One of the most powerful things about cinema is how its stories always manage to touch and resonate with some, whether because of its relatable characters or the real-life struggles depicted on the big screen that can hit too close to home to some audience members. Ranging from mental disorders to graphic violence, several sensitive topics have been explicitly addressed or illustrated in worldwide cinema, and substance abuse is one of them.
9 'Candy' Director: Neil ArmField Adapted from Luke Davies's 1998 novel Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction, the late Heath Ledger sees the star as a heroin addict alongside Abbie Cornish, who goes from being an actress to a call girl after also experimenting with the drug. Their relationship is characterized by alternating states of oblivion, self-destruction, and despair, illustrating how both are as hooked on each other as they are on the drug.
7 'Down to the Bone' Director: Debra Granik Directed by DebraGranik, Down to the Bone is an independent drama starring the incredible Vera Farmiga in a career-defining role as cocaine addict Irene, who is stuck in an unhappy marriage and struggles to raise her children while keeping her struggles with drug use secret. However, when winter comes to her small town, Irene's act comes crashing down.
Especially being a true story, the basketball drama incites audiences to ponder the sensitive topic of drug addiction, which is exponentially aggravated by the fact that its central character is a teenager with a promising future ahead who ultimately develops an addiction to heroin.
4 'A Star is Born' Director: Bradley Cooper Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are the stars of this commercially successful remake of the 1937 picture, which has become the fourth American adaptation of the story. In the film, a successful musician named Jack helps a young aspiring singer, Ally, find her way to fame as age and alcoholism send his career into a downward spiral.
Like many other films on this list, Figgis' picture highlights self-destructiveness via substance abuse. Leaving Las Vegas offers audiences an authentic depiction of alcoholism frequently referred to as one of the best on the big screen; it includes some thought-provoking scenes about the serious matter and its devastating consequences, with the meltdowns feeling realistic thanks to Cage's layered performance.