Sometimes, we turn to movies to relax, to wind down after a long day, or to distract ourselves from real-world stressors. And, as Glamour shows, some viewers even watch movies to help them fall asleep. Alternatively, though, there are films that increase stress levels, films that make your palms sweaty and your heart race, films you can’t fall asleep to (or even look away from). But make no mistake, there’s pleasure in watching these films, too. They excite us, keep us guessing, and allow us to empathize with characters in situations we hope we never find ourselves in.
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9 Punch Drunk Love (2002)
Columbia Pictures
The great Paul Thomas Anderson’s third film, Punch Drunk Love stars Adam Sandler in one of his rare, excellent dramatic roles. Sandler plays Barry Egan, a scatterbrained and not particularly successful entrepreneur who is, in short, an anxious mess. Though Egan’s intense social anxiety makes this film a difficult watch, it’s got a lot of heart, too.
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8 Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Paramount Pictures
Rosemary’s Baby is remarkable for the way it conjures feelings of paranoia in its characters and its audience. We follow the titular Rosemary through her arduous and seemingly supernatural pregnancy. When she begins to investigate a cult-like group in her apartment building, every other character in the film works together, including Rosemary’s husband, to convince her that she’s crazy.
7 Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Universal Pictures
Known especially for its wildly tense opening scene, Inglourious Basterds is master director Quentin Tarantino at his best. Part alternative history and part black comedy, it also happens to be one of Tarantino’s most anxiety-inducing films. In particular, its interrogation scenes (featuring Christoph Waltz as Nazi SS officer Hans Landa) are so thick with tension you could cut it with a knife. Be prepared to pause and take a breather.
6 Krisha (2015)
A24
Krisha is an underappreciated film and the debut feature of director Trey Edward Shults. A perfect watch for the holidays, it shows the dark side of family gatherings from the perspective of an impossibly anxious mother, Krisha. Having long been estranged from her family and her son, she returns for Thanksgiving one year to rekindle her relationships.
5 Good Time (2017)
Good Time follows the story of Connie, a small-time criminal who is desperate to free his mentally-challenged brother from jail after a botched bank robbery. As you may expect, Connie’s plans tend to go awry, and the consequences of his actions affect everybody around him. Movies about people who can do no right are fairly common, but Robert Pattinson’s incredible performance as Connie makes this one truly special. It’s a real nail-biter, too, and its frantic pace and heart-pounding score will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
4 Misery (1990)
Misery is adapted from a novel by Stephen King, but viewers expecting outright horror may be surprised to find it more grounded than much of King’s other work. The movie tells the story of a successful romance novelist, Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car accident by his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes. At first, Annie seems like a kind and helpful caregiver, but it quickly becomes clear that she is a deeply (and dangerously) unstable person. The film’s portrayal of Annie’s mental instability and Paul’s helplessness makes for an intense, anxiety-inducing experience. There are a couple scenes you’ll want to look away from.
3 127 Hours (2010)
Pathé
Directed by English filmmaker Danny Boyle, 127 Hours chronicles the shocking true story of Aron Ralston, a hiker who became trapped by a boulder in a remote canyon in Utah. The film covers the five days he spent trying to free himself, and the extreme lengths he goes to in order to survive. For claustrophobic viewers in particular, 127 Hours makes for an almost impossible watch. I won’t spoil its climax here, but be ready to look away.
2 It Follows (2014)
RADiUS-TWC
While It Follows is certainly a horror film, it isn’t filled with flashy jump scares or grotesque monsters. Instead, it captures the fear of simply being followed. The monster of the movie, if you can even call it that, is this fear. It takes many forms, but each is an eerie, humanoid figure that is always present, always following. After the credits roll, you may find yourself looking over your shoulder for a few days (or months).
1 Uncut Gems (2019)
A24
The second film on this list from the Safdie brothers, Uncut Gems features Adam Sandler in what is probably the best role of his career. His character, Howard Ratner, is hopelessly addicted to gambling, and we see the consequences of this addiction play out as Ratner’s debts catch up with him. Throughout the movie, Howard’s anxiety is palpable, as he is constantly on the brink of disaster. The film’s use of close-ups and intense, frenetic camera work puts the audience in Howard’s head, making them feel his increasingly nervous emotional state. No other film on this list is as successful at building tension in the audience. Anxious viewers may find it too much to bear, but it’s a rewarding experience for those who make it to the end. Lucky for us, Sandler and the Safdie Brothers have another collaboration currently in the works, per The Playlist.
