Movies about alcohol use disorder and addiction can offer important insight into these illnesses that impact millions of people. While there are some movies that sensationalize addiction or glamorize substance use, there are some movies that are honest reflections on how these illnesses impact real people and their families. While some movies about alcohol use disorder and addiction emphasize the tragedy of these illnesses, many offer hope.
Some movies, like 28 Days, highlight the rehab experience and how important it can be to recovery. Other movies, like My Name is Bill W., highlight the hope that exists in recovery and mutual aid. The most essential movies about addiction spotlight how devastating these illnesses are to those who live with them and how loved ones can be impacted. The most honest movies about these illnesses also highlight how difficult the recovery process can be and how worthwhile it is.
10
‘Trainspotting’ (1996)
Directed by Danny Boyle
Trainspotting is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. The movie follows a group of individuals who live with substance abuse in Edinburgh. Beyond being an exploration of addiction, the story examines the impact of crushing poverty and economic hopelessness through these characters. As these characters fall deeper into substance use disorder, and struggle with heroin in particular, their lives spiral further out of control.
Trainspotting is such an essential movie about addiction because it highlights the relationship between poverty and substance use. Making this connection is important because it highlights how poverty is a risk factor when it comes to substance use disorders. Trainspotting showcases how devastating substance abuse is, especially over time. It is an unflinching look at the realities of leaving this illness untreated.
9
‘Crazy Heart’ (2009)
Directed by Scott Cooper
Crazy Heart follows country singer Otis “Bad” Blake (Jeff Bridges), who struggles with alcohol use disorder. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb and is loosely based on Hank Thompson. Crazy Heart follows Blake as he works on establishing and maintaining his sobriety after meeting a young journalist, Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal). The movie is a meditation on the power of connection and community when it comes to recovery from addiction.
Crazy Heart is a must-watch movie about addiction because it emphasizes how important relationships are to the recovery process. The movie is a compassionate look at how necessary this kind of support is to anyone who is trying to rebuild their lives while dealing with their substance use disorders. Crazy Heart is also an authentic look at the impact of fame on a person’s mental health, and how healing it is to have grounding influences.
8
’28 Days’ (2000)
Directed by Betty Thomas
28 Days follows Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock), a journalist with alcohol use disorder. After causing chaos at her sister’s wedding and crashing a limousine, she is given the choice of serving time in jail or entering a rehab program. She chooses rehab and meets other patients who are facing their own challenges. While in rehab, she begins to confront the factors that led her to struggle with alcohol use, including the fact that her mother also lived with addictions of her own.
What makes 28 Days such an essential movie about addiction is the fact that it highlights the rehab experience and how so many people find this an essential step in their recovery. While so many movies sensationalize rehab, 28 Days is an authentic and compassionate look at the courage it takes to even begin a sobriety journey in this way. Watching Gwen realize that she has a problem and begin to recover from her illness makes her a protagonist worth rooting for.
28 Days
- Release Date
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April 6, 2000
- Runtime
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103 Minutes
- Director
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Betty Thomas
- Writers
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Susannah Grant
7
‘The Basketball Diaries’ (1995)
Directed by Scott Kalvert
The Basketball Diaries is based on author Jim Carroll’s autobiography of the same name. The movie follows Carroll’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) experiences with addiction as a teenager as he looked forward to a promising basketball career. The Basketball Diaries focuses on the teen experience with addiction and how quickly the illness can progress. As Carroll becomes more ill, his life spirals increasingly out of control.
The Basketball Diaries is an important movie about addiction because it highlights how devastating addiction is at any age. The movie spotlights how addiction is so often tied to grief, loss, and trauma and how so many people use substances as a way to cope with difficult emotions. The Basketball Diaries also spotlights how addiction doesn’t discriminate based on class or background, and how anyone can find themselves facing this illness.
The Basketball Diaries
- Release Date
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April 21, 1995
- Runtime
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102 minutes
6
‘Beautiful Boy’ (2018)
Directed by Felix van Groeningen
Beautiful Boy stars Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet as father and son David and Nic Sheff. The movie follows Nic’s struggle with addiction as his father figures out how best to support him. Beautiful Boy is based on David Sheff‘s memoir of the same name. Nic Sheff also wrote a book, “Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines”, which chronicles his perspective on his own illness. Beautiful Boy focuses on David’s perspective as a parent.
Beautiful Boy is an essential movie about addiction because it highlights the fact that addictions are so often illnesses that impact the entire family. The movie emphasizes the importance of programs like Al-Anon, which provide support to family members of those living with substance use disorders. Beautiful Boy also realistically portrays the fact that relapse is a part of the recovery process. The movie’s non-judgemental tone makes it a necessary story about addiction.
