The 1999 film Girl, Interrupted, based on Susanna Kaysen’s memoir, is a haunting yet inspiring look at mental health, female friendships, and coming-of-age within the confines of a 1960s psychiatric hospital. Starring Winona Ryder as Susanna and Angelina Jolie in her Oscar-winning role as the charismatic sociopath Lisa, the film’s raw performances and thought-provoking themes have resonated with audiences for over two decades.
If you connected with Girl, Interrupted and are seeking more films that explore similar subjects and evoke the same depth of emotion, look no further. Here are 15 must-watch movies that capture the spirit of this modern classic.
1. Prozac Nation (2001)
Prozac Nation is a biographical drama based on the memoir of the same name by Elizabeth Wurtzel. The film follows Elizabeth (Christina Ricci), a talented young writer who struggles with depression as she starts her freshman year at Harvard. Despite her early success, Elizabeth’s mental health deteriorates, leading her to a downward spiral of drug abuse and self-destruction.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Prozac Nation offers a raw and unflinching look at the realities of mental illness. It explores the pressures of academia, the complexities of family dynamics, and the challenges of finding oneself amidst the chaos. Christina Ricci delivers a powerful performance as Elizabeth, capturing the character’s vulnerability, intelligence, and inner turmoil. The film also features strong supporting turns from Jason Biggs, Anne Heche, and Michelle Williams.
While Prozac Nation received mixed reviews upon its release, it has since gained a cult following for its honest and unapologetic portrayal of depression. The movie doesn’t shy away from the ugly and uncomfortable aspects of mental illness, instead presenting them in a way that feels authentic and relatable.
2. Thirteen (2003)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, Thirteen is a coming-of-age drama that follows Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), a 13-year-old girl who becomes friends with the popular and rebellious Evie (Nikki Reed). As Tracy gets drawn into Evie’s world of sex, drugs, and petty crime, her relationship with her mother (Holly Hunter) becomes increasingly strained.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Thirteen offers a searing and unflinching look at the challenges of adolescence and the complexities of female friendships. The movie is raw, gritty, and at times uncomfortable to watch, but it never feels exploitative or sensationalized. Instead, it presents a honest and nuanced portrayal of the pressures and temptations that many young girls face.
Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed both deliver stunning performances as Tracy and Evie, capturing the intensity and volatility of their characters’ friendship. Holly Hunter is also excellent as Tracy’s mother, a single mom struggling to connect with her increasingly distant daughter. Thirteen is a powerful and thought-provoking film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
3. Manic (2001)
Directed by Jordan Melamed, Manic is a gritty and intense drama set in a juvenile psychiatric ward. The film follows Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a troubled teenager who is committed to the ward after a violent outburst. There, he meets a group of other patients, each struggling with their own demons and traumas.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Manic offers a raw and unflinching look at life inside a psychiatric hospital. The movie is shot in a handheld, documentary-style that adds to its sense of realism and immediacy. It doesn’t shy away from the ugly and uncomfortable aspects of mental illness, instead presenting them in a way that feels honest and authentic.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a powerful performance as Lyle, capturing the character’s anger, vulnerability, and inner turmoil. The supporting cast is also excellent, with standout turns from Zooey Deschanel, Don Cheadle, and Michael Bacall. Manic is a tough and uncompromising film that will leave you shaken and moved.
4. Gia (1998)
Gia is a biographical drama based on the life of Gia Carangi, a top fashion model in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The film follows Gia (Angelina Jolie) from her early days as a rebellious teenager to her meteoric rise in the modeling world, and ultimately to her tragic downfall due to drug addiction and AIDS.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Gia offers a raw and unflinching look at the realities of addiction and mental illness. It explores the pressures of fame, the complexities of sexuality, and the challenges of finding oneself in a world that often values surface over substance. Angelina Jolie delivers a stunning performance as Gia, capturing the character’s charisma, vulnerability, and self-destructive tendencies.
Gia is a powerful and moving film that doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of its subject matter. It presents a tragic but ultimately sympathetic portrait of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world. If you appreciated the raw emotional intensity of Girl, Interrupted, Gia is definitely worth watching.
5. The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Directed by Sofia Coppola, The Virgin Suicides is a haunting and dreamlike drama set in 1970s suburban Michigan. The film follows the Lisbon sisters, five beautiful and enigmatic teenage girls who captivate the boys in their neighborhood. When the youngest sister attempts suicide, the girls’ overprotective parents place them under lockdown, leading to tragic consequences.
Like Girl, Interrupted, The Virgin Suicides offers a poetic and impressionistic look at the inner lives of teenage girls. The movie is suffused with a sense of melancholy and longing, capturing the bittersweet ache of adolescence and the mysteries of the female psyche. Kirsten Dunst delivers a breakout performance as Lux Lisbon, the most rebellious and alluring of the sisters.
