Movies About Stress

From Damien Chazelle, starring Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Whiplash is a 2014 drama film directed by Damien Chazelle. It follows the story of Andrew Neiman, an aspiring jazz drummer who enrolls at a prestigious music conservatory and finds himself under the tutelage of a demanding instructor, Terence Fletcher. Andrew soon finds himself pushing himself to his limits to prove himself in the pursuit of excellence. As the stakes become higher and the pressure increases, Andrew must decide how far he is willing to go in order to prove his worth. In the end, Andrew learns that the true measure of success is not perfection, but surpassing his own limits and becoming the best version of himself.

From Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG-13

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 biographical drama film directed by Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe as John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film is based on the real-life story of John Nash's struggles with schizophrenia, and his recovery and Nobel Prize. The film follows the journey of Nash's mind, from the brilliant beginnings of his academic career, to the depths of his mental illness, and finally, to his redemption and recovery. Along the way, Nash learns to trust and accept the support of his wife Alicia (played by Jennifer Connelly) and his friends and family. Nash is eventually able to overcome his illness and make significant contributions to economics and mathematics. A Beautiful Mind is a touching and inspiring story of a man's courage and determination to overcome mental illness and find success.

From Directors: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan
Rated R

Everything Everywhere All at Once is a 2022 film directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The story follows Astrid, a quirky teenager who discovers she has the power to travel through time. With her newfound abilities, Astrid embarks on an epic journey to fix the past, present, and future. Along the way, she learns valuable lessons about the power of friendship and love, as well as what it means to be true to herself. With the help of her friends, Astrid learns to embrace the chaos of the world and ultimately realizes that “everything is connected, everywhere, all at once”.

From Spike Jonze, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara
Rated R

Her is a science fiction romantic drama directed by Spike Jonze, and stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore, a lonely writer who develops a relationship with an advanced artificially intelligent operating system. Theodore finds himself strangely drawn to the AI, which is represented by an enigmatic female voice. As their relationship deepens, Theodore begins to question the nature of love and the boundaries of the human heart. Through his journey with the AI, Theodore discovers how technology can both enhance and complicate human relationships. Ultimately, Theodore is forced to make difficult choices that will profoundly affect his life, as well as his relationship with the AI.

From Tarsem Singh, starring Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell, Kim Uylenbroek
Rated R

The Fall is a 2006 fantasy-drama film directed by Tarsem Singh. The film follows an elderly silent movie stuntman (Lee Pace) who is hospitalized and bedridden due to a serious injury. He befriends a feisty young girl (Catinca Untaru) who is also a patient in the hospital, and the two enter a fantasy world of his creation, as he tells her a fantastical story to keep her entertained. As they explore his elaborate tale, they come to understand how the story reflects the real life struggles and joys of those around them. The film combines elements of adventure, romance, and magical realism to explore themes of love, loss, and the power of imagination.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez, Lari White
Rated PG-13

Cast Away is a 2000 American drama-adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as a FedEx employee stranded on a desert island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific. The film depicts his struggles to survive and return home while being isolated and alone. Hanks’s portrayal of the character’s physical and emotional journey has been acclaimed, and the film was a box office success. The story follows the life of Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a time-obsessed systems engineer for FedEx, who is in a committed relationship with his fiancée Kelly (Helen Hunt). On Christmas Eve, Chuck is assigned to an urgent mission in Malaysia and must leave immediately. His plane crashes over the ocean, leaving him as the only survivor. He finds himself isolated on an uninhabited island, with no tools or food. Over the years, he learns to survive, builds a makeshift raft, and eventually finds his way home. Along the way, he discovers his inner strength and learns to live in the moment.

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

Silver Linings Playbook is a 2012 romantic comedy-drama film directed by David O. Russell and starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver. The film follows Pat Solitano Jr., a former teacher diagnosed with bipolar disorder, who moves back in with his parents after a stint in a mental institution. While trying to reconcile with his ex-wife, Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with a troubled past. As their relationship deepens, Pat and Tiffany embark on a challenging journey to find love and healing. Along the way, they discover that, despite their psychological issues, they may be each other’s silver lining.

From Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke, Trevor Jack Brooks, Lorelei Linklater, Wiley Wiggins
Rated R

Waking Life is a 2001 rotoscoped exploration of the boundaries between dreams and reality. The protagonist, a young man played by Wiley Wiggins, moves from one dreamlike conversation to another, exploring topics such as metaphysics, free will, existentialism, and the meaning of life. As he talks to various people he meets, he gradually discovers that he may actually be dreaming, and he wonders if reality is actually a dream, or if there is a deeper meaning to life. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters, including a man who believes you can shape your own destiny, a woman who says that life is like an endless dream, and a group of students who discuss the nature of reality. Ultimately, the film poses more questions than it answers, and leaves the viewer to ponder the nature of life and reality.

