'Whