Movies About Psychotherapy

Updated April 1, 2024

Multiple creators have talked about Movies About Psychotherapy. We assembled 20 of the best ones.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

★★★★

3.5 out of 4 stars

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 and starring Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Will Sampson. The film tells the story of a criminal named Randle McMurphy who is sent to a mental institution for evaluation and treatment. Once there, McMurphy meets the authoritarian Nurse Ratched and attempts to challenge her oppressive rule over the patients. In the process, McMurphy encourages his fellow inmates to stand up for themselves, inspiring them to take charge of their lives in the face of powerlessness and adversity. The film was a critical and commercial success and was the first to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay). It remains one of the most acclaimed films of all time.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From Gus Van Sant, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams. The film follows Will Hunting, a mathematical genius from South Boston who is struggling to find his place in the world. Will is an orphan who works as a janitor at MIT and spends his free time drinking with his best friends. After being falsely accused of assaulting a police officer, Will is sentenced to therapy sessions with a renowned psychologist, Sean Maguire (Williams). Through their sessions, Sean is able to draw out Will’s hidden potential and help him to discover his life’s true purpose. Along the way, Will falls in love with a college student named Skylar, played by Minnie Driver. With the help of Sean, Will is able to overcome his past, find a sense of direction and pursue a promising future. Good Will Hunting is an uplifting story of hope, redemption and finding one’s true place in the world.

Into the Wild (2007)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Sean Penn, starring Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden
Rated R

Into the Wild is a 2007 American biographical drama film written and directed by Sean Penn. The movie is based on the life of Christopher McCandless, a man who hiked alone into the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s. The movie follows McCandless' journey as he abandons his possessions, gives his entire savings to charity, and sets out on a cross-country journey to find himself. Along the way, he meets a variety of people, including a free-spirited hippie, a free-spirited modern-day adventurer, and a sympathetic elderly couple with whom he lives for a time. As his journey progresses, McCandless begins to struggle with the harsh wilderness and his own sense of mortality. The film explores themes of self-discovery, freedom, and the struggle for understanding and ultimately, redemption. Through the story of McCandless' journey, the film conveys the message that life is too precious to be wasted on the pursuit of material possessions, and that real joy comes from the pursuit of meaningful experiences.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Kim Ki-duk, starring Kim Ki-duk, Oh Yeong-su, Jong-ho Kim, Kim Young-min
Rated R

"Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring" is a 2003 South Korean film by director Kim Ki-duk. The film follows the life of a Buddhist monk, who is seen at different points in his life over the course of five seasons. The film begins in spring, showing the monk as a young boy living with his master in a wooden monastery floating on a lake in the woods. He learns about the principles of Buddhism as well as the cycle of life. As he progresses through the seasons, he experiences various hardships — from love and loss to temptation and anger. In the end, he comes to terms with his past, and is shown to be still living in the wooden monastery, now elderly and wise. The film portrays the beauty of nature and the importance of Buddhist teachings in an introspective and deeply moving way.

Harold and Maude (1971)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Hal Ashby, starring Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack
Rated PG

Harold and Maude is a 1971 black comedy film directed by Hal Ashby and starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort. The story revolves around the unlikely romance between Harold, a 20-year-old man who is obsessed with death, and Maude, a 79-year-old eccentric woman who is full of life. After meeting at a funeral, the two unlikely friends embark on a series of adventures together, which includes stealing cars, attending parties, and ultimately falling in love. Despite their age difference, the two develop a close bond as Harold learns to appreciate life from Maude and she teaches him to embrace the beauty in death.

Awakenings (1990)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Penny Marshall, starring Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson
Rated PG-13

Awakenings is a 1990 American drama film directed by Penny Marshall, starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. It is based on Oliver Sacks' 1973 memoir of the same name about a group of patients who were awakened from catatonia after being given the then-new drug L-Dopa. The patients, all of whom had been victims of the encephalitis lethargica epidemic that struck much of the world in the 1920s and 1930s, were living lives that were suspended in time, unable to move or respond to stimulus. When Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Williams) administers the drug to the patients, their dormant minds and bodies are reawakened, allowing them to experience life for the first time in decades. Dr. Sayer's success with his patients brings him renown, but it also creates difficult ethical and moral dilemmas as he struggles to balance his professional duty with his desire to help the patients experience the joys of life. The film is ultimately a story of hope, that of the human spirit to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Ordinary People (1980)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

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

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film directed by Robert Redford and starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. The film tells the story of a troubled teenager, Conrad Jarrett (Hutton), who struggles to come to terms with the death of his older brother in a boating accident. His parents, Calvin (Sutherland) and Beth (Moore), struggle to cope with their grief, leading to a strained family dynamic. Through Conrad's interactions with his psychiatrist, Dr. Berger (Hirsch), he learns to accept the death of his brother and move on with his life. The film explores themes of guilt, grief, and family dysfunction, and examines how these topics can impact an individual's mental health.

Shine (1996)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Scott Hicks, starring Geoffrey Rush, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd
Rated PG-13

Shine is a biographical drama film about the life of Australian pianist and composer, David Helfgott. It follows David's journey from a troubled childhood to international fame as an acclaimed concert pianist. It dramatizes his struggles with mental illness, his difficult relationship with his demanding father, and his recovery and triumphant return to the concert stage. The film stars Geoffrey Rush as David, Armin Mueller-Stahl as his father, and Noah Taylor as his childhood friend. Through its themes of resilience and redemption, Shine resonates with audiences worldwide.

Face to Face (1976)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Liv Ullmann, Erland Josephson, Aino Taube, Gunnar Björnstrand
Rated R

"Face to Face" is a 1976 psychological drama directed by Ingmar Bergman. The film follows Dr. Jenny Isaksson (Liv Ullmann), a successful psychiatrist who is struggling with her own mental health issues. After a series of breakdowns, she decides to take a break from work and return to the countryside of her youth. While there, she meets a local farmer, Tobias, and the two form a bond. As the two grow closer, Jenny is forced to confront her past, her present, and her own inner demons. Through the film, Bergman examines the difficulty of finding peace within one's own mind, and provides a powerful exploration of the human condition.