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Most Moving Films About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Looking to get into more meaningful films? Check out these great moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder.

By C.C. CurtisPublished 6 years ago 6 min read
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There are films out there that can really touch your heart through the storyline. These are certainly among the best movies, and they deserve all the awards for creating heartfelt stories, especially the films based on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people face this disorder on a daily basis and connecting and learning through movies that show characters with the disorder can really make them feel less alone. Whether you have the disorder or not, everyone can learn from these types of films.

If you want to get into watching post-traumatic stress disorder movies or are running low on movies to watch, consider giving these films a try. I guarantee they'll move you and open your mind in a whole new way. So, I've listed the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder so you can start understanding the life of a person with the disorder.

Passionate marine husband Bob heads for Vietnam in 1968 and leaves his wife Sally Hyde back in Los Angeles. She then decides to volunteer at the V.A. hospital where she comes across a new friend, Luke Martin. Luke is not only a former high-school classmate of Sally’s, but he’s a Marine who recently returned from Vietnam.

Sally views how severely the soldiers are impacted by war once returning home. This inspires her to rethink her priorities and while their relationship grows, Luke’s spirits slowly begin to lift. But after visiting her withdrawn husband, Sally discovers a bond and love with Luke like no other.

Coming Homewon multiple awards, including Oscars and is known to be among the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder ever.

Born on the Fourth of July is seen to be one of the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder to watch. It's based on the book with the same title, and it's certainly a movie worth watching.

The film is a biography about Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic who was paralyzed from the Vietnam war. After his horrific incident, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights activist, and feels that he’s been betrayed by his own country that he fought for.

Directed by Alice Winocour, Disorder is a thrilling film that won't only keep you at the edge of your seat, but also make you feel connected to the protagonist.

A young solider who suffers with PTSD returns home after fighting in a war. He becomes a security guard for a beautiful woman while her husband is off on a business trip. Vincent then notices that there’s a dangerous threat towards his client and it’s his duty to protect her. The only way to see how it all goes down is by watching this amazing movie.

If you've never heard of Jacknife, it's easy to say that it's one of the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder to watch ASAP. And if you're a huge fan of Robert De Niro movies, I suggest you get right into this one.

Robert De Niro plays an unpredictable war veteran, Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey, who’s attempting to forget about the terrible experiences he went through during the Vietnam war. While visiting his friend and his sister Martha Flannigan, he goes through a neurotic outburst and even scares the two. Yet Martha finds love with Joseph and tries to comfort him. However, Martha doesn’t know that her brother’s depression is the result of a death of his wartime friend, which he blames himself for.

Love Sylvester Stallone movies? Then you'll certainly be addicted to his film First Blood, which is among the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder.

First Blood is about a former Green Beret who wanders into a small town in Washington where he searches for his old friend. But instead of finding his friend, he finds intolerance and brutality by the local sheriff, Will Teasle. While Teasle and his deputies capture Rambo, they restrain and shave him. And at that point, Rambo goes through a flashback to the moment he was a prisoner of war and then lashes out in a fiery frenzy at the officers. Even after escaping them, will he be captured again?

Gran Torino is an astonishing film based around PTSD. Clint Eastwood's movies are always among the best to watch, and this one shouldn't be ignored so easily since it's considered to be one of the top moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder to watch.

It revolves around a racist Korean War veteran, Walt Kowalski, who lives in a neighborhood in Detroit that is filled with violence and crime. A bunch of teens in his neighborhood attempt to steal his prized Gran Torino, which bring back terrible memories from the war. Even after the Korean War was over, Walt is still being haunted by his experiences on the battlefield. However, he only cares about two objects in his life: his Gran Torino that represents his happier days while working at the Ford assembly plant and the M-1 rifle that constantly saved his life from great danger during combat. But when those teens try to steal his Gran Torino, things don’t go too well for them.

Of Men and War is an staggering documentary that records the lives of combat veterans and their families that live through PTSD. It shows how veterans undergo intense therapy sessions to help them cope with their disorder. The filmmaker behind this gained trust from the veterans and their families to document and capture every moment and aspect on their road to recovery.

Matt Damon stars in the iconic film The Bourne Ultimatum, which is certainly among the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder to dive right into.

Jason Bourne’s main priority in the film is to solve the mystery of his past and to unravel his true identity while being a target of members of the organization he was hired into. Jason must always be one step ahead by those attempting to capture and kill him in order to discover the truth. Thrilling and action-packed, The Bourne Ultimatum is a great film to keep in your collection.

From the list of moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder, Hell and Back Again is an exceptional choice if you want to know more about PTSD.

The documentary is about a soldier who’s dealing with horrifying memories that have impacted him severely, and returning home isn’t as comforting as he expected it to be. Filmmaker Danfung Dennis follows veteran Nathan Harris, who was shot in the hip right before he was due to head back home. His wife has to take care of him constantly, and he struggles with boredom for months. He also deals with severe mood swings and even wishes he was back in Afghanistan where he wasn’t as dependent on others. Follow the life of Nathan Harris and his struggles to recover in Hell and Back Again.

The Ground Truth is nearly everything you need to know about fighting in a war. Through true stories from battling on the field, this film is undoubtably one of the most moving films about post-traumatic stress disorder.

The film revolves around the men and women who fought for our country in the War in Iraq. However, they found themselves ignored by media coverage of the conflict and in their treatment by the bureaucracy. Through interviews with veterans who speak of their struggles in war, we learn the dangers that come along with defending the country, and what it's like to have PTSD.

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About the Creator

C.C. Curtis

Enjoys lounging in NYC bars, loves traveling to foreign countries, and volunteers at the homeless shelter twice a month.

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