Beautiful Boy
- Release Date
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October 12, 2018
- Runtime
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120 minutes
5
‘The Outrun’ (2024)
Directed by Nora Fingscheidt
The Outrun is based on journalist Amy Liptrot‘s 2016 memoir of the same name. The story follows Rona (Saoirse Ronan) as she confronts her alcohol use disorder as she manages her career. The Outrun is told through flashbacks, as Rona reflects on everything she went through and how it relates to her addiction. The movie follows Rona throughout her adulthood as she tries to establish a life for herself while engaging in and maintaining her sobriety.
What makes The Outrun such an important story about addiction and alcohol use disorder is that it shows how complex these illnesses are. The movie showcases the connection between past trauma and addiction and how addictions can often begin as a way to cope with this. The Outrun is another example of a story that emphasizes the hope that exists in recovery and how worthwhile this process is for so many.
The Outrun
- Release Date
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October 4, 2024
- Runtime
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118 Minutes
4
‘Days of Wine and Roses’ (1962)
Directed by Blake Edwards
Days of Wine and Roses follows Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon) and Kirsten Arnesen-Clay (Lee Remick), two average Americans who become progressively more entangled in their alcohol use disorder. The movie sees Joe and Kirsten become increasingly co-dependent as their lives spiral further and further out of control. Days of Wine and Roses highlights just how quickly addictions can become all-consuming and the hard work it takes to break this cycle.
Days of Wine and Roses is an essential movie about alcohol use disorder because it is an early American movie that highlights the reality of illness. The movie is an important story of how anyone from any background can find themselves struggling with addiction. Days of Wine and Roses also spotlights the reality that those living with the illness can either support one another in recovery or feed into the addictions of others.
Days of Wine and Roses
- Release Date
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February 4, 1963
- Runtime
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117 minutes
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Lee Remick
Kirsten Arnesen Clay
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Charles Bickford
Ellis Arnesen
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Jack Klugman
Jim Hungerford
3
‘Four Good Days’ (2020)
Directed by Rodrigo GarcÃa
Four Good Days follows Molly (Mila Kunis), a woman with substance use disorder who goes no contact with her family before reappearing in their lives. Her mother, Deb (Glenn Close), does what she can to support her when Molly says she is ready to begin the recovery process. The movie is based on a Washington Post article, “How’s Amanda? A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction”. Four Good Days is another example of a movie that showcases the fact that addiction is an illness that can impact an entire family.
What makes Four Good Days such an important movie about addiction is that it highlights the fact that the illness so often involves both despair and hope. The movie does not sensationalize the recovery process. Instead, Four Good Days is an honest look at how family members of those living with addiction have to build trust from the ground up. The movie is also another example of one that highlights the important truth that relapse is part of the recovery process.
Four Good Days
- Release Date
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April 30, 2021
- Runtime
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100 minutes
2
‘Leaving Las Vegas’ (1995)
Directed by Mike Figgis
Leaving Las Vegas follows a recently fired Hollywood screenwriter, Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage), who lives with alcohol use disorder. After his firing, he makes his way to Las Vegas with the intention of dying by suicide. He meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a sex worker who tries to support him as his mental state declines. Leaving Las Vegas is ultimately a tragedy that provides an unflinching look at how serious this illness can become.
Leaving Las Vegas is such an important movie about alcohol use disorder because it highlights the reality of the fact that this is a profoundly serious illness. The movie emphasizes the fact that, like physical illnesses, addiction can be life-threatening and ultimately terminal. As much of a tragedy as it is, Leaving Las Vegas is another example of a story that showcases the fact that those living with this illness need connection and support.
Leaving Las Vegas
- Release Date
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February 9, 1996
- Director
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Mike Figgis
1
‘My Name is Bill W.’ (1989)
Directed by Daniel Petrie
My Name is Bill W. chronicles the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous by former stockbroker “Bill W.” (James Woods) and physician “Dr. Bob” (James Garner). The movie follows these two as they connect over their shared illness. In coming together, they realized the importance of support and mutual aid for those wanting to begin and maintain sobriety. The two recognized how many others were living with this condition and expanded their group to provide this support to as many people as possible.
My Name is Bill W. is an important movie about addiction because it showcases how essential Alcoholics Anonymous has been to so many. The movie emphasizes the fact that this organization was founded by people who had walked this road themselves and wanted to use their experiences to give hope to others. My Name is Bill W. is another example of a story highlighting how essential love and support are to those with addictions.
If you or someone you know are struggling with addiction, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s website (link: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline ) or call 1-800-662-4357 .
