10 Essential Movies About Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (2025)

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By Luc Haasbroek

Published Dec 27, 2024

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Mental health and substance abuse are difficult subjects to handle well on-screen. A lot of movies turn these issues into melodrama, or become preachy and didactic, or simply fail to imagine their characters realistically enough. Nevertheless, a few talented filmmakers have explored addiction well, offering commendable portrayals that range from heartbreaking uplifting, bleakly realistic to darkly funny.

With this in mind, this list considers some of the best movies that examine addiction and alcoholism. The following ten movies each bring their own perspective to this all too common struggle. They all make an impact on the viewer, whether through surrealism or unflinching drama, visual ingenuity or layered performances. While they often delve into darkness, these stories can also carry messages of hope, or simply foster empathy and understanding.

Editor's note: The following discusses potentially disturbing subject matter. Please be advised.

10 'The Basketball Diaries' (1995)

Directed by Scott Kalvert

"Just my own naked self and the stars breathing down. It's beautiful." A young Leonardo DiCaprio leads this biographical drama as Jim Carroll, a high school basketball star whose promising future unravels after he becomes addicted to heroin. His relationships soon deteriorate, and he turns to crime to support his habit. The plot isn't that original, but the performances and the confident direction by Scott Kalvert (mostly known for music videos) elevate the material.

DiCaprio delivers a layered performance with minimal dialogue, relying on physicality for the movie's most hard-hitting moments. The film itself benefits from being based on a true story, with the real Carroll holding nothing back in his account of his addiction. This comes through most clearly in the voice-over narration, giving the audience a front-row seat to Carroll's thoughts. Overall, while flawed, The Basketball Diaries is one of the more underrated efforts in DiCaprio's '90s output.

The Basketball Diaries

R

Biography

Crime

Documentary

Drama

Sport

A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.

Cast Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol, James Madio, Patrick McGaw, Mark Wahlberg

Runtime 102 minutes

Writers Jim Carroll, Bryan Goluboff

9 'The Panic in Needle Park' (1971)

Directed by Jerry Schatzberg

"You've been through some changes since I saw you. Now you wanna wipe all that out." The Panic in Needle Park is a grim portrait of heroin addiction in 1970s New York City. It centers on Bobby (Al Pacino), a small-time hustler, and his girlfriend Helen (Kitty Winn) as they navigate their relationship while spiraling into deeper addiction. The movie takes its name from a real location frequented by addicts and offers a realistic depiction of the cycle of dependency, crime, and heartbreak.

The screenplay is smart and complex (it was co-written by Joan Didion), resisting caricature or melodrama. This is complemented by director Jerry Schatzberg's documentary-like approach. Handheld cameras and rhythmic editing immerse the viewer in this bleak world. The final piece of the puzzle is Pacino's intense performance, oscillating between charm, desperation, and volatility. As usual, he makes the character more vivid than he would be simply on the page.

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The Panic in Needle Park

PG

Drama

Set in a notorious New York City locale, a romance blossoms between two lost souls who are drawn together by their shared affliction with heroin addiction. Their relationship, marked by brief highs and prolonged lows, paints a stark portrait of life and love within the throes of addiction.

Cast Al Pacino, Kitty Winn, Alan Vint, Richard Bright, Kiel Martin, Michael McClanathan, Warren Finnerty, Marcia Jean Kurtz

Runtime 110 Minutes

Writers James Mills, Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne

8 'Half Nelson' (2006)

Directed by Ryan Fleck

"Change moves in spirals, not circles." Ryan Gosling received an Oscar nomination for his lead performance in this drama as Dan Dunne, a high school teacher grappling with a secret drug addiction. Despite his personal struggles, Dan inspires his students with his unorthodox teaching style and passion for history. However, his life takes a turn when one of his students, Drey (Shareeka Epps), discovers his secret, and they form an unlikely friendship.

Half Nelson is refreshingly unsentimental, avoiding neat conclusions or feel-good tropes. The movie stands out from similar, more middling takes on the same ideas by avoiding preachiness and leaning into the imperfections of its characters. t also balances heavy themes with natural comedy, making Half Nelson entertaining as well as insightful. The plot is organic and ambiguous, and Gosling rises to the occasion with one of his very best performances. He makes Dan feel real in a way that is unlike anything else in his filmography.

