Movies About Addiction
Hollywood often struggles with accurately portraying addiction. While many songs, series, and movies glamorize it, some provide a realistic view of its devastating effects. Movies about addiction can help you feel understood and may offer hope on your recovery journey.
Battling addiction and ready for help?
Movies That Portray Addiction
Here are 11 films to consider for your next movie night.
A Star is Born (2018)
Addiction Focus: Alcoholism, opioids
Synopsis: A Star Is Born follows Bradley Cooper as fictional country music artist Jackson Maine, who is addicted to alcohol and opioids. The movie follows Jackson and his partner Ally (Lady Gaga) throughout their lives. But while Ally’s pop star career blossoms, Jackson’s substance abuse causes him to spiral.
Why It Matters: According to addiction experts, the movie realistically portrays what addicts and their loved ones often go through. While Jackson’s rehab experience isn’t effective, it’s unfortunately accurate to some non-evidence-based rehab programs.
Resources: Stages of alcoholism, Prescription opioid addiction
Beautiful Boy (2018)
Addiction Focus: Crystal meth, heroin
Synopsis: Beautiful Boy stars Timothee Chalamet as Nicolas, a teenage boy whose addiction to crystal meth and heroin wreaks havoc on his life. Nic’s father, David (Steve Carrell), tries everything he can to help his son regain his sobriety. But like many addicts, Nic resists these attempts.
Why It Matters: Beautiful Boy is based on a true story and provides hope for families that recovery is possible. It also reminds us that while parents and loved ones want to do everything they can to help, the addicted person must be willing to accept it.
Resources: Meth Addiction, Hosting an intervention for heroin addicts
The Lost Weekend (1945)
Addiction Focus: Alcoholism
Synopsis: The Lost Weekend follows the character Don Birnam (Ray Milland) and his girlfriend Helen (Jane Wyman), who plan to spend a long weekend with Don’s brother, Wick. While Helen and Wick believe that John is sober, he misses the trip and spends four days drinking instead. During his bender, John grapples with his past and his self-sabotaging tendencies.
Why It Matters: The Lost Weekend is one of the earliest on-screen portrayals of alcoholism. Despite its age, it still represents a realistic depiction of addiction. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the Library of Congress preserved it in 2011 as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Resources: Alcohol abuse statistics
Clean And Sober (1988)
Addiction Focus: Cocaine, gambling
Synopsis: Michael Keaton plays Daryl Poynter, a real estate agent and “functioning addict.” Daryl embezzles money from his company to buy cocaine and gamble on stocks. After a night of cocaine abuse gone wrong, he attempts to “hide” from the police in a rehab program, only to spark a slow recovery journey.
Why It Matters: Critics like Roger Ebert praised Keaton’s performance and the supporting cast, which includes actors like Morgan Freeman.
Resources: Cocaine addiction, Gambling addiction
Requiem for A Dream (2000)
Addiction Focus: Heroin, amphetamines
Synopsis: Requiem for A Dream follows four people addicted to drugs—Marion, Tyrone, and Harry are addicted to heroin, while Sara is addicted to amphetamines. The movie captures each character’s downward spiral as addiction takes over their dreams and aspirations.
Why It Matters: Requiem for A Dream isn’t a feel-good movie. But it raises awareness about the all-consuming nature of addiction and the potential consequences of drug abuse.
Resources: How to stage a drug abuse intervention
Trainspotting (1996)
Addiction Focus: Heroin
Synopsis: Trainspotting stars Ewan McGregor as Mark Renton, a heroin addict living in Edinburgh. At the beginning of the movie, Renton tries to quit heroin on his own and moves to London to start fresh. But his addicted friends follow him to the city, and he struggles to escape from old habits.
Why It Matters: While the movie is a black comedy, it draws awareness to important issues, like the connection between urban poverty and drug abuse. The British Film Institute ranked it as one of the 10 best British films of the 1990s.
