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Movies About Domestic Violence
Watching movies about domestic violence can be a cathartic way to heal from this unspeakable trauma.
Whether you’ve witnessed domestic violence or lived through this unbearable pain, it can sometimes feel like no one understands.
But the movies recommended on this list can help you feel less alone.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain (or maintain) power and control over another intimate partner.
Domestic violence can be ⤵️
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional
- Economic
- Psychological
- Technological
The number one goal of the abuser is to stay in the number one power position.
Signs of domestic violence ⤵️
- Intimidation
- Manipulation
- Humiliation
- Isolation
- Frightening
- Terrorizing
- Coercing
- Threatening
- Blaming
- Hurting
- Injuring
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is an excellent resource.
List of Domestic Violence Movies:
As you can probably guess, all the movies featured on this list contain tough subject matter that can be incredibly difficult to watch at times.
That being said, I’ve included content warnings for each movie with the help of DoesTheDogDie.com.
I would definitely check there before watching, in case I missed any big common triggers.
Now, on to the movies…
27 Best Movies About Domestic Violence
Have you downloaded your free inner child healing workbook yet? 👇
1. ENOUGH
I used to watch Enough every time it aired on TV back in the day, and I still remember the fear and dread I felt watching it.
Synopsis:
Slim is a terrified woman who attempts to escape a brutal case of domestic violence with her young daughter.
The abusive husband and father will stop at nothing to capture them back.
Genre:
Drama thriller
Content:
Domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, gun violence
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
You might relate to these movies about child abuse:
👉 23 Heartbreaking Movies About Childhood Trauma (That are Therapeutic)
2. THE PERFECT GUY
While the themes in The Perfect Guy are traumatizing, this movie takes a somewhat sensationalized approach to domestic violence.
Synopsis:
After a painful breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Leah jumps into a sexually-charged relationship with a charming stranger — who seems to be the perfect guy.
That is, until she sees a violent side of him and falls victim to his jealous rage.
Genre:
Thriller
Content:
Domestic violence, stalking
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
Listen to these songs about domestic violence:
👉 32 Emotional Songs About Domestic Violence (and Relationship Abuse)
3. SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY
Another fatal attraction movie, Sleeping with the Enemy is one of the most well-known on this list.
Synopsis:
On the outside, Laura and Martin have a picturesque marriage.
But on the inside, Martin is so abusive and controlling that Laura fakes her own death — except he finds out that she’s still alive.
Genre:
Drama thriller
Content:
Domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
There’s nothing shameful about being a victim:
👉 101 Affirmations for Shame (to Forgive and Accept Yourself)
4. WHERE THE HEART IS
Where The Heart Is is one of my all-time favorite comfort movies.
Synopsis:
Teen mom Novalee was abandoned by her baby’s father in a Walmart parking lot.
Deserted (and with only $5.55 in her pocket), she has to find a way to survive.
Genre:
Drama comedy
Content:
Child trauma, domestic violence, kidnapping
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
5. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
The Secret Life of Bees is a captivating story of discovering who you are.
Synopsis:
To escape her tumultuous relationship with her dad, teenage Lily runs away to a small town in South Carolina in hopes of finding the truth about her deceased mother.
There, she finds a family of independent women who help connect her to her past.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Racism, torture, violence, suicide, death, drowning
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
You might find these TED Talks relatable:
👉 13 TED Talks on Childhood Trauma (to Heal Your Inner Child)
6. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
While the content is painful, Fried Green Tomatoes will fill you with warmth, laughter, and hope.
Synopsis:
Evelyn is an unhappy housewife, and no one will take her problems seriously.
She soon befriends an outgoing woman in a nursing home and hears a remarkable tale of laughter and devotion.
Genre:
Drama comedy
Content:
Domestic violence, stalking, alcoholism, kidnapping, racism, cancer, death
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
7. PRECIOUS
Precious is an incredibly harrowing movie that can be downright painful to watch.
Synopsis:
Set in 1987 Harlem, Precious is a fat, abused, and illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child from her father.
