Movies About Addiction: 25 Powerful Films

Based on Carroll’s incredible true story, The Basketball Diaries recounts his life from a promising young writer and keen basketball player to homeless addict. Scott Kalvert directs this heart-wrenching biopic, devoid of the glamorous frills Hollywood often tie onto drug culture. Directed by Eugene Jarecki, The House I Live In is a powerful documentary that delves into the systemic issues surrounding the War on Drugs in the United States. The film explores the disproportionate impact of drug laws on minority communities, the rise of mass incarceration, and the perpetuation of a cycle of addiction and poverty.

Caron Atlanta Outpatient Center

It has since been hailed by the BFI as one of the best British films of the 20th century, spawning the 2017 sequel T2 Trainspotting. Drugstore Cowboy is one of the few films with a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, exemplifying just how well director Gus Van Sant executed the American crime-drama. Van Sant went on to direct a myriad of critically-acclaimed films following Drugstore Cowboy, including My Own Private Idaho (1991) and Good Will Hunting (1997). Drugstore Cowboy is a steady and polished piece of cinema, imbuing the drama with bouts of black-comedy.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Rush stars Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh as undercover drug addiction cops who become addicted to the drugs they are supposed to be fighting against. Their lives spiral out of control as they get deeper into the drug world. Rocketman is a biographical musical that dives deep into the life of Elton John, portrayed by Taron Egerton.

Treatment

This heartbreaking story accurately portrays the struggles of drug addiction and its reach. One could argue that the violence in the film, at certain places, is unnecessary. But I have always found Noe’s exploration of violence to be deeply philosophical and so full of meaning. There is no message that Noe conveys with the film regarding drug addiction.

  • Movies about drug addiction can often be hard to watch, but the best examples of these types of stories can shed understanding and empathy on a serious issue.
  • Here are three notable contemporary drug addiction movies that have garnered critical acclaim and resonated with audiences.
  • The focus of the movie is on how Alice’s addiction impacts her family, and the film does a great job balancing how alcoholism affects both the person using and those around them.
  • Submitting without complaint to the required weekly urine test for drugs or alcohol, Cody seems ready to do the work.

movies about drug addiction

He recalls his tryst with prescription medications, methadone, heroin, and cocaine amidst the twists and turns in his personal life, even as his professional life was moving upwards. The flashbacks end with Jerry making his way back to Los Angeles to try and get his writing career back on track. He once again bumps into Kitty, and they give themselves up to a final session of sex before parting ways. ‘Rush’ tells the story of two anti-narcotics undercover police officers who get hooked on drugs after they try the real thing to keep up pretenses while dealing with drug dealers. The movie shows how the two cops end up addicted without really meaning to do so.

  • Requiem for a Dream shows the party drug scene as well as the intense pain and destruction that happen due to drug use and addiction.
  • It is worth a watch and sucks you deep inside the emotions of a family dealing with the drug addiction of one of its members.
  • Four Good Days features Mila Kunis as a woman trying to overcome a decade-long heroin addiction with the help of her mother, played by Glenn Close.

Substance addictions

The film also shows the efforts they make to overcome their drug habits, and also help each other to kick the habit. The movie chronicles the evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous, the worldwide organization famous for opening its doors to people who wish to overcome their alcoholism. The film depicts the journey of the protagonist from a ‘small drinking problem’ to a scary addiction. The protagonists’ efforts to recover from alcohol dependence and the formation of a support group indicate that the movie is about addiction and recovery. During rehab, Daryl comes in contact with Craig, a difficult yet empathetic drug rehabilitation counselor.

  • Substance addiction has been something that individuals and societies have struggled with for countless years, and addiction continues to impact many to this day.
  • Your provider will ask you (and possibly your loved ones) questions about your patterns of substance use or problematic behaviors.
  • Personal experience will change your opinion of many things, but especially addiction.
  • Stoltz is lured to Paris where he hangs out with his SUD pals as they plan a robbery – but this is like no bank robbery in film history.
  • The following movies are difficult to watch, and while the descriptions here won’t be graphic, the subject itself may be disturbing to some.

While not exclusively focused on addiction, it presents a relatable portrayal of young people navigating the temptations and pitfalls of drug use. “Orange Is the New Black” might not be exclusively about addiction, but it certainly doesn’t shy away from the topic. The show’s diverse cast of characters includes several struggling with substance abuse, offering a multifaceted look at addiction within the prison system. It’s a stark reminder of the often-overlooked intersection between addiction and incarceration. Her son, Ben (Lucas Hedges), comes home for Christmas as a surprise—but not exactly the good kind.

movies about drug addiction

It should be no surprise that there are literally hundreds if not thousands of films dealing with drug and alcohol use. ‘Climax’, as I said before, is still not Noe’s best film, but it’s a wildly provocative, shocking depiction of the darkest sides of human beings. It’s one of those films that deserves to be seen and talked about, for it raises several questions regarding the influence of drugs in our social lives and our inability to resist the temptation.

She soon befriends a small group of addicts and falls in love with a male prostitute. However, when star tailback faces a career-ending injury in the first game of the season, their winning legacy might be shattered forever. Daryl is a hotshot real estate agent who lives with an intense drug habit. Bobby is a young heroin addict and small-time hustler who falls for Helen, a young homeless woman. However, when Nic’s addiction to meth threatens to destroy him, his dad does everything he can to save his son and family. Based on the bestselling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy is an inspiring story of survival, relapse, and recovery.

Sid and Nancy is the real-life story of the Sex Pistols’ front man, Sid Vicious, and his American girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Some critics say that this film glorifies and encourages drug use, while others argue that it shows the negative sides of psychedelics. We suggest this movie if you want to understand how dealing cocaine can make you feel empty, even while it makes you rich. This might be perhaps because they are based on novels that were written by people who have suffered from the problems first hand and they are true to life. The main character, Nick Halsey, is played by Will Ferrell who gets fired from his job of 16 years due to incidents connected to alcoholism. Then his wife leaves him, his company car is taken back and his credit cards no longer work.

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