10 Influential Movies That Shaped How We Portray Mental Health

Movies portraying mental health topics have the potential to leave you sitting in silence as the credits roll. They're the kind you can relate to, whether the main character is out loud with their truths or has a slow, subtle approach to their internal machinations. Without spilling spoilers onto your screen, we recount the movies that made an impact on the ever-evolving concept of mental health.

To put together these films that captured audiences, shaping how they portray mental health, 247 Tempo reviewed several sources, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Missouri Partners in Prevention (MOPIP), ABC News, and Reddit, where people come together to discuss the topics that matter most to them—in this case, mental health and movies.

This post was updated June 19th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

This film, with Joaquin Phoenix, highlights mental illness in a villainous character. The reality is that some mental health disorders result in violence. It's an extreme take that captivates and shows the darker side of certain conditions.

NAMI confirms that Inside Out (2015) "…is a clever, modern, and well-made film that puts mental health into a new context." It's easy to follow, digestible for children, and offers an empowering perspective.

This film takes an intimate look at bipolar disorder. NAMI notes that the film "…represents the range of emotion that often occurs with bipolar disorder in a real and riveting way."

This movie pulls you into the disorganized thinking and delusions of those who suffer from schizophrenia. ABC News quoted Nadine Kaslow, vice-chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Emory University, who stated, "It was intense and disturbing and fascinating and mysterious."

This film offers a quirky approach to mental health. It takes you on a journey with the characters, showing how some people remain static while others evolve in their identity quests.

Although not expressly highlighted, one of the main characters is suspected of having borderline personality disorder. This film explores how trauma, love, and grief intersect and how people deal with each of these facets of life differently.

NAMI analyzed this film, noting, "The movie beautifully captures the challenges John faced throughout his life, including paranoia and delusions that altered his promising career and deeply affected his life."

This film takes on the task of depicting borderline personality disorder and does so excellently. Redditors with the same diagnoses as those in the film agree that the depictions are accurate. Not just with symptoms, but also the way it humanizes each character, demonstrating they are much more than what they have been diagnosed with.

This film delivers a high-powered performance that leaves you in a state of awe. MOPIP commented, "Aside from being the debut for team Affleck & Damon, it also sends a powerful message about poverty,adverse childhood experiences, intelligence, opportunity, friendship, and love."

This film takes a look at mental illness through an inside look at a mental hospital where patients are forced into routines and psychiatric medication. The environment is riotous, and you can't help but side with the patients.