100+ Movies About Toxic Relationships, Ranked
What is it about watching a movie about a truly toxic relationship that appeals to us so much? Maybe it’s because it makes us feel better about our own relationships in life, or maybe we’re just curious about how other people live their lives. No matter what your reason for taking an interest in dysfunctional relationships is, if you’re craving a good movie about a bad relationship, one on this list will do the trick.
The best movies in the bad relationship category range from completely serious dramas, psychological thrillers, and romantic comedies. So no matter what your interest in watching one of these flicks is, there is sure to be one featured on this list to meet your movie cravings.
This list has the best movies about bad relationships, including: Revolutionary Road, Enough, The Break Up, Blue Valentine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Why Did I Get Married? Vote up your favorite movie about a dysfunctional relationship below or add one you love that isn't already on the list.
- 1Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
- Released: 2014
- Directed by: David Fincher
In this thrilling adaptation of Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel, Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike play a married couple swept up in a series of jaw-dropping, twisted events. Beneath the surface of their seemingly ideal marriage, lies deceit and betrayal that push the limits of devotion and loyalty.
- 2Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: James Foley
Starring Reese Witherspoon as a teenager and Mark Wahlberg as her dangerously possessive boyfriend, Fear delves deep into the consequences of a relationship consumed by obsession and violence. As the film progresses, the once-enamoring romance takes a dark turn, exposing alarming behaviors that can arise from toxic love.
- 3Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst
- Released: 2004
- Directed by: Michel Gondry
In this inventive romantic drama, Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet portray a couple who undergo a procedure to erase their tumultuous relationship from memory. Along the way, they realize the true value of their once-passionate love and the lasting impact memories have on our lives.
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- 4Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates
- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Sam Mendes
Depicting the disintegration of a suburban couple's (Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio) marriage, Revolutionary Road delves into the unhappiness and resentments that have been festering beneath the surface. As they contend with unsatisfied desires, a better life appears tantalizingly within reach.
- 5Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter
- Released: 1951
- Directed by: Elia Kazan
Based on Tennessee Williams' classic play, this film stars Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, and Vivien Leigh. Brando's brutish Stanley Kowalski clashes with his sensitive and fragile sister-in-law Blanche DuBois (Leigh), complicating the already turbulent marriage between Stanley and Stella (Hunter).
- 6Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush
- Released: 2006
- Directed by: Neil Armfield
Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish bring to life a love story marred by drug addiction in Candy. In their struggle to maintain their bond amid addiction, the raw and emotional performances expose the devastating effects that drugs can have on relationships and personal wellbeing.
