The 20 best movies about mental health

Silver Linings Playbook deals with heavy themes in a comedic and very human way. It follows Pat, who has bipolar disorder and is released from a mental institution. He moves back in with his parents and tries to win his ex-wife back. Then Pat meets Tiffany, who is suffering from depression after her husband's death. They find solace in one another, despite their problems, and the chemistry between Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence is an absolute delight. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age film directed by Stephen Chbosky, who also wrote the novel it is based on. The story follows Charlie, an introverted high school freshman. He befriends two seniors named Sam and Patrick, who help him come out of his shell, as well as deal with past traumas that include his friend taking their own life and being abused as a child. It’s a beautiful film that deals with difficult topics, but handles them with care and empathy.  

Inside Out is the Disney Pixar classic that gives you all the feels (quite literally). The film is set inside the mind of Riley, an eleven-year-old girl who has to leave her life behind when she moves to San Francisco with her parents. Her five personified emotions — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust — do their best to help her cope. This touching and clever film is a great introduction for kids to start understanding their emotions, and has a lot of educational value. 

The Skeleton Twins is an indie dramedy that co-stars SNL alumni Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. The film follows estranged siblings Milo and Maggie, who reunite after both coincidentally cheating death on the same day. As they try to figure out how their lives went so wrong, they realize fixing their relationship with each other might be the key. The film uses dark humor to tackle topics such as depression and suicıde, and Hader and Wiig handle the material with grace.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story is an adaptation of Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name, which was based on his own experience. It follows Craig, a teenager who is clinically depressed and checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward. His experience and interaction with those less fortunate than him help him find a new lease on life. Despite the film being about suffering, it is surprisingly feel-good, and stars Zach Galifianakis, Keir Gilchrist, and Emma Roberts. 

Infinitely Polar Bear tells the story of Cameron Stuart, who has bipolar disorder. He decides to take care of his young daughters, hoping to win his wife back, who is struggling to find a job to support them. Mark Ruffalo shines in the leading role, portraying Cameron as a complex and endearing character. The relationship he builds with his daughters is incredibly moving, and Zoe Saldaña puts in strong supporting work as his wife. 

Aftersun is a poignant and melancholic drama about reflection and childhood. Sophie reflects on a holiday she took with her father twenty years ago at a vacation resort. While she is on the cusp of adolescence, her father struggles with issues outside of fatherhood, leaving Sophie to try to put the pieces together. The film explores ideas of depression, guilt, and memory and is based on director Charlotte Wells’ relationship with her own father. Paul Mescal also received an Oscar nomination for his performance. 

Pete Davidson stars in The King of Staten Island, which is based on his own life and experience losing his father. 24-year-old Scott (Davidson) has struggled to do anything meaningful with his life after the death of his firefighter father, and spends most of his time smoking weed. Eventually, he is forced to confront his grief and move forward. Scott has grown up with depression and bipolar disorder, and the film emotionally and humorously follows his journey.  

Ordinary People is a 1980 family drama starring Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, and Judd Hirsch. The film follows the aftermath of the death of an older son, and how it affects his family, including his bitter mother, kind father, and guilt-ridden son. The son, Conrad, suffers from severe trauma and PTSD from the incident. The film is a subtle yet captivating study of a family falling apart, and it won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Robert Redford. 

One of the most famous movies ever made about mental health and illness is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. McMurphy, a prisoner, fakes insanity and is sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. There, he sees how fellow patients are abused and degraded by the cruel Nurse Ratched. He encourages the others to take control of their lives and fight back. The film criticizes the flaws within mental health institutions, and despite its brutality, is incredibly hopeful. 

A Beautiful Mind is Ron Howard’s Oscar-winning biographical drama starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly. It tells the story of John Nash, a genius mathematician who made an astonishing discovery early in his career that left him standing on the brink of fame. However, he is diagnosed with schizophrenia and is forced to go on a harrowing journey in his quest for greatness. The acclaimed film won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. 

Little Miss Sunshine is a  comedic, dark road-trip film with a star-studded cast that includes Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano, and Alan Arkin. It follows a dysfunctional family who travel across the country in a VW bus to take their young daughter to a beauty pageant. Of course, their journey has many roadblocks. Despite dealing with topics such as grief, substance abuse, depression, and suıcide, it is incredibly feel-good and uplifting.  

Words on Bathroom Walls is another film that focuses on coming-of-age and mental illness. Adam is diagnosed with schizophrenia in his senior year of high school, shattering his dreams of becoming a chef. However, he falls in love with one of his classmates, who encourages him not to be defined by his illness. The film handles the subject matter cleverly and sensitively, with a lot of heart at its core. Charlie Plummer and Taylor Russell also share lovely chemistry.

Inspired by a true story, Antwone Fisher features Denzel Washington as director and actor. The film tells the story of the titular character, a Navy officer, who has a violent outburst against a fellow crew member. He is ordered to see a psychologist, played by Washington, and is forced to confront his painful past. Antwone suffers from PTSD, having faced horrific abuse from his foster family as a child, and tries to find his real family, whom he has never known. Derek Luke plays Fisher.

The MCU has been very much hit-and-miss since Avengers: Endgame, but 2025’s Thunderbolts* proved to be a surprise return to form for the studio. The film follows a team of scrappy anti-heroes, led by Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, who must go on a dangerous mission that forces them to confront dark corners of their pasts. It is rare for a superhero movie to deal with themes such as trauma and isolation, and Thunderbolts* is surprisingly dark and layered.

Manchester by the Sea is an Oscar-winning drama directed by Kenneth Lonergan. The story follows Lee Chandler, who becomes his sixteen-year-old nephew's guardian after his brother’s sudden death. As a result, he must return to his hometown and face his past. Lee suffers from PTSD and depression due to a horrible accident, and he faces even more challenges after his brother’s passing. It is a very powerful film with incredibly authentic performances from its leads.

Short Term 12 is an ensemble drama that essentially stars every Hollywood star before they got their big break: Brie Larson, LaKeith Stanfield, Rami Malek, Kaitlyn Dever, and Stephanie Beatriz. Larson plays Grace, who works at a group home for troubled teens. She tries to navigate her personal and professional life, and soon forms a special bond with a young girl at the facility. The film looks at the extreme difficulties young people can face and how this affects them on a psychological level.

Mary and Max is a stop-motion animated film from Australian director Adam Elliot, who also made Memoir of a Snail. The film follows the unlikely friendship between Mary, a lonely eight-year-old girl living in Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year-old New Yorker with Asperger's. Through chance, they become pen pals and uplift each other from their own darkness and depression. The film beautifully highlights the healing power of human connection.

Good Will Hunting is the Oscar-winning film that put Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on the map. Damon plays Will, a janitor at RMIT who is also a mathematical genius. When he starts seeing a psychologist, he is forced to evaluate his identity and deal with his own inner turmoil. Robin Williams is magnetic as Dr. Sean Maguire, who forms a deep bond with Will and helps him find the path to a more meaningful life. The film and its script are ultimately profound and life-affirming.

My Life as a Zucchini is a stop-motion animated French film with a script co-written by Portrait of a Lady on Fire director Céline Sciamma. It follows Icare, a young boy who is sent to an orphanage after his mother's death. There, he bonds with the other orphans and learns about trust and friendship. Despite being an animated film, it is more suited towards older kids due to its exploration of grief and loneliness. However, it brims with hope and positivity by the end.