Top 10 Popular Movies About Mental Illness

Movies that revolve around a character with mental illness are always fun to watch because the ending is always climatic and shocks the audience.

 

1. Play Misty for Me (Borderline Personality Disorder)

Evelyn Draper is an obsessive fan who dotes on Dave Garver, a Disc Jockey. She starts dating him and ultimately admits that she’s the one who keeps calling him and asking him to play the well-known song “Misty”. Evelyn then takes to stalking the man, ruining his career, killing his maid and basically, destroying his life.

 

2. Through a Glass Darkly (Schizophrenia)

Karin is a young woman who has recently checked out from a mental hospital. She decides to spend time on the family island with her father, brother and husband. Karin slowly loses touch with reality and her relationship between the family members gradually changes as well.

 

3. Ordinary People (Anxiety Disorder)

Bath and Calvin are married and they have one son- Conrad. Their other son dies and the family is overwhelmed with grief. Conrad is guilty and tries to commit suicide and is told to meet with a psychiatrist. It is then revealed that Beth always loved the other son more which is why she finds it hard to show love towards Conrad. This is an amazing story of compassion and love.

 

4. Psycho (Dissociative Identity Disorder)

Norman Bates grows up emotionally disturbed because his mother, Norma, drills it into his head that women are loose and sex is the root of all evil. Norman then kills her and her new lover because he is overcome with jealousy. He develops the disorder and takes on Norma’s personality.

 

5. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (Autism)

Gilbert Grape lives with his family which includes Arnie, his autistic brother. It is Gilbert’s job to take care of him which he finds quite difficult as he works at minimum wage at a grocery store. Becky enters the picture and Gilbert falls in love with her. A really amazing performance by Johnny Depp makes it a must watch.

 

6. A Beautiful Mind (Schizophrenia)

John Nash tries to bring about a revolution in the field of mathematics during his early years. He starts teaching after graduation and gets involved with Alicia, a student. The Government then asks him for help after which he gets involved in an intricate conspiracy plot. He gets more paranoid every day and then discovers something that changes his life. He turns to Alicia for help so that he can regain his respectable status. This film is based on the real life story of Nobel prize winner John Nash.

 

7. Rain Man (Autism)

Charley’s father throws him out during his teenage years after which he learns to manipulate situations and people. He comes to know that his father his died and left behind a car and an autistic son, Raymond who is brilliant with numbers. He kidnaps Raymond and takes him for a road trip.

8. Girl, Interrupted (Borderline Personality Disorder)

Susanna is sent to a mental institution after she tries to kill herself. She finds herself getting fascinated with Lisa, a wild and cold-hearted woman. She finally stands up for herself and gives Lisa a taste of her own medicine after which she gets better at a rapid rate.

 

9. Donnie Darko (Schizophrenia)

Donnie Darko is a social outcast who starts dating a girl named Gretchen. Donnie has another friend- a big bunny named Frank who is only visible to him. This movie has garnerned a wide cult following ever since its release.

 

10. Sybil (Multiple Personality Disorder)

Sybil is an anxious young woman who slips in and out of her sixteen personalities. She starts meeting with a kind-hearted psychiatrist who helps her face her troubled childhood. It is revealed that Sybil’s mother used to abuse and torture her and take immense pleasure in her pain.

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