She is invited to enroll in an alternative school, hoping she can change her life for the better.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Drug abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate speech, child abuse
Rent or buy here: Amazon
If you experienced abuse, these songs might help:
👉 40 Child Abuse Songs (When You Had a Bad Childhood)
8. THE SHINING
The Shining is one of Stephen King’s most famous stories.
Synopsis:
Debilitated by writer’s block, aspiring author and recovering alcoholic Jack forces his wife and son to live in an isolated hotel for the winter.
A sinister presence influences Jack into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific images from both the past and future.
Genre:
Horror
Content:
Domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, death, hate speech (n-word)
Rent or buy here: Amazon
9. FREEDOM WRITERS
I remember renting Freedom Writers from the video store way back in the day, and I watched it twice in one week.
Synopsis:
Young English teacher Erin Gruwell inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, see past race, and apply themselves in a system that let them down.
These students are guided to pursue learning that goes beyond high school.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Racism, anti-Semitism, violence, gun violence, domestic violence, death, sexual abuse
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
Movies about bullying:
👉 28 Best Movies About Bullying (for Teens, Kids, and Adults!)
10. THIS BOY’S LIFE
This Boy’s Life is based on the memoir of writer and literature Professor Tobias Wolff.
Synopsis:
It’s 1957, and Toby and his mom flee to Seatle to escape her abusive boyfriend.
She soon marries a garage mechanic, only to discover that he’s also an abusive alcoholic.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, hate speech, homophobia
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
11. THE HATE U GIVE
I instantly fell in love with the book with the same name the first time I read it, even though it was a painfully difficult read.
The Hate U Give (the movie) made me feel so much more heartbreak and anger.
Synopsis:
Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer.
She quickly begins facing pressure from all sides, and she must learn to find her voice and stand up for what’s right.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Racism, police brutality, gang activity, violence, poverty
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
These quotes can help you heal from childhood trauma:
👉 70 Healing Inner Child Quotes (to Help Overcome Childhood Trauma)
12. GOLD DIGGERS: THE SECRET OF BEAR MOUNTAIN
Synopsis:
Beth is a city girl who just moved from Los Angeles to a small town in the Pacific Northwest, where her mom used to visit growing up.
There she befriends Jody, the town’s delinquent who’s more at home in the woods than in her hometown.
Genre:
Coming-of-age adventure
Content:
Domestic violence, addiction, alcoholism
Rent or buy here: Amazon
13. SAFE HAVEN
Safe Haven is about confronting the past, while being hopeful of the future.
Synopsis:
Katie is a young woman with a mysterious past who lands in Southport, North Carolina.
She bonds with a widower, which ultimately forces her to face the dark secret lurking in her shadow.
Genre:
Romance
Content:
Animal death, stalking, domestic violence, addiction, alcoholism, cancer, death of parent
Rent or buy here: Amazon
Heal from domestic violence with meditation:
👉 21 Powerful Inner Child Healing Meditations (Guided and Unguided)
14. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Football means everything to a small Texas town in Friday Night Lights.
Synopsis:
The Permian High Panthers have a big tradition: win Friday nights.
However, when star tailback faces a career-ending injury in the first game of the season, their winning legacy might be shattered forever.
Genre:
Sports drama
Content:
Child abuse, domestic violence, addiction, alcoholism, racism
Rent or buy here: Amazon
P.S. If you haven’t watched the show yet, you gotta!
15. STAND BY ME
Stand By Me is a coming-of-age adventure set around mystery and self-discovery.
Synopsis:
In a small woodsy Oregon town, a group of four friends decide to search for the body of a missing boy.
Wanting to be heroes, they set out on an unforgettable two-day trek that turns into a journey of introspection.
Genre:
Coming-of-age adventure
Content:
Domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, death, PTSD, hate speech, homophobia
Rent or buy here: Amazon
16. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
If you want to watch a movie about fantasy and wonder, put on Bridge to Terabithia.
