Movies About Phobias

From Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies
Rated PG

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is an action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, an archaeologist and adventurer who is tasked with recovering the ancient and powerful artifact, the Ark of the Covenant, before it falls into the hands of the Nazis. Along his journey, Jones must overcome booby-trapped tombs, a dangerous occult society, and a rival archaeologist. With the help of his former love interest, Marion Ravenwood, and his sidekick, Sallah, Jones must retrieve the Ark and save the world from its ancient power.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore
Rated PG

Vertigo is the story of a former police detective (Scottie Ferguson) suffering from vertigo, a fear of heights. He is hired by an old college friend to spy on his wife, Madeleine, who appears to be possessed by the spirit of a dead ancestor. Scottie falls in love with her, but when she tragically dies, his vertigo prevents him from rescuing her. Later, Scottie meets a shopgirl who reminds him of Madeleine and he becomes obsessed with making her into a replica of his lost love. As his obsession deepens, so do the dangerous consequences. In the end, the truth of the haunting is revealed and Scottie is forced to confront his inner demons.

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

Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 film directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans. It tells the story of four characters from Brooklyn, New York, whose lives intersect in tragic ways. Harry Goldfarb (Leto) and his girlfriend Marion Silver (Connelly) are drug addicts who want to use their dreams of success to escape their impoverished reality. Harry’s mother, Sara Goldfarb (Burstyn), is a lonely widow who has become obsessed with appearing on a television game show. Tyrone C. Love (Wayans) is a friend of Harry’s who is also a drug dealer. As their lives spiral out of control, their dreams become a nightmare, leading to homelessness, imprisonment, and even death. Requiem for a Dream is a bleak and uncompromising look at the effects of drug abuse and the pitfalls of dreaming too big.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe
Rated Not Rated

The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish film by director Ingmar Bergman that tells the story of a knight, Antonius Block, and his squire, Jöns, who have recently returned home from a decade-long battle in the Crusades. As they journey home they come across Death personified, who requests to play a game of chess with Block. If Block wins, he will be allowed to go free, however if he loses he must go with Death. The game of chess becomes a symbol of the ongoing struggle between faith and despair as Block and Jöns search for the meaning of life in a seemingly godless world. Along the way, they encounter a group of traveling players, who are searching for meaning in their own lives, and a young family, who provide Block and Jöns with an alternative perspective on life. Ultimately, Block's faith is tested and he is forced to come to terms with his own mortality.

From Paul Greengrass, starring David Alan Basche, Olivia Thirlby, Liza Colón-Zayas, J.J. Johnson
Rated R

“United 93” is a 2006 film directed by Paul Greengrass about the events of September 11, 2001. The movie is told from the perspective of those involved in the real-life events on United Airlines Flight 93. The film follows the passengers and crew of the flight from take-off to the attempts to take back control of the plane from the hijackers. The story culminates in the crash of the plane in a rural area in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The film is a tribute to the courage of the passengers and crew and the events that took place that fateful day.

From Dario Argento, starring David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia, Macha Méril
Rated R

Deep Red is a 1975 horror-thriller directed by Dario Argento. The film follows the story of a jazz musician, Marcus Daly (David Hemmings), who witnesses a brutal murder. In an effort to track down the killer, Marcus teams up with a tenacious reporter, Gianna Brezzi (Daria Nicolodi), and together they set out to solve the case. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that the murderer is not who they expected it to be and the true identity of the killer will remain a mystery until the end. Along the way, the pair uncovers dark secrets that have been hidden away for decades and they come face to face with a supernatural force that may be responsible for the crime. As the suspense builds, Marcus and Gianna must use their wits to stay alive and uncover the truth.

From Denzel Washington, starring Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker
Rated PG-13

The Great Debaters is a 2007 American drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. The movie tells the uplifting story of a small African-American college's debate team, which wins a national championship in 1935. Led by professor Melvin Tolson (Washington), the team must overcome personal and political struggles in order to make it to the competition. Along the way, Tolson teaches his students the power of education and the importance of standing up for what is right. The film also stars Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker and Jurnee Smollett. Through his inspiring leadership, Tolson's students gain confidence and learn to use the power of words to fight for justice in a time of racial prejudice and inequality.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly
Rated PG-13

The Aviator is a biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, a wealthy industrialist and aviator. The film focuses on the life of Howard Hughes from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s, during which Hughes was a major figure in the aviation industry and Hollywood. Hughes was a brave and innovative businessman, but he is also portrayed as being driven to the brink of madness by his obsessive-compulsive disorder. The film portrays Hughes’ rise and fall of his aviation empire and explores the personal struggles he faced due to his mental illness. The film also follows Hughes’ complicated relationships with the women in his life, including the actress Katharine Hepburn and the heiress Ava Gardner. The Aviator was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, of which it won five.

From David Twohy, starring Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Vin Diesel, Keith David
Rated R

From Rodrigo Cortés, starring Ryan Reynolds, José Luis García-Pérez, Robert Paterson, Stephen Tobolowsky
Rated R

From Tom Holland, starring Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif
Rated R

From Jon Amiel, starring Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney, William McNamara
Rated R

From Frank Marshall, starring Jeff Daniels, Julian Sands, John Goodman, Harley Jane Kozak
Rated PG-13

From Lewis Teague, starring Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Danny Pintauro, Christopher Stone
Rated R