The Greatest Movies About Writers, Ranked

Dead Poets Society is an inspiring movie about a young actor, Neil Perry, and the English teacher who helps him find his life's purpose. As he introduces students at the all-boys prep school to unorthodox ideas by the likes of writer Walt Whitman, Mr. Keating encourages Neil to break away from society's expectations for him and follow his own dreams. The movie has some amazing performances by Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, and Robin Williams, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.

Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote, this film follows his journey to write his non-fiction novel In Cold Blood about a murder in a small town. The film explores the author's relationship with one of the convicted murderers (Clifton Collins, Jr.), who he interviewed extensively for his book, as well as his friendship with aspiring novelist Harper Lee (Catherine Keener). It offers an interesting perspective on writing, death row justice, and morality in criminal cases.

A classic must-see psychological horror movie based on a novel by Stephen King, The Shining follows writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), his wife (Shelley Duvall), and their son during their stay in the isolated Overlook Hotel for the snowy winter. While Jack attempts to write, supernatural forces at work in the hotel slowly drive him into madness. While it's an intense horror flick, it also serves as a powerful exploration of writer's block and mental illness. 

Based on a psychological thriller novel by Stephen King, Misery follows the story of novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) who is stranded in a blizzard after he crashes his car. He is saved by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), an obsessive fan of his work who takes him to her home to recover from his injuries. However, it soon becomes apparent that she has more sinister plans for him: holding him captive until he finishes writing his next novel so she can read it.