Movies About Alcohol

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
Rated R

Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 psychological drama directed by Darren Aronofsky. The movie follows the lives of four individuals, Harry Goldfarb, his mother Sara Goldfarb, his girlfriend Marion Silver, and his best friend Tyrone Love, as they all struggle with drug addiction and its consequences. Harry and Tyrone both develop a plan to make money selling drugs, while Sara becomes hooked on diet pills in an attempt to be accepted for a game show appearance. Marion's addiction leads to her involvement in prostitution. All four of them experience shattered dreams and struggle to survive with the consequences of their addictions. The film is a powerful and moving exploration of addiction, with each character's story adding to the overall impact of the film.

From Danny Boyle, starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd
Rated R

Trainspotting is a 1996 British black comedy drama film directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald. The film follows the lives of a group of heroin addicts in an economically depressed area of Edinburgh, Scotland and their passage through life. It largely focuses on the friendship between Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, Tommy, and Begbie, as they navigate their way through the world of drug addiction and its associated problems. The film also examines the effects of addiction on their relationships with family and friends, and their eventual attempts to break away from their destructive lifestyle. The film highlights the frustrations and joys of daily life and the harsh realities of drug addiction, as well as the beauty of the city of Edinburgh.

From Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson
Rated Passed

Rio Bravo is a 1959 American Western film directed by Howard Hawks. The story follows Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) and his small-town deputies, who must protect a dangerous prisoner from a powerful local rancher, Nathan Burdette (Claude Akins), who wants the prisoner released. With the help of an old friend, Dude (Dean Martin), a gambler and an alcoholic, they fight to keep the prisoner safe as Burdette's hired guns try to break him out. Along the way, they also face issues of jealousy and romance as Chance is forced to choose between his loyalty to his old friend and his duty as a lawman. Along with Wayne and Martin, the film also stars Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, and Walter Brennan, and features a memorable musical performance from Walter Brennan. It is considered a classic of the Western genre, praised for its complex characters and witty dialogue.

From Mike Nichols, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis
Rated Not Rated

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a 1966 American drama film directed by Mike Nichols and starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The film follows a middle-aged couple, Martha and George, who invite a young couple, Nick and Honey, to their home for a night of intellectual and sexual games. Martha and George's relationship is quickly revealed to be one of a toxic power struggle, and soon the entire evening spirals out of control. The film paints a darkly humorous and honest portrait of relationships and the secrets that often lie underneath them. The film won five Academy Awards and was nominated for another five.

From Richard Brooks, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, Jack Carson
Rated Not Rated

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof follows the story of the Pollitt family in the Mississippi Delta. Brick (Paul Newman) is a former football player who has given up on life, and his wife Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) is determined to rekindle her love for him. Meanwhile, their wealthy father Big Daddy (Burl Ives) is unaware that his health is failing, and his opportunistic family is plotting to get their hands on his money. Brick and Maggie must come to terms with their relationship and their past in order to face the future and the truth about Big Daddy's health.

From Bruce Robinson, starring Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths, Ralph Brown
Rated R

Withnail & I is a British comedy directed by Bruce Robinson. It follows two unemployed actors, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and “I” (Paul McGann), living in a decrepit flat in Camden Town, London in 1969. After a series of misadventures, the pair take a holiday to the countryside in an attempt to escape their increasingly dire circumstances. During their stay, they get involved in a series of outlandish situations, including a failed attempt to purchase illegal substances from a farmer, drunken antics, and a run-in with Withnail's eccentric uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths). Withnail & I is a dark comedy of errors that paints a vivid picture of life in late 60's London and the lasting friendship between Withnail and “I”.

From Steven Soderbergh, starring Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jacob Vargas
Rated R

"Traffic" is a 2000 crime drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film follows the lives of several characters from different backgrounds who are all intertwined in the illegal drug trade. It examines the complex issues surrounding the war on drugs, showing the struggles of those on both sides of the conflict and the devastating effects it has on the individuals involved. The story follows a Mexican policeman, a newly-appointed U.S. drug czar, and a wealthy drug kingpin’s wife. The film was praised and won many awards, including four Academy Awards.

