Best Movies About Mental Health

From David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier
Rated R

Fight Club is a 1999 film directed by David Fincher and based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film stars Edward Norton as an unnamed narrator and Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden, an enigmatic figure who helps the narrator set up an underground fight club. The movie follows a disillusioned insomniac office worker as he is pulled into a mysterious support group, which he comes to realize is a fight club. Along the way, he and Tyler form a close bond and together they start a subversive, violent movement against the consumerist society that keeps them trapped in a cycle of meaningless work and material possessions. In the process, they also become enemies of the existing system and find themselves on the run from the police and the FBI. Fight Club is a dark and thought-provoking exploration of consumerism and masculinity, as well as a scathing critique of modern day capitalism.

From Milos Forman, starring Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Michael Berryman, Peter Brocco
Rated R

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American drama film directed by Milos Forman, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. The film stars Jack Nicholson as Randle Patrick McMurphy, a rebellious inmate at a mental institution who rallies the other patients to take control of their own destinies. The film also stars Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Brad Dourif, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and Will Sampson. The film follows McMurphy's struggle against Nurse Ratched, the oppressive head nurse of the institution. McMurphy's rebellious spirit and refusal to conform to the rules of the institution leads him into direct conflict with Ratched, as well as the institution's strict rules and regulations. In the end, McMurphy and the other patients are able to successfully resist the oppressive environment of the institution and gain their freedom.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Rated R

Psycho is a 1960 classic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and based on the novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. It stars Anthony Perkins as the disturbed Norman Bates, and Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, an unsuspecting office worker who steals money from her employer and attempts to flee town. After stopping for the night at the eerie Bates Motel, Marion is murdered in the shower by an unknown assailant. The film follows the investigation of Marion's disappearance and the police's attempts to find her killer. Norman's dark past is gradually revealed, and it becomes clear that he is harboring a disturbed, homicidal alter-ego, his mother. The film culminates in a climactic showdown between Norman and his mother's ghost, in which he finally comes to terms with his own madness. Psycho has become an iconic film of the horror genre and is widely regarded as one of the best films of all time. Its influence can be seen in countless films and television shows since its release, and it continues to remain popular to this day.

From Sam Mendes, starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley
Rated R

American Beauty follows the story of the Burnhams, an upper middle-class family living in suburban America. Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), a middle-aged magazine executive, is in a loveless marriage with Carolyn (Annette Bening), a real estate broker more focused on success and material possessions. Meanwhile, their teenage daughter, Jane (Thora Birch), struggles with her own identity and sexuality. When Lester develops an unexpected infatuation with Angela (Mena Suvari), one of Jane's friends, he decides to make a drastic change in his life, in an effort to find happiness. With the help of his newfound friend, Ricky (Wes Bentley), Lester begins to shed his old pretenses and find his true self, ultimately leading to a life-changing climax.

From Asghar Farhadi, starring Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini
Rated PG-13

A Separation tells the story of an Iranian couple, Simin and Nader, who have reached a breaking point in their marriage. Simin wants to leave Iran for a better life abroad, but Nader refuses to leave his elderly father behind. When Simin moves out, Nader hires Razieh, a young religious woman, to care for his father when he is away. Tensions quickly escalate when Razieh's husband, a hot-tempered man, discovers her employment and accuses Nader of a crime he did not commit. As their lives intersect in unexpected ways, the film explores the complexities of Iranian society and the moral ambiguities of modern life. With powerful performances, A Separation is a gripping story of hope, sorrow and understanding.

From Barry Levinson, starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, Gerald R. Molen
Rated R

Rain Man is a 1988 American drama film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. It tells the story of Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), a selfish yuppie who discovers that his estranged father has died and left all of his fortune to Raymond (Hoffman), his older brother whom Charlie never knew existed. As Charlie embarks on a journey to get to know his brother, he discovers Raymond is an autistic savant with incredible abilities. This leads to a life-altering bond between them. Together, they go on a cross-country journey, meeting new people and learning to accept each other despite their differences. Rain Man ultimately earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Hoffman).

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Rated R

Black Swan is a 2010 psychological horror-thriller film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman. The story follows a female ballet dancer, Nina Sayers (Portman), who pushes herself to the brink of perfection as she strives for the lead role in a production of Swan Lake. As she prepares for the role of the Swan Queen, Nina's obsessive quest for perfection leads to a dark transformation, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. In the process, Nina's body and mind begin to succumb to the pressure and her fears manifest in dangerous and sometimes violent ways. The film explores the dark side of ambition and artistry, as Nina battles her own inner demons in a desperate search for perfection.

From Elia Kazan, starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden
Rated PG

A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1951 American drama film directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Karl Malden, and Kim Hunter. The film is based on the 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. The story follows the clash between a fading Southern belle, Blanche Dubois, and her brutish brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. Blanche is an aging Southern belle who has been forced to leave her home in Mississippi. She comes to live with her sister, Stella, and her brother-in-law in a run-down tenement in New Orleans. Stanley is a hot-tempered and brutish man who is immediately suspicious of Blanche. Blanche's attempts at refinement and gentility are met with disdain from Stanley and his friends. As the tensions between Blanche and Stanley escalate, they reach a breaking point and Blanche is eventually committed to a mental institution.

From Rob Reiner, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen
Rated R

Misery is a 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. Directed by Rob Reiner, the psychological thriller stars James Caan as Paul Sheldon, a novelist who is rescued from a car crash by an obsessed fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). She takes him to her remote mountain home and holds him captive as she forces him to write a novel tailored to her own specifications. As time passes, Sheldon realizes that he must find a way to escape from his captor before she takes her obsession too far. The film was critically acclaimed upon release and Bates won an Academy Award for her performance as Wilkes.

From Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton
Rated R

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film that tells the story of the Jarrett family, whose lives are thrown into turmoil when their eldest son, Buck, dies in a boating accident. The family must try to come to terms with the loss, while also dealing with the long-held resentments and emotional issues that were hidden below the surface of their seemingly perfect life. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. It was directed by Robert Redford, who also won the Academy Award for Best Director. The film follows Conrad Jarrett, the youngest son of Calvin and Beth Jarrett, as he struggles to recover from the sudden death of his brother, Buck. With the help of a psychiatrist, Conrad works to reconcile his guilt and grief and come to terms with his family's dysfunction. Through his journey, he learns the importance of communication and understanding in the face of loss and tragedy.

From Lasse Hallström, starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen
Rated PG-13

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 drama directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film follows Gilbert Grape (Depp), a young man living in the fictional town of Endora, Iowa. Gilbert lives with his mother (Darlene Cates) and two brothers, Arnie (DiCaprio) and Ellen (Mary Steenburgen). His father has recently passed away and his mother has become a recluse, leaving Gilbert to take care of Arnie and Ellen as best he can. The film follows Gilbert's struggles as he navigates his family's dysfunction, his job at a local grocery store, and his first love, Becky (Lewis). Gilbert finds solace in his friendship with a mysterious drifter, Tucker (John C. Reilly). As Gilbert's life begins to unravel, he finds strength in the love of his family, and the courage to move forward.

From Brad Anderson, starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian
Rated R

The Machinist is a psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson and starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh and John Sharian. The film follows Trevor Reznik, a factory worker who has not slept in a year. He is wracked with guilt over an accident at his workplace and is slowly losing his grip on reality. His only solace is a friendship with a prostitute, Stevie. As the story progresses, Trevor's mental state deteriorates further as he attempts to uncover the mystery behind the gruesome nightmares that haunt him. His journey leads him to confront his past and the choices that have brought him to this place in his life. Ultimately, he must confront the truth and accept his actions and their consequences.

From David O. Russell, starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver
Rated R

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by David O. Russell and starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. The film follows Pat Solitano, Jr., a former teacher who moves back in with his parents after spending eight months in a mental institution. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his estranged wife. Through his parents, Pat meets Tiffany Maxwell, a troubled young widow with problems of her own. Tiffany offers to help Pat get his wife back if he enters a dance competition with her. As they train together, Pat and Tiffany explore the complexities of their past relationships and find solace and joy in each other's company. Despite the odds, they dance their way to a new beginning and find themselves in the heartwarming journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

From Mary Harron, starring Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage
Rated R

American Psycho is a 2000 black comedy-horror film directed by Mary Harron and based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. The film stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and narcissistic Wall Street executive who pursues a secret life as a serial killer. Despite his outwardly successful career, Patrick finds himself consumed by the materialism and superficiality of his life, and begins to take pleasure in killing people, from the homeless to co-workers. The film follows Patrick's descent into madness as he attempts to keep his murderous urges at bay while maintaining an outwardly successful and normal life. The darkly satirical film explores themes of identity, materialism, and cultural nihilism as Patrick struggles to make sense of himself and his world.

From Susanne Bier, starring Ulrich Thomsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Connie Nielsen, Sarah Juel Werner
Rated R

Brothers is a 2004 Danish drama film directed by Susanne Bier and written by Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen. The film tells the story of two brothers: Michael (Ulrich Thomsen), an upstanding, successful career soldier, and Jannik (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), a rebellious, impulsive hothead. When Michael is sent to Afghanistan to serve on a peacekeeping mission, Jannik is left to care for his wife Sarah (Connie Nielsen), and their two daughters. When Michael's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead, Jannik is forced to confront his feelings for Sarah and the two form a romantic bond. When Michael unexpectedly returns, he is a changed man, suffering from amnesia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The film follows the two brothers as they struggle to accept the new reality of their situation, and it ultimately ends on a bittersweet note with Michael content to accept Jannik and Sarah's relationship.

From Lynne Ramsay, starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell
Rated R

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a psychological thriller directed by Lynne Ramsay. Based on the novel by Lionel Shriver, it tells the story of a mother, Eva (Tilda Swinton), struggling to come to terms with the actions of her troubled son, Kevin (Ezra Miller). After a series of increasingly violent acts, Eva is left grappling with her own culpability in her son's actions. With an emotionally-charged and gripping narrative, We Need to Talk About Kevin examines the complex relationship between a mother and her son, and investigates the darker side of humanity.

From Adrian Lyne, starring Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven
Rated R

From Mike Binder, starring Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler
Rated R

From James Mangold, starring Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy
Rated R

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Andrews
Rated R

From Ridley Scott, starring Nicolas Cage, Alison Lohman, Sam Rockwell, Bruce Altman
Rated PG-13

From Craig Gillespie, starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, R.D. Reid
Rated PG-13

From Sofia Coppola, starring Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, James Woods, Kathleen Turner
Rated R

From Goran Dukic, starring Patrick Fugit, Shea Whigham, Tom Waits, Will Arnett
Rated R

From Jeremiah S. Chechik, starring Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore
Rated PG