Movies are powerful. They can send strong messages about important topics that affect real people. They can make you smile, cry, laugh, scream, and gasp in shock, while still pushing a heartfelt message.
A tough, but important topic to address is substance abuse and addiction. And a lot of movies handle this topic differently. In some films, it’s nothing more than a side plot or a characteristic, while in others the dark and sad truth is revealed.
Addiction is tricky because it’s such a general term. You can be addicted to illicit drugs, alcohol, shopping, gambling, and other behaviors. The person suffering from the addiction isn’t the only one in the tough cycle either. Typically, their friends and family are also affected as they watch and scramble to find ways to help their loved ones without enabling them. It’s tricky, but raw and real.
Movies are a great way to learn more about topics often considered “taboo” like addiction. But which movies are the best? Which films circling addiction are still talked about? Honestly, the list could be endless. A popular film that more recently came out that handled addiction was “Beautiful Boy.” During this film, viewers get to see addiction affect a father-son duo. It starred phenomenal actors like Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, and Maura Tierney. Within the film you watch as the son, Nic, suffers from addiction, trying to beat it by even attending different programs.
Not all movies are as touching as “Beautiful Boy.” Others use comedy to cope or don’t have happy endings. Listed below, we have a list of the best movies about addiction. (Click here to read about the best movies addressing alcoholism.)
To determine the best movies about addiction, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
50. “Another Day in Paradise” (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Trimark Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (8,608 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (62 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 58% (50 reviews)
- Directed by: Larry Clark
49. “Clean and Sober” (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (5,950 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (62 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 57% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Glenn Gordon Caron
48. “Her Smell” (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Gunpowder & Sky
- IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (6,234 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 46% (46 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (136 reviews)
- Directed by: Alex Ross Perry
47. “Kids” (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Shining Excalibur Films
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (75,831 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 46% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Larry Clark
46. “The Basketball Diaries” (1995)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (113,416 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (76 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 45% (40 reviews)
- Directed by: Scott Kalvert
45. “Don Jon” (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Relativity Media
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (234,114 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 58% (58 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (205 reviews)
- Directed by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
44. “Resolution” (2012)
Source: Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 22: Actors Vinny Curran (L) and Peter Cilella attend Narrative FM and Press Meet & Greet during the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival at the Cadillac Tribeca Press Lounge on April 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (15,988 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (65 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: Justin Benson
43. “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” (2009)
Source: Courtesy of First Look Studios
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (75,781 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 57% (57 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (154 reviews)
- Directed by: Werner Herzog
42. “Mississippi Grind” (2015)
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (22,262 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (55 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (120 reviews)
- Directed by: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck
41. “Rush” (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (8,437 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (72 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Lili Fini Zanuck
40. “Things We Lost in the Fire” (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (28,289 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (73 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 65% (129 reviews)
- Directed by: Susanne Bier
39. “Under the Volcano” (1984)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (5,332 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (71 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (17 reviews)
- Directed by: John Huston
38. “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (21,260 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 70% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Luis Mandoki
37. “Rachel Getting Married” (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (48,347 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (62 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (202 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme
36. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (285,889 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 50% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: Terry Gilliam
35. “High Art” (1998)
Source: Courtesy of October Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (10,258 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko
34. “Limitless” (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Relativity Media
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (544,561 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (74 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (202 reviews)
- Directed by: Neil Burger
33. “Smashed” (2012)
Source: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 10: Mary Elizabeth Winstead attends Netflixs Scott Pilgrim Takes Off LA premiere on November 10, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix)
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (16,802 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 68% (68 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (107 reviews)
- Directed by: James Ponsoldt
32. “Heaven Knows What” (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (7,534 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (66 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (71 reviews)
- Directed by: Josh & Benny Safdie
31. “Bad Lieutenant” (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Aries Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (41,216 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (73 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (48 reviews)
- Directed by: Abel Ferrara
30. “Battle of the Sexes” (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (56,653 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (71 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (318 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
29. “Thirteen” (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (83,437 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (154 reviews)
- Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
28. “Flight” (2012)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (337,582 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (75 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
27. “Shame” (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (189,464 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (75 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (227 reviews)
- Directed by: Steve McQueen
26. “Come Back, Little Sheba” (1952)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (4,750 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (80 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (8 reviews)
- Directed by: Daniel Mann
25. “T2: Trainspotting” (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (129,465 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (253 reviews)
- Directed by: Danny Boyle
24. “The Panic in Needle Park” (1971)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (17,153 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (75 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Jerry Schatzberg
23. “The Night of the Iguana” (1964)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (11,301 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: John Huston
22. “Crazy Heart” (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (86,771 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (76 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (212 reviews)
- Directed by: Scott Cooper
21. “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (10,689 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (58 reviews)
- Directed by: Otto Preminger
20. “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (96,412 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (80 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Milos Forman
19. “Half Nelson” (2006)
Source: Courtesy of THINKFilm
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (85,784 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (157 reviews)
- Directed by: Ryan Fleck
18. “A Star Is Born” (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (355,833 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (527 reviews)
- Directed by: Bradley Cooper
17. “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (1,418,467 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (286 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
16. “Moonlight” (2016)
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (288,673 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (392 reviews)
- Directed by: Barry Jenkins
15. “Walk the Line” (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (253,579 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (210 reviews)
- Directed by: James Mangold
14. “I Want to Live!” (1958)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (6,866 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Wise
13. “Leaving Las Vegas” (1995)
Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Distribution Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (119,047 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (53 reviews)
- Directed by: Mike Figgis
12. “Lenny” (1974)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (16,470 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Bob Fosse
11. “The Verdict” (1982)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (38,047 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (34 reviews)
- Directed by: Sidney Lumet
10. “A Star Is Born” (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (16,992 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: George Cukor
9. “Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (795,904 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (138 reviews)
- Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
8. “Drugstore Cowboy” (1989)
Source: Courtesy of Avenue Pictures Productions
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (37,868 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Gus Van Sant
7. “The Fighter” (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (371,534 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (254 reviews)
- Directed by: David O. Russell
6. “Boogie Nights” (1997)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (268,611 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (73 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
5. “‘Round Midnight” (1986)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (4,909 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (20 reviews)
- Directed by: Bertrand Tavernier
4. “Trainspotting” (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Pinema
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (706,493 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (89 reviews)
- Directed by: Danny Boyle
3. “Once Were Warriors” (1995)
Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (35,833 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (46 reviews)
- Directed by: Lee Tamahori
2. “The Lost Weekend” (1945)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (35,404 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
1. “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (12,179 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Blake Edwards