Best tv shows like Sybil
Last updated March 2024
Looking for tv shows similar to Sybil? Share your familiarity to direct others to movies and tv series you've viewed previously that might likewise captivate them. Assist in enlarging the network of people mentioning videos to each other. We value your involvement!
Plot Summary:
The true story of a young woman named Sybil, whose childhood was so harrowing to her that she developed at least 13 different personalities.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 198 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, emotional, disturbing, depressing, scary, philosophical, clever, satanic, art house
Best tv shows and movies like Sybil (1976):
Similar in 79%
The Shrink Next Door (2021)
Plot Summary:
Inspired by the true story of Marty and the therapist who turned his life around...then took it over. When he first meets Dr. Ike, Marty just wants to get better at boundaries. Over 30 years, he'll learn all about them—and what happens when they get crossed.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 341 min
Plot tags: psychological, funny, thought provoking, serious, realistic, dark comedy
Similar in 75%
Black Box (2014)
Plot Summary:
Catherine Black is a world-famous neurologist at the state-of-the-art medical institution known as "The Cube". Catherine is brilliant, beautiful, and at the top of her game, though she's hiding a secret of her own: she's bipolar. Each week, the doctors on staff attempt to unravel the mysteries of the brain and are constantly challenged by cases never-before-seen on television. The medical stories are moving, bizarre and a visual feast. The personal stories are riveting. The patients have rare, highly visual, often hallucinogenic and startling conditions, which we’ll see through their eyes as Catherine diagnoses and treats them.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, realistic, psychological, captivating, touching, gloomy, mad
Similar in 84%
In Treatment (2008)
Plot Summary:
Set within the highly charged confines of individual psychotherapy sessions and centering around Dr. Paul Weston, a psychotherapist who exhibits an insightful, reserved demeanor while treating his patients—but displays a crippling insecurity while counseled by his own therapist.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, emotional, tense, clever, serious, thought provoking, intellectual, medical drama, atmospheric
Similar in 82%
Unspeakable Acts (1990)
Plot Summary:
Two psychologist try to demonstrate that a man is a pedophile and has abused many children.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 523
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: erotic, psychological, tense, rough, clever, bleak, serious, realistic, disturbing, sexual
Similar in 87%
I Know My First Name Is Steven (1989)
Plot Summary:
7-year old Steven Stayner is kidnapped a few days before Christmas by Kenneth Parnell. Under the belief that Parnell has been given legal custody of him, and that his family has moved away, he stays with Parnell for seven years, enduring repetitive sexual abuse the entire time. Finally, at fourteen, he returns home to his family.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: disturbing, psychological, suspenseful, emotional, thought provoking, sad, tense, bleak, serious, realistic
Similar in 86%
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe (2015)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of Marilyn Monroe's family life and how she succeeded in hiding her most intimate secrets from the press and an invasive world.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: emotional, sexy, realistic, touching, serious, captivating, costume drama, period drama
Similar in 89%
Waking Madison (2010)
Plot Summary:
A woman suffering from multiple personality disorder tries to piece back together her life.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychological, suspenseful, mind bending, serious, realistic, touching, depressing, atmospheric, independent film, bleak
Similar in 75%
Sybil (2007)
Plot Summary:
A true story of a young woman whose abusive childhood results in her developing a multiple personality disorder.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, heartbreaking, sad, disturbing
Similar in 83%
An Angel at My Table (1990)
Plot Summary:
Janet Frame grows up in a poor family. She is different than the other kids. She is considered abnormal and locked away in a mental institution for eight years. Everything changes when she starts writing books.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA
Duration: 158 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, erotic, depressing, spiritual, ironic, neurotic, cult classic, spooky, sincere
Similar in 76%
Frankie & Alice (2010)
Plot Summary:
A drama centered on a go-go dancer with multiple personality disorder who struggles to remain her true self and begins working with a psychotherapist to uncover the mystery of the inner ghosts that haunt her.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, sincere, touching, realistic, emotional, mystical
Similar in 89%
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)
Plot Summary:
A disturbed,institutionalized 16-year-old girl struggles between fantasy and reality.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: disturbing, psychological, surreal, controversial, cult classic, independent film, tense, sincere, serious, emotional
Similar in 83%
Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)
Plot Summary:
