Movies about antisocial personality disorder- Mental Health Related Films

Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any psychiatric diagnostic system or symptom checklist can ever portray.

Most people recognise aspects of themselves in at least a few psychiatric diagnostic categories. The difference between normal and disorder is not straightforward and often has more to do with degree rather than kind, i.e. does it cause big problems?

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

Click to see the Ultimate List of Mental Health Movies index

What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

antisocial personality disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis (see criteria below) characterised by a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, and violating the rights of others.

People with an antisocial personality disorder can be deceptively charming or witty but they act rashly and dangerously often without feeling anxiety or remorse.

Effective psychotherapy requires the client's motivation to change. Motivation generally grows from a wish to end personal suffering. People diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder cause, rather than experience, suffering and rarely seek psychotherapy with the intention to change this aspect of their personality. Prognosis is generally poor, even when forced to attend therapy.

Abridged DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria of antisocial personality disorder 301.7 (F60.2)

A. A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviours, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.

2. Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.

3. Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.

4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.

5. Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others.

6. Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behaviour or honour financial obligations.

7. Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalising having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.

B. The individual is at least age 18 years.

C. There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.

Movies about Antisocial personality disorder

If we missed an essential film about antisocial personality disorder, please let us know. We would love to include it.

Note: Movies may trigger painful memories and emotions. Please use your judgement and ensure support is available if need be.

Movie Title: Primordial

Release: 2015

Rated: 4.1

Cast: Marylee Osborne, Erin R. Ryan, Christopher Rowley

Storyline: Valerie Graves, a misanthropic, disillusioned woman in her mid-twenties, is haunted by sadistic urges that she has struggled to repress since childhood.

Movie Title: Lolita - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1997

Rated: 6.9

Cast: Jeremy Irons, Dominique Swain, Melanie Griffith

Storyline: An English professor, who is a paedophile with traits of anti-social personality disorder, falls in love with a young girl. The movie (and book) delivers a dramatic illustration of how likeable, and undetectable, predators can be.

Movie Title: Deceived - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1991

Rated: 6.2

Cast: Goldie Hawn, John Heard, Damon Redfern

Storyline: Shocked to learn of her husband's death, Adrienne's life is put in danger when she finds out she is married to a man with anti-social personality disorder.

Movie Title: The Joker - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2019

Rated: 8.5

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz

Storyline: A party clown who was bullied and disregarded by society develops antisocial personality and becomes the criminal mastermind known as The Joker.

Movie Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1975

Rated: 8.7

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Michael Berryman

Storyline: Set in a psychiatric hospital, the film grapples with a number of mental health-related issues; antisocial personality being one. This true classic also interrogates the distinction been normal and abnormal; patient, and doctor.

Movie Title: Girl Interrupted - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1999

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall

Storyline: Set in a psychiatric hospital, a girl meets people with different mental health issues such as antisocial personality disorder, schizophrenia , borderline personality disorder , and many more.

Movie Title: The Bad Seed - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1956

Rated: 7.5

Cast: Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, Henry Jones

Storyline: A family whose life seems to be perfect until they discover their daughter's dark secret. The daughter suffers from an antisocial personality disorder and has murderous tendencies.

Movie Title: The Clockwork Orange - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1971

Rated: 8.4

Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates

Storyline: A young man who has antisocial personality disorder commits horrific violent crimes. To reduce his sentence in prison, he volunteers for an experimental therapy, but with unexpected results.

Movie Title: The Good Son - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1993

Rated: 6.4

Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Elijah Wood, Wendy Creson

Storyline: A young boy stays with his relatives while his father goes on a business trip. His cousin who has antisocial personality disorder commits horrific crimes. He tries to reveal his cousin's crimes before it's too late.

Movie Title: Gas Light - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1944

Rated: 7.9

Cast: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten

Storyline: A famous opera singer falls in love with a man who has an antisocial personality disorder. He tries to manipulate her using gas lights to hide his dark secret.

Movie Title: Brighton Rock - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1947

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Richard Attenborough, Hermione Baddeley, William Hartnell

Storyline: A leader of a small-town gang has an antisocial personality disorder. In order to hide his crimes, he married an innocent girl. He becomes paranoid until he convinces himself to kill his wife too.

Movie Title: Rope - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1948

Rated: 8

Cast: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger

Storyline: Two men suffer from an antisocial personality disorder and think they are intellectually superior, murder a mutual friend. Attempting to make the crime perfect, they host a dinner party but their professor starts to suspect them.

Movie Title: Cape Fear - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1962

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange

Storyline: A man who has antisocial personality disorder devotes his life to destroying his former lawyer's family for purposely failing to defend him.

