Films about alcohol addiction delve into the complexities of substance abuse, specifically focusing on characters who struggle with their dependence on alcohol. These movies often explore themes like self-destruction, personal relationships, family dynamics, and the arduous path toward recovery. They can vary in tone from dramatic to comedic or tragic, but all seek to shed light on the various facets of addiction and its impact on both individuals and those around them.
Here are some films that deal with the topic of alcohol addiction:
“Leaving Las Vegas”, 1995
Director: Mike Figgis
In this somber drama, Nicolas Cage stars as Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who loses everything because of his alcoholism and decides to move to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, where he forms an unlikely relationship with a prostitute named Sera, played by Elisabeth Shue.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis, Steven Weber, Kim Adams, Emily Procter, Stuart Regen, Valeria Golino, Graham Beckel;
Production year: 1995;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
“When a Man Loves a Woman”, 1994
Director: Luis Mandoki
This film stars Meg Ryan as Alice Green, a school counselor with a severe drinking problem, and Andy Garcia as her husband, Michael, who must confront the realities of his wife's addiction and its consequences on their family life as she enters the recovery phase.
Starring: Andy Garcia, Meg Ryan, Ellen Burstyn, Tina Majorino, Mae Whitman, Lauren Tom, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eugene Roche, Gail Strickland, Steven Brill;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,5;
More information about the film “When a Man Loves a Woman” on the website imdb.com
“The Lost Weekend”, 1945
Director: Billy Wilder
Considered a classic, this Billy Wilder-directed film features Ray Milland as Don Birnam, a chronic alcoholic who goes on a four-day drinking binge. It was groundbreaking for its time in portraying the lead character's personal and detailed experiences with alcoholism.
Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry, Howard Da Silva, Doris Dowling, Lilian Fontaine, Lewis L. Russell, Mary Young, Frank Faylen, Anita Sharp-Bolster;
Production year: 1945;
Genre: drama, film noir;
Age: 16+;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “The Lost Weekend” on the website imdb.com
“Smashed”, 2012
Director: James Ponsoldt
Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Kate Hannah, an elementary school teacher who decides to get sober after several embarrassing and dangerous incidents. The film follows her struggle with recovery and the strain it puts on her relationship with her husband, who is also a heavy drinker.
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Octavia Spencer, Mary Kay Place, Kyle Gallner, Mackenzie Davis, Bree Turner, Brad Carter;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 81 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Smashed” on the website imdb.com
“28 Days”, 2000
Director: Betty Thomas
Sandra Bullock stars as Gwen Cummings, a newspaper columnist who is forced into rehab for alcoholism after ruining her sister's wedding and crashing a stolen limousine. The film depicts her resistance to the rehab process and her gradual acceptance of her addiction issues.
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins, Azura Skye, Steve Buscemi, Alan Tudyk, Mike O'Malley, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Reni Santoni;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,1;
More information about the film “28 Days” on the website imdb.com
“Days of Wine and Roses”, 1962
Director: Blake Edwards
Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick play a married couple, Joe and Kirsten Clay, whose life spirals out of control due to alcoholism. The movie explores the devastating effects of addiction on both their personal and professional lives.
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford, Jack Klugman, Alan Hewitt, Tom Palmer, Debbie Megowan, Maxine Stuart, Jack Albertson, Leon Alton;
Production year: 1962;
Genre: drama;
Age: 16+;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Days of Wine and Roses” on the website imdb.com
“Flight”, 2012
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Denzel Washington stars as Whip Whitaker, an airline pilot who saves nearly all his passengers on a malfunctioning airliner, only to have his heroics questioned due to his alcohol addiction, revealing the tension between his public acts of skill and private struggles.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle, John Goodman, Tamara Tunie, Brian Geraghty, Melissa Leo, Nadine Velazquez, Michael Beasley;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Flight” on the website imdb.com
“Barfly”, 1987
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Starring Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway, this film portrays the life of Henry Chinaski, a poet and alcoholic who spends his life in bars, engaging in brawls and feeding his addiction, loosely based on the life of writer Charles Bukowski.
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige, Jack Nance, J.C. Quinn, Frank Stallone, Sandy Martin, Roberta Bassin, Gloria LeRoy, Joe Unger;
Production year: 1987;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Barfly” on the website imdb.com
“A Star Is Born”, 2018
Director: Bradley Cooper
In this latest remake of the classic story, Bradley Cooper directs and stars as Jackson Maine, a successful musician battling with alcoholism, who discovers and falls in love with a talented young singer named Ally, played by Lady Gaga. The film chronicles his downward spiral and the effect it has on their relationship.
Starring: Lady GaGa, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay, Anthony Ramos, Rafi Gavron, Greg Grunberg, Alec Baldwin, Marlon Williams;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: melodrama, music, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 136 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “A Star Is Born” on the website imdb.com
“Clean and Sober”, 1988
Director: Glenn Gordon Caron
Michael Keaton portrays Daryl Poynter, a real estate agent who wakes up to a life in shambles due to his drug and alcohol abuse. He checks into a rehab center to escape trouble, but ends up confronting his addiction head-on.
Starring: Michael Keaton, Kathy Baker, Morgan Freeman, Tate Donovan, Henry Judd Baker, Claudia Christian, J. David Krassner, Dakin Matthews, Mary Catherine Martin, Patricia Quinn;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Clean and Sober” on the website imdb.com
In the pantheon of films tackling the harrowing journey of alcohol addiction, audiences are provided with a profound glimpse into the human condition. These cinematic endeavors, from the gut-wrenching spirals in “Leaving Las Vegas” to the raw despair and fragile hope depicted in “The Lost Weekend,” serve not merely as entertainment but as cautionary tales and sources of empathy. They challenge society's stigmas and provide a voice to the silent struggles countless individuals face. Films like “Flight,” “When a Man Loves a Woman,” and the more recent “Smashed,” continue to build upon this emotive tapestry, weaving narratives that showcase the cyclical nature of addiction and the tenacity required to seek redemption and recovery. As art mirrors life, these films affirm that the struggle is nuanced and deeply personal, evoking a universal call for understanding and support, and reminding us that the journey to sobriety, although perilous and often overlooked, is an integral part of the human experience.