Difficult tale of poor, struggling South Carolinian mother & daughter, who each face painful choices with their resolve and pride. Bone, the eldest daughter, and Anney her tired mother, grow both closer and farther apart: Anney sees Glen as her last chance. The film won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Special" and was nominated for "Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Special", "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special", and "Outstanding Made for Television Movie". It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: disturbing, emotional, realistic, touching, suspense, thought provoking, serious, heartbreaking, depressing, gothic
Similar in 75%
Do No Harm (2013)
Plot Summary:
Do No Harm is an American drama that aired from January 31 through September 7, 2013, on NBC. The network placed a series order in May 2012. On November 12, 2012, NBC reduced its episode order for the series from 13 to 12 episodes, due to scheduling conflicts. On February 8, 2013, it was announced that NBC had canceled the series after airing two episodes, due to low ratings. On April 26, 2013, NBC announced that the remaining episodes would be burned off, beginning June 29, 2013.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, psychological, realistic, captivating, serious, medical drama
Similar in 80%
Mental (2009)
Plot Summary:
Mental is a television series produced by Fox's subsidiary Fox Telecolombia, which aired in the summer and fall of 2009 on FOX international channels for Latin America, Europe and Asia, starring Chris Vance and Annabella Sciorra. Mental was executive-produced by Deborah Joy LeVine – creator of the successful drama series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and the Lifetime series The Division, and executive producer of Any Day Now, Dawson's Creek and the CBS series Early Edition – and her brother and writing/producing partner, Dan LeVine. Following its U.S. debut, it aired in 35 additional countries. Fox Latin America aired the first episode as a "Worldwide Premiere" on June 2, 2009. Fox aired the pilot episode on May 26, 2009 for the American market. Fox TV Studios ordered 13 episodes. It began production on June 2, 2008 at the Fox Telecolombia production facilities in Bogotá. Although the series was filmed in the city of Bogotá in Colombia representing Los Angeles, no Colombian actor was cast as a regular character and very few were cast for occasional roles, because of the strict American nature of the series. According to TVWeek, Jacqueline McKenzie, Derek Webster, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Marisa Ramirez were added to the cast of Mental, "probably as recurrent characters.".
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Colombia, Canada
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: realistic, psychological, captivating, medical drama, serious
Similar in 87%
Mockingbird Don't Sing (2001)
Plot Summary:
On November 4, 1970 on The CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite reported on a true, horrific story that was about to rock the country. A 13-year-old girl was discovered in the small Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia who was still in diapers, barely able to walk and unable to speak. Kept in severe isolation by her parents with virtually no human contact for more than 10 years, she was confined to her bedroom, tied to her potty-chair and left to fend for herself.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: psychological, uplifting, touching, realistic, sincere, thought provoking, depressing, dark drama, serious, emotional
Similar in 81%
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009)
Plot Summary:
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is a movie based on the life story of world-renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson from 1961 to 1987.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: uplifting, emotional, sincere, inspirational, realistic, christian film, factual, captivating, touching, spiritual
Similar in 89%
Frances (1982)
Plot Summary:
The true story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: depressing, disturbing, emotional, factual, compassionate, psychological, melancholic, intense, serious, touching
Similar in 84%
Mommie Dearest (1981)
Plot Summary:
In this biographical film, glamorous yet lonely star Joan Crawford takes in two orphans, and at first their unconventional family seems happy. But after Joan's attempts at romantic fulfillment go sour and she is fired from her contract with MGM studios, her callous and abusive behavior towards her daughter Christina becomes even more pronounced. Christina leaves home and takes her first acting role, only to find her mother's presence still overshadowing her.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: disturbing, controversial, factual, talky, intense, psychological, tense, serious, rough, emotional
Similar in 88%
David and Lisa (1962)
Plot Summary:
The emotional story of a young man in a mental institution for teens who begins to understand his psychosis in the environment of others with mental and emotional problems. He finds intimacy with Lisa, a young woman suffering from schizophrenia.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: psychological, retro, mind bending, psychedelic, spiritual, social, surreal, intense, independent film, sincere
Similar in 86%
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (2013)
Plot Summary:
A psychotherapist helps a law student cope with schizophrenia in one of five interconnected tales dealing with mental illness.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: serious, emotional, realistic, psychological, captivating, teen, sincere, uplifting, touching
