The Best Movies About Eating Disorders

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 15.3K votes 7.3K voters 300.9K views
Over 7.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies About Eating Disorders
Voting Rules
Vote up the movies that best portray eating disorders and body image issues.

News of an amazing singer like Karen Carpenter tragically dying, the struggles that athletes, dancers, and gymnastics have over being more thin, people who struggle with body image, and the psychological issues that haunt people who have severe food issues – these are all things that might cross your mind when thinking about eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. These issues are unfortunately prevalent enough in today's society that many films have been made about the subject.

Some of the best movies tell the story of a true event that happened in a person’s life, helping to make something difficult to understand more accessible. Many of the movies featured on this list take an honest look at what makes a person truly struggle with an eating disorder, how it affects their family and close friends and how people who struggle with this disorder can overcome it. Other films are fictional stories, but no less impactful.

This list has the best movies about eating disorders including: To the Bone, Heathers, Girl, Interrupted, Center Stage, and Perfect Body. Vote up your favorite films so other users know what to watch 

Most divisive: Life Is Sweet
Ranked by
  • To the Bone
    1

    To the Bone

    Keanu Reeves, Lily Collins, Alanna Ubach
    4,193 votes
    • Released: 2017
    • Directed by: Marti Noxon

    Determined to finally confront her anorexia after placed in multiple rehbailitation centers in this powerful drama, Ellen (Lily Collins) sheds light on an everpresent struggle among young women worldwide. 

    Ellen is an unruly 20-year-old anorexic girl who spent the better part of her teenage years being shepherded through various recovery programs, only to find herself several pounds lighter every time. Determined to find a solution, her dysfunctional family agrees to send her to a group home for youths, which is led by a non-traditional doctor. Surprised by the unusual rules, Ellen must discover for herself how to confront her addiction and attempt self-acceptance.

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  • Sharing the Secret
    2

    Sharing the Secret

    Mare Winningham, Diane Ladd, Tim Matheson
    969 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Katt Shea

    Beth Moss (Alison Lohman) navigates the challenges of teenage life while coping with bulimia in this televised film based on a true story.

    Sharing the Secret is a 2000 American television drama film about a teenage girl's struggle with bulimia and its effect on her parents and friends. Originally airing on CBS television networks in the United States, the film has also aired on cable television's Lifetime Network. In 2001, the film received a Peabody Award for "an impressive, moving, and candid portrait of a teenager in crisis."
  • My Skinny Sister
    3

    My Skinny Sister

    Rebecka Josephson, Amy Deasismont, Henrik Norlén
    305 votes
    • Released: 2015
    • Directed by: Sanna Lenken

    A girl entering the world of adolescence copes with older sister's eating disorder while trying to keep her dysfunctional family in line. 

  • For the Love of Nancy
    4

    For the Love of Nancy

    Tracey Gold, Jill Clayburgh, William Devane
    562 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Paul Schneider

    Channeling her personal testimony into the protagonist's portrayal, Nancy Walsh (Tracey Gold) addresses her self-induced anorexia nervosa while attending college and rekindling her familial relationships in this made-for-television movie. 

    Nancy Walsh (Tracey Gold) has recently graduated from high school, and carries an enormous amount of anxiety about the future. When she goes to college, she grows increasingly withdrawn and develops anorexia nervosa. While her parents, Sally (Jill Clayburgh) and Tom (William Devane), seem not to notice her condition, her brother (Cameron Bancroft) finally confronts her. Realizing they need to act to save their daughter, Sally and Tom must go to court to regain guardianship and force treatment.
  • Perfect Body
    5

    Perfect Body

    Wendie Malick, Amy Jo Johnson, Cathy Rigby
    577 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Douglas Barr

    Starring two-time Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby and Amy Jo Johnson, Perfect Body reveals the hidden eating disorders and physical pressures beneath the glitz and glammor of big-time gymnastics.

    Perfect Body is a 1997 American drama film about a young gymnast who develops an eating disorder. It originally aired on NBC on September 8, 1997. It has since aired on Lifetime and ABC Family and been released on DVD. The film stars former Power Rangers and Felicity actress Amy Jo Johnson.
  • A Secret Between Friends
    6

    A Secret Between Friends

    Ryan Reynolds, Lynda Carter, Marley Shelton
    574 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: James A. Contner

    Two girls' vanity transforms into bulimia, resulting in a dangerous fight for their lives. 

    When Friendship Kills, also released as A Secret Between Friends: A Moment of Truth Movie, is a 1996 American television film directed by James A. Contner. The movie is a part of the Moment of Truth franchise and deals with the danger of anorexia nervosa among teens.