Netflix Movies About Mental Illness

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Rated PG-13

Forrest Gump is an Academy Award-winning American comedy-drama film starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright and directed by Robert Zemeckis. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film follows the life of a slow-witted but kind-hearted man named Forrest Gump (Hanks). Throughout his life he experiences extraordinary events, making him an unwitting witness to some of the most defining moments of the 20th century. His journey includes military service in Vietnam, football stardom, meeting three U.S. Presidents, fatherhood, and becoming an entrepreneur. Despite his limited intelligence, Forrest is able to find love and friendship with Jenny Curran (Wright). Ultimately, Forrest teaches us that life is much more than what it seems, and that true courage and kindness can transcend any social barriers.

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 Miloš Forman, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. It tells the story of Randle McMurphy, a playful and rebellious criminal who is sent to a mental institution for evaluation. Once there, he clashes with the oppressive Nurse Ratched, and successfully brings some of the other patients out of their shells. His rebellious attitude and antics eventually leads to a dramatic climax that has become a cinema classic. The film stars Jack Nicholson as McMurphy, Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched, and Brad Dourif as Billy Bibbit. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

From Frank Capra, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Rated PG

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American drama-fantasy film directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern. The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Through a series of flashbacks, George's life is revealed with all of its trials and tribulations, as Clarence shows him what life would have been like if he had never been born. Despite his struggles, George ultimately realizes the true importance of life, his family, and the community of Bedford Falls. The film has become a Christmas classic and is considered one of the most inspirational films of all time.

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest
Rated R

Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic war film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The film stars Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper. The story follows Captain Willard (Sheen) as he is sent on a mission deep into the Cambodian jungle to find and terminate the renegade Colonel Kurtz (Brando). Along the way, Willard witnesses the horrors of the Vietnam War, culminating in a fateful confrontation with Kurtz. The film is filled with intense action sequences and surreal images which help to illustrate the chaos and destruction of war.

From Billy Wilder, starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson
Rated Passed

Sunset Blvd. (1950) is a classic drama directed by Billy Wilder. The story follows a Hollywood screenwriter, Joe Gillis, as he gets involved with a forgotten silent film star, Norma Desmond. Desperate for money, Joe becomes Norma's live-in writer and slowly realizes her mental health is deteriorating as she attempts to make a comeback. As their relationship progresses, Joe finds himself entangled in Norma's delusions and is unable to escape until a tragic turn of events. The film is a scathing commentary on the darker side of the Hollywood dream and features classic performances from Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich von Stroheim.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior
Rated R

Memento is a psychological thriller that follows the story of Leonard Shelby, a man suffering from anterograde amnesia. After a traumatic incident in which Leonard’s wife was killed and he was left with brain damage, Leonard is unable to form new memories and is stuck in a continuous loop of his past. With the help of notes, tattoos, and Polaroid photos, Leonard is able to track down his wife's murderer. As the story unfolds, Leonard discovers a shocking truth about his condition, as well as the motivations of the people he meets. Through a unique story structure, Memento expertly weaves together past, present, and future to create an intense, suspenseful experience.

From Todd Phillips, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy
Rated R

Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film follows Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian whose descent into insanity and nihilism inspires a violent crusade against the rich and powerful of Gotham City. In a fictional world where the rich and powerful are allowed to trample the rights of the people, Arthur is driven to a state of madness and unbridled violence. With his transformation into the Joker, Arthur unleashes his own brand of justice on the city and its people, culminating in a final act of cathartic revenge. The film is a dark exploration of mental illness, poverty, class divisions, and the corruption of society.

From Directors: Aamir Khan, Amole Gupte, starring Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma
Rated PG

Like Stars on Earth is a 2007 Indian drama film directed by Aamir Khan and Amole Gupte. It tells the story of Ishaan Awasthi, an eight-year-old boy who is struggling with dyslexia and is unable to cope with the demands of his school. As a result, Ishaan is sent to a boarding school, where he meets his art teacher Nikumbh. Nikumbh is determined to help Ishaan unlock his potential and find joy in learning. With Nikumbh's guidance, Ishaan begins to make progress and discovers his true passion and identity. The film is a heartwarming story of transformation, acceptance, and self-discovery.

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

"Requiem for a Dream" is a dark and heartbreaking psychological drama directed by Darren Aronofsky. The film follows four characters in Brooklyn who are all struggling with addiction. Harry Goldfarb, played by Jared Leto, is an aspiring drug dealer who is trying to make a better life for himself and his girlfriend Marion Silver, played by Jennifer Connelly. His elderly mother Sara Goldfarb, played by Ellen Burstyn, is a lonely widow who deals with her loneliness by watching television and is desperately trying to lose weight to become a contestant on her favorite game show. Finally, Harry's best friend Tyrone C. Love, played by Marlon Wayans, is a drug addict with no ambitions and who is always looking for his next fix. The film follows the struggles of these characters as they try to find a way out of their addictions while dealing with their own inner demons. As their lives become increasingly desperate, they begin to make increasingly bad decisions that result in devastating consequences. They realize too late that their dreams of a better life are nothing more than a fool's dream, and that addiction is a vicious, destructive force that can ruin lives. Requiem for a Dream paints a heartbreaking and realistic portrait of the brutal realities of addiction

