Movies about Addiction

Movies about Addiction

There have been many movies where addiction played a key role. Sometimes it reflects aspects of our real life in the big screen. For example, alcohol addiction can be related to loneliness. Something that is also shown in some movies.

The audience can feel inspired or understood by this. In total there are an estimated 20 million people in the US struggling with a SUD (short for ”substance use disorder”). And this is not only alcohol, but many different sorts of addictions.

Below you’ll find some great movies that deal with all these sorts of addiction.

Full list of movies related to addiction

Let’s get started with some of these movies that are dealing with addiction. To learn more about addiction and alcohol recovery, you can always check out our homepage.

Uncut Gems

This is not so much a movie about alcohol addiction, but more about a gambling addiction. Gambling can put everything at risk.

An addiction usually happens when an individual can not resist their impulses. This movie made in 2019, tells the cautionary tale of Howard Ratner who struggles with a sports gambling disorder.

This gambling addiction put all other aspects of his life at risk, including his family. The audience really feels the stress, denial and chaos that Howard is experiencing in his life.

IMDB page for Uncut Gems

Trainspotting

Trainspotting is another great movie about addiction. This movie is a classic and was first shown on the big screen in 1996. This movie talks about heroin addiction.

Renton and his friend are heroin users and live in Edinburgh, Scotland. This film follows the story of Renton, and his journey to stop using Heroin. As you might imagine, this is not as easy as it looks.

This movie shows the social destruction and misery that can result from substance use. This substance use that was mentioned in this movie is still a major problem in Scotland.

IMDB page for Trainspotting

Beautiful Boy

This is a realistic movie about addiction and family. Beautiful Boy is a 2018 film starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carrel.

It tells the true story of David and Nick Sheef. David is the father of Nick who struggles with meth use. The movie is shot in a dual perspective, and this allows the audience to feel empathy for both sides. You feel empathy for both the user, but also his family and how it affects them.

David is desperate to help his son by any means necessary. Nick’s cycle of recovery and relapse happens together with flashbacks of his childhood. This was done to show the emotional toll that substance use can have on familial relationships.

IMDB page for Beautiful Boy

These are the top 3 movies about addiction. Note that these are not about alcohol recovery or alcohol addiction. If you want to read more posts about this topic then you should read the below 3 blog posts.

Learn Effective Coping Strategies for Alcohol Addiction

New Year’s Resolutions for Recovering Alcoholics

Fun Activities for Recovery