Movies About Alcoholics

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a suspenseful, psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980. It is based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The story follows Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, who accepts a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated, eerie Overlook Hotel deep in the Colorado Rockies. Jack and his family move into the hotel, but soon find themselves terrorized by supernatural forces. Jack's son, Danny, begins to experience psychic premonitions and other powers, while Jack is driven to madness by the forces inhabiting the hotel. With his family's lives in danger, Danny must battle the forces of evil while Jack battles his own demons to save his family.

From Orson Welles, starring Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Janet Leigh, Joseph Calleia
Rated PG-13

Touch of Evil is a 1958 film noir directed, co-written, and starring Orson Welles. The film follows corrupt Mexican-American police precinct captain Hank Quinlan (Welles) as he investigates the murder of a wealthy Mexican businessman. During his investigation, Quinlan is forced to confront his own prejudices and corruption and eventually ends up in a deadly and morally charged showdown with a young Mexican couple. The film is noted for its use of long, single-take tracking shots and its exploration of moral ambiguity.

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

"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is a 1966 black comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The film follows the tumultuous marriage of George (Burton) and Martha (Taylor), two university faculty members who spend an evening engaged in vicious verbal and sometimes physical abuse of each other and their guests. Through the course of the evening, secrets, lies and illusions are exposed, leading to a climactic, cathartic breakdown that leaves the couple's relationship in ruins. The film is a masterful exploration of the complex dynamics of marriage, as well as a timeless, searing portrait of the psychological pressures of adulthood.

From Blake Edwards, starring Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford, Jack Klugman
Rated Approved

Days of Wine and Roses is a dark romantic drama directed by Blake Edwards, based on the teleplay of the same name by JP Miller. Set in San Francisco, the film follows the descent of Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon) and Kirsten Arnesen (Lee Remick) into alcoholism and the ruins of their marriage. After meeting in a bar and marrying soon after, Joe and Kirsten begin a downward spiral as alcohol takes over their lives. Joe's alcoholism causes him to become a violent, irresponsible husband and father, while Kirsten's alcoholism affects her relationship with her young daughter. After reaching their respective rock bottoms, Joe and Kirsten try to recover and mend their fractured relationship, but can they find the strength to overcome their demons and turn their lives around?

From Directors: Dan Carracino, Kevin Hanlon, starring Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob, Blake J. Evans, Chris Gates
Rated Unrated

Bill W. is a documentary about the life of William Griffith Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The film follows Wilson's life from his childhood in rural Vermont to his time spent as an investment banker on Wall Street, a position he eventually left due to the alcoholism that threatened to take over his life. With the help of Dr. Bob Smith, a doctor in Akron, Ohio, Wilson created the 12-step program and organization that would become Alcoholics Anonymous. The film explores Wilson's personal struggle with alcoholism, his relationships with his family, and his dedication to helping others in their own sobriety. This is a powerful and inspiring story about a man who was able to take a difficult situation and turn it into something that has helped millions of people around the world.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason
Rated R

The Verdict is a 1982 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Paul Newman and Charlotte Rampling. The film follows Frank Galvin (Newman), a down-on-his-luck alcoholic attorney who takes on a medical malpractice case against a prestigious hospital. Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him, Frank is determined to win the case and seeks justice for his client. The film follows his journey to uncover the truth and get the justice his client deserves, ultimately leading to an emotional climax in the courtroom. Along the way, Frank discovers a strength and courage within himself that he never knew he had.

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

Withnail & I is a cult comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Robinson. It follows two unemployed actors, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and Marwood (Paul McGann), as they embark on a weekend getaway to the Lake District in an attempt to escape their mundane lives in London. Once there, they encounter a series of increasingly bizarre characters, and soon find themselves in over their heads as they grapple with their own personal demons. Withnail & I is a timeless classic that examines the absurdity of life with a unique blend of humor and poignancy.

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

Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 romantic drama film directed by Mike Figgis and starring Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. The film follows Ben Sanderson (Cage), an alcoholic screenwriter who has decided to move to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, and Sera (Shue), a compassionate prostitute who forms an unlikely bond with him. As the two spend more time together, they fall in love and Ben makes a pledge to Sera to remain sober for the remainder of their time together. Over the course of the film, the couple faces Ben's alcoholism and his eventual death, as well as Sera's ongoing struggle to make a better life for herself. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning two Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Actor for Cage.

From Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
Rated R

Sideways follows the story of two friends, Miles and Jack, as they take a week-long road trip through California wine country. Miles, a failed novelist and wine connoisseur, intends for the trip to be a final "glorious" hurrah before his friend gets married. Along the way, he and Jack get into a series of misadventures, from awkward encounters with Jack's boisterous ex-fiancee to Miles' increasingly erratic behavior in the face of his feelings for a waitress. Through these experiences, Miles and Jack come to terms with themselves, their friendship, and the paths they have chosen in life.

From Wes Craven, starring Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, John Saxon
Rated R

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

From David Anspaugh, starring Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley
Rated PG

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

From Richard Benjamin, starring Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna
Rated PG

From Scott Cooper, starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, James Keane
Rated R

From Mimi Leder, starring Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment, Helen Hunt, Jay Mohr
Rated PG-13

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

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

From Terry Zwigoff, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, John Ritter
Rated R

From Ed Harris, starring Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Robert Knott, Molly Regan
Rated R

From Erick Zonca, starring Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate del Castillo, Aidan Gould
Rated R

From Steve Gordon, starring Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald
Rated PG

From John Huston, starring Albert Finney, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Andrews, Ignacio López Tarso
Rated R

From Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike
Rated R

From Paul Schrader, starring Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn, Brigid Tierney
Rated R