From Mark Osborne, starring Jeff Bridges, Mackenzie Foy, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard
Rated PG

The Little Prince is a 2015 animated film directed by Mark Osborne. Based on the 1943 book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the film tells the story of a daughter and her overprotective mother as they move to a new home in the city. When the little girl discovers an extraordinary secret hidden in the walls of her new home, she embarks on a journey of discovery that takes her to the remote and mysterious planet of the Little Prince. Through a series of adventures, the girl and the Little Prince learn valuable lessons about the complexity of life, love and friendship.

From James L. Brooks, starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Rated PG-13

As Good as It Gets is a 1997 romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks, starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear. The plot centers around Melvin Udall (Nicholson) a misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive novelist who, after encountering his waitress neighbor Carol (Hunt), begins to re-examine his life and come to terms with his numerous personal issues. Through their interactions, Melvin begins to understand that there is more to life than his own selfish desires, and he is ultimately able to confront his past and develop new relationships. Along the way, he learns lessons in friendship, sacrifice, and love.

From Ignacio Ferreras, starring Tacho González, Álvaro Guevara, Mabel Rivera, Raúl Dans
Rated Not Rated

Wrinkles (2011) is a Spanish animated drama directed by Ignacio Ferreras. The film follows the story of Emilio, an elderly man with Alzheimer's who moves into a nursing home against his will. At the nursing home, Emilio meets Miguel, another elderly man with a zest for life, who helps Emilio to find joy in his new surroundings. Together they form an unlikely friendship, with Emilio teaching Miguel how to draw and Miguel helping Emilio to face his fears and frustrations. As they grow closer, Emilio and Miguel help each other cope with the loneliness, alienation and sadness of growing old. The film provides a heart-warming commentary on the struggles of aging and the importance of companionship in old age.

From Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson, starring Jack Black, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman
Rated PG

Kung Fu Panda is an animated action-comedy film from 2008 that centers around a clumsy panda named Po, who dreams of becoming a master of kung fu. Po is chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save the Valley of Peace from a villainous snow leopard, Tai Lung. With the help of Master Shifu and the Furious Five - Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper, and Monkey - Po must learn the ways of kung fu and use his newfound skills to defeat Tai Lung and restore harmony to the valley. Along the way, Po learns valuable lessons about self-confidence and friendship.

From Jeff Malmberg, starring Mark Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Edda Hogancamp, Tom Neubauer
Rated Not Rated

Marwencol is a documentary film about Mark Hogancamp, a man who, after being severely beaten and left for dead, builds a miniature WWII-era town in his backyard as a way to cope with the trauma of his attack. Through the use of interviews with Hogancamp and his friends, as well as animations and reenactments, filmmaker Jeff Malmberg tells the story of how Hogancamp's hobby of creating his own fantasy world helps him to heal. As the film progresses, Hogancamp gains more recognition for his art and has to decide whether or not to leave his safe haven of Marwencol and face the world again. The film ultimately celebrates Hogancamp's resilience and determination to overcome the traumatic events of his past.

From Alê Abreu, starring Vinicius Garcia, Marco Aurélio Campos, Lu Horta, Felipe Zilse
Rated PG

The Boy and the World is a Brazilian animated feature film directed by Alê Abreu about a boy's journey to find his father. The story follows a young boy's adventure as he leaves his rural village in search of his father, who had gone to the city to find work. Along the way, the boy encounters a variety of characters and situations that reveal the harsh realities of economic inequality, environmental destruction, and the powerful forces of globalization. The film is an ode to the power of imagination and the strength of family bonds, and is a celebration of the beautiful and diverse cultures of Brazil. The film has received numerous awards and nominations, including the Annecy Cristal Award for Best Feature Film at the 2014 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

From Directors: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard, starring Nick Cave, Susie Bick, Warren Ellis, Darian Leader
Rated Not Rated

From John Carroll Lynch, starring Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch, Ron Livingston, Ed Begley Jr.
Rated Not Rated

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

From Ben Lewin, starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgood
Rated R

From Directors: Sam Cullman, Jennifer Grausman, Mark Becker, starring Mark A. Landis, Lester Sullivan, Irwin Lakov, Matthew Leininger
Rated Not Rated

From Trey Edward Shults, starring Krisha Fairchild, Alex Dobrenko, Robyn Fairchild, Chris Doubek
Rated R

From Judd Apatow, starring Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco
Rated R

From Shane Black, starring Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, starring Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Dana DeVestern
Rated PG-13

From Frank Oz, starring Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo
Rated PG

From Directors: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin, starring Rosamund Pike, David Tennant, Billy Connolly, Ben Miller
Rated PG-13