One of the best ways to explore serious topics is through movies. Movies let us watch stories about things we’ve never experienced from a safe distance.
Movies also give us ways of explaining events we’ve gone through. Former drug users use movies about addiction to show others about addiction and recovery.
When a good movie comes out, it reveals common experiences in ways that make us think. So if you’re looking for great movies about addiction, keep reading for our recommendations.
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5 Movies About Addiction That Make You Think Twice
All five of these movies deal with addiction. Some are only symbolic. These movies deal with either drug addiction or alcoholism.
1. Flight
Flight starts with a bang. This drama stars Denzel Washington saving a plane full of people. The kicker is that he did it while drunk.
At first, he’s hailed as a hero. However, six people died in the plane crash, and his lawyer finds out he was drinking. As a result, Denzel’s character has to stop drinking or he’ll go to jail.
This movie is all about the moral dilemmas of recovery. It shows that even with all the help in the world, getting sober is hard.
2. Stephen King’s Misery
If you’re a horror fan, you’ve already heard of this tale about obsession.
A famous author, Paul, gets saved from an accident by one of his biggest fans, Annie. Instead of healing him and setting him free, Annie keeps him captive.
This might sound like any another horror movie, but King admitted that it’s an allegory for his addiction to cocaine. Annie’s methods to imprison Paul are symbolic of King’s struggle with addiction.
Paul escapes Annie, just like King eventually recovered. Yet, like King, the encounter changed Paul’s life forever.
3. Clean and Sober
Michael Keaton plays a businessman addicted to cocaine, like Wolf of Wall Street. Unlike that movie, Keaton’s life is anything but glamorous.
Instead, he’s caught embezzling money to fund his drug habit. He decides the best place to hide out is an anonymous rehabilitation center. Although he starts his recovery from a place of deceit, Keaton’s character faces his demons by the end.
Although Keaton gets clean, the movie does not shy away from the realities of addiction. It’s one of the more hopeful movies on this list, but be prepared for an emotional ride.
4. Down to the Bone
Down to the Bone is a film about a young mother who’s addicted to cocaine. At first, she does it to keep up with the pressures of motherhood. By the time she uses her son’s birthday money to buy drugs, she realizes she has a problem.
This cautionary tale of feeling out of control is one that many mothers can identify with. It also shows the audience that addiction is something that can affect anyone, not just kids or wealthy businessmen.
5. Requiem for a Dream
No list of movies about addiction would be complete without Requiem for a Dream. Darren Aronofsky does a fabulous job of showing how isolating drug use really is.
It’s a grim movie about how drugs tear a family apart, and how each person has to face their addiction alone. You might want to avoid it if you’re in the process of recovery. It is, however, a good movie to help friends and family understand the struggle.
Want More Movie Recommendations?
If you’re looking for more great movies to watch, then check out our site. We have lists of movies about addiction, actions, and even comedies.
So instead of surfing online for your next action movie pick, take a look at our recommendations.