Therapy on the Big Screen

As a therapist—and a lifelong film buff—I’m often asked about movies that portray psychotherapy or mental illness. It’s a question I imagine all professionals get. Cops, firefighters, doctors, pilots—we’ve all had that moment of watching a movie and thinking, “That’s not how it really works… but okay.” Movies are not documentaries. They’re entertainment. They are scripted to transform us, to pull us into a world of heightened stakes, symbolism, drama, and emotion. Whether we’re soaring through space, wandering through dreams, or sitting across from a fictional therapist, movies are about storytelling. They compress time, amplify character arcs, and resolve enormous internal struggles—usually—in under 120 minutes. That said, a few films stand out for how they explore psychological themes. Some do it with raw emotion. Some do it symbolically or satirically. None are designed to be used as therapy manuals—but many still hold emotional truth.

Here are six films that moved me personally and professionally. They may not be perfect portrayals of therapy, but they each offer something unforgettable.

1. Ordinary People (1980)

Directed by Robert Redford

This film deeply influenced my path toward becoming a therapist. It tells the story of Conrad, a teenager grappling with grief, guilt, and depression after the accidental death of his brother. Judd Hirsch’s portrayal of Dr. Berger—a calm, steady therapist helping Conrad find his way—is grounded and deeply human. Therapy in Ordinary People is neither magical nor melodramatic; it’s uncomfortable, vulnerable, and transformative. The film remains one of the most realistic portrayals of talk therapy ever put on screen.

2. A Dirty Filthy Love (2004)

Directed by Adrian Shergold

Michael Sheen plays a man struggling with both Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tourette's Syndrome. His descent is painful to watch—but so is his journey back toward connection and stability. The group therapy scenes are especially powerful. This British film is raw and unpolished in all the right ways, and it captures the importance of community support, peer honesty, and understanding mental illness with compassion rather than fear.

3. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Directed by Gus Van Sant

Will Hunting is a genius with a traumatic past, and Robin Williams’s character, therapist Sean Maguire, meets him with both empathy and fire. Their sessions veer into territory that no real therapist would enter—yes, there’s even a scene where Sean grabs Will and threatens him ("I will end you," if I recall correctly)—but this is cinema. It’s symbolic, not clinical. Still, the heart of the movie—the idea that therapy is about building trust and facing what hurts—is powerfully conveyed. That iconic “It’s not your fault” scene? That hits home, even if therapy in real life doesn’t quite unfold like that.

4. Antwone Fisher (2002)

Directed by Denzel Washington

Based on a true story, this film follows a Navy serviceman forced into therapy after an outburst. Over time, his history of trauma is revealed, and he learns to open up. The therapeutic process here is respectful, slow, and centered on trust. Denzel Washington plays the therapist with restraint, warmth, and integrity. Therapy becomes a space for telling the truth—maybe for the first time. There’s no magical cure, but there is healing.

5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Directed by Miloš Forman

A cinematic landmark, based on Ken Kesey’s novel, this film depicts life in a psychiatric institution through the eyes of R.P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), who fakes insanity to avoid prison. It’s powerful, symbolic, and brilliantly acted—but it is not an accurate reflection of modern mental health care. The depiction of Nurse Ratched, electroshock therapy, and lobotomy treatments reflects practices and fears of a different era. I’ve had clients express deep anxiety after watching this film, wondering if inpatient psychiatric treatment still resembles this level of cruelty and loss of autonomy. It doesn’t. Today’s psychiatric facilities focus on patient rights, informed consent, and recovery-based models of care. But as a film? It’s unforgettable—one of the great explorations of power, rebellion, and institutional control.

6. Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Directed by Craig Gillespie

This quiet gem tells the story of Lars, a socially anxious man who believes a life-sized doll is his girlfriend. It sounds absurd, but what unfolds is one of the most compassionate depictions of mental health support in any film. A small town and a wise, patient therapist (Patricia Clarkson) allows Lars to process his grief and trauma at his own pace. There’s no confrontation or ridicule—only patience, presence, and gentle guidance. In its own way, it’s a love letter to the power of unconditional acceptance.

Bonus Picks: Entertaining, Exaggerated, and Just Plain Fun

Let’s be honest—some movies about therapy aren’t designed to reflect any clinical reality at all. And I love them anyway. Because first and foremost, movies must entertain. That’s the golden rule of cinema. They’re not case studies—they’re stories. And sometimes, all we want to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

• What About Bob? (1991) – Bill Murray plays the ultimate therapy-clinger who disrupts his uptight therapist’s vacation. It’s exaggerated, ridiculous, and endlessly quotable.

• Inside Out (2015) – Pixar turns emotions into characters and gives children (and adults) an accessible way to understand emotional regulation and loss.

• Analyze This (1999) – Robert De Niro as a mob boss in therapy? Yes, please. Billy Crystal plays the anxious psychiatrist caught in the crossfire of the underworld and his own panic attacks.

• Dead Again (1991) – Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson star in this psychological thriller that mixes mystery, reincarnation, and a hypnotist’s office. Part neo-noir, part melodrama—pure entertainment.

  
  

Closing Thoughts

As a therapist, I’ll always notice what movies get wrong about mental health. But as a screenwriter and film lover, I celebrate what they get right: the ability to reflect inner worlds, to dramatize transformation, to explore pain and resilience with power, style, and humanity.

There are many more films I’d love to write about—A Beautiful Mind, Thelma and Louise, The Sopranos, In Treatment, and others. Some are clinical, some emotional, some just brilliant character studies. In future blog posts, I’ll explore more. But for now, I’ll leave you with this: whether a movie is accurate, fantastical, tragic, or hilarious—if it made you feel something, if it made you think about therapy or life differently, then it did its job.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

About the Author:

Eugene Roginsky is an Illinois-based psychotherapist, writer, and speaker. He practices out of Lincolnshire, Illinois, in the state’s Lake County, where he works with individuals, couples, and families. Eugene brings over 28 years of clinical experience to his work and often integrates creativity, narrative, and film into the therapeutic process.