Movies about obsessive-compulsive 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 Obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition characterised by obsessions, intrusive thoughts and compulsive (hard to control) behaviours.

We often double-check to make sure that we have locked our doors or windows. But a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder goes beyond this. They may feel obliged to carry out repeated rituals (routines) even if they appreciate that they are unreasonable and that they complicate their daily life.

A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder is aware that their thoughts and behaviours are illogical but they struggle to control them.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is different from an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).

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

Abridged DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria of obsessive-compulsive disorder 300.3 (F42) | Provided for educational purposes

A. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:

Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):

1. Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.

2. The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion).

Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2):

1. Repetitive behaviours (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.

2. The behaviours or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviours or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralise or prevent, or are clearly excessive. Note: Young children may not be able to articulate the aims of these behaviours or mental acts.

B. The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Movies about Obsessive-compulsive disorder

If we missed an essential film about obsessive-compulsive 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: The House That Jack Built - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2018

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman

Storyline: Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer, displays traits associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He exhibits repetitive and ritualistic behaviors, a need for order and symmetry, and an overwhelming urge to control his environment.

Movie Title: Neurotic Quest for Serenity - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2017

Rated: 5.4

Cast: Tatá Werneck, Vera Holtz, Bruno Gagliasso

Storyline: Kika K is a successful star with millions of admirers, but she is going through a personal and professional crisis: she must deal with an obsessive fan, a lover who has no idea what he is doing, professional appointments planned by the entrepreneur, and her obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Movie Title: Raising Genius

Release: 2004

Rated: 4.0

Cast: Justin Long, Wendie Malick, Ed Begley Jr.

Storyline: A young boy seeks solace in the bathroom, where he spends his time meticulously working out math equations on the shower wall. He is obsessed with a cheerleader named Lacy, who lives across the street from. He has obsessive compulsive parents.

Movie Title: What If It Works? - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2017

Rated: 5.6

Cast: Luke Ford, Anna Samson, Brooke Satchwell

Storyline: Adrian, a perpetually cheerful tech nerd, suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Grace, a lovely street artist, suffers from multiple personality disorder. It's a love story that appears to be unattainable. But what if it works?

Movie Title: Straight Up - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2019

Rated: 6.9

Cast: Justin Long, Wendie Malick, Ed Begley Jr.

Storyline: Todd and Rory are intellectual soul mates. Todd has obsessive-compulsive disorder. He exhibits a strong need for order, cleanliness, and symmetry, which often leads to challenges in his personal life.

Movie Title: Monk - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2002-2009 (TV Series)

Rated: 8.0

Cast: Tony Shalhoub, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine

Storyline: Adrian Monk is a bright former San Francisco detective who now works as a private consultant for the police and suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Movie Title: Professor T - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2021

Rated: 4.0

Cast: Ben Miller, Emma Naomi, Barney White

Storyline: The police are advised by Professor Jasper Tempest, a brilliant Cambridge University criminologist with obsessive-compulsive disorder and an overbearing mother. The English adaptation of the Belgian crime drama of the same name.

Movie Title: As Good As It Gets - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1997

Rated: 7.7

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt

Storyline: A rude writer who has obsessive-compulsive disorder changed when he was forced to take care of his neighbour's dog after the owner was assaulted in a robbery and when only the waitress tolerates his attitude.

Movie Title: Matchstick Men - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2003

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Alison Lohman, Sam Rockwell

Storyline: A con artist with severe Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder operates a fake lottery. The two are pulling off a swindle when the con artist's daughter arrives unexpectedly.

Movie Title: Toc Toc - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2017

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Paco León, Alexandra Jiménez, Rossy de Palma

Storyline: A group of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder has a private appointment with a well-known psychologist but it turns out the doctor will be late. Left with no choice, they have to endure each other's quirky behaviour.

Movie Title: What About Bob - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1991

Rated: 7

Cast: Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty

Storyline: A comedy-drama movie taking a psychotherapist on the next level of patience when his last appointment who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, stalks and tracks him down wherever he goes.

Movie Title: The Odd Couple - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1968

Rated: 7.7

Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, John Fielder

Storyline: Getting divorced by his wife, Felix who has obsessive-compulsive disorder attempts to end his life but his friend, Oscar, invites him to move into his apartment with him. After a short period, their differences in personality are putting their friendship to a test.

Movie Title: Sleeping With the Enemy - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1991

Rated: 6.1

Cast: Julia Roberts, Patric Bergin, Kevin Anderson, Elizabeth Laurence

Storyline: A woman tries to live a new life after escaping from her husband who is abusive and has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Her husband starts to track her down.

Movie Title: Dirty Filthy Love - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2004

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Michael Sheen, Adrian Bower, Claudie Blakley

Storyline: A successful architect who has obsessive-compulsive disorder starts to develop some uncontrollable habits. Eager to win back his wife, he tries to seek medication and help without knowing there's another problem to be faced.

Movie Title: OC87 - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2010

Rated: 6.4

Cast: Jeff Bell, Maurice Benard, Wayne Bickerstadd

Storyline: A documentary film of a successful director who was once pursuing his filmmaking career but struggles with different mental illnesses including obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Movie Title: The Aviator - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2004

Rated: 7.5

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett

Storyline: An aviation tycoon Howard Hughes has obsessive-compulsive disorder and suffers from a phobia called germophobia. He becomes a successful film-maker despite having personal problems.

Movie Title: The Road Within - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rated: 7

Cast: Zoë Kravitz, Robert Patrick, Dev Patel

Storyline: A group of friends with mental illness including, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, and eating disorder go on an adventurous road trip hoping to scatter their mother's ashes into the ocean.

References and Links

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

More on Obsessive-compulsive disorder: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

The difference between OCD and OCPD: https://www.psycom.net/ocd-vs-ocpd

Obsessive-compulsive disorder according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_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