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

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 drama directed by Gus Van Sant, starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams. The film tells the story of Will Hunting (Damon), a troubled genius from the wrong side of the tracks in Boston. Will works as a janitor at MIT, but his talents are far beyond his job description. After getting arrested for assaulting a police officer, a professor at MIT recognizes Will's potential and arranges for him to meet a psychiatrist (Robin Williams) who will help him to overcome his personal demons and realize his potential. Through his therapy sessions, Will learns how to control his anger and gain confidence in himself. Will eventually ends up at Harvard, but not before making peace with his past and reconciling with those he had wronged. The film is an inspirational story of self-discovery and redemption.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks
Rated R

Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological thriller written by Paul Schrader and directed by Martin Scorsese. It stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, an ex-Marine and Vietnam War veteran who is working as a night-time taxi driver in New York City. Bickle becomes increasingly disturbed by the criminality and sleaze he encounters on the job, and he sets out to save a twelve-year-old child prostitute, played by Jodie Foster. The film also stars Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, and Cybill Shepherd. The film received critical acclaim, with praise for Scorsese's direction, De Niro's performance, Schrader's screenplay, and the musical score by Bernard Herrmann. It was nominated for four Academy Awards—Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Original Score—but won only one, for Herrmann's score. Taxi Driver has since become one of the most acclaimed and iconic films of all time.

From Joon-ik Lee, starring Re Lee, Sol Kyung-gu, Uhm Ji-won, Kim Hae-sook
Rated Not Rated

Hope is a 2013 South Korean film directed by Joon-ik Lee. The film tells the story of a middle-aged couple, Shin-ae and Jang-ho, whose lives are turned upside down after Shin-ae is diagnosed with terminal cancer. With no way to pay the mounting medical bills, the couple sets out to find a way to make money and provide for their young daughter, Ji-eun. Through a series of difficult and sometimes humorous events, the couple struggle to make ends meet and come to terms with Shin-ae’s illness. Hope is an uplifting story of survival and resilience in the face of adversity.

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

A Beautiful Mind is an Academy Award-winning biographical drama directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe as Nobel Prize-winning economist John Forbes Nash Jr. The film follows Nash’s journey as a young graduate student at Princeton University, where he develops a revolutionary new theory of economics, to his eventual success and corresponding struggles with a debilitating mental illness. Along the way, he encounters the love of his life, Alicia, and the two embark on a tumultuous journey of hope and despair as his illness takes its toll. In the end, Nash perseveres with the help of Alicia and his friends and colleagues to win the Nobel Prize in Economics and accept the love and support of his family and friends.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Rated R

Shutter Island follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he is sent to investigate the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane located on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. After arriving at the hospital, Teddy quickly discovers that things are not what they seem and he soon finds himself embroiled in a sinister conspiracy. As he investigates further, Teddy begins to question his own sanity as he unravels the mysteries of the island and its inhabitants. With the help of his partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo), Teddy must face his demons in order to uncover the truth.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Rated R

Black Swan is a psychological thriller about a young ballerina, Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), who is a dancer in the New York City Ballet. She is under the tutelage of Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), the ballet's charismatic artistic director. As Nina is pushed to the brink of her physical and emotional limits in pursuit of perfection, she soon finds herself deep in a web of rivalry, temptation, and destruction that rivals the intensity of her training. As the story progresses, Nina slowly spirals into a dark and dangerous state of paranoia, madness, and obsession as she struggles to perfect the role of the Swan Queen. The film culminates in an epic battle between her dark and light personas, as Nina confronts the consequences of her ambition and is forced to choose between artistry and sanity.

From Barry Levinson, starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, Gerald R. Molen
Rated R

Rain Man is a 1988 drama directed by Barry Levinson and starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. The story follows Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), an abrasive and selfish yuppie who discovers that his estranged father had passed away and left his entire $3 million estate to his other son, Raymond (Hoffman), an autistic savant. In order to gain access to his inheritance, Charlie takes Raymond on a cross-country road trip and the two eventually form a strong bond. Along the way, they learn to better understand each other and discover more about themselves. Rain Man is a touching and powerful story of family, love, and learning to accept each other's differences.

From Brad Anderson, starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian
Rated R

The Machinist is a psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson and starring Christian Bale as Trevor Reznik, a troubled insomniac who has not slept in a year. Working as a machinist in an old factory and living in an abandoned apartment, Trevor's physical and mental health has deteriorated and he is deeply paranoid and delusional. As strange events and omens begin to plague him and his life unravels, Trevor must confront his past and seek out the truth about a mysterious figure who may be the cause of his torment. With a captivating performance from Christian Bale, The Machinist is an intense and compelling exploration of paranoia, guilt and redemption.