Resources: Heroin withdrawal symptoms
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Addiction Focus: Alcoholism
Synopsis: Nicolas Cage takes the lead as failed scriptwriter John O’Brien. After hitting “rock bottom,” John moves from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, intending to commit suicide through his alcoholism. While there, he forms a tentative friendship with a sex worker named Sera, where John isn’t allowed to criticize Sera’s job, and Sera can’t ask Ben to stop drinking.
Why It Matters: Leaving Las Vegas earned praise from critics, who enjoyed the depth of the main characters, and Nicholas Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.
Resources: Alcohol poisoning
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Addiction Focus: Heroin, stimulants, narcotics
Synopsis: The Basketball Diaries chronicles the life of Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio), a high school basketball player dealing with a drug addiction. Jim abuses heroin and other drugs to cope with personal tragedies and an abusive coach. His addiction ultimately eclipses his dream of playing basketball and leads to his becoming homeless, but a family friend tries to help him recover.
Why It Matters: The Basketball Diaries is based on the real Jim Carroll’s story and provides a harrowing look at the circumstances that might lead to drug abuse.
Resources: Addiction & Homelessness
The Fighter (2010)
Addiction Focus: Cocaine
Synopsis: The Fighter is a fictionalized biopic about the life of “Irish” Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), a boxer on a losing streak trying to make a comeback. Micky is managed and trained by his half-brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), who is addicted to cocaine. Both brothers must overcome their inner demons to win their respective fights.
Why It Matters: Dicky Eklund’s journey to sobriety can serve as an inspiration to people in similar situations, and Christian Bale won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the character.
Resources: Crack cocaine statistics
28 Days (2000)
Addiction Focus: Alcoholism
Synopsis: After driving drunk and crashing a limousine at her sister’s wedding, alcoholic Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock) must choose between jail or 28 days in rehab. She selects the rehab program. While there, she’s forced to acknowledge her substance abuse and seek support from other addicts and the staff.
Why It Matters: 28 Days tackles the serious subject matter of addiction while maintaining a lighter tone, which could be refreshing for those who want a more feel-good movie about addiction recovery.
Resources: Alcohol rehab
Rocketman (2019)
Addiction Focus: Alcoholism, marijuana, cocaine, shopping, sex
Synopsis: Rocketman is a musical biopic chronicling the life of Elton John, played by Taron Egerton. While Elton’s musical career brings him fame and fortune, he faces abusive relationships and trauma in his personal life and turns to substance abuse and behavioral addictions to cope.
Why It Matters: Rocketman reminds us that the glitz and glam of celebrity life can be darker under the surface. Elton’s vulnerability also offers inspiration for people on their recovery journeys.
Resources: Alcoholism warning signs, Cocaine rehab, Sex addiction, Shopping addiction
Find Help for Drug Abuse and Addiction
Destigmatizing addiction can begin at the box office, and for some people, an inspiring movie can be just the thing to gain fresh hope or motivation.
If you’re ready to begin your journey to sobriety like your favorite character, you can start by contacting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s online treatment locator. You can also call 1-800-662-4357.
They offer free, confidential addiction treatment information and referrals 24/7.
Movies About Addiction FAQs
Why are movies about addiction important?
Movies that offer an honest portrayal of addiction may help by de-stigmatizing addicts, showing the consequences of substance abuse, and offering hope for people in recovery.
Can movies about addiction trigger a relapse?
Everyone has different triggers: One person may find a character’s addiction recovery journey uplifting. But someone else may feel triggered if they’re reminded of dark memories. If you’re unsure whether or not a movie is right for you, it’s a good idea to check the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) for drug and alcohol content warnings so you can use your best judgment on movie night.
What is the most realistic movie about drug addiction?
According to some addiction experts, A Star Is Born offers a realistic look at the patterns that addicts and their loved ones often face. Even the ineffective treatment that the main character receives is unfortunately commonplace.
Can watching movies about addiction help someone struggling with it?
While everyone is different, some people may feel inspired by movie characters who overcome substance abuse. The character can serve as a role model or support during your recovery journey.
Get Treatment Help Now
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