5 Best Movies About Van Gogh That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies About Van Gogh

It’s possible that Vincent Van Gogh will go down in history as one of the most well-known painters ever. All across the world, and especially in Paris, his stunning post-impressionist versions are adored. There are various museums in Paris where you can see his work, including the Musée d’Orsay.

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter. When he was young, he and his siblings lived in Zundert, a town in the Netherlands. Aside from the fact that he was a shy and reserved kid, hardly much is known about Van Gogh’s early life.

A company called Goupil et Cie employed him when he was just 16 years old. Van Gogh’s brother, Theo, worked for the same company as Van Gogh. The firm moved Van Gogh to Paris when he was 20 years old.

As soon as Van Gogh settled in Paris, he made the decision to leave the art world behind. To follow in the footsteps of his reverend father, he enrolled in seminary. He soon realized that the holy life was not for him, and he decided to follow in his brother Theo’s footsteps and become a painter like him. He did, however, leave Paris in order to go to Holland to study and try his hand at painting and drawing. Just four years before he died in 1890, he returned to France for the first time in 1886.

Van Gogh was a lightning-quick learner who showed early hints of talent. The works of Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and Paul Gauguin were all on display in Paris. He traveled to Arles, France, in 1888 to paint the magnificent scenery. He also envisioned establishing an artists’ community in the area.

In Arles, Van Gogh and Gauguin became good friends and spent considerable time together. Van Gogh’s situation, on the other hand, begins to become more difficult. Delusions and psychotic episodes began to plague him when he developed a unique form of epilepsy. During a visit to Gauguin, he had an attack and famously hacked off his earlobe.

Unfortunately, Van Gogh’s battle with mental illness did not end there. In 1889, he voluntarily entered an asylum, where he stayed until 1890. While in the asylum, he was able to paint a little bit.

This happened in Auvers on July 27, 1890, when Vincent van Gogh was shot to death by an assassination attempt. He died two days after that. Van Gogh’s suicide has long been regarded by historians to have been a suicide attempt, but there have been fresh suggestions that it was an accident. As a result, we’ll never know the full story.

In addition to his self-portraits, Van Gogh is most known for his works Bedroom in Arles, Almond Blossoms, and The Starry Night. He loved painting the Montmartre district in Paris when he resided there.

Check out the following list of the top films on Vincent Van Gogh if you want to understand more about this famous artist!

1. Lust for Life (1956)

Lust for Life (1956)

“Lust for Life,” a 1956 film depicting Van Gogh’s early efforts to find a vocation that he was truly enthusiastic about, stars Kirk Douglas.” His passion in the monastic life is depicted and demonstrates why he ultimately decided to become an artist. You’ll also learn about Vincent Van Gogh’s early years as a budding artist.

It is based on Irving Stone’s novel of the same name, and Douglas received an Academy Award nomination for his performance.

If you’re a fan of classic films and want to learn more about Van Gogh’s early life, this is the film for you.

2. Vincent and Theo (1990)

Vincent and Theo (1990)

It depicts the life of Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo in a 1990 period film. Vincent is played by Tim Roth and Theo is played by Paul Rhys. It is based on a series of letters between the two brothers that were exchanged throughout time.

Van Gogh and Theo performs an excellent job of conveying both Van Gogh and Theo’s stories. Just how important his brother was to him will be revealed to you. In the absence of Theo’s financial assistance, Van Gogh would never have become a painter!

If you’re curious about Van Gogh’s relationship with his brother, this film is for you.

3. The Eyes of Van Gogh (2005)

The Eyes of Van Gogh (2005)

‘The Eyes of Van Gogh’ is a 2005 film about Van Gogh’s period in an asylum. When his epilepsy began to interfere with his life, Van Gogh voluntarily checked himself into the Saint Remy asylum for a period of 12 months.

In Van Gogh’s asylum, director Alexander Barnett does an outstanding job of conveying how the artist saw the world. What it’s like to be in a condition of sanity is the focus of this film. Warning: this one may be intense and not suitable for the faint of heart.

If you’re interested in learning more about Vincent Van Gogh’s stay in Saint Remy, then this film is for you.

4. Loving Vincent (2017)

Loving Vincent (2017)

This is one of my all-time favorites! Over 130 animated renditions of the artist’s paintings will let you understand more about his life as a painter. Loving Vincent surprised me because I’d never seen anything like it before.

Controversy erupted when the film was nominated for an Academy Award. Historians, as previously said, have assumed that Van Gogh committed suicide. It is possible that his death was an accident in Loving Vincent.

Consider seeing this film if: you’re interested in learning more about Vincent Van Gogh’s work through the medium of animation.

5. At Eternity’s Gate (2018)

At Eternity’s Gate (2018)

My favorite movie of all time, Loving Vincent is a close second to At Eternity’s Gate. A stunning performance by Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh stunned me when I saw the film in theaters shortly after its release.

Van Gogh’s friendship with fellow artist Paul Gauguin is also explored in the film. The story takes place in the closing years of Van Gogh’s life, and we get a glimpse of his unpredictable and depressed personality. Excellent acting and great realism are the hallmarks of Dafoe’s performance.

If you want to learn more about Van Gogh’s final years, this film is for you.

Conclusion

More Van Gogh biopics can be found on your “to-watch” list. For those of you who share my passion for this legendary artist, I think you’ll enjoy all of the book titles listed above.

You should take advantage of our Skip-the-line Orsay and Montmartre tour if you’re planning a vacation to Paris! Get to know some of Van Gogh’s best-known works, and then journey to one of his favorite Parisian districts! Visit discover more, go to this page.