From Lasse Hallström, starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen
Rated PG-13

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis and Mary Steenburgen. The film follows the story of Gilbert Grape (Depp), a small-town young man in Endora, Iowa, who takes care of his mentally challenged brother (DiCaprio), and his morbidly obese mother (Steenburgen). Gilbert is desperate to escape the dead-end town, but feels obligated to look after his family. When a free-spirited woman (Lewis) and her young son arrive in town, Gilbert gets a taste of the outside world, and begins to break free from the confines of his small town life. With a strong supporting cast, the film is both humorous and touching as it explores themes of love, family, responsibility, and freedom.

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

Ordinary People is a 1980 drama film directed by Robert Redford. The film follows the story of a family in suburban Chicago struggling to cope with the death of their oldest son in a boating accident. The youngest son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), is deeply affected by the loss, and begins to experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. His parents, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) and Calvin (Donald Sutherland) have difficulty connecting with their son and communicating their own grief. In an attempt to heal, Beth sends Conrad to a psychiatrist (Judd Hirsch), who helps Conrad come to terms with the tragedy, and eventually, with the help of his family, Conrad is able to recover. The film explores the themes of grief, guilt, and the difficulties of adjusting to life-changing events.

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 and starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear. The film follows Melvin Udall (Nicholson), a socially awkward, obsessive-compulsive novelist, as he develops an unlikely relationship with a waitress (Hunt) and a gay artist (Kinnear). After a series of events, Melvin must confront his own personal issues and come to terms with his feelings towards those in his life. Ultimately, he learns to be a kinder person and shows us that we can all be better versions of ourselves.

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

Shine is a biographical drama directed by Scott Hicks and based on the true story of Australian pianist David Helfgott. The film follows David's journey from child prodigy to adult mental breakdown and his subsequent battle to regain a sense of normalcy and self-worth. David is pushed by his father, Peter, to be the best pianist he can be. Peter's rigid parenting style causes David to have a nervous breakdown at the age of 17. He is admitted to a mental institution and is unable to practice piano for several years. When he is released, David moves to London and meets Gillian, an aspiring singer. With her encouragement, he begins to practice again and eventually auditions for a prestigious musical conservatory. Although he is accepted, Peter insists that David return to Australia, where he must confront his past and rebuild himself. With the help of Gillian and a supportive music teacher, David eventually achieves success as a concert pianist. The film ends with a triumphant performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto Number 3.

From Jessie Nelson, starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest
Rated PG-13

I Am Sam is the story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), an intellectually disabled single father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning). After Lucy's mother abandons them, Sam enlists the help of a young lawyer, Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer), to help him fight for custody of his daughter. Through Sam's journey of self-discovery, Rita and the other characters learn the importance of accepting people for who they are and recognizing that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Along the way, Sam discovers the value of family and learns to have faith in himself. In the end, through a heartwarming courtroom battle, Sam is able to prove his worth as a father, and Lucy is able to stay with him.

From Directors: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth
Rated PG-13

Still Alice is a 2014 American independent drama film written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland and based on Lisa Genova's 2007 bestselling novel of the same name. It stars Julianne Moore as Alice Howland, a linguistics professor at Columbia diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. The film follows Alice and her family as they struggle to cope with the diagnosis and its emotional, physical, and psychological toll on her life. Alec Baldwin plays her husband, and Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, and Hunter Parrish play her children. Still Alice premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival to a standing ovation, and was awarded the Grolsch People's Choice Award. It was later released in the United States on January 16, 2015, and went on to become a commercial success, grossing over $43 million worldwide. It was also praised by critics, with Moore's performance earning her numerous awards, including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, and BAFTA for Best Actress.

From Lynne Ramsay, starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell
Rated R

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a psychological thriller directed by Lynne Ramsay. It tells the story of a mother, Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton) struggling to come to terms with her teenage son Kevin (Ezra Miller). Eva's journey from pre-parenthood to post-Kevin's heinous act is punctuated with flashbacks, exploring the strained relationship between mother and son. Kevin is an intelligent, manipulative and deeply troubled teen who has committed a mass shooting at his high school. Eva slowly unravels her feelings of guilt and responsibility and comes to terms with the possibility that she may have unknowingly created a monster. The film is a powerful exploration of parenthood, guilt, and the complex relationship between mother and child.

From Charlie Kaufman, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener
Rated R

Synecdoche, New York is a 2008 drama directed by Charlie Kaufman, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman. The film follows the story of Caden Cotard, a theatre director who is struggling with personal and professional issues. After he receives a MacArthur Fellowship grant, he decides to direct a massive production in an enormous warehouse. The play he creates attempts to recreate the entirety of New York City and its inhabitants, using hundreds of actors and thousands of props. As events in the play begin to mirror his own life, Caden's obsession with the project grows, and he begins to lose his grip on reality. The film culminates in an exploration of life's dissatisfactions and disappointments, and an exploration of the human condition.