Movies about sexual abuse - 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 Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse or molestation is an act of violence in which the perpetrator forces or threatens the victim to engage in sexual activity without their legal consent. Sexual abuse can include both touching and non-touching behaviours. All sexual acts carried out by adults on children are sexual abuse irrespective of whether the child consents.

In psychiatry, sexual abuse is defined in the DSM-5 (psychiatric diagnostic manual) as follows…

Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse encompasses any sexual act involving a child that is intended to provide sexual gratification to a parent, caregiver, or another individual who has responsibility for the child. Sexual abuse also includes noncontact exploitation of a child by a parent or caregiver—for example, forcing, tricking, enticing, or pressuring a child to participate in acts for the sexual gratification of others, without direct physical contact between child and abuser.

Spouse or Partner Violence, Sexual

Forced or coerced sexual acts with an intimate partner. Sexual violence may involve the use of physical force or psychological coercion to compel the partner to engage in a sexual act against his or her will, whether or not the act is completed. This includes sexual acts with an intimate partner who is unable to consent.

Adult Abuse by Nonspouse or Nonpartner

When an adult has been abused by another adult who is not an intimate partner. Such maltreatment may involve acts of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Movies about Sexual Abuse

If we missed an essential film about sexual abuse, 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: Procession

Release: 2021

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Amaris Anderson, Joe Eldred, Mike Foreman

Storyline: A group of survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests battle for justice.

Movie Title: Groomed - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2021

Rated: 6.9

Cast: Gwen van de Pas, Ingeborg Ansing, Michael Beers

Storyline: Gwen van de Pas, who endured sexual abuse as a child, returns to her hometown in search of answers regarding the individual who perpetrated the abuse.

Movie Title: Look Away - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2021

Rated: 6.4

Cast: Kari Krome, Lori Mattox, Trudie Arguelles

Storyline: Women who were victims of childhood sexual abuse by some of the music industry's top stars have bravely come forward to share their stories.

Movie Title: She Said - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2022

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Lola Petticre, Katherine Laheen, Zoe Kazan

Storyline: Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor of the New York Times break one of the most important stories in a generation, sparking a movement and shattering decades of quiet on the subject of sexual abuse in Hollywood.

Movie Title: Bombshell - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2019

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie

Storyline: The film delves into the experiences and challenges faced by the characters within a media organization, highlighting the issues of workplace harassment and the courageous individuals who come forward to expose the sexual abuse.

Movie Title: Promising Young Woman - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2020

Rated: 7.5

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie

Storyline: The film follows the story of a woman seeking justice for past trauma and confronting the societal response to sexual abuse. It explores the complexities and consequences of such actions, aiming to shed light on important issues surrounding consent, victim-blaming, and the empowerment of survivors.

Movie Title: The Tale - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2018

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Laura Dern, Jason Ritter, Common

Storyline: The film delves into the personal journey of the protagonist as she confronts her past and comes to terms with the traumatic experiences of her youth. It tackles the complexities of memory, truth, and the long-lasting impact of sexual abuse on the individual's life.

Movie Title: Spotlight - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2015

Rated: 8.1

Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams

Storyline: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child sexual abuse and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Movie Title: Silenced - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2011

Rated: 8.0

Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Hyeon-soo Kim

Storyline: Based on true events, this film tells the story of a hearing-impaired school where young deaf students were sexually abused by teaching members over a long period of time.

Movie Title: Nuts - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1987

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Barbra Streisand, Richard Dreyfuss

Storyline: A high-class call girl is charged with killing her client. The public defender who holds her case digs deeper into her life and finds out she's a victim of sexual abuse.

Movie Title: Black Snake Moan - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2006

Rated: 7

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci

Storyline: A woman who is a victim of sexual abuse, is severely beaten on the side of the road. A religious farmer holds her captive in his house to cure her of her hypersexuality (nymphomania). He frees her and she reunites with his boyfriend who served in the military.

Movie Title: Precious - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2009

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton

Storyline: An illiterate sixteen-year-old girl is a victim of sexual abuse. She plans to enrol in an alternative school in hopes that she can escape from her dark past.

Movie Title: Mystic River - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2003

Rated: 7.9

Cast: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon

Storyline: The daughter of an ex-convict is murdered and two of his childhood friends are involved. One of his friends is a homicide detective who works on the case. The other one is a victim of sexual abuse when he was young but becomes a suspect when he killed a molester during the time the girl was also killed.

Movie Title: The Color Purple - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1985

Rated: 7.8

Cast: Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey

Storyline: A young black girl is a victim of sexual abuse and struggles to find her identity as she grows up.

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 sexual abuse?: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/What_Is_Sexual_Abuse.pdf

More on sexual abuse: https://www.apa.org/topics/sexual-abuse

Sexual abuse according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse

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 Mihai Surdu from Pixabay