Movies about delusional 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 a Delusion?

Delusions are false beliefs based on an incorrect interpretation of reality despite the evidence to the contrary. These delusions can apply to part of a person's world (e.g. believing they are immortal) leaving them with clarity of thought and a realistic appreciation of the rest of life. delusional disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis (see criteria below) made in instances where a person has trouble recognising what’s real from what is imagined. A person with delusional disorder often can socialise and function normally, unlike people with other psychotic disorders, who also might have delusions as a symptom of their disorder.

What is Delusional disorder?

In psychiatry, delusional disorder is defined in the DSM-5 (diagnostic manual) as follows…

Delusional disorder 297.1 (F22): | Provided for educational purposes

A. The presence of one (or more) delusions with a duration of 1 month or longer.

B. Criterion A for schizophrenia has never been met.

Note: Hallucinations, if present, are not prominent and are related to the delusional theme (e.g., the sensation of being infested with insects associated with delusions of infestation).

C. Apart from the impact of the delusion(s) or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired, and behaviour is not obviously bizarre or odd.

D. If manic or major depressive episodes have occurred, these have been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods.

E. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition and is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as body dysmorphic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Specify whether:

Erotomania type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion is that another person is in love with the individual.

Grandiose type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion is the conviction of having some great (but unrecognised) talent or insight or having made some important discovery.

Jealous type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the individual’s delusion is that his or her spouse or lover is unfaithful.

Persecutory type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion involves the individual’s belief that he or she is being conspired against, cheated, spied on, followed, poisoned or drugged, maliciously maligned, harassed, or obstructed in the pursuit of long-term goals.

Somatic type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion involves bodily functions or sensations.

Mixed type: This subtype applies when no one delusional theme predominates.

Unspecified type: This subtype applies when the dominant delusional belief cannot be clearly determined or is not described in the specific types (e.g., referential delusions without a prominent persecutory or grandiose component).

Specify if:

With bizarre content: Delusions are deemed bizarre if they are clearly implausible, not understandable, and not derived from ordinary life experiences (e.g., an individual’s belief that a stranger has removed his or her internal organs and replaced them with someone else’s organs without leaving any wounds or scars).

Specify if:

The following course specifiers are only to be used after a 1 -year duration of the disorder:

First episode, currently in acute episode: First manifestation of the disorder meeting the defining diagnostic symptom and time criteria. An acute episode is a time period in which the symptom criteria are fulfilled.

First episode, currently in partial remission: Partial remission is a time period during which an improvement after a previous episode is maintained and in which the defining criteria of the disorder are only partially fulfilled.

First episode, currently in full remission: Full remission is a period of time after a previous episode during which no disorder-specific symptoms are present.

Multiple episodes, currently in acute episode

Multiple episodes, currently in partial remission

Multiple episodes, currently in full remission

Continuous: Symptoms fulfilling the diagnostic symptom criteria of the disorder are remaining for the majority of the illness course, with subthreshold symptom periods being very brief relative to the overall course.

Unspecified

Specify current severity:

Severity is rated by a quantitative assessment of the primary symptoms of psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, abnormal psychomotor behavior, and negative symptoms. Each of these symptoms may be rated for its current severity (most severe in the last 7 days) on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (present and severe). (See Clinician-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity in the chapter “Assessment Measures.”)

Note: Diagnosis of delusional disorder can be made without using this severity specifier.

Movies about Delusional disorder

If we missed an essential film about delusional 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: Wolf - Watch now on Prime

Released: 2021

Rated: 5.2

Cast: George MacKay, Lily-Rose Depp, Stuart Graham, Helen Behan

Storyline: The plot revolves around a boy named Jacob, who believes he is a wolf trapped in a human body, resulting in delusion and an identity crisis.

Movie Title: Open 24 Hours - Watch now on Prime

Released: 2018

Rated: 5.5

Cast: Vanessa Grasse, Brendan Fletcher, Emily Tennant

Storyline: After setting her serial killer boyfriend on fire, a paranoid delusional woman gets a job at an all-night gas station.

Movie Title: Room for Rent - Watch now on Prime

Released: 2019

Rated: 5.3

Cast: Lin Shaye, Oliver Rayon, Valeska Miller

Storyline: The movie revolves around a lonely widow named Joyce, who decides to rent out a room in her house to earn some money. However, things take a dark turn when Joyce becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her new tenants. This obsession leads her into a delusional state.

Movie Title: The Killer of Dolls

Released: 1975

Rated: 5.9

Cast: David Rocha, Inma de Santis, Helga Liné

Storyline: The story revolves around the son of a groundskeeper who is mentally unstable due to childhood trauma. His distorted perception of reality and his delusional identification of people as mannequins contribute to the psychological aspects of the story.

