Trauma and PTSD are important issues that need to be addressed, and cinema has been one of the most impactful media for this in recent years. Here is our selection of the best films about trauma recovery:
15. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
This movie stars another veteran actor. Meryl Streep stars as Sophie in this 80s movie. Sophie is a Polish Immigrant and Holocaust survivor who lives in Brooklyn with her lover, Nathan, and a young writer named Stino.
The movie delves into Sophie’s traumatic experiences during the Holocaust and the choices she was forced to make during that time.
Throughout the film, Sophie fights guilt and sorrow over her past choices. Her relationship with Stingo provides moments of solace, but her trauma remains a constant element.
14. The Deer Hunter (1978)
War is terrifying, even after years, it can haunt the soldiers. The Deer Hunter is the story of a group of friends from a small town in Pennsylvania. Michael, Nick, and Steven are impacted by the horrors and aftermath of the Vietnam War.
The intense Russian Roulette scenes have become synonymous with this movie. It has done justice in portraying the psychological toll of war.
The film follows the trio as they try to cope with the psychological scars of war and struggle to reintegrate into civilian life. The themes of friendship and healing from trauma are heavily highlighted throughout the film.
13. Smile (2022)
This horror film shows that sometimes people who treat certain conditions can also suffer from them.
This film is the story of Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide. She starts to witness horrifying occurrences after the traumatic event. As her condition worsens, she must confront the source of her fear to survive it.
So does she overcome the supernatural manifestation of her trauma that has been passed on to her by the patient? Or will she be slain by it and pass on the curse to someone else?
12. Midsommar (2019)
Midsommar has a twisted ending that may not sit well with people looking for a fairytale ending. Trauma recovery? Sort of.
This horror film is directed by Ari Aster and follows Dani, a woman dealing with personal trauma after the tragic death of her family. When she joined her boyfriend and his friends on a trip to Sweden, she did not expect the kind of things that were to happen at the festival they were traveling to.
The festival is in a remote village and at first seems normal, but soon reveals its dark and sinister nature. Though she takes a journey from grief and isolation to a sense of belonging, the way it plays out is quite unconventional.
11. The Babadook (2014)
Psychological horror alert! Amelia is a single mother to Samuel. After the death of her husband, they are haunted by a sinister presence that manifests in the shape of Babadook. It is a creature from a mysterious children’s book.
Amelia has to acknowledge her pain and address it to confront Babadook. Will she be able to do it or fall deep into the pit of grief?
10. Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Lee Chandler is stricken by grief, depressed, and burdened by guilt after the death of his brother. He is forced to return to his roots to take care of his orphaned teenage nephew, Patrick.
The movie shows his journey as he copes with grief and guilt. He carves his path through the emotional trauma by accepting his past and working towards rebuilding his life.
9. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Tom Cruise in a biographical war movie. What more can you ask for? Directed by Olive Stone, this biographical movie stars Tom as Ron Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran.
The film depicts Ron’s journey from a patriotic young man eager to serve his country to a physically and emotionally scarred war veteran. The film moves on to show how he transforms this trauma into redemption by advocating for veterans’ rights and peace.
8. The Invisible Man (2020)
You physically escaped an abusive relationship, but still live in the cage you’ve built in your mind, so have you escaped?
Cecilia escapes from her abusive ex-boyfriend, but after his apparent suicide, she becomes convinced that he has found a way to become invisible. She feels tormented by the constant feeling that he is stalking her. Cecilia struggles to take control of her life and prove her sanity, but her resilience wins in the end.
7. Leave No Trace (2018)
Will is an Iraq War veteran suffering from PTSD. He and his daughter, Tom, live off the grid in a forest park. When they are discovered, they have no choice but to reintegrate into society. This new lifestyle challenges the way of living they are used to and also their relationship.
Will they have the same bond after they reintegrate into society? How will they find the balance between independence and social needs?
This movie is a great case of PTSD and societal isolation. A must-watch.
6. Room (2015)
As the name suggests, most of the movie is centered around a room. For over seven years, Joy was held captive in a room where she gave birth to her son. They succeed in escaping the room, but what lies outside is not heaven either.
The resilience and strength of the mother-son bond keep them sane as they reintegrate into society and try to rebuild their lives.
Be careful, this movie is not for the weak-hearted.
5. Sleepers (1996)
Pranks are not always funny; sometimes things can go extremely wrong. That’s what a group of friends from Hell’s Kitchen is sent to a detention center for.
Never did they imagine that a prank could lead to years of abuse by guards at the reform school. After thirteen years, they seek justice for the wrongs done to them.
Will confronting their abusers and seeking justice heal their emotional scars? You’ll have to see it to believe it.
4. Ordinary People (1980)
Survivor’s guilt is not a joke. This movie highlights the importance of accepting fate when there’s nothing better one can do.
This Robert Redford movie follows the Jarrett family as they cope with the loss of their elder son in a boating accident. The younger son, Conard, is grief-stricken and burdened with survivor’s guilt. The parents deal with their grief.
Through therapy sessions and efforts to reconnect with his family, he can heal from the trauma.
3. Gran Torino (2008)
Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino is a story of a Korean War veteran who is estranged from his family and struggles with past trauma.
Walt lives in a Detroit neighborhood that has been predominantly occupied by Hmong over time. He is initially prejudiced towards his neighbors and alienates himself from the community. When Theo, a Hmong teenager, tries to steal his precious Gran Torino, that’s when he reluctantly gets involved in the boy’s life and the local community.
As he opens up to his neighbors, he finds a sense of purpose and redemption that ultimately leads him to a crossroads. To dwell in the past or to make a self-sacrificial choice and attain peace.
2. Taxi Driver (1976)
You can’t go wrong with a Robert De Niro movie. Martin Scorsese casts Robert De Niro as Travis Black in this classic movie. Travis is a Vietnam War veteran who lives in New York City as a taxi driver.
His mental instability, combined with the decay and corruption he witnesses in the city, starts making him detached from reality. In his mind, he has to clean the city of all its evil, so he plans a violent act to do so.
Travis’s recovery is a bit ambiguous because his actions are driven by his unstable mental state.
1. Good Will Hunting (1997)
This may be the most famous movie on the list. You’re living under a rock if you haven’t at least heard about it.
A janitor at MIT, Will Hunting (Matt Damon), with a genius-level intellect, is noticed by some MIT professors for his mental capabilities, but Will is unable to reach his full potential because of his traumatic past. A professor at the university recognizes his extraordinary abilities and wants to groom him. But when Will assaults a police officer, he is given the choice between jail time and therapy.
That’s when he meets Dr. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) and his life changes for the better.
Honorable Mentions
- The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012)
- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- Wild (2014)
What are your favorite trauma recovery movies? Share with us in the comments!
