Movies about Obsession

There are many different forms of obsession, and it has been the subject of several great movies as a result. Movies that look at obsession are regarded as some of the most frightening of all time. Some of the best movies of all time look at how obsession can take hold of anybody and its dangerous consequences. Obsession is defined as an idea, thought, or person that continuously preoccupies a person's thoughts until it becomes all-consuming. Whether it be romantic or familial, obsession can be very dangerous to anybody. There are many films that examine the different forms that obsession can take in society, as audiences have had the opportunity to see great explorations of obsession in movies from the 1960s up until today.

Obsessed

These movies depict the dangers of romantic obsession and the misinterpretation of signals.

The Girl on the Train

The theme of obsession with appearances is explored in various ways. (Image management)

Eyes without a Face

This movie explores parental obsession.

Splendor in the Grass

This movie is about a young girl who ends up in a mental hospital after her boyfriend leaves her. (When I was young, I thought this movie was romantic.)

Mulholland Drive (2001)

This movie explores the theme of romantic obsession and the idea of a better life. The subplot follows a failing actress named Diane, who is slowly losing her sanity over her fixation on the beautiful Camilla. Diane allows this fixation to consume her until she finally loses her state of mind and takes her own life.

Obsessed (2008)

In Obsessed, financier Derek lives a good life with his wife Sharon and son Kyle when he meets temp worker Lisa. She misinterprets his friendly gestures towards her as flirting, and she tries relentlessly to seduce him, despite his repeated rejections. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon initial release, Obsessed was a box office hit and was praised for depicting the issue of unrequited romantic feelings and unwanted sexual advances towards men. It also looks at how obsession can make one misinterpret signs given by others. The final fight scene between Beyoncé's Sharon and Ali Larter's Lisa delivered a satisfying finale too.

Gone Girl (2014)

Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl looks at married couple, Nick and Amy Dunne, whose lives are torn apart when Amy unexpectedly goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. Seen by investigators and neighbors as the prime suspect, Nick tries desperately to find out what happened to his wife, while struggling to clear his name. But as viewers soon discover, appearances can be deceiving and nothing about Amy's disappearance is what it seems.The theme of obsession runs two different ways through the story. Amy's former lover Desi maintains a strong obsession with her, which initially forced her to take out a restraining order. She later uses his obsession to her advantage, murdering him and then framing him for abduction. Amy also holds a dark obsession to have control over her unfaithful husband. This leads to her inseminating herself to trap Nick and ensure they are still seen as a happy couple in Gone Girl's ending.

Fear (1996)

This 1996 Reese Witherspoon movie sees her play Nicole Walker, a teenage girl who lives a seemingly perfect life with her family and friends in Seattle while dreaming of finding her perfect partner. She seems to find him in the mysterious David, played by Mark Wahlberg. For a little while, everything in their relationship is perfect. But it isn't long before David's violent and obsessive side is revealed as he goes to extreme lengths to keep Nicole with him.Fear has been described as the teenage Fatal Attraction in how it depicts David's dark desire to possess Nicole. It also depicts a father's protection over his daughter. Nicole's father, Steven, having never trusted David goes to great lengths to keep his family safe as David's obsession becomes more unstable. The film received praise for its depiction of teenage obsession and familial protection and gained a cult following in the years following its release.

Crimson Peak (2015)

Crimson Peak depicts Edith Cushing and her romance with the handsome Sir Thomas Sharpe, with her moving into his Gothic mansion where he lives with his sister Lady Lucille. Edith has an uneasy feeling about the mansion and begins to grow suspicious of her new husband and his sister, while also dealing with the appearance of eerie spirits that urge her to leave. When she finally learns the truth, it is far more disturbing than she ever anticipated. It's revealed that Thomas and Lucille have been involved in an incestuous affair since they were young, and Lucille has been murdering all of Thomas' partners for their wealth. Lucille is shown to have a desire to keep Thomas to herself; when she learns of his love for Edith, she flies into a rage and murders him. Lucille's incestuous desires are her own downfall; by the end of the movie, her ghost is seen playing piano alone in the manor for eternity.

Greta (2018)

Greta shows that sometimes, the kindest intentions can lead to the most frightening consequences. Frances, a young woman struggling to cope with the loss of her mother, befriends a lonely widow named Greta after finding her handbag on a train. What starts off as friendship turns into a nightmare for Frances as the elderly Greta begins to stalk and harass her relentlessly. Both Greta and Frances have suffered from familial loss and Frances is initially happy to have somebody she can relate to, but she soon regrets her decision when she sees Greta's mental instability. Greta's desire to be Frances' only confidante leads to frightening circumstances.

Ingrid Goes West (2017)

Ingrid Goes West is a movie that tackles the growing problem of toxic influencer culture, as Ingrid Thorburn becomes fixated with a social media influencer named Taylor Sloane whom she follows on Instagram. She moves to Los Angeles and gives herself a makeover in the hopes of becoming friends with her idol. While she initially succeeds, it isn't long before Ingrid learns that her new friend isn't the person she sees online. Ingrid's obsession with having the perfect life on social media has a heavy impact on her mental health. It examines that behind the glossy Instagram photos, nothing is what it seems.

Lolita (1962)

Lolita poster featuring a girl eating a lollipop and wearing heart-shaped sunglasses
One of the most controversial films ever created Lolita centers on a middle-aged college professor and his fixation with a 14-year-old girl. To be closer to her, he marries her mother and keeps a journal, detailing his obsession. His feelings for the girl are all-consuming, and he will do anything to have him all to himself. Humbert's obsession with Lolita remains strong throughout the story, even when he discovers her new life with another man. The movie has been regarded as a daring take on such a disturbing novel.

American Beauty. This thought-provoking exploration of suburban life centers on a disillusioned middle-aged man who becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's friend, leading to a series of events that culminate in tragedy. Throughout the film, the intricate web of codependency, dysfunctional families, and superficial connections is woven masterfully, showcasing how such relationships can contribute to personal crises and destructive behaviors. The film's ability to blend satire with heart-wrenching drama makes it a powerful examination of the complexities of human relationships.

Fatal Attraction (1987)

Glenn Close as Alex and Michael Douglas as Dan about to kiss in Fatal Attraction. Regarded as one of the best obsession movies, Fatal Attraction sees Dan Gallagher, a married man, embark on a fling with Alex Forrest, an attractive editor. He comes to regret it when Alex becomes obsessed with him and will do anything to have him to herself. As Alex's actions become more disturbing, Dan must find a way to protect his family and save himself. The movie proved controversial upon release but has since received high praise for its portrayal of obsession and infidelity. Glenn Close's portrayal of Alex received high acclaim and has been regarded as one of the best villain portrayals in movie history. The movie allows viewers an insight into the emotional mentality and the consequences of one's mistakes, making it one of the best movies to look into the real dangers of obsession.

Perfect Addiction

When a successful MMA trainer discovers that her boyfriend, the reigning champion, has been cheating on her, she sets out to get revenge by training the one man capable of dethroning him: his arch-nemesis. What begins as payback quickly turns into an obsession.

Please note: A lot of historical movies depict obsession like Cleopatra, Of Human Bondage, The Trojan War, and movies about Napoleon's obsession with Josephine.