Synopsis:
Exhausted from being bullied at school and neglected at home, Jess and Leslie escape into the woods.
Leslie opens Jess’s heart to the magical kingdom of Terabithia — a secret land where they reign over the giants, ogres, and other imaginative creatures they conjure.
As their imaginations soar (and their friendship deepens), they discover how to rule their own kingdom, fight the forces of darkness, and change their lives forever.
Genre:
Coming-of-age fantasy
Content:
Child abuse, domestic violence, bullying, death
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
More ways to connect with your younger self:
👉 13 Nostalgic Activities to Reconnect with Your Inner Child
17. RADIO FLYER
An early 90s classic, Radio Flyer depicts a strong case of childhood abuse.
Synopsis:
A family is torn apart and destroyed by domestic violence.
To escape this reality, two boys build an airplane out of a red wagon and fly into imagination and adventure.
Content:
Alcoholism, domestic violence, abuse
Rent or buy it here: Amazon
18. THE COLOR PURPLE
The Color Purple is a brutal movie that’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
Synopsis:
Celie is a Black southern woman who grew up in the early 1900s.
Over the course of four decades, she suffers years of unspeakable abuse at the hands of her father and other people she’s supposed to be able to trust.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, racism, hate speech (n-word), fatphobia, incest
Rent or buy here: Amazon
Healing from your childhood:
👉 11 Ways to Heal Childhood Trauma Spiritually (and Awaken Your Inner Child)
19. THE KILLING SECRET
The Killing Secret proves that people aren’t always who they portray themselves to be.
Synopsis:
A pregnant teen is murdered, and a rich and popular high school senior is suspected.
Will his girlfriend, Nicole, stick by him to prove his innocence, or will she piece together evidence that he’s not the perfect guy she thought he was?
Genre:
Crime drama
Content:
Murder, domestic violence
Rent or buy here: Amazon
20. DANGEROUS INTENTIONS
Dangerous Intentions is unfortunately based on a true story.
Synopsis:
When Beth and her child flee for an abused women’s shelter, they quickly discover that escaping isn’t that easy.
Her controlling husband will do anything to keep them close.
Genre:
Drama thriller
Content:
Domestic violence, stalking
Rent or buy here: Amazon
Do you have controlling parents?
👉 13 Signs of Controlling Parents in Adulthood (That Are Ruining Your Life)
21. WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Based on Tina Turner’s life, What’s Love Got to Do with It showcases her rise to stardom.
Synopsis:
Watch as Tina gets the courage to break free from her turbulent relationship.
She had to learn to believe in herself and her power.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, addiction, alcoholism, domestic violence, self-harm, suicide attempt, n-word
Rent or buy here: Amazon
22. DOLORES CLAIBORNE
Dolores Claiborne is another movie on this list based on a Stephen King novel.
Synopsis:
Dolores Claiborne has worked as a maid for a wealthy woman in a remote town in Maine for years.
When she is indicted for the elderly woman’s murder, her daughter comes to town and discovers a lot of difficult truths about her family’s past.
Genre:
Thriller
Content:
Domestic violence, sexual assault, incest, drug abuse, alcoholism, death, self-harm, suicide, fatphobia
Rent or buy here: Amazon
Is your parent toxic?
👉 17 Signs a Parent is Toxic (That are Painfully Relatable)
23. THE BURNING BED
The Burning Bed is based on a true story of a battered woman murdering her abusive husband.
Synopsis:
Francine has had enough of her husband beating and abusing her.
After he rapes her one night, she sets the bed on fire while he is asleep.
Genre:
Crime drama
Content:
Animal abuse, sexual assault, death, domestic violence, alcoholism,
Rent or buy here: Amazon
24. FEAR
I remember I was about to go to bed when Fear came on the TV the first time I watched it, and I got sucked right into the story.
Synopsis:
Nicole is instantly infatuated with David the first time she laid eyes on him.
He promises her the world, but instead, he became scarily possessive.
Genre:
Thriller
Content:
Sexual assault, stalking, drug abuse, domestic violence, animal death
Rent or buy here: Amazon
25. NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER
Not Without My Daughter is another movie based on a true story on this list.