Movie Title: The Butterfly Effect - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2004

Rated: 7.7

Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters

Storyline: A boy experiences blackouts and amnesia . His friend named Tommy suffers from an antisocial personality disorder. Later, in his 20's, he finds he can travel back in time and attempts to change the past.

Movie Title: Halloween - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1978

Rated: 7.9

Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis Tony Moran

Storyline: A young boy suffers from a mental illness that causes him to kill his sister. He has an antisocial personality disorder and becomes increasingly more dangerous as he gets older.

Movie Title: A Killer in the Family - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1983

Rated: 7.1

Cast: Robert Mitchum, James Spader, Lance Kerwin

Storyline: Three brothers help their father to escape from prison. They believe that their father is a loving and innocent man not knowing he has an antisocial personality disorder and never hesitates to kill a person.

Movie Title: Pacific Heights - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1990

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Michael Keaton, Melanie Griffith, Matthew Modine

Storyline: A man who has antisocial personality disorder becomes a tenant of a Victorian home but refuses to pay rent. His bad behaviour leads him to his death.

Movie Title: The Burning Bed - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1984

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Farrah Fawcett, Paul Le Mat, Richard Masur

Storyline: Francine's husband, who suffers from an antisocial personality disorder, physically abuses her. She is responsible for her husband's death but the jury finds her not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.

Movie Title: The Deliberate Stranger - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1986

Rated: 7.6

Cast: Mark Marmon, Frederic Forrest, George Gizzard

Storyline: Based on a true story, the film depicts the life of the serial killer named Ted Bundy who was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder .

Movie Title: Manhunter - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1986

Rated: 7.2

Cast: William Petersen, Kim Greist, Joan Allen

Storyline: An FBI agent is called out of early retirement to assist on a serial murder case. The serial killer has an antisocial personality disorder and kills his victims without remorse.

Movie Title: Iceman - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2012

Rated: 6.9

Cast: Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, James Franco, Winona Ryder

Storyline: Richard Kuklinski who has antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder , kills people for pleasure and personal gain. He manages to keep his dark secret from his family.

Movie Title: A Fish Called Wanda - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1988

Rated: 7.6

Cast: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis Kevin Kline

Storyline: Four different people team up to commit armed robbery. They try to doublecross each other for the loot. One of the characters, Kevin Kline, has an antisocial personality disorder.

Movie Title: Goodfellas - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1990

Rated: 8.7

Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci

Storyline: The story revolves around Henry Hill and his two unstable friends. One of his friends, Tommy, has an antisocial personality disorder. They commit petty crimes and gradually become violent murderers.

Movie Title: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1990

Rated: 7

Cast: Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles

Storyline: Henry who has an antisocial personality disorder, meets Otis, who becomes a willing accomplice in Henry's killings. Things get out of hand when Henry forms a bond with Otis' sister.

Movie Title: The Krays - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1990

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Billie Whitelaw

Storyline: Twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray have an antisocial personality disorder. Raised under the influence of their hateful mother, the two become crime lords. Some people are after them and want to reclaim what the twins took from them.

Movie Title: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1992

Rated: 6.5

Cast: Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy

Storyline: The story is about a nanny who has an antisocial personality disorder. She wants to destroy the family of another woman who she blames for her husband's death.

Movie Title: Kalifornia - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1993

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, Kathy Larson

Storyline: Brian and Carrie are working on a book about serial killers. To cut costs, they set up a ride-share with strangers, Early who has an antisocial personality disorder, and his girlfriend, Adele.

Movie Title: Natural Born Killers - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1994

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore

Storyline: The story of two victims of traumatic childhoods. The two who has antisocial personality disorder became lovers and murderers.

Movie Title: Speed - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1994

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock

Storyline: A man who has antisocial personality disorder plants a bomb in a local bus and threatens to set it off if the people didn't meet his demand.

Movie Title: Se7en - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1995

Rated: 8.6

Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey

Storyline: A serial killer with Antisocial Personality Disorder displays his victims after murdering them by using the pattern of seven deadly sins. Cops are hunting him, which will lead to an unforgettable closing.

Movie Title: Freeway - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1996

Rated: 6.9

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Bakeem Woodbine

Storyline: A teenage girl who has antisocial personality disorder decides to search for her estranged grandmother. She is given a ride by a school counsellor who is a notorious killer.

Movie Title: Matilda - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1996

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Danny DeVito, Rhea Pelman, Mara Wilson

Storyline: A girl discovers her superpower and uses it to fight back against her school principal, who has narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders.

Movie Title: Scream - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1996

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Nave Cambell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette

Storyline: After the death of Sydney's mother, more murders start to occur. The suspect who has antisocial personality disorder uses horror films as part of a deadly game.

