The 17 Best Schizophrenia Movies on Netflix to Help You Understand the Disorder - DotComStories (2023)

"Don't be depressed!" This is arguably the most useless piece of advice a mentally ill person has ever received. People are often misinformed about mental health issues or uncomfortable talking about them. As a result, those who experience it are marginalized, attacked or left to fend for themselves. Friends and family members of people with mental disorders are rendered useless by the lack of information and dialogue about mental health. Mental health has been taboo to the public for decades, but that is starting to change. These issues have become better known through books, TV shows, and films that have sparked debate. For those interested, we've compiled a list of Netflix movies streaming right now that deal with mental health or mental illness in some way.

6 Custody (2018)

6 Balloons, starring Dave Franco, follows a woman who discovers her brother's heroin relapse. He gets into his car late at night with himself and his two-year-old son to find a detox center. This video can be boring at times, but it's worth it because it's based on real events and the actors ensure a very realistic experience. Initially, the movie grabs your heart with its sweet dialogues, but as the story progresses, it takes a very dark and scary turn that will haunt you long after the movie is over and will make you think twice before trying out the heroine. .

Basic Instinct (1992)

The screenplay, written by Joe Eszterhas, was a huge success at the box office. Starring Sharone Stone as Catherine Tramell and Michael Douglas as Detective Nick Curran, the film follows the two playing cat and mouse as Catherine becomes the prime suspect in a murder. Catherine's character, who exhibits signs of psychopathology, is the basis for this film's inclusion on this list. Catherine is a crime writer and the murders she is suspected of are based on her book descriptions. The film is also known for its "innovative depictions of sexuality", although it has generated much debate.

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Bottom of the World (2017)

Richard Sears directed and co-produced the film, which stars Jena Malone as Scarlett and Douglas Smith as Alex. This is a film about the mental aberrations that can occur when a person's mind is incapable of understanding or dealing with the gravity of a situation. The action follows a young couple on their journey to Los Angeles on Route 66 when Scarlett, the girl, disappears into an off-road motel. The most intriguing aspect of the film is that, other than Scarlett, none of the characters are based on real people. If you watch the movie, you'll understand what we're talking about.

Brain on Fire (2017)

Played by Chloe Grace Moretz, Susannah is a young journalist who seems to be doing her job well. But one day she is tormented by voices in her head and severe seizures that drive her crazy. Susannah's symptoms worsen over time and she descends deeper and deeper into madness. She goes to many doctors and waits in hospitals for hours, but most of them can't figure out what's wrong with her and even misdiagnose her condition. Finally you will find a doctor who may have the answer to her problems and after all the chaos and hassle it may be the light at the end of the tunnel. It's horrible to see a child with his whole life ahead of him affected by such a disease. But watching her struggle and bounce back is extraordinary and her story gives us hope.

Clinic (2017)

This one went a little too far with mental illness and doesn't really try to raise awareness. Clinical is a horror thriller made just for fun. It's about a psychiatrist who is brutally assaulted by one of her patients. This upsets her greatly, so she tries to distract herself by fully committing herself to helping her new patient. Things get much worse for the psychologist, however, when the man who is her new patient begins to delve into his own narrative, which may have some connections to the previous traumatic incident. The movie starts out okay but then switches to something else that makes you wonder where it went.

Cristina (2016)

Christine Chubbuck is portrayed by Rebecca Hall in the biographical drama about a depressed journalist. She struggles as her personal and professional lives come to a standstill. Christine's boss encourages her to embrace darker stories to increase her channel's ratings, and with a possible promotion on the horizon, she does what she can. She seems hopeful when co-worker George Ryan (Michael C. Hall) catches her eye, but things don't go as planned. What he does next is the film's pivotal moment.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

This film is about induced lacunar amnesia, although it is not necessarily a mental illness. Starring Jim Carrey (as Joel Barish) and Kate Winslet, the film is another gem of writing from Charlie Kaufman (as Clementine Kruczynski). The novel goes back and forth in time between their reality and the memories of their relationship. They might be meeting for the first time, but according to the story, they've met before and have been together for two years. When things turned sour between them, they decided to erase each other's memories.

Broken (2019)

This psychological thriller starring Sam Worthington (as Ray Monroe) and Lily Rabe (as Joanne Monroe) keeps you in suspense until the end. This film, directed by Brad Anderson and written by Alan B. McElroy, was released on Netflix on October 11, 2019.

The Monroe family is walking home from Thanksgiving dinner when tragedy strikes, leaving their daughter critically injured. Ray and Joanne rush to the local hospital only to be separated, causing Ray to become paranoid that the hospital staff refuses to admit his wife and daughter. This film leaves us amazed and incredulous at what the human mind can achieve in the face of a catastrophe. To protect itself from trauma, the mind does what it does.