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Half Nelson

R

Drama

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Cast Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie, Jeff Lima, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Tina Holmes, Nathan Corbett, Tyra Kwao-Vovo, Rosemary Ledee, Tristan Mack Wilds, Bryce Silver, Kaela C. Pabon, Erica Rivera, Stephanie Bast, Eleanor Hutchins, Sebastian Sozzi, Karen Chilton, Starla Benford, Denis O'Hare, Deidre Goodwin, Collins Pennie, Deborah Rush, Jay O. Sanders, David Easton, Nicole Vicius

Runtime 107 minutes

7 'Drugstore Cowboy' (1989)

Directed by Gus Van Sant

"Most people don't know how they're gonna feel from one moment to the next. But a dope fiend has a pretty good idea." Drugstore Cowboy focuses on a group of young drug addicts led by Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon), who sustains his habit through a series of daring pharmacy heists. As their criminal exploits escalate, the group begins to unravel, and Bob finds himself questioning the path he has chosen.

Dillon turns in a killer performance here, aided considerably by Gus Van Sant's visually stylized and emotionally gritty storytelling. Rather than going for crime film thrills, he leans into rich characterization and psychological depth. Once again, this is a movie that draws on real experiences; James Fogle, who wrote the source novel, was himself a long-time drug user and dealer. Remarkably, despite its bleak subject matter, the film manages to be an engaging and often darkly funny watch.

Drugstore Cowboy

R

Crime

Documentary

Drama

A pharmacy-robbing dope fiend and his crew pop pills and evade the law.

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Cast Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James LeGros, Heather Graham, Eric Hull, Max Perlich

Runtime 102 minutesWriters James Fogle, Gus Van Sant, Daniel Yost, William S. Burroughs

6 'Beautiful Boy' (2018)

Directed by Felix Van Groeningen

"When I discovered drugs my world went from black and white to technicolor." Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet deliver complementarily great performances here as father and son David and Nic Sheff. The promising young Nic's life is thrown off course by his addiction to heroin and meth, while David struggles to understand and help him. Nic tries 12-step programs and halfway houses, but nothing seems to provide lasting relief.

While the storytelling here isn't always maximally engaging, the lead actors more than compensate, playing both their characters with nuance and humanity. Chalamet yet again demonstrates a talent beyond his years, while Carell flexes his dramatic muscle (as he did in Little Miss Sunshine and Foxcatcher), showing that his powers as a performer don't stop with Michael Scott. They bring the audience into the characters' world, making their pain and love deeply felt. "David was mourning his son while his son was still alive," Carell has said, explaining his approach to playing the role.

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Beautiful Boy

R

Biography

Drama

Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.

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Cast Timothée Chalamet, Kaitlyn Dever, Steve Carell, Amy Ryan, Maura Tierney

Writers Felix Van Groeningen, Luke Davies

5 'Leaving Las Vegas' (1995)

Directed by Mike Figgis

“I came here to drink myself to death.” Nicolas Cage won his sole Oscar for his work in this saga of self-destruction and unexpected connection. He plays Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic screenwriter who moves to Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death. There, he meets sex worker Sera (Elisabeth Shue), and the two form an unlikely bond. Despite their mutual struggles, they each provide the other with the possibility of solace.

This is perhaps the most shattered Cage has appeared on-screen, a far cry from the goofy or larger-than-life characters he's since become associated with. What's all the more impressive is that his character (and Shue's) are borderline cliches on paper, yet, thanks to the actors, they manage to come across as three-dimensional and vivid. Cage has said that his performance was helped by the fact that Leaving Las Vegas was filmed on 16mm film, saying, "Having a 16-mm. camera in my face was liberating because it's much smaller, so you don't feel as intimidated by it. It catches those little nuances."

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Leaving Las Vegas

R

An alcoholic screenwriter moves to Las Vegas intending to drink himself to death. Amidst his downward spiral, he forms a complex relationship with a kind-hearted but troubled prostitute, leading both to confront personal struggles as they navigate the harsh realities of their lives and circumstances.

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Cast Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis

Runtime

4 'Traffic' (2000)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

"If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy." Traffic is one of two great movies Steven Soderbergh released in 2000, the other being Erin Brockovich. The former is a multi-layered exploration of the global drug trade, examining its impact from various perspectives. It weaves together several stories, including that of a Mexican cop (Benicio Del Toro) caught in the crossfire of drug cartels, and a conservative judge (Michael Douglas) who is appointed as the nation’s Drug Czar, only to discover his own daughter is addicted to heroin.