Movie Title: Clay Pigeons - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1998

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, Janeane Garofalo

Storyline: Clay becomes the prime suspect after his best friend kills himself. Amanda, the widow, doesn't like Clay seeing another woman. Clay befriends a serial killer who has an antisocial personality disorder.

Movie Title: Wild Things - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1998

Rated: 6.5

Cast: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Cambell

Storyline: Sam, a guidance counsellor, is accused of raping two girls. The detective who investigates the case keeps an eye on the trio. The ultimate mastermind of the entire plot has an antisocial personality disorder and a high IQ.

Movie Title: The Talented Mr. Ripley - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1999

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law

Storyline: Tom Ripley, a young man who has antisocial personality disorder meets Dickie Greenleaf, the son of a wealthy man, who has a narcissistic personality disorder . Tom goes to extreme lengths to make Dickie's privileges his own.

Movie Title: Sexy Beast - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2000

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane

Storyline: A retired gangster's life is shattered when his ex-boss, who has antisocial personality disorder, threatens him to carry out one last heist.

Movie Title: Hannibal - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2001

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman

Storyline: Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a psychiatrist but he has an antisocial personality disorder and is incarcerated for cannibalism. His sixth victim is obsessed with revenge and uses someone as bait.

Movie Title: Training Day - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2001

Rated: 7.7

Cast: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn

Storyline: A detective who has antisocial personality disorder must train a rookie on his first day. The rookie learns the detective's unethical methods and realises that the detective is trying to set him up.

Movie Title: Catch Me if You Can - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2002

Rated: 8

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken

Storyline: Frank Abagnale, Jr has an antisocial personality disorder and is a master of deception. An FBI agent pursues him after he successfully forged millions of dollars' worth of checks.

Movie Title: Red Dragon - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2002

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton Ralph Fiennes

Storyline: An Ex-FBI agent is assigned to track down the serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy who has an antisocial personality disorder.

Movie Title: The Devil's Rejects - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2005

Rated: 6.9

Cast: Sid Haig, Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley

Storyline: All of the members of the Firely family have an antisocial personality disorder and maintain their murder spree in Texas. A sheriff seeks revenge for the death of his brother and promises to capture and kill the psychopaths.

Movie Title: Red Eye - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2005

Rated: 6.5

Cast: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox

Storyline: A hotel manager is forced by a terrorist who has antisocial personality disorder to help him in a mission to kill the head of Homeland Security.

Movie Title: No Country for Old Men - Click to watch

Release: 2007

Rated: 8.1

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Borrdem, Josh Brolin

Storyline: After discovering two million dollars while strolling, a hunter becomes hunted when the killer who has antisocial personality chases him and wants to get the money.

Movie Title: The Killer Inside Me - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2010

Rated: 6.1

Cast: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba

Storyline: The district attorney suspects the sheriff after the wealthy mogul's son is found dead. The sheriff who has antisocial personality disorder stays cool but is slowly unmasked as a psychotic killer.

Movie Title: We Need to Talk About Kevin -Watch now on Prime

Release: 2011

Rated: 7.5

Cast: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller

Storyline: A young boy named Kevin displays the features of a severe antisocial personality disorder. His mother who is a travel writer has to deal with her son's horrific actions.

Movie Title: Starred Up - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2013

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend

Storyline: A violent teenager who behaves as though he has an antisocial personality disorder is locked up in a prison. Inside the prison, he meets his estranged father who introduces him to a therapy group.

Movie Title: Stoker - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2013

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode

Storyline: A young girl with antisocial personality disorder traits meets her uncle whom she never knew existed. She becomes infatuated with him and discovers his uncle's dark secrets.

Movie Title: Paradise Lost - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Hutcherson, Claudia Traisac

Storyline: A young surfer begins a relationship with the niece of a Colombian drug lord who has an antisocial personality disorder. He discovers the dangerous business of the Escobar family.

Movie Title: Gone Girl - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rated: 8.1

Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris

Storyline: A writer has a wife who has an antisocial personality disorder. Their relationship seems to be happy not until he made his life miserable.

Movie Title: Nightcrawler - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rated: 7.9

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Rousso, Bill Paxton

Storyline: A thief with antisocial personality disorder realises that he can make money by capturing photographs of criminal activities.

Movie Title: American Psycho - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2000

Rated: 7.6

Cast: Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Chloe Sevigny

Storyline: A wealthy investment banker with antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder is a serial killer by night (or is he?).

References and Links:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Symptoms and signs of Antisocial personality disorder:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/antisocial-personality-disorder/symptoms/

More on Antisocial personality disorder:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/antisocial-personality-disorder-a-to-z

Antisocial personality disorder according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi