The 10 Best Teen Movies About Mental Health
- Joao Nsita
- 3 hours ago
- 14 min read
The teenage years are a landscape of breathtaking highs and devastating lows, a period of intense self-discovery that is often marked by a profound sense of confusion, alienation, and overwhelming emotion. For decades, the teen movie genre often glossed over the darker, more complicated aspects of this experience, offering up glossy, aspirational fantasies. But in recent years, a powerful and necessary shift has occurred. Cinema has begun to hold a more honest and compassionate mirror up to the adolescent experience, creating films that bravely and beautifully explore the realities of mental health.
This evolution is being celebrated and championed by a new generation on platforms like TikTok and Pinterest. The most powerful trend in modern film discussion is the search for "movies that make you feel seen." Young audiences are actively seeking out and creating viral content about films that offer authentic, non-sensationalized portrayals of anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges. The "sad girl cinema" aesthetic has created a space to explore these feelings without stigma, while the concept of the "comfort movie" has highlighted films that, even while dealing with serious topics, offer a sense of hope and catharsis.
This list is a celebration of the films that do this vital work. It is a definitive ranking of the ten best and most impactful teen movies about mental health, presented in descending order. These are the stories that have pushed the conversation forward, the films that have offered a lifeline to those who felt alone, and the masterpieces of the genre that remind us that our struggles do not define us, and that there is always, always hope.
We hope you find this article a powerful and helpful guide. If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work with a small donation or by sharing our articles with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue to create insightful and entertaining content.
10. Words on Bathroom Walls (2020)
The Vibe: A surprisingly hopeful and visually inventive look at living with schizophrenia.
Synopsis: The film follows Adam (Charlie Plummer), a witty and aspiring chef who is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in his senior year of high school. After an incident at school, he is transferred to a new academy where he desperately tries to hide his condition from his peers, particularly a brilliant and fiercely intelligent classmate named Maya (Taylor Russell). The film visualizes Adam's hallucinations as three distinct, physical characters who follow him and comment on his life: a zen-like hippie, a hormonal best friend, and a menacing, bat-wielding bodyguard.
Why It's an Important Watch: Words on Bathroom Walls is a brave and deeply empathetic film that tackles a mental illness that is rarely depicted on screen, especially in the teen genre, with nuance and compassion. It masterfully balances the terrifying reality of psychosis with a genuinely sweet and charming romantic-comedy narrative. The decision to personify Adam's hallucinations is a brilliant stroke of creativity, allowing the audience to understand his internal experience in a tangible and often surprisingly funny way. It’s a film that powerfully destigmatizes a complex illness, focusing not on the "horror" of schizophrenia, but on the humanity of the person living with it. It is a story of resilience, love, and the courage it takes to accept all parts of yourself. The film’s brilliant, character-driven storytelling is a quality shared by the best TV comedies of the 2020s.
9. The Virgin Suicides (1999)
The Vibe: A hazy, dreamlike, and deeply melancholic Y2K classic.
Synopsis: Sofia Coppola’s stunning directorial debut is less of a straightforward narrative and more of a beautiful, tragic, and impressionistic poem. The film is told from the perspective of a group of neighborhood boys who, now grown men, are looking back on the lives of the five enigmatic and ethereal Lisbon sisters in their 1970s suburban neighborhood. After the youngest sister, Cecilia, attempts suicide, the girls' overprotective, religious parents effectively place them under house arrest, isolating them from the world. The boys, and the audience, can only watch from a distance as the sisters' mysterious and tragic story unfolds.
Why It's an Important Watch: This film is a masterpiece of atmospheric storytelling. It’s a haunting and beautiful exploration of depression, suburban ennui, and the suffocating nature of repressed female adolescence. The film doesn't offer easy answers; it is a mystery with no solution, a profound meditation on the unknowability of another person's pain. Modern Resonance & Trend Alignment: The Virgin Suicides is a foundational text of the "sad girl cinema" aesthetic that is so prevalent on TikTok and Pinterest. Its dreamy, sun-drenched, 70s-inspired visuals and its melancholic, ethereal tone have been incredibly influential. It is a film that perfectly captures the feeling of a long, sad, and beautiful summer afternoon, a story that is both heartbreaking and unforgettably beautiful. The film's iconic, hazy aesthetic is often paired with moody music, like the kind found in this list of the best songs from Oasis.
External Link: The official IMDb page for The Virgin Suicides is a great place to explore the film's incredible cast and its beautiful cinematography.