The end result is an undeniably ambitious and meticulously crafted film, showcasing the director's talent for mustering ensemble casts. Some may find it a little overwhelming, but it deserves praise for cramming ten films' worth of plot into 147 minutes. For all these reasons, Traffic was feted at that year's Oscars, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Del Toro.

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Traffic

R

Crime

Drama

Thriller

A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect an informant. A jailed drug baron's wife attempts to carry on the family business.

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Cast Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, Luis Guzman, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Runtime 147 Minutes

Writers Simon Moore, Stephen Gaghan

3 'The Lost Weekend' (1945)

Directed by Billy Wilder

"The circle is the perfect geometric figure. No end, no beginning." The oldest film on this list by several decades is The Lost Weekend, a movie that broke ground for the 1940s with its frank depiction of addiction. The plot centers on Don Birnam (Ray Milland), an aspiring writer struggling with severe alcoholism. The movie spans a harrowing four-day bender during which Don’s life spirals out of control. Don's relationships with his brother (Philip Terry) and girlfriend (Jane Wyman) are tested as they try to intervene, but his descent into darkness feels inevitable.

The finished product is an impressive film noir, boasting the legendary Billy Wilder's typically stellar direction. He won the Oscar for his efforts, as did Milland. The Lost Weekend is limited by the attitudes of the time and the restrictions of the Hays Code, but it's still head and shoulders above most dramas of the era, treating its characters with understanding.

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The Lost Weekend

Passed

Drama

Film Noir

The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.

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Cast Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry, Howard Da Silva, Doris Dowling, Frank Faylen, Mary Young, Anita Sharp-Bolster

Runtime 101 Minutes

Writers Charles R. Jackson, Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder

2 'Trainspotting' (1996)

Directed by Danny Boyle

“Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a family. Why would I want to do a thing like that?” One of Danny Boyle's very best films, the visceral, grimly humorous Trainspotting immerses viewers in Edinburgh's underbelly, where the charismatic but troubled Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) leads a group of young heroin addicts. Winning performances, a colorful yet brutal script, and Boyle's energetic, stylized direction make the film a legitimate masterpiece.

Trainspotting pulls off an impressive balance between harsh, honest subject matter and cinematic vitality, serving up layered characters alongside inventive visuals. There are jump cuts, zoom shots, freeze frames, wide angles, frenetic hand-held shots, and hallucinatory images. Few films alternate so skillfully between humor and horror. Much praise must also go to the young McGregor, who makes Renton both sympathetic and loathsome. This was a star-making performance for the actor, and for good reason. Trainspotting has aged well and remains a landmark of 1990s cinema.

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Trainspotting

R

Drama

Heroin addict Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable friends -- Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd). He also has an underage girlfriend, Diane (Kelly Macdonald), along for the ride. After cleaning up and moving from Edinburgh to London, Mark finds he can't escape the life he left behind when Begbie shows up at his front door on the lam, and a scheming Sick Boy follows

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Cast Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Macdonald

Runtime 93 minutes

Writers John Hodge

1 'Requiem for a Dream' (2000)

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

"How come you know more about medicine than a doctor?" Claiming the top spot on this list is Darren Aronofsky's harrowing, visually arresting Requiem for a Dream. Not for the faint of heart, this movie follows four characters—Harry (Jared Leto), his mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn), his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and his friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans)—as they chase their respective dreams while succumbing to substance abuse. It's simply brutal cinema, an adequate match for the corrosive substance at its center; the kind of movie that few would want to see more than once.

Arofonosky's visual firepower is very much on display here (particularly in the bold editing and cinematography, as is his keen understanding of the characters' inner states. Their struggles feel authentic, rather than gimmicky. With its powerful performances, emotional depth, and unforgettable score, Requiem for a Dream adds up to possibly cinema's most indelible statement on addiction and its toll.

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Requiem for a Dream

R

Drama

Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream follows the lives of four drug addicts as they fall deeper into their addiction and pull their loved ones on a downward spiral along with themselves. The 2000 psychological drama is an adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr.'s eponymous novel and counts with a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, Christopher McDonald, and Mark Margolis.

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Cast Ellen Burstyn, Marlon Wayans, Christopher McDonald, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly

Runtime 102 minutesWriters Darren Aronofsky, Hubert Selby Jr.

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.

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