The Virgin Suicides is a beautiful and haunting film that lingers in the mind long after it’s over. It’s a meditation on memory, loss, and the fleeting nature of youth.
6. Foxfire (1996)
Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Foxfire is a coming-of-age drama set in 1950s upstate New York. The film follows a group of teenage girls who form a secret society called Foxfire, led by the charismatic and rebellious Legs (Angelina Jolie). As the girls seek to take revenge on the men who have wronged them, they find themselves on a path of self-discovery and empowerment.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Foxfire offers a raw and unflinching look at the challenges and triumphs of female friendship. The movie explores themes of gender, power, and the struggle for identity in a male-dominated world. Angelina Jolie delivers a fierce and magnetic performance as Legs, capturing the character’s strength, vulnerability, and inner fire.
Foxfire is a powerful and provocative film that doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of its subject matter. It presents a complex and nuanced portrait of female rage and resilience.
7. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Directed by Peter Jackson, Heavenly Creatures is a psychological drama based on the true story of Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme, two teenage girls in 1950s New Zealand who formed an intense and ultimately deadly friendship. The film follows Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) and Juliet (Kate Winslet) as they retreat into a rich fantasy world to escape the constraints of their everyday lives.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Heavenly Creatures offers a dark and unsettling look at the power of imagination and the dangers of obsession. The movie explores themes of creativity, sexuality, and the blurring of fantasy and reality. Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet both deliver stunning debut performances, capturing the intensity and volatility of their characters’ bond.
Heavenly Creatures is a haunting and visually stunning film that lingers in the mind long after it’s over. It’s a meditation on the dark side of human nature and the thin line between genius and madness. If you appreciated the psychological complexity and visual artistry of Girl, Interrupted, Heavenly Creatures is a must-see.
8. The Dreamers (2003)
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, The Dreamers is a sensual and provocative drama set against the backdrop of the 1968 Paris student riots. The film follows Matthew (Michael Pitt), a young American who befriends a pair of French siblings, Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel). As the three retreat into their own insular world of movie-watching and sexual experimentation, they find themselves increasingly disconnected from the political turmoil outside.
Like Girl, Interrupted, The Dreamers offers a dreamy and impressionistic look at the inner lives of young people on the cusp of adulthood. The movie explores themes of sexuality, politics, and the power of cinema to shape our perceptions of reality. Eva Green delivers a breakout performance as Isabelle, capturing the character’s enigmatic allure and emotional volatility.
The Dreamers is a lush and intoxicating film that immerses the viewer in the heady atmosphere of late 1960s Paris. It’s a meditation on the blurring of art and life, fantasy and reality.
9. Christiane F. (1981)
Based on the autobiographical book by Christiane Vera Felscherinow, Christiane F. is a gritty and unflinching drama about a teenage girl’s descent into drug addiction in 1970s West Berlin. The film follows Christiane (Natja Brunckhorst) as she navigates the seedy underbelly of the city’s nightlife, becoming hooked on heroin and resorting to prostitution to support her habit.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Christiane F. offers a raw and uncompromising look at the realities of addiction and the toll it takes on both individuals and society. The movie doesn’t shy away from the ugly and uncomfortable aspects of drug abuse, instead presenting them in a way that feels authentic and deeply unsettling. Natja Brunckhorst delivers a powerful performance as Christiane, capturing the character’s vulnerability, desperation, and ultimate resilience.
Christiane F. is a tough and uncompromising film that serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of drug addiction. It’s a stark and sobering reminder of the human cost of the drug trade and the importance of compassion and understanding in addressing this issue.
10. The Yellow Wallpaper (2011)
Based on the classic short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper is a psychological thriller about a woman’s descent into madness. The film follows Jane (Aric Cushing), a young mother suffering from postpartum depression who is prescribed a “rest cure” by her physician husband. Confined to a room with yellow wallpaper, Jane becomes increasingly obsessed with the patterns and begins to see a woman trapped behind them.
Like Girl, Interrupted, The Yellow Wallpaper offers a haunting and unsettling look at the ways in which women’s mental health has been misunderstood and mistreated throughout history. The movie explores themes of gender, power, and the oppressive nature of patriarchal society. Aric Cushing delivers a powerful performance as Jane, capturing the character’s mounting desperation and paranoia.
The Yellow Wallpaper is a chilling and thought-provoking film that serves as a feminist critique of the medical establishment’s treatment of women. It’s a meditation on the ways in which creativity and imagination can be both a source of liberation and a trap.
11. Sylvia (2003)
Sylvia is a biographical drama based on the life of Sylvia Plath, the celebrated poet and novelist who struggled with depression and ultimately took her own life at the age of 30. The film follows Sylvia (Gwyneth Paltrow) from her early days as a student at Smith College to her tumultuous marriage to fellow poet Ted Hughes (Daniel Craig) and her final months in London.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Sylvia offers a poignant and intimate look at the inner life of a brilliant but troubled woman. The movie explores themes of creativity, love, and the struggle to find one’s place in a world that often fails to understand or appreciate unconventional minds. Gwyneth Paltrow delivers a stunning performance as Sylvia, capturing the character’s passion, intelligence, and inner turmoil.
Sylvia is a beautiful and haunting film that pays tribute to one of the most important voices in 20th-century literature. It’s a meditation on the power of words to both heal and destroy, and the ways in which the creative process can be both a source of joy and a burden.
12. The Bell Jar (1979)
Based on the autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar is a coming-of-age drama about a young woman’s struggle with depression and identity. The film follows Esther Greenwood (Marilyn Hassett), a talented writer who wins a summer internship at a prestigious magazine in New York City. Despite her early success, Esther finds herself increasingly disillusioned with the expectations placed on her as a woman and a creative person.
Like Girl, Interrupted, The Bell Jar offers a raw and unflinching look at the realities of mental illness and the pressures of conformity. The movie explores themes of gender, sexuality, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels hollow and superficial. Marilyn Hassett delivers a powerful performance as Esther, capturing the character’s intelligence, vulnerability, and growing despair.
The Bell Jar is a poignant and thought-provoking film that serves as a testament to the enduring power of Plath’s writing. It’s a meditation on the ways in which society can stifle and suppress the creative spirit, and the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.
13. Margot at the Wedding (2007)
Directed by Noah Baumbach, Margot at the Wedding is a darkly comic drama about the complicated relationship between two sisters. The film follows Margot (Nicole Kidman), a successful but neurotic writer who returns to her childhood home for her sister Pauline’s (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding. As old tensions and resentments surface, Margot finds herself questioning her own life choices and the nature of her bond with Pauline.
Like Girl, Interrupted, Margot at the Wedding offers a sharp and incisive look at the complexities of female relationships. The movie explores themes of family, identity, and the ways in which we can be both drawn to and repelled by the people closest to us. Nicole Kidman delivers a brilliant performance as Margot, capturing the character’s wit, intelligence, and deep-seated insecurities.
Margot at the Wedding is a smart and provocative film that showcases Baumbach’s gift for capturing the nuances of human behavior. It’s a meditation on the ways in which we can be our own worst enemies, and the importance of learning to accept and forgive ourselves and others.
14. The Hours (2002)
Directed by Stephen Daldry, The Hours is a multi-layered drama that interweaves the stories of three women across different time periods, all connected by Virginia Woolf’s novel “Mrs. Dalloway.” The film follows Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep), a modern-day New Yorker planning a party for her friend Richard (Ed Harris), a poet dying of AIDS; Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), a 1950s housewife struggling with her own identity; and Virginia Woolf herself (Nicole Kidman), as she writes “Mrs. Dalloway” and battles with depression.
Like Girl, Interrupted, The Hours offers a poignant and introspective look at the inner lives of women across different eras. The movie explores themes of creativity, sexuality, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels oppressive and suffocating. Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman all deliver stunning performances, capturing the unique struggles and triumphs of their respective characters.
The Hours is a beautiful and deeply moving film that showcases the enduring power of literature to connect and inspire us across time and space. It’s a meditation on the ways in which we all struggle to find our place in the world, and the importance of living authentically and courageously in the face of adversity.
15. An Angel at My Table (1990)
Directed by Jane Campion, An Angel at My Table is a biographical drama based on the life of Janet Frame, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated writers. The film follows Janet (Kerry Fox) from her childhood in a poor family to her misdiagnosis of schizophrenia and her eventual success as a novelist.
Like Girl, Interrupted, An Angel at My Table offers a powerful and inspiring look at the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The movie explores themes of creativity, identity, and the ways in which society often fails to understand or appreciate those who are different. Kerry Fox delivers a stunning performance as Janet, capturing the character’s intelligence, sensitivity, and fierce determination.
An Angel at My Table is a beautiful and deeply moving film that serves as a testament to the power of art to heal and transform lives. It’s a meditation on the importance of staying true to oneself, even in the face of overwhelming opposition and misunderstanding.
These 15 films all capture something of the raw emotional power of Girl, Interrupted. From harrowing portraits of mental illness to poignant coming-of-age stories, they showcase the talents of some of our finest young actresses. If you’re looking for more movies that will make you feel deeply, think critically, and see the world through new eyes, give these titles a watch. They may just leave you speechless.
