Eating disorders have been a major topic in society for the past few decades. There are many reasons that contribute to why we are seeing such a rise in these illnesses, but regardless of the cause, it is important for everyone to understand what can be done about it.
Here is a list of 10 movies about eating disorders that illustrate some of the various aspects and different ways people deal with eating disorders.
Movies about Eating Disorders
1. Thin (2006).
This is one of the most famous films about eating disorders. It is based on the experiences of actress and former anorexic actress, Meryl Streep.
This is a true story about a mother, who tries to help her 17-year-old daughter overcome her eating disorder while trying to repair their family relationship.
2. Starving in Suburbia (2007).
Starving in Suburbia was based on a non-fiction novel written by Robin Schone. It illustrates how, even though you live in a rich neighborhood, you can still suffer from an eating disorder and suffer alone.
This film was originally intended to be a film about bulimia, however; once the producers met with Schone, they decided to shift the focus of the movie to her life story rather than just making a general case study.
3. Dying to dance (2001).
Dying to dance is a documentary style movie that tells the story of a young girl named “Rebecca (Bex) Siegel” and her yearning desire to become a professional dancer.
She is determined to make her dream come true and goes through with it, even though it means starving herself, getting many surgeries, and almost dying. The film does not only focus on Bex’s struggle with her eating disorder, but also documents her journey in becoming a professional dancer.
4. Big girls don’t cry… They get even
This Film is about three young women, all of whom suffer from eating disorders and have a desire to be famous models.
This film takes a glimpse into their lives as they struggle with trying to control what they put in their bodies while also trying to be successful in the modeling industry.
Although the film was mostly made to be humorous, there are serious struggles that these women face.
5. I Am Sam (2001).
This is a movie based on the true-life events of a mother’s struggle with her son’s anorexia. The film shows many aspects of her life, including her abusive past and how she tries to deal with the abuse.
The film is based on “Candace Bushnell”s novel, “Sex and the City”, and focuses on a single mother who struggles to get her son well in order to help him overcome his eating disorder.
6. House of Wax (2005).
This is a film about the people who work in wax museums, as well as the people who admire these wax sculptures.
The movie focuses on a young girl with anorexia and how she struggles with her eating disorder.
Unlike other films about eating disorders, this movie does not focus on the mental or physical suffering that people with eating disorders go through, but shows their struggles and how they fight their illness by trying to change their lives.
7. The Best Little Girl in the World (1981).
This film serves as a documentary style movie that illustrates how anorexia nervosa can affect anybody, even a child. The movie focuses on how anorexia affected the life of “Ginger Rogers” at the height of her career and how she overcame it through therapy and determination.
8. Girl Interrupted (1999).
This film is about a young girl named “Susanna Kaysen” and her struggle with schizoaffective disorder, as well as anorexia nervosa. The movie focuses on the struggles she goes through, her interactions with the people who take care of her, and how she deals with her illness to get better.
9. The Crying Game (1992).
This film tells the story of a woman going through her divorce from her husband and her struggle with anorexia nervosa.
The movie, itself, is about the conflict that goes through a woman going through a divorce and the conflicting emotions that she goes through.
The main focus of the film is on “Jaye Davidson”s struggle to cope with the abuse that she suffered during her marriage with “Stephen Rea”.
10. A Beautiful Mind (2001).
This movie is about a man named “John Nash”, who suffers from schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa. The movie focuses on his life and how he struggles with both of these disorders.
Although the film does focus on schizophrenia, it also shows videos of what anorexics go through mentally and physically.