Movie Title: Sunset Boulevard - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1950

Rated: 8.5

Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim

Storyline: The film centres on the delusional, ageing, silent-film queen Norma Desmond. The film exposes the deadly consequences of clinging too tightly to ambition.

Movie Title: Benny & Joon - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1993

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn

Storyline: Benny cares for his delusional sister Joon and welcomes Sam, her sister's friend, into his home. Benny soon starts to realise what's best for her sister.

Movie Title: Repulsion - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1965

Rated: 7.7

Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry, John Fraser

Storyline: A woman with a fear of men struggles after her sister and roommate left her at their apartment. She starts being delusional, imagining hands are grabbing her and a hairy man lying with her under her covers.

Movie Title: The Ninth Configuration - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1980

Rated: 7

Cast: Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller

Storyline: A military psychiatrist was sent to a facility full of unstable military personnel who suffer from being delusional and other mental problems. Trying to help others, he struggles with his insanity.

Movie Title: The King of Comedy - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1982

Rated: 7.8

Cast: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott

Storyline: A delusional man craves to be in the spotlight. He stalks and kidnaps his idol, offering his release in exchange for a guest spot.

Movie Title: Misery - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1990

Rated: 7.8

Cast: James Caan, Kathy Bates

Storyline: An author is injured from a car crash and is rescued by an obsessed fan. Struggles arise when his fan becomes delusional and badly wants to change the story written by him.

Movie Title: Singapore Sling (Greek) - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1990

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Meredith Herold, Panos Thanasoulis, Michele Valley

Storyline: A man who is in search of his lost lover meets a mother and her daughter who are both suffering from delusional disorders.

Movie Title: In the Mouth of Madness - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1995

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Sam Neill, Jurgen Prochnow, Julie Carmen

Storyline: When a horror novelist goes missing, a man begins to investigate but becomes delusional after reading the horror novelist's novels.

Movie Title: Invisible Child - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1999

Rated: 5

Cast: Rita Wilson, Victor Garber, Tushka Bergen

Storyline: A mother who suffers from delusional disorder thinks she has three kids when she has only two. Fearing his wife may be institutionalised, her husband acts as if everything is normal.

Movie Title: A Beautiful Mind - Watch now on Prime

Released: 2001

Rated: 8.2

Cast: Russel Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly

Storyline: The film is inspired by events in the life of John Forbes Nash Jr., a delusional math genius. His wife helps him to recover from his illness and regain his status as a great mathematician.

Movie Title: Donnie Darko - Watch now on Prime

Released: 2001

Rated: 8.1

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jenna Malone, Mary McDonnell

Storyline: A teenager becomes delusional. He sees a giant horrible looking rabbit who manipulates him to commit crimes.

Movie Title: Cupid

Released: 1998

Rated: 7.7

Cast: Jeremy Piven, Paula Marshall, Jeffrey D. Sams

Storyline: A psychiatrist meets a delusional man. The man thinks that he is a cupid sent to Earth with assignments as punishment for his behaviour.

Movie Title: Don Juan DeMarco - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1994

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway

Storyline: A psychiatrist meets a delusional man who believes he is the legendary lover Don Juan. The bond between them helps to revive the psychiatrist's relationship with his wife.

Movie Title: House of Yes - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1997

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Parker Posey, Josh Hamilton, Tori Spelling

Storyline: A delusional woman believes that she is Jackie Kennedy, the first lady of the US. She dresses like her and copies everything about her. Disastrous scenarios happen when her brother brings his girlfriend into their house.

Movie Title: K-PAX - Watch now on Prime

Released: 2001

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack

Storyline: A delusional man thinks that he is from a planet called K-PAX. He gets help from a psychiatrist who's eager to cure him of his delusions.

Movie Title: Play Misty for Me - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1971

Rated: 7

Cast: Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills

Storyline: A radio host meets a girl with whom he had a one-night stand, not knowing she is delusional and does things he didn't expect.

Movie Title: They Might be Giants - Watch now on Prime

Released: 1971

Rated: 6.8

Cast: George C. Scott, Joanne Woodward, Jack Gilford

Storyline: A man becomes delusional after the death of his wife. He thinks he is Sherlock Holmes. He meets a beautiful psychiatrist who rides along with his investigations.

Movie Title: Shutter Island - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2010

Rated: 8.2

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo

Storyline: Teddy, a veteran U.S marshal in World War II develops delusional disorder due to traumatic events. He sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where he uncovers a shocking truth about the place.

References and Links

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

What is delusional disorder?: https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/delusional-disorder-a-to-z

More on delusional disorder: https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/delusional-disorder#1

Delusional disorder according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusional_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

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay