. Filth (2013)
A dark comedy based on a novel by the same name, Filth illustrates the story of bipolar detective Bruce Robertson, played by James Mcavoy. Robertson enters into a drug-laden manic episode where viewers uncover the nature of his bipolar disorder and previous sessions with a psychiatrist. With wit and candor, the film dives into taboo topics like drug use, alcohol, abusive sexual relationships, and cruel plots for revenge and how all of these relate to manic grandiosity.
16. Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Starring Meryl Streep as Suzanne Vale, “Postcards from the Edge” is about a woman whose cocaine-Percodan addiction lands her in rehab and then in the care of her self-absorbed mother who she has tried to escape since childhood. While the film doesn’t explicitly mention bipolar disorder, people struggling with this disorder might recognize their own experiences in the battle of using substances to self-medicate what feels out of control.
17. Michael Clayton (2007)
Starring George Clooney as Michael Clayton, medication and involuntary commitment to a psychiatric ward is tackled in the portrayal of Clayton’s lawyer, Arthur Edens, played by Tom Wilkinson. Edens has bipolar disorder and through him, a realistic picture is painted of what it is like to struggle with bipolar disorder. Called one of the “best portrays I have ever seen,” by one fan, the film highlights the depths of mania and depression when Eden stops taking his pills.
18. The Hours (2002)
This acclaimed film is about the life of Virginia Woolf, played by Nicole Kidman, writing her novel Mrs. Dalloway. The film also stars Julianne Moore who plays Laura Brown, a housewife on the edge and reading the novel, and Clarissa Vaughn played by Meryl Streep, who is a character living with AIDS in New York in 2001. Virginia Wolf is thought to have experienced several bipolar symptoms though she was likely not formally diagnosed during the time she was alive. Her symptoms included mood swings, depression, manic episodes, and psychosis. The film received 9 Academy Award nominations with Nicole Kidman winning Best Actress for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf.
19. All She Ever Wanted (1996)
After being rejected by adoption agencies because of her mental health history, Rachel Stockman decides to stop taking lithium so that she and her husband can get pregnant. She succeeds in getting pregnant but the cost to her mental health and the legal battles that follow become living nightmares for the next nine months of her life. Women with bipolar disorder who wish to become pregnant can relate to the challenges that arise in the decision to have a child while suffering from bipolar disorder.
20. Mr. Jones (1993)
Starring Richard Gere as Mr. Jones, this movie offers insight into the suicidal ideation or planning that often accompanies bipolar depression. Mr. Jones attempts to take his own life and is admitted into a psychiatric ward where he is misdiagnosed as schizophrenic. An unlikely romance ensues between Mr. Jones and his psychiatrist. This sets him on the path to making healthier choices for himself. While therapy and mental health help should never cross the line toward romance, people who have bipolar disorder can relate to the film’s portrayal of challenges.
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21. The Ghost and the Whale (2017)
The whale in this thriller, voiced by Jonathan Pryce, serves as the personification of the main character’s untreated bipolar disorder. Joseph, played by Maurice Bernard, cannot remember how his wife disappeared and continues to battle with his “whale” throughout the film, eventually sitting to have a face-to-face conversation. Unique to this film, Maurice Bernard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 22, so the main character was infused with the authenticity of someone who understands what it is like to live with the disorder.
22. Touched with Fire (2016)
Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby bring to life characters that share a romance in a psychiatric hospital. The film is based on a novel by the same name written by Kay Redfield Jamison. The main characters share a bipolar disorder diagnosis, which allows for a gorgeous and frightening experience to unfold. The film did well in the festival circuits and won Best of Show for IndieFEST Film Awards and an honorable mention at the Woodstock Film Festival.
23. Blue Sky (1994)
“Blue Sky” opens up a conversation about hypersexuality and bipolar disorder. The wife of a US Army major played by Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones respectively, battles with these issues, and Jones’ character Major Hank Marshall, has to figure out how to deal with her and the demands of a top-secret nuclear testing. Carly, Lange’s character, experiences heightened sexuality during manic episodes and she models her appearance after Marilyn Monroe.
24. Vincent & Theo (1990)
Watching a loved one suffer from bipolar disorder is no easy task, but helping them through the ebbs and flows of mania and depression is a hero’s journey. Vincent van Gogh’s brother Theodore supported him throughout his travels and art creation while being there for him through his bipolar disorder. “Vincent & Theo” showcases the dynamic between the brothers and the shared difficulties each brother faced in their battles with life. The biographical drama film stars Tim Roth and Paul Rhys. In addition to a film, the story was made into a four-hour mini-series for television.
25. The Informant! (2009)
What happens when the narrator has a mental illness? The storyline shifts and the plot thickens as viewers try to parse reality from mania. In the biographical-crime comedy “The Informant!,” Matt Damon’s character, Mark Whitacre is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Despite his suffering, he takes on the task of squealing on his company’s questionable price-fixing “strategies.” He is asked to wear a wire and the pressure becomes too much, exacerbating his bipolar disorder symptoms.
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Awareness
It takes skilled actors and filmmakers to portray mental health issues like bipolar disorder accurately and sensitively. While every movie is not a home run to the various experiences of individuals suffering from the disorder, movies can be both beneficial and limiting in portraying mental health issues. The benefit exists in shedding light on a disorder that others may want to know more about and breeding empathy with the idea of how someone with the disorder may suffer. The limitation is that film is a creative medium where creative liberties are taken and this does not always make for the most accurate portrayals.
When to Seek Help & Support for Bipolar Disorder
If you suspect that you or someone you know has bipolar disorder, the good news is there is help waiting. These movies can be great resources, along with books about bipolar disorder – but they’re not a replacement for professional help – research the best online therapy options and use an online therapist directory for when you’re ready to take the next step toward getting help.
Additional Resources
Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.
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Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.
Movies About Bipolar Infographics
