Euphoria, HBO’s trippy new series has taken the small screen by storm and now that it’s over, it has left everyone wanting more existential angst; Comingsoon.net is no exception. Check out our Euphoria-esque movie picks in the gallery below!
The Zendaya-led Generation Z whirlwind that is Euphoria punches the viewer right in the gut…and the eyes—it’s hard to watch. It contains violence, nudity, drugs, alcohol and a plethora of existential crises. To quote Zendaya’s Instagram, “Euphoria” is “a raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. “There are scenes that are graphic, hard to watch and can be triggering. Please only watch if you feel you can handle it.”
While Euphoria‘s approach and style may be unique, the idea of depicting mental illness and addiction in a confusing world is not. The silver screen has tackled this sort of thing numerous times before. Here’s a collection of films that tackle similar vibes and themes as HBO’s Euphoria.
*Spoiler Alert* A lot of drug-induced flicks populate this list.
5 Movies to Watch if You Love 'Euphoria'
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Enter the Void (2009)
While Euphoria navigating teenage life, Enter the Void navigates death. This film follows Oscar and his trippy journey across all the avenues surrounding his untimely end—past, present, and future. It's unique, poignant, dark and "real" in all the ways Euphoria fans have come to enjoy a good viewing experience.
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Less Than Zero (1987)
Simply because RDJ is the man. Less Than Zero is all about addiction; after returning from his initial semester of college, the protagonist, Clay comes home to find his girlfriend and best friend are all jacked up on cocaine. Great performances, ok movie.
Side note: Hulu has a Less Than Zero pilot in the works with Euphoria's own Andrew McCarthy set to star.
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The Breakfast Club (1985)
I'm sure you've seen The Breakfast Club, who hasn't? If you haven't, this movie is all about attacking stereotypes and ultimately bringing people together—provoking empathy for a generation that felt ignored at the time (as all highschools do). Although, not as dark as Euphoria, this film as has relevant feels.
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Rumble Fish (1983)
All about finding ones' place...for the most part. Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of S. E. Hinton's novel of the same name revolves around a character named Motorcycle Boy and his younger brother Rusty. A stylish, black and white, noir vibe frames teen angst.
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Magnolia (1999)
Great performances, an ambitious interwoven narrative, and a truly trippy feel. This flick featuring Tom Cruise at his barely-ever-seen best and Paul Thomas Anderson at his directorial prime.
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Requiem for a Dream (2000)
The quintessential "drug movie." Some came away from Aroknosky's masterpiece finding drugs a little bit more appealing, others, not so much. Regardless, in very much the same way Euphoria, thanks to Sam Levinson's own personal experiences, depicts Rue's drug-induced states in a very grounded way, Requiem does not glamourize addiction.
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Dazed and Confused (1993)
Alright, alright, alright. This one's mostly just for fun. It encapsulates teenagers from a certain time period and can make you laugh. Check it out halfway through your Euphoria binge to lighten the mood.
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Donnie Darko (2001)
Well, Donnie is a teenager...and this is one fucked up film. If the theories about Rue being dead all along are true, then these two pieces might share an aspect of omniscience—even then Euphoria might never be as weird as Donnie Darko.
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
The things/state of mind-affecting Rue shapes the narrative of Euphoria; how she narrators and what aspects she chooses to focus on are all influenced by her. No film is a better example of this inebriated POV style than Fear and Loathing.
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Trainspotting (1996)
Heroin has never looked worse on screen...probably (and that's saying a lot). You come out of this movie shocked at these dudes' ability to function in society.
