Therapy comes in a variety of options, from art to retail to one-on-one discussions. While everyone benefits from therapy in their own unique ways, each outlet serves the same goal: to improve emotional well-being. People turn to therapy to discover coping mechanisms to handle challenging emotions, gain self awareness, or strengthen their relationships.
If you’ve found that discussions with a therapist just weren’t what you were looking for, then you might be seeking alternative resources, and while there is a plethora of therapeutic content out there, I want to bring your attention to one considerably cathartic alternative. Watch movies!
I want to preface this that if you are experiencing depression or suffering from any other mental health illnesses, I strongly urge you to advise a mental health professional.
Now, I know you must be wondering, how can watching movies improve my emotional well-being? Let’s dive in!
Stay tuned for a list of exceptionally impactful therapeutic films.
Catharsis & Emotional Processing
First, what the heck is catharsis?
Catharsis was first introduced by Aristotle to describe the experience of emotional release, specifically in relation to indulging tragic performance. This action was said to insight purgation by releasing strong, repressed emotions.
This was later analyzed by Sigmund Freud and theorized to bring about relief and healing by forcing unconscious thoughts and feelings into awareness.
So while catharsis is the purging of our repressed emotions, emotional processing is the mental process of dealing with those surfaced emotions by identifying and understanding them. Certain media can unintentionally force subconscious feelings into consciousness, and by analyzing and experiencing them, we can experience an emotional release that can reduce distress and restore emotional balance.
Character Identification
When we experience a film that is created tactfully, we may envision ourselves within certain characters. This is due to their emotional journey, challenges, or even likeability. When a viewer feels a strong connection with a character, they’re likely to merge their own identity with that of the character in the film.
By seeing ourselves in film characters, it allows us a glimpse at our own emotions and experiences. Characters may mirror our own personal struggles, which supports developing self awareness. This is a crucial component of cinematic therapy.
Perspective
When it comes to experiencing thought-provoking media, prodigious films can challenge our way of thinking in a productive manner. By experiencing the character’s emotional journey, it might provide us with a new way of thinking, particularly about life and its accompanying hardships.
Whether we’re consuming a film that highlights transformation, glorifies trauma, or demonstrates resilience, it can shift our perspective in unexpected ways. We can possess new and unparalleled insights that can inspire our own personal growth with consideration to our own challenges.
Stress Reduction
Let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good movie?
While watching movies in itself can be a beloved pasttime, it’s also a huge stress reliever. Engaging with a film can literally lower your cortisol levels, which in turn reduces your pent up stress and anxiety.
Consider that next time you’re looking for something calming to de-stress after an arduous day. Though I would caution against movies that actually increase your stress levels in this particular situation. *Cough, cough.* Horror movies!
Emotional Expression
Emotional expression is the outward display of emotions through body language, facial expressions, vocalization, and tone. Using emotional expression, we can consciously or subconsciously convey our emotional state.
Watching emotional movies can actually aid people in articulating their own emotions that they struggle to vocalize. Understanding our subconscious is necessary for balancing our well-being, and expression is incredibly impactful when it’s used as a coping strategy to reduce stress and regulate emotions.
Social Reflection
What does this have to do with social themes?
Societal themes are a broad scope of concepts that affect individual communities, regions of people, or the mass of society. These themes might explore topics like poverty, discrimination, climate change, and unemployment. In whole, it examines underlying issues that impact society or certain communities to evaluate its affect on people.
Films that explore societal issues, like cultural, social, or political issues, can foster empathy and promote a deeper understanding of the human experience. Because when it is done tactfully, we resonate with the character’s hardships or emotions, which allows us to gain valuable insight into their experience of the world.
Film Recommendations
Now that you understand just how these films can benefit you, let’s dig right into a handful of films that I’ve selected. These films align with the themes of cinema therapy and use storytelling as a tool for emotional processing and psychological growth, offering powerful insights into overall themes of emotional resilience, mental health, and personal transformation.
Antwone Fisher
This film is based on a true story and focuses on the theme of self-discovery through overcoming childhood trauma. It highlights the importance of confronting pain, finding closure, and embracing self-worth.
The plot follows a young navy sailor, Antwone Fisher, as he confronts his troubled past through therapy. After much reluctance, he eventually reveals details of his traumatic childhood, leading to his emotional revelation.
The film provides a bold spotlight on his individual path toward healing. Receiving the BFCA’s Critic’s Choice Award for Freedom, it’s also highly appraised for its acting and deemed by critics as one of the most important militant films you’ll ever see.
Antwone Fisher is available for rent on Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango, Apple TV, and Google Play.
The Prince of Tides
This film is based on the 1986 novel by Pat Conroy, and it plunges deep into the theme of family trauma and the healing power of therapy. Following Tom Wingo, a football coach, as he uncovers a string of family dramas, from decades past, in an attempt to help his sister recover from a suicide attempt.
The theme sheds light on the impact of trauma on mental health as our antagonist is forced to face his family’s dark and violent past. Emphasizing emotional breakthrough and confrontation with the past, it blends horrifying tragedy and the power of poetic storytelling to create something truly memorable.
This film provides a memorable performance, boasting a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
The Prince of Tides is available for rent on Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango, Apple TV, and Google Play.
The Pursuit of Happyness
This film is based on the true story of Christopher Gardner, a single father struggling to make ends meet.
This movie is deeply inspiring, with a key focus on resilience and overcoming adversity in the face of hardship. Despite his challenges, Christopher must persevere in order to create a better livelihood for him and his 5-year-old son as he journeys from homelessness into becoming a successful stockbroker.
This movie forces you to realize the importance of hope and gain an understanding of true transformation by showing you how you can take control of your own life to alter its circumstances.
The Pursuit of Happyness is available for rent on Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango, Apple TV, and Google Play.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Adapted from a novel, this film provides an exceptionally thought-provoking glimpse into mental health and institutionalization.
It focuses on Randle McMurphy, who pleads insanity in an attempt to spend his prison sentence in a mental health facility opposed to a prison farm for the hope of experiencing an easier sentencing.
The movie shows a power dynamic struggle with authority and rebellion while critiquing psychiatric hospitals for their oppressive nature. It explores themes of freedom, social alienation, masculinity, and complex social structures.
Receiving an incredibly vast amount of awards, the most notable are five Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and six BAFTA Awards.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is available for rent on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango, and Google Play.
Good Will Hunting
This film provides a thorough examination of self-worth, trauma, and mentorship. It follows Will Hunting, a janitor working at MIT as he squanders his genius through monotony.
Through the guidance of one considerate professor and his appointed therapist, he learns to self-actualize and overcome old wounds. This movie adequately highlights the importance of connection and the route to healing. It showcases raw emotional vulnerability and hails several awards, including two Academy awards, a Golden Globe, Critic’s Choice, and Screen Actor’s Guild Award.
You don’t have to be a genius lying in wait in order to resonate with the themes of this film. The character’s struggle promotes empathy, and his path toward discovery is incredibly inspiring.
Good Will Hunting is available for rent on Fandango, Apple TV, and Google Play, or you can stream it from Paramount+, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, or YouTube TV with an active subscription.
A Beautiful Mind
This film is based on the true story of a mathematician, John Nash, as battling the aftermath of a promising position working for the military that negatively impacted his mental health.
Struggling with a mental illness, this movie is about resilience and overcoming the toughest of challenges as it provides a microscope over John’s personal battle with schizophrenia.
We see the importance of community and having a reliant support system, as well as the power of self-acceptance and healing. It won a series of awards, including three Academy Awards, four Critic’s Choice Awards, four Golden Globe, two BAFTAs, and one Screen Actor’s Guild Award.
A Beautiful Mind is available for rent on Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango, and Google Play.
Silver Linings Playbook
This film focuses on Pat Solatano, undergoing an agonizing heartbreak from losing his wife and job, now living with his parents. He seeks companionship from Tiffany, who plots to help him set his life back on course and rekindle his relationship with his wife.
It provides a heartfelt exploration of relationships, healing, and finding joy in unexpected places. The biggest takeaway from this movie is that life rarely happens in the way that we expect it to and that healing requires a lot of time and effort. It centers on finding happiness and building meaningful connections.
It received a plethora of awards, including one Academy Award, one Golden Globe, four Critic’s Choice Awards, one BAFTA, one Screen Actor’s Guild Award, and five AACTA Awards.
Silver Linings Playbook is available for rent on Apple TV and Google Play, or you can stream it from Hulu, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Hulu, The Roku Channel, or YouTube TV with an active subscription.
Inside Out
The last recommendation I’ll leave you with is a family friendly animation that everyone can find enjoyable! It’s a beautifully crafted film that explores the power of emotional regulation and the detriment of embracing all of your feelings.
It follows Riley, an 11-year-old girl whose emotions start to act out of whack when her parents move to Sam Francisco. Her animated emotions struggle to maintain balance as they operate inside of Riley’s mind.
Prevalent topics are memory, personal growth, and the human experience. It has been a highly acclaimed fan favorite that garnered a sequel that also sheds light on new developing emotions, and some more plaguing issues like anxiety.
Inside Out is available for rent on Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango, and Google Play, or you can stream it from Disney+ with an active subscription.
Her Voice Rising 