13 of the Most Stressful Movies Ever Made

The most stressful movies are, more often than not, enjoyable, even if they tend to give us an anxiety attack.

They keep us on the edge of our seats, raising our heart rate, and keep us glued to the screen.

For those who can withstand the rollercoaster of emotions, these stressful movies are sure to keep us entertained from start to finish.

Uncut Gems

Best described as a non-stop panic attack, Adam Sandler’s performance in Uncut Gems was worthy of an Academy Award. I’ll always maintain he was robbed.

It’s a true testament to Sandler’s dramatic capabilities, which he has displayed in the past, that he can surprise us when we least expect it.

Good Time

Before Uncut Gems, the Safdie Brothers, who you can easily say are the masters of the most stressful movies in the industry, gave us Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson.

We know Pattison has been on a roll with his performances, escaping the shadow of the Edward Cullen character from Twilight, and this may be his magnum opus.

Nocturnal Animals

Tom Ford’s 2016 neo-noir thriller is the very definition of a psychological trip.

Then again, that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise given its ensemble cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Isla Fisher, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

It’s a fantastic film, but in addition to being stressful, it’s also, at times, disturbing.

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Green Room

Director Jeremy Saulnier isn’t a household name yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that doesn’t change in the near future.

As of now, his best film is the 2015 horror-thriller Green Room, a non-stop, stress-filled ride from the very beginning. It’s a movie that’s well worth seeing once, but twice? No thank you.

Blue Ruin

Before Green Room, Saulnier made his mark with 2013’s Blue Ruin, a revenge-driven thriller that’s all about what happens when a normal person thinks they can be an action hero.

It’s refreshing to see a more realistic take on a revenge story, even if it’s an incredibly stressful watch.

Mother!

Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror film is stressful for two reasons.

First, there’s just the nature of the movie itself when taken at face value; it just so happens to be a stressful story and movie-watching experience.

When you add in the film’s biblical themes and metaphors, it adds another layer to things. Was it a divisive film? Yes. Was it a stressful one? Most certainly.

127 Hours

In 2003, mountain climber Aron Ralston became trapped in the Utah desert for five days. He published an autobiography of his experience a year later.

A film adaptation, directed by Danny Boyle, was released in 2010. Boyle, best known for the zombie franchise 28 Days Later, employs his unique touch to deliver an experience that evokes the stress and anxiety of being trapped for an extended period.

Free Solo

That’s not the only film about mountain climbers on our list of most stressful movies.

The 2018 documentary Free Solo highlights the first-ever free solo climb (where the climber doesn’t have any protective equipment) of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

Yes, it’s incredibly stressful, but it’s also a breathtaking experience that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Friendship

One thing that works here, particularly in the context of Friendship, which is ultimately a comedy of all things, is the awkwardness of Tim Robinson’s Craig Waterman.

You can’t help but laugh at said awkwardness, especially given Robinson’s talent as an actor, but my god, it’s so awkward and stressful that you’re a little scared as to what will happen next.

I Care a Lot

Another comedy, I Care a Lot uses its humor to distract from what’s ultimately a disturbing experience without any redeeming characters.

Sometimes, the dark style of humor can alleviate the tension, but more often than not, it’s so incredibly hard to watch.

Eden Lake

Sometimes, the most stressful movies are those that are grounded in realism. Watching a film and realizing that the events unfolding on screen could happen in real life adds an extra edge to the viewing experience.

The 2008 British horror film Eden Lake does just that, delivering a more impactful film that will undoubtedly take your breath away.

Whiplash

The biggest reason for Whiplash‘s anxiety-filled experience is J.K. Simmons.

His performance as Terence Fletcher is nothing short of brilliant; you can feel his presence jumping off the screen, and you can’t help but feel the stress placed on Miles Teller’s Andrew Neiman.

Warfare

Alex Garland’s Warfare, co-directed by Ray Mendoza, succeeds as a stressful movie because of how well it’s layered.

On the surface, it’s a straightforward war movie set during the Iraq War. In reality, it’s a stressful experience that highlights the horrors of war thanks to its realistic presentation.

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