Psychological Drama backdrop

Psychological Drama movies

Drama where an unstable mental state drives the plot: paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, identity breakdown, or psychological collapse.

281. The Score

The Score
Action Crime Thriller Mystery Drama
6.8
20012h 4minGermany, United States
Director: Frank Oz

Overview

An aging thief hopes to retire and live off his ill-gotten wealth when a young kid convinces him into doing one last heist.

Themes

Trust under surveillance, Deception under pressure, Retirement pressure, Risk vs reward, Betrayal anxiety, Loyalty and leverage

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

282. Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive
Thriller Drama Mystery Mindfuck Thriller Psychological Drama
7.9
20012h 27minFrance, United States
Director: David Lynch

Overview

Imagine a world where the city of dreams hides a labyrinth of forgotten identities and sinister secrets. A hopeful actress teams up with an amnesiac to unravel a mystery that spirals into Hollywood's darkest alleys. Can they unlock the truth before the shadows consume them?

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Amnesia memory distortion, Identity fragmentation, Surreal perception, Industry coercion, Deception and illusion

Available on

Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

283. The Experiment

The Experiment
Drama Thriller Mind Game Thriller Psychological Drama
7.7
20012hGermany
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel

Overview

20 volunteers agree to take part in a seemingly well-paid experiment advertised by the university. It is supposed to be about aggressive behavior in an artificial prison situation. A journalist senses a story behind the ad and smuggles himself in among the test subjects. They are randomly divided into prisoners and guards. What seems like a game at the beginning soon turns into bloody seriousness.

Themes

Power dynamics under surveillance, Coercive authority and punishment, Dehumanization in confinement, Ethical ambiguity in research, Group identity and dissent, Protest vs manipulation


284. Hannibal

Hannibal
Crime Drama Thriller Serial Killer Crime Psychological Drama
6.8
20012h 11minUnited Kingdom, United States
Director: Ridley Scott

Overview

Ten years after Hannibal Lecter vanished without a trace, agent Clarice Starling is hit by a wave of media criticism following a failed operation. Meanwhile, Lecter’s former victim, millionaire Mason Verger, plots his own hunt for the doctor—trying to use the agent to avenge past wrongs.

Themes

Institutional corruption, Deception and frame, Power abuse, Violence as spectacle, Psychological manipulation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

285. Under the Sand

Under the Sand
Drama Mystery Psychological Drama Unreliable Perspective Mystery
7.0
20011h 36minFrance, Japan
Director: François Ozon

Overview

When her husband goes missing at the beach, a female professor begins to mentally disintegrate as her denial of his disappearance becomes delusional.

Themes

Grief and denial, Marital strain under disappearance, Fragmented memory and perception, Dealing with ambiguous death, Delusion and reality testing, Affair and temptation, Isolation and mental erosion

Available on

Kanopy
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

286. Manic

Manic
Drama Psychological Drama
7.1
20011h 42minUnited States
Director: Jordan Melamed

Overview

Follows the fate of Lyle, a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution, where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew—abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger—becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.

Themes

Mental illness stigma, Group therapy dynamics, Child abuse aftermath, Power within institution, Desire for escape, Abuse legacy

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

287. Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko
Fantasy Drama Mystery Psychological Drama Mindbender Mystery
8.0
20011h 54minUnited States
Director: Richard Kelly

Overview

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.

Themes

Family strain under stress, Mental illness stigma, Time travel intrigue, Suburban alienation, Youth rebellion against authority, Surrealism in everyday life, Manipulation and coercion

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

288. The Pledge

The Pledge
Crime Drama Mystery Thriller Serial Killer Crime
6.7
20012h 4minUnited States
Director: Sean Penn

Overview

Retired veteran detective Jerry Black takes on the search for the killer of a little girl. After promising her parents he will find the murderer, he begins a hunt that draws him into the town’s dirty secrets—and will change his own life forever.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Duty under retirement pressure, Investigative persistence under doubt, Protective guardianship dynamics, Community suspicion and fear, Ethics in pursuit

Available on

Netflix
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

289. Antitrust

Antitrust
Action Crime Drama Organized Crime Psychological Drama
6.1
20011h 48minCanada, United States
Director: Peter Howitt

Overview

A computer programmer's dream job at a hot Portland-based firm turns nightmarish when he discovers his boss has a secret and ruthless means of dispatching anti-trust problems.

Themes

Surveillance and control, Trust and betrayal, Corporate deception, Hacker ethics, Garage dynamics, Startup ambition and accountability

Available on

Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

290. Panic

Panic
Crime Drama Psychological Drama
6.6
20001h 28minUnited States
Director: Henry Bromell

Overview

Alex is going through a midlife crisis and it has become a very difficult time for him. His marriage is struggling, he's worried about his son, and his job of killing people for his family has become the most stressful part of his life. He seeks the help of a therapist and meets a woman in the waiting room that he connects with.

Themes

Psychotherapy pressure, Waiting room tension, Family business loyalty, Therapist influence, Grooming legacy, Affair consequences

Available on

Google Play Movies
YouTube
The Roku Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.