Films About Alcoholics Anonymous
Films about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) explore the struggles of addiction, recovery, and the support provided by AA. These movies shed light on the challenges faced by individuals dealing with alcoholism and the transformative power of fellowship-based programs like AA. Here are some existing films on this topic:
“The Lost Weekend”, 1945
Director: Billy Wilder
Directed by Billy Wilder, this film follows the story of a writer struggling with alcoholism. It portrays the devastating effects of addiction and the protagonist's eventual encounter with an AA-like self-help organization [[1]](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2666756/).
Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry, Howard Da Silva, Doris Dowling, Lilian Fontaine, Lewis L. Russell, Mary Young, Frank Faylen, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Frank Orth, Andy Andrews, Gene Ashley, Walter Baldwin, Harry Barris, Ian Begg, Eddie Borden, Jess Lee Brooks, Jack Rube Clifford, David Clyde, James Conaty, Willa Pearl Curtis, John Deauville, Helen Dickson, Clark Eggleston, Franklyn Farnum, John Garris, Dick Gordon, Jayne Hazard, Ted Hecht, Ernest Hilliard, Earle Hyman, Jerry James, Stan Johnson, Jack W. Johnston, Karl «Karchy» Kosiczky, Eddie Laughton, Perc Launders, Theodora Lynch, Bertram Marburgh, William Meader, James Millican, Frank Mills, Pat Moriarity, William Newell, William O'Leary, Peter Potter, Mark Power, Stanley Price, Craig Reynolds;
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
“Days of Wine and Roses”, 1962
Director: Blake Edwards
Directed by Blake Edwards, this powerful drama explores the destructive impact of alcoholism on a married couple. It delves into their descent into addiction and their journey towards recovery.
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford, Jack Klugman, Alan Hewitt, Tom Palmer, Debbie Megowan, Maxine Stuart, Jack Albertson, Leon Alton, Don Anderson, Carl Arnold, Roger Barrett, Russ Bender, Mary Benoit, Mel Blanc, Gail Bonney, Lynn Borden, Joseph Campanella, Dick Crockett, Russell Custer, George DeNormand, Jennifer Edwards, Ella Ethridge, James Gonzalez, Lisa Guiraut, Chuck Hicks, Barbara Hines, Charlene Holt, Tai Yen Horowitz, Jerry Jensen, Don Keefer, Kenner G. Kemp, Rita Kenaston, James Lanphier, Ken Lynch, John Bard Manulis, Matthew McCue, Harold Miller, Richard O'Brien, Doye O'Dell, Pat O'Malley, Alan Paige, Peggy Patten, Jack Riley, Tom Rosqui, Myrna Ross, Doc Scortt, Robert «Buddy» Shaw, Stanley Sober;
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
“When a Man Loves a Woman”, 1994
Director: Luis Mandoki
Starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia, this film portrays the challenges faced by a married couple when the wife's alcoholism threatens their relationship. It explores the impact of addiction on family dynamics and the process of recovery [[3]](https://pinnacletreatment.com/blog/movies-watch-recovery/).
Starring: Andy Garcia, Meg Ryan, Ellen Burstyn, Tina Majorino, Mae Whitman, Lauren Tom, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eugene Roche, Gail Strickland, Steven Brill, Susanna Thompson, Erinn Canavan, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Bari K. Willerford, James Jude Courtney, Jacques De Groot, Anne Ohliger, Tony Montero, Cynthia Mace, Jennie Yee, William Frankfather, Ellen Geer, Angelina Fiordellisi, Elizabeth Lang, Syd Field, Peer Ebbighausen, Joe Drago, Andrew Magarian, Amy Treese, Brandis Kemp, Judith Friend, Deana Kobrynski, Rico E. Anderson, Janette Andrade, Lena Banks, Wendy Bones, Richard Bradford, Jack Duane, Holly Lewis, Edward Markmann, Craig Richards, Reed Rudy, Anoush Sadegh, Joseph Quinn Simpkins, Shawn Woodward;
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
“28 Days”, 2000
Director: Betty Thomas
This comedy-drama follows the story of a journalist who enters a rehabilitation program after a series of alcohol-related incidents. It touches on the themes of addiction, recovery, and the importance of support systems like AA [[4]](https://parade.com/707506/samuelmurrian/best-movies-about-addiction-alcoholism-recovery/).
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins, Azura Skye, Steve Buscemi, Alan Tudyk, Mike O'Malley, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Reni Santoni, Diane Ladd, Margo Martindale, Susan Krebs, Loudon Wainwright III, Katie Scharf, Meredith Deane, Elizabeth Ruscio, Kathy Payne, Lisa Sutton, Joanne Pankow, Corinne Reilly, Andrew Dolan, Maeve McGuire, Jim Moody, Christina Chang, Adam Pervis, Dan Byrd, Ric Reitz, Suellen Yates, Frank Hoyt Taylor, Brittani Warrick, Elijah Kelley, Mike Dooly, Wendee Pratt, Bill Anagnos, Jack Armstrong, Judith Chapman, Suzanne Davis, Rod McCary, Matt Cedeño, Taber Cross, Patricia M. Fairchild, Bruno Gunn, Archie Hahn, Wayne Paul Liles, Mia Rochefort, Christopher Murphy, Harsh Nayyar, Brent Ponder, Stan Wood;
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
“Smashed”, 2012
Director: James Ponsoldt
This independent drama focuses on a young married couple whose lives are disrupted by the wife's alcoholism. It explores the challenges of maintaining sobriety and the role of AA in the recovery process.
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Octavia Spencer, Mary Kay Place, Kyle Gallner, Mackenzie Davis, Bree Turner, Brad Carter, Barrett Shuler, Rene Raymond Rivera, Richmond Arquette, David Grammer, Ron Lynch, Elise Salomon, Anjini Taneja Azhar, Aileen Davila, Silas Agape Garcia, Wilson Schwartz, Lisa Yamada, Murray Gershenz, Jane Noltemeyer, Brian C. Haynes, Marc Abbink, Patti Allison, Gabriel Aslan, Carol Avery, Dan Di Julio, Natalie Dreyfuss, Kelly Ebsary, Danny Salman;
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
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other films that explore the topic of Alcoholics Anonymous. These films provide a glimpse into the struggles faced by individuals dealing with alcoholism and the transformative power of support groups like AA.
I hope you find these films insightful and engaging!
In the world of cinema, the portrayal of Alcoholics Anonymous and the journey of recovery has been a complex and poignant subject matter. From the raw and unflinching portrayal of addiction in “Smashed” to the heartwarming and hopeful narrative in “28 Days,” these films have shed light on the struggles, triumphs, and the unwavering support found within the Alcoholics Anonymous community. Through these stories, audiences are offered a glimpse into the challenging, yet transformative, path to sobriety, emphasizing the power of resilience, empathy, and the human spirit. These films serve as a reminder that while the road to recovery may be arduous, it is also marked by moments of profound courage, compassion, and the unwavering determination to reclaim one's life.