Synopsis:
Betty is an American woman who is guilted into visiting her Iranian husband’s homeland with their daughter.
Her worst fears are soon realized when he traps them there.
Genre:
Drama thriller
Content:
Child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, kidnapping, animal death
Rent or buy here: Amazon
Read these true stories about abuse:
👉 22 Celebrity Memoirs About Stars Who Survived Childhood Trauma
26. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Based on the bestselling novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is filled with torture and difficult subject matter.
Synopsis:
Discredited journalist Mikael and mysterious computer hacker Lisbeth work together to solve the mystery of a 40-year-old murder.
They uncover that even the wealthiest families have skeletons hiding in their closets.
Genre:
Action thriller
Content:
Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, anti-Semitism, animal abuse, animal death, death, kidnapping, gun violence
Rent or buy here: Amazon
27. THE GLASS CASTLE
The Glass Castle is based on the bestselling memoir with the same name.
Synopsis:
Jeannette reflects on her unconventional upbringing, which sometimes resulted in her family living in poverty.
Now that she’s engaged to a man who works in finance, she faces backlash from her parents who say she’s betrayed their artsy and nonconformist values.
Genre:
Drama
Content:
Animal abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, incest, death of a parent
Rent or buy here: Amazon
More movie recommendation posts:
- 23 Heartbreaking Movies About Childhood Trauma (That are Therapeutic)
- 27 Movies About Childhood Friends (Filled with Nostalgia)
- 28 Best Movies About Bullying (for Teens, Kids, and Adults!)
- 28 Coming-of-Age TV Shows (Bursting with 90s and 2000s Nostalgia)
- 13 TED Talks on Childhood Trauma (to Heal Your Inner Child)
Domestic violence movie list:
Domestic violence is one of the most inhuman acts someone can live through.
But watching movies about controlling partners, abusive relationships, and other areas of domestic violence can help heal a part of your soul.
(They can also be incredibly triggering, and it’s important to talk with your therapist to see if it’s something you should partake in.)
Movies with domestic abuse:
🎬 Enough
🎬 The Perfect Guy
🎬 Sleeping with the Enemy
🎬 Where The Heart Is
🎬 The Secret Life of Bees
🎬 Fried Green Tomatoes
🎬 Precious
🎬 The Shining
🎬 Freedom Writers
🎬 This Boy’s Life
🎬 The Hate U Give
🎬 Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain
🎬 Safe Haven
🎬 Friday Night Lights
🎬 Stand By Me
🎬 Bridge to Terabithia
🎬 Radio Flyer
🎬 The Color Purple
🎬 The Killing Secret
🎬 Dangerous Intentions
🎬 What’s Love Got to Do with It
🎬 Dolores Claiborne
🎬 The Burning Bed
🎬 Fear
🎬 Not Without My Daughter
🎬 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
🎬 The Glass Castle
💾 Bookmark this page for when you want a movie recommendation about domestic violence to watch!
More inner child healing posts:
- 17 Magical Crystals for Healing Childhood Trauma (and Emotional Pain)
- 101 Healing Inner Child Affirmations (to Reparent Yourself)
- 70 Healing Inner Child Quotes (to Help Overcome Childhood Trauma)
- 40 Child Abuse Songs (When You Had a Bad Childhood)
- 13 Nostalgic Activities to Reconnect with Your Inner Child
- 107 Toxic Parents Quotes (When Mother and Father Are Abusive AF)
- 22 Powerful Inner Child Healing Meditations (Guided and Unguided)
- 23 Heartbreaking Movies About Childhood Trauma (That are Therapeutic)
- 17 Must-Have Healing Gifts for Your Inner Child
- 11 Ways to Heal Childhood Trauma Spiritually (and Awaken Your Inner Child)
- 23 Inner Child Oracle Cards (for Deep Shadow Work)
- 23 Tarot Decks (for Intense Inner Child Work)
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is an excellent resource.
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