Similar in 75%
Prozac Nation (2001)
Plot Summary:
Elizabeth is on the verge of losing her grip on life after she leaves her emotionally fraught home to start college. Quickly, her life takes a turn for the worse: She clashes with her roommate and decides her boyfriend, Rafe, is her sole salvation. Her psychiatrist prescribes Prozac … but is that her only choice?.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: Germany, Canada, USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: psychological, depressing, emotional, melancholic, teen, intense, realistic, sad, disturbing, erotic
Similar in 90%
The Whole Wide World (1996)
Plot Summary:
Based on her acclaimed autobiographical book, THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD tells the story of Novalyne Price, an attractive feisty West Texas schoolteacher and her bittersweet, romantic and turbulent relationship with Robert E. Howard, the great pulp fiction writer of the 1930's.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, period piece, cult classic, sincere, serious, realistic, contemplative, crying
Similar in 75%
The Brooke Ellison Story (2004)
Plot Summary:
Rendered a quadriplegic since a child from a near-fatal neck injury, a young girl fights against all odds to succeed in life from grade school to her acceptance into college under the assistance of her loyal and dedicated mother.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, sentimental, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, saga
Similar in 86%
Living Proof (2008)
Plot Summary:
Living Proof is a 2008 Lifetime Television movie, directed by Dan Ireland, starring Harry Connick, Jr. The film is based on the true life story of Dr. Dennis Slamon and the book HER-2: The Making of Herceptin, a Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer by Robert Bazell. Vivienne Radkoff wrote the film script, and is also one of the film's executive producers. Renée Zellweger is another executive producer, together with Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. Tammy Blanchard, Amanda Bynes, Jennifer Coolidge, Angie Harmon, John Benjamin Hickey, Regina King, Swoosie Kurtz, Paula Cale Lisbe, Amy Madigan, Bernadette Peters, and Trudie Styler are featured in the supporting cast. The film premiered on October 18, 2008, for Lifetime's "Stop Breast Cancer for Life" public service and advocacy campaign, during the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, touching, emotional, light, serious, realistic, experimental
Similar in 82%
Awakenings (1990)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 155000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: inspirational, motivational, sentimental, sincere, uplifting, psychological, touching, serious, cerebral, emotional
Similar in 75%
Temple Grandin (2010)
Plot Summary:
A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of top scientists in humane livestock handling.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 32000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, sincere, compassionate, emotional, feel good, thought provoking, intense, visually appealing, psychological
Similar in 87%
Angels of the Universe (2000)
Plot Summary:
The story of an Icelandic man and his slow descent into madness. Along his journey he meets Dagný, the initial cause of his breakdown. Other people he meets in the asylum have been committed for various reasons, such as signing cheques for Adolf Hitler and, believing themselves to be writing songs for the Beatles and telepathically transmitting to the band.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Iceland, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, atmospheric, captivating, surreal, dark, sad, offbeat, serious, contemplative
Similar in 90%
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Plot Summary:
Set in the changing world of the late 1960s, Susanna Kaysen's prescribed "short rest" from a psychiatrist she had met only once becomes a strange, unknown journey into Alice's Wonderland, where she struggles with the thin line between normal and crazy. Susanna soon realizes how hard it is to get out once she has been committed, and she ultimately has to choose between the world of people who belong inside or the difficult world of reality outside.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 206000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: psychological, depressing, serious, crying, captivating, heartbreaking, touching, teen, gothic, gloomy
Similar in 84%
A Dangerous Method (2011)
Plot Summary:
Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein as his patient. Jung’s weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud. Both men fall under Sabina’s spell.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 107000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, Germany, Canada, USA, Switzerland
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: psychological, philosophical, intellectual, sexy, period piece, sexual, serious, thought provoking, costume drama, erotic
Similar in 75%
Front of the Class (2008)
Plot Summary:
"Front of the Class" is based on the true story of Brad Cohen -- played in the movie by Jimmy Wolk -- who, "after being challenged by Tourette's syndrome from a very young age, defies all odds to become a gifted teacher.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: inspirational, touching, realistic, sentimental, emotional, sweet, talky, sincere, thought provoking, spiritual