8. Eighth Grade (2018)
The Vibe: A painfully authentic, cringe-inducing, and deeply compassionate look at modern social anxiety.
Synopsis: Comedian Bo Burnham's directorial debut is one of the most accurate and empathetic portrayals of early-teen life ever put on screen. The film follows 13-year-old Kayla Day (a revelatory Elsie Fisher) during her disastrous final week of middle school. Kayla is a quiet, anxious, and seemingly invisible girl who, in an attempt to connect with the world, makes a series of awkward and earnest advice videos for her non-existent YouTube audience. The film chronicles her brave and often painful attempts to navigate pool parties, crushes, and the overwhelming pressure of social media.
Why It's an Important Watch: This film is a must-watch for any parent or teenager. It is a powerful and unflinching look at the unique anxieties of growing up in the digital age. The film’s depiction of social anxiety is so real it is almost difficult to watch, but it is handled with an incredible amount of compassion and empathy. Elsie Fisher’s performance is a marvel of naturalism; she perfectly captures the awkward, hopeful, and resilient spirit of a young girl just trying to find her place. It’s a film that will make you cringe, laugh, and ultimately, cry with recognition. It is a beautiful and necessary reminder that just getting through the day can be an act of incredible courage. It’s a film that truly makes you feel seen, a quality shared by some of the best TV comedies of the 2010s.
External Link: The film was produced by the acclaimed independent studio A24, which is known for its unique and artist-driven films.
7. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
The Vibe: A quirky, hilarious, and deeply moving "comfort movie" about a dysfunctional family on the verge of a breakdown.
Synopsis: The Hoover family is a beautiful disaster. The film follows them as they pile into a rickety, yellow VW bus to travel across the country so that the youngest, the determined and endlessly optimistic Olive, can compete in the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant. The family includes her overworked mother, her failed motivational-speaker father, her suicidal, Proust-scholar uncle, her heroin-addicted grandfather, and her angsty, Nietzsche-reading teenage brother who has taken a vow of silence. What follows is a hilarious and often heartbreaking road trip.
Why It's an Important Watch: While it's a comedy, Little Miss Sunshine is one of the most honest and compassionate films ever made about family and mental health. The film deals with issues of depression, suicide, and addiction with a remarkable amount of honesty and humor, never shying away from the pain but also never losing its sense of hope. It is the ultimate "comfort movie" for those who come from less-than-perfect families. The film’s central message—that it’s okay to not be okay, and that true winning is about embracing your own unique, quirky self—is a powerful and beautiful one. It’s a film that will make you laugh until you cry, a truly special and life-affirming masterpiece. The film’s incredible soundtrack is a perfect match for its quirky, heartfelt tone, a quality we also celebrate in our list of 10 songs for fans of Nobody Wants This.
6. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
The Vibe: A sharp, funny, and brutally honest look at teenage anxiety, grief, and self-destruction.
Synopsis: The Edge of Seventeen is a modern coming-of-age classic that feels like a spiritual successor to the great John Hughes films of the 80s. The film stars Hailee Steinfeld in a brilliant, star-making performance as Nadine, a socially awkward and deeply cynical high school junior whose life goes into a tailspin when she discovers that her popular older brother has started dating her one and only best friend. This perceived betrayal sends her on a self-destructive spiral, as she navigates her complicated grief over her father's death and her own overwhelming social anxiety.
Why It's an Important Watch: This film is a refreshingly honest and unapologetic look at the intensity of teenage emotion. Nadine is not always a likable protagonist; she is selfish, dramatic, and often cruel to the people who are trying to help her. But she is also deeply relatable. The film perfectly captures the feeling that your own personal drama is the most important and tragic story in the world. The writing is incredibly sharp and funny, particularly in Nadine's scenes with her wonderfully sarcastic and world-weary teacher, played by Woody Harrelson. It is a film that takes teenage anxiety seriously without ever being preachy, a hilarious and heartfelt reminder that sometimes just surviving high school is a heroic act. The film’s brilliant, character-driven story is a quality shared by some of the best Gilmore Girls episodes.
5. It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
The Vibe: A charming, hopeful, and deeply empathetic look at a teenager’s stay in a psychiatric ward.
Synopsis: Based on the beloved novel by Ned Vizzini, this film follows Craig (Keir Gilchrist), a stressed-out, ambitious 16-year-old who, overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts, checks himself into a psychiatric hospital. Due to renovations, the youth ward is closed, and he is forced to spend his mandatory five-day stay in the adult ward. There, he befriends a cast of quirky and caring fellow patients, including the wise-cracking but deeply troubled Bobby (a fantastic Zach Galifianakis) and a smart, self-harming teenage girl named Noelle (Emma Roberts).
Why It's an Important Watch: This film is a powerful and important work of destigmatization. It portrays a psychiatric ward not as a terrifying, one-dimensional asylum, but as a place of healing, community, and surprising humor. The film tackles serious issues of depression, anxiety, and suicide with an incredible amount of warmth, empathy, and hope. It is a film that understands that mental illness does not define a person, and that connection and friendship are two of the most powerful medicines. It has become a beloved "comfort movie" for a generation of young people, a gentle and reassuring story that reminds us that it's okay to not be okay, and that asking for help is a sign of incredible strength. The film’s message of hope is a powerful one, a theme explored in many of the best Ed Sheeran songs.
External Link: The mental health organization The Jed Foundation is a fantastic resource for young people seeking help and information about their mental health.
4. Dead Poets Society (1989)
The Vibe: A classic, inspiring, and ultimately heartbreaking story about conformity, depression, and the power of art.
Synopsis: This beloved 80s classic is set in the fall of 1959 at the prestigious and crushingly conformist Welton Academy. Robin Williams gives one of his most iconic performances as John Keating, the passionate new English teacher who inspires his students to "seize the day" and to find their own voices through the power of poetry. The film follows a group of his students as they resurrect the "Dead Poets Society" and begin to challenge the oppressive, expectations-driven world around them.
Why It's an Important Watch: While it is a story of inspiration, Dead Poets Society is also a powerful and devastating look at the consequences of unaddressed depression and the immense pressure to conform to parental expectations. The story of Neil Perry, a brilliant and passionate boy who is crushed under the weight of his father’s rigid plans for his future, is a heartbreaking and unforgettable portrayal of the tragic consequences of untreated mental anguish. The film is a powerful argument for the importance of arts education and self-expression as a vital outlet for young people. It is a timeless classic that is both a soaring celebration of the human spirit and a tragic cautionary tale. Its powerful, dramatic storytelling is a quality shared by some of the greatest HBO dramas of all time.
3. Good Will Hunting (1997)
The Vibe: A masterpiece of character-driven drama about trauma, therapy, and the courage it takes to heal.
Synopsis: This Oscar-winning film, written by and starring a young Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, is one of the most powerful and beloved films about mental health ever made. Damon stars as Will Hunting, a self-taught mathematical genius who works as a janitor at MIT and spends his nights getting into fights in South Boston. After he is arrested, a compassionate professor bails him out on the condition that he sees a therapist. He is sent to Sean Maguire (an Oscar-winning Robin Williams), a down-to-earth therapist who is the only one who can begin to break through Will's brilliant, defensive shell and help him confront his deep-seated trauma from a childhood of abuse.
Why It's an Important Watch: Good Will Hunting is arguably the greatest cinematic portrayal of the therapeutic process. The scenes between Will and Sean are a masterclass in writing and performance, a beautiful depiction of the slow, difficult, and ultimately life-changing process of building trust and confronting your demons. The iconic line, "It's not your fault," is one of the most powerful and cathartic moments in modern film history. It is a beautiful and deeply moving story about the power of friendship, the importance of mentorship, and the profound courage it takes to heal from trauma and allow yourself to be loved. It is a timeless and essential film. The film’s incredible, character-driven story is a quality it shares with the best of the 2020s TV comedies.
External Link: The official Oscars.org page for the 1998 Academy Awards is a great place to see the film's historic wins for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay.
2. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
The Vibe: A chaotic, hilarious, and deeply romantic "dramedy" about two beautifully broken people finding each other.
Synopsis: David O. Russell's Oscar-winning film is a masterpiece of tonal balance. The story follows Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), a man with bipolar disorder who has just been released from a mental health facility and is determined to win back his estranged wife. He moves back in with his parents and tries to get his life back on track. His carefully laid plans are completely upended when he meets Tiffany (an Oscar-winning Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow who is dealing with her own unspecified mental health issues and is just as messy, volatile, and brilliant as he is. They strike a deal: she will help him win back his wife if he will be her partner in a local dance competition.
Why It's an Important Watch: While its protagonists are adults, this film's influence on the teen mental health genre is immense. It was a groundbreaking film for its honest, funny, and deeply romantic portrayal of people living with mental illness. It’s a film that understands that recovery is not a straight line, and that the right kind of love is not about "fixing" someone, but about loving all of their broken pieces. The chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence is absolutely electric. The film is a hilarious, chaotic, and ultimately triumphant story about the healing power of connection. It is a film that is as funny as it is moving, a true modern classic.
External Link: The official IMDb page for Silver Linings Playbook is a great resource for exploring the film's incredible cast and its numerous awards.
1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The Vibe: The definitive modern teen movie about trauma, depression, and the life-saving power of a found family.
Synopsis: Taking the top spot on our list is Stephen Chbosky's beautiful and heartbreaking adaptation of his own beloved novel. The film follows Charlie (a brilliant Logan Lerman), a shy, introverted, and deeply intelligent freshman who is struggling with clinical depression and the trauma of his past as he starts high school. He is a true "wallflower," watching life from the sidelines, until he is taken under the wing of two charismatic, free-spirited seniors: the beautiful and enigmatic Sam (Emma Watson) and her flamboyant and fiercely loyal stepbrother, Patrick (Ezra Miller).
Why It's an Important Watch: This film is a perfect, profound, and deeply empathetic exploration of the teenage experience. It is a film that understands the intensity of first love, the pain of feeling like an outsider, and the incredible, life-saving power of finding your "tribe." The film's portrayal of depression and PTSD is raw, honest, and incredibly moving. It is a story that acknowledges the darkness but is ultimately a powerful and deeply hopeful statement about the healing power of friendship, music, and love. The final scene, with the three friends driving through a tunnel, listening to a perfect song, is a moment of pure, cinematic euphoria, a celebration of feeling "infinite." It is a film that has become a sacred text for a generation, a beautiful and essential story that makes you feel seen. The film's iconic soundtrack is a huge part of its appeal, a quality we celebrate in this list of the best songs from AC/DC.
External Link: The mental health charity Mind (UK) offers fantastic resources and support for young people dealing with the issues explored in the film.
Conclusion
A great teen movie about mental health is a powerful and necessary thing. It is a mirror that reflects our own struggles, a window into the experiences of others, and a lifeline that reminds us that we are not alone. The ten films on this list are a testament to the power of cinema to foster empathy, to destigmatize our struggles, and to offer a sense of hope. They are stories that are not afraid to explore the darkness, but they are also stories that believe, profoundly, in the light. They are a reminder that our mental health is a part of our story, but it does not have to be the whole story, and that the journey towards healing is a brave, beautiful, and heroic act.
We hope you found this article a powerful and helpful guide. If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work with a small donation or by sharing our articles with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue to create insightful and entertaining content.
For more on finding the perfect movie or show to watch, check out these other articles from That Love Podcast:
FAQs
Are all these movies "sad"? While many of them deal with serious and emotional topics, they are not all "sad." Films like Little Miss Sunshine and Eighth Grade are ultimately very funny and hopeful. The list is about movies that deal with mental health honestly, not just movies that are depressing.
Where can I watch these movies? Streaming rights can change, but many of these films are available on major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Max, or are available to rent on services like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. It's always best to check a service like Reelgood or JustWatch for the most up-to-date information.
Are these movies suitable for teenagers to watch? Most of the films on this list are rated for teen audiences (PG-13 or equivalent), but many deal with mature themes like suicide, trauma, and addiction. It is always recommended that parents research the specific content of a film and consider watching it with their teen to facilitate a healthy conversation.
Why is it important to have movies that talk about mental health? Media representation is incredibly powerful. When movies portray mental health in an authentic and compassionate way, it helps to destigmatize these issues, reduce feelings of isolation for those who are struggling, and foster a greater sense of empathy and understanding in the wider community.
What is a "comfort movie"? A "comfort movie" is a film that you can rewatch again and again for its familiar, soothing, and often nostalgic feeling. For many people, a movie with a hopeful or cathartic resolution to a difficult struggle, like Little Miss Sunshine or The Perks of Being a Wallflower, can become a comfort movie.
I am struggling with my own mental health. Can watching these movies help? While these movies can be incredibly validating and can make you feel less alone, they are not a substitute for professional help. If you are struggling, please reach out to a trusted adult, a school counselor, or a mental health professional.
What does "Y2K nostalgia" mean? "Y2K nostalgia" refers to the current trend of celebrating the fashion, music, and culture of the late 1990s and early 2000s (around the year 2000). Films like The Virgin Suicides are a key part of this aesthetic trend.
What does "Dark Academia" mean? "Dark Academia" is a popular social media aesthetic that romanticizes classic literature, higher education, and intellectual pursuits, but with a moody, melancholic, and often gothic twist. Dead Poets Society is a foundational film for this aesthetic.
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