Horse Girl (2020)

The story follows a young woman who quickly sinks into a deep psychological hole, unable to distinguish between reality and her memories or imagination. When you experience a delay in time and space, you are not aware of what you are doing. She ends up admitted to a mental health facility due to her family's mental illness. The film is directed by Jeff Baena and co-written by Alison Brie (who also stars as Sarah). It is based on Brie's own family's experiences of mental illness, specifically paranoid schizophrenia and melancholia. Allison Brie tries to convey in her interview with Deadline "how terrible it is not to be able to trust your own thoughts".

Thinking About Ending Things (2020)

In typical Charlie Kaufman style, "I'm Thinking About Ending Things" is a film that demands your attention because the plot is not linear. A variety of dynamic aspects, such as character identities, stories and experiences, make viewers revise their perception of the plot. We started to question everything, just like the characters in the movie. Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley did a great job as Jake and the Younger (Lucy, Louisa, Lucia, Ames).

The plot revolves around a young couple who move in with Jake's parents and everything that happens in between. But distrust and doubt appear from the beginning, both in the young woman and in the audience. The image is produced in complex ways and it takes work to keep track of what was predicted and what is happening.

Night Maker (2014)

The film follows the narrative of an anti-hero, Louis "Lou" Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is a stringer. It is Dan Gilroy's directorial debut. He takes a job as a photographer, documenting and photographing violent crimes. His morality is called into question when an opportunist manipulates the evidence to get "better" pictures. This film raises a number of ethical dilemmas in journalism, but it's Lou's character that makes it a great addition to this list. Lou appears to have Antisocial Personality Disorder, as he shows no interest in others, breaks rules, is impulsive, and shows no remorse after hurting others.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

The National Film Registry saved this award-winning film, considered one of the most timeless classics ever made. Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is a thief who claims to be insane and is committed to Oregon State Hospital despite not having been diagnosed with a mental illness. The result is a battle of egos between McMurphy and the intimidating nurse Mildred Ratched (Louise Fletcher), who uses violent and brutal methods to "control" patients. Randle, fed up with his friends being "scared" to leave or do whatever they want, organizes them to fight back. This type of lifting is not good.

Resurrection of Cain (1992)

Dr Carter Nix (John Lithgow), a child psychologist, suffers from dissociative personality disorder, sometimes known as multiple personality disorder. The story follows a psychologist who, "examined" by her father, uses her own daughter for further testing and research. Cain, Margo, and Josh are Carter's alternate identities. Cain is a bully, Josh is a shy seven year old and Margo will do anything to protect others. Carter and Cain kill young women to involve their children in Dr. Nix Mr. (Mr.) to lead. Swamp. Will Carter's wife, Jenny (Lolita Davidovich), be able to save her daughter Amy (Amanda Pombo)?

Handbook on the positive side (2012)

After a bizarre nervous breakdown, Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) ends up in a mental institution. He is eventually released and returned to his parents, where he plans to reunite with his ex-wife. But he is far from normal and still has the occasional nervous breakdown. He then meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who has gone through the same trauma after losing a loved one. Things get extremely complicated when the two start spending more time together.

This film not only focuses on the mental illnesses of the two protagonists, but also on the mental illnesses of everyone around them, including the psychologist who has been counseling Pat the entire time. This shows that mental illnesses are relatively widespread among adults in today's world, which is characterized by a variety of stresses. Overall, the film has an excellent cast and a decent story that focuses mainly on the romance between the two characters while showing the mental illnesses that exist in just about everyone.

Strange Voices (1987)

This film describes the entire journey of a person with schizophrenia, from diagnosis to prognosis. It represents a person's struggle to come to terms with the perception that they have the disorder. The film follows the family's journey from rejection to hostility to acceptance of Nicole's (Nancy McKeon) mental health condition. It also sheds light on a person's decision to accept or decline therapy and the impact on the person and other caregivers. It's a harrowing journey to acceptance for those who seek Nicole as she tests their patience, resilience and foresight. Implications for treatment also draw attention to how mental health issues have been addressed in the past and whether we currently face comparable dilemmas and concerns.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

This is the story of Charlie (Logan Lerman), a quiet young man who is going through a difficult time in his life after his best friend commits suicide. She meets two free-spirited seniors, Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), who offer her a different perspective on life. He has memories of an abusive upbringing, triggered by intimate moments with Sam as he was finally excited to move forward in all areas of his life. The Perks of Being an Outcast carefully explores the theme of overcoming past trauma and the need for interpersonal connection in the healing process.

Down to the Bone (2017)

To the Bone follows the life of Ellen, a 20-year-old woman suffering from anorexia. What looks like a physical illness. Anorexia is a serious mental illness that can lead to death. Ellen spends most of her teenage years going from one recovery program to another, but none seem to work for her and she continues to lose weight. Eventually he ends up in a youth center that helps those affected with alternative methods. Perplexed by the institution's policies, Ellen must find a way to deal with her eating disorder while accepting herself for who she is. The film only manages to give a glimpse of the situation in its short running time, but it leaves you aware of what the people around you are going through and that's enough.