From Joachim Trier, starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Hans Olav Brenner, Ingrid Olava, Malin Crépin
Rated Not Rated

Oslo, August 31st is a bittersweet drama about Anders, a recovering drug addict and former writer, who is struggling to find his place in the world. After a long period of sobriety, Anders decides to leave his rehabilitation center and spend a day in Oslo, reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances. As the day progresses, Anders discovers that while life may have passed him by, he still has feelings and desires. He is forced to confront the consequences of his past, and his future, while trying to make peace with himself. Ultimately, Anders must decide whether he is able to break free from his destructive behaviors and find a new path in life.

From Ted Kotcheff, starring Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond, Chips Rafferty, Sylvia Kay
Rated R

Wake in Fright is an Australian classic directed by Ted Kotcheff in 1971. Set in a small town in outback Australia, the film follows John Grant, a schoolteacher who finds himself stranded in the town with no way of leaving. When he discovers the town's rough and drunken inhabitants, he suddenly finds himself in a situation that he was not expecting. With the help of a wild outcast, he is slowly drawn into the locals' life of drinking, gambling, and violence. As his sanity slowly unravels, Grant must confront his own internal demons in order to make it out of the town alive. The film is an intense and unsettling exploration of man's relationship with nature, and the dark underbelly of small town life.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Michael Lee Gogin
Rated R

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American dark comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. The film is based on Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name, which is a semi-autobiographical account of Thompson's experiences in Las Vegas during the 1970s. The story follows Thompson and his attorney Dr. Gonzo, as they travel to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race for a magazine and a district attorney's convention on drug abuse. Along the way, they become embroiled in a number of absurd adventures, including drug-induced hallucinations, run-ins with police, and a search for the American Dream. The film's visual style, combined with its surreal, drug-fueled plot, has resulted in it becoming a cult classic.

From Mike Figgis, starring Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis
Rated R

Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 romantic drama directed by Mike Figgis. The film follows Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage), an alcoholic screenwriter who has been fired from his job and decides to move to Las Vegas with the aim of drinking himself to death. There he meets and falls in love with a prostitute named Sera (Elisabeth Shue), who is struggling to make ends meet and deals with the dangerous and sometimes violent customers she meets. As Ben’s drinking continues to spiral out of control, he and Sera grow closer and attempt to find a way to make their relationship work despite their differences. In the end, they are able to find solace in each other, and Ben is able to face his death with a newfound sense of peace.

From Bruce Beresford, starring Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley, Wilford Brimley
Rated PG

From Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, starring Émilie Dequenne, Fabrizio Rongione, Anne Yernaux, Olivier Gourmet
Rated R

From Otto Preminger, starring Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Eleanor Parker, Arnold Stang
Rated Passed

From Vincente Minnelli, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, Martha Hyer
Rated Approved

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez, Don Cheadle, John Goodman
Rated R

From Felix van Groeningen, starring Kenneth Vanbaeden, Valentijn Dhaenens, Koen De Graeve, Wouter Hendrickx
Rated Not Rated

From Gus Van Sant, starring Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros, Heather Graham
Rated R

From John Frankenheimer, starring Lee Marvin, Fredric March, Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges
Rated PG

From Josh Mond, starring Christopher Abbott, Cynthia Nixon, Kid Cudi, Ron Livingston
Rated R

From Steve Buscemi, starring Steve Buscemi, Carol Kane, Mark Boone Junior, Bronson Dudley
Rated R

From Barbet Schroeder, starring Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige, Jack Nance
Rated R

From Abel Ferrara, starring Harvey Keitel, Brian McElroy, Frank Acciarito, Peggy Gormley
Rated NC-17

From Ken Loach, starring Paul Brannigan, John Henshaw, Roger Allam, Gary Maitland
Rated R

From Sean Penn, starring David Morse, Viggo Mortensen, Valeria Golino, Patricia Arquette
Rated R