10 Best Movies About Psychologists That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies About Psychologists

Filmmakers have never shied away from discussing psychology, from The Joker to Silent of the Lambs. However, it doesn’t always get it right the first time around.

Wheaton College psychology grad Wes Craven had a profound influence on his work as an American film director. It is likely that if he had not studied psychology, he would not have been able to create such terrifying horror films.

It is difficult for film directors, aside from Wes Craven, to develop psychologist characters who follow the rules of the profession and act in accordance with what a real-life psychologist would do. Even if some movies get near, they fall short at the last minute.

1. What About Bob?

What About Bob

Who Forgot What About Bob? is one of the funniest comedies from the 1990s that everyone has overlooked.

Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) is the therapist Bill Murray (Bill Murray) is stalking.

In spite of the fact that it’s probably unfair to compare therapists in comedy to those in dramas, Dr. Marvin’s representation is totally misleading. His workplace is decorated with pictures of his family, which is a big no-no for psychologists. Once this is accomplished, the professional plays on an old cliche by remaining silent throughout the meeting.

2. Joker

In spite of the fact that Joker was a huge success worldwide, the film’s treatment of Arthur Fleck’s connection with his therapist has been widely questioned by many who operate in the field of mental health. There are still many unanswered concerns.

As one of the strangest moments between Arthur and his therapist, Arthur gave his therapist his journal to read. In actual world, therapists would refuse to read a patient’s journal.

3. The Departed

The Departed

In The Departed, there are many notable phrases, but Colin’s character asserts that Freud famously stated that the Irish are immune to psychoanalysis. That is, after all, what Sigmund Freud said, and it’s the one aspect of the film that hasn’t been panned by psychologists.

According to experts in the industry, Madolyn’s actions and words are in direct conflict with what a real-life therapist would do.

However, the film is still one of the best thrillers of the 2000s .’s

4. The silence of the Lambs

Dr. Hannibal Lecter, although being one of the most heinous, horrifying, and cunning horror villains ever, was able to move even fellow psychologist Dr. Doemling to tears with his knowledge of psychology.

As a serial murderer, Hannibal Lecter has been well commended for his use of psychoanalysis and the reason he is the way he is in Silence Of The Lambs. Psychology experts say the novel establishes it better and the movie is missing some important details.

5. Split

Split

After multiple box office failures, Split marks a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan’s characteristic tense drama and comes after a string of box office failures.

Even though Shyamalan’s twist in Split is one of his greatest, many professionals in the field have blasted the director for exploiting a real-life psychological disease to make a cheesy thriller. As a result, a real psychologist would have followed a different course of action than what is seen in the film.

6. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is the closest thing to a fly on the wall view into psychiatric hospitals in the 1960s that you can get. Psychologists have complimented the film for its accurate depiction of operations in mental hospitals at the time and for the manner it showed the horrible circumstances of the mental hospitals.

However, the movie depicts patients bribing personnel with money and drink, which is a far cry from reality.

7.  X-Men

X-Men

In spite of the fact that Professor Xavier’s work is based on a supernatural power that doesn’t exist, there are still some concerns with the foundation of the therapy.

According to real psychologists, Senator Kelly is never given permission by Xavier when he is about to be psychoanalyzed and even have his mind read by the psychologist, who does not ask.

Consent isn’t required in mental emergencies, but this didn’t feel like an emergency.

8. A Dangerous Method

Sigmund Freud’s relationship with Carl Jung, Freud’s partner, makes A Dangerous Method more appealing to psychologists than any other film. When it comes to the authenticity of his film, director David Cronenberg has received high appreciation. This is because the movie accurately depicts how Sigmund Freud devised “the talking cure,” or therapy as we know it today: talking about your issues in order to overcome them.

Sabina Spielrein’s sexual intimacy with Jung was a major plot point in the film, as no one knows what truly transpired, and in real life, it’s a no-no to get physically involved with a patient.

9. Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko

Toward the end of Donnie Darko, it is strongly implied that Donnie’s therapist will diagnose him with schizophrenia once she realizes he is having images of Frank.

When it comes to diagnosing someone with schizophrenia, it’s nearly difficult to ever go undetected. This is one of the most unethical things she could have done. Psychologists have therefore challenged the therapist’s choice, which appeared to be made on the spot.

 10. X-Men: Days of Future Past

Days of Future Past, the X-Men movie in which Patrick Stewart’s older Xavier and James McAvoy’s younger Xavier come into contact, is one of the more affirming techniques of psychology in an X-Men film.

In the film, Xavier’s elder self, acting as his own psychotherapist, helps him to get his life back on track and restore his trust in what he does. That being said, it’s essentially impossible to attain in the real world.