19 movies about mental illness streaming on Netflix or Amazon (2023)

Because mental health problems are so common, it's always a good time to look for them.mental illness moviesavailable on Netflix, Amazon Prime or streaming services.

Many movies are inherently moving. They often talk about struggles that we might not want to discuss with others. At the same time, they can also help people relate to situations in their own lives.

Movies offer a wonderful opportunity for anyone who wants to delve into the inner workings of the human mind.

It's understandable that movies sometimes make those with mental illnesses uncomfortable in real life, although that's not the intention.

Some movies are relatable and reserved when it comes to how they treat mental illness, like Forrest Gump. Others are more obvious and controversial, like the Joker.

Movies are inherently dramatic and can be inaccurate at times. Still, movies can be therapeutic and allow us to see inside the minds of others.

Below is aList of mental health filmswhich covers many types of mental illnesses.

7 Movies About Mental Illnesses And Mental Disorders

1. Rainman (1988)

Mental illness I stand out: Autistic Savant

rain manis a timeless classic that won multiple awards and was the highest-grossing film of 1988.

Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise (Charlie Babbit) do a great job of presenting autism as a gift and not just a mental illness.

Based on the true story of an American autistic scholar named Laurence Kim Peek (1951-2009), the film is an emotional tale of two brothers reconnecting and a journey from frustration to understanding.

Some find Rain Man dated and formulaic, while others still find it meaningful and inspiring today.

2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Emphasized Mental Illness: Various Disorders Encountered in a Psychiatric Institution

One flew over the cuckoo's nestis a classic American film based on the 1962 novel of the same name written by Ken Kesey.

Jack Nicholson stars as Randle McMurphy, the show's star, who was committed to a mental hospital because he pleaded insane in court when accused of rape and assault.

He later realized that escaping his prison sentence was a bad decision, thinking it would be an easy ride. Learning that he could remain in the mental institution, McMurphy plotted his escape.

While not about a specific mental illness, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a film that portrays life in a mental institution and its residents in a way that many people have rarely seen or considered until they saw it on screen. big.

Related: 13 movies about depression

3. I am Sam (2001)

Selected Mental Illnesses: Mental Disabilities in Adults and Resulting Problems with Parents

I'm Samis an American drama film written and directed by Jessie Nelson and Kristine Johnson.

After dealing with the issues adults with intellectual disabilities face, Nelson decided to cast two actors with disabilities in the lead roles. Sean Penn plays the main character of the film, Sam Dawson.

The story follows a father's relationship with his daughter after his wife leaves him following a legal battle led by her lawyer and new friend Rita Harrison, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.

Sam's daughter is placed in foster care, only to be returned to Sam, who asks Rita to help him raise his daughter. Rita becomes a close friend and learns about her own (socially accepted) shortcomings as she helps Sam.

4. A Beautiful Ghost (2001)

Mental Illness Presentation: Paranoid Schizophrenia

a beautiful spiritis an Oscar-winning film that accurately portrays John Nash's real-life struggle with schizophrenia.

John Nash is a somewhat stereotypical example of a mathematical genius and inventor of game theory. The first symptoms of Nash's schizophrenia appeared when he was studying mathematics at Princeton.

Nash is portrayed as socially awkward and doesn't speak with much confidence. However, his delusions and hallucinations are accurately depicted, allowing the viewer to access the inner workings of the schizophrenic mind.

John turns the drug that prevents his delusions on and off because he says it affects his ability to think and work on his research.

5. Still Alice (2015)

Mental illnesses in the spotlight: Alzheimer's disease and dementia

In the award-winning film "still aliceJulianne Moore stars as Alice Howland, a successful linguistics teacher who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease after her 50th birthday.

The realistic depiction of dementia follows Alice as the disease takes over her and takes over her life, often relying on her cell phone to stay connected and organized.

People with dementia say that watching Still Alice is like looking in a mirror. This is a great movie for anyone who wants to experience what it is like to live with Alzheimer's disease.

6. Infinite Polar Bear (2014)

Featured Mental Illness: Bipolar Disorder

infinity polar bearis a movie that follows Cam Stuart, a man suffering from bipolar disorder and played by Mark Ruffalo.

Cam has a young family and is hospitalized with bipolar disorder. When he drops out, he is unemployed and his wife decides to go back to college while Cam has to take care of his two young daughters.

His daughters are often embarrassed by how open their father is and how many unfinished projects he has. But this upbeat film shows how children can thrive in an unorthodox environment.

Related: 9 movies about bipolar disorder

7. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015)

Mental illness in the spotlight: hoarding disorder and the basis of anxiety and depression

Minimalism: a documentary about the important thingsis a documentary produced by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn that celebrates the minimalist approach where less is more.

How do "things" define us? As a culture, we're obsessed with getting more and more stuff, and we think that's going to make us happy when, in fact, advertisers have pushed us to consume more stuff.

Marketing companies have tempted us to constantly seek more while neglecting the important things in life.

Ofilm producersRealizing that they were caught in this trap, they decided to combat depression by examining and eliminating materialism and excessive consumption.

Movies about mental illness offer perspectives through cinema

It is human nature that many of us regularly get caught up in our own way of thinking.

mental illness moviesIt allows us to see the world through a different lens, giving us access to the perspectives of other people from all walks of life.

The above mental health movies are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services., and offer carefully considered views on a variety of mental illnesses.

Other movies about mental illness

There are many different types of mental health problems that affect people of all ages. The above films represent a selection of the most common.

It's hard to cover all the movies about mental illness that have been made because there are so many. Below is a list of other films that have received critical acclaim. Most of them can be found on a variety of streaming services.

12 More Movies About Mental Illness

• Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
• In Search of Goodwill (1997)
• Parche Adams (1998)
• Girl, Interrupted (1999)
• Match Men (2003)
• Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
• Handbook on the Bright Side (2012)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
• Separation (2016)
• Joker (2019)
• Uncut Gems (2019)
• The King of Staten Island (2020)