However, this well-crafted film tells the story of 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist) who checks himself into a psychiatric ward because of his depression and suicidal ideation. You wouldn’t think a movie set in a mental health hospital could be a comedy. Matchstick Men is an honest depiction of the rituals and behaviors of someone living with OCD.

When he discovers he has a 14-year-old daughter, he’s forced to evaluate his career choices and isolated lifestyle. His debilitating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ( OCD), agoraphobia and panic attacks make it difficult for him to leave his apartment or even open a door. While he may be confident in his ability to steal from the rich, he struggles in other aspects of his life. Roy (Nicolas Cage) is a con artist working with his protégé to steal a lot of money. Through the magic of film, viewers can live John’s hallucinations with him, which feel as real to the audience as they did to him. The movie beautifully captures the challenges John faced throughout his life, including paranoia and delusions that altered his promising career and deeply affected his life. (Russel Crow), a mathematical savant who lived with schizophrenia. This movie, based on a true story, highlights the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr. Here’s a list of a few movies that get it right. However, there are some movies that realistically show what it’s like to experience mental illness.

For those in “the business” who don’t have lived experience, it can be difficult to depict. Sometimes, these movies show mental illness in a way that is inaccurate or stigmatizing. Because mental illness affects millions of Americans, it’s an extremely relatable theme. It’s becoming increasingly more common for Hollywood to highlight mental health conditions in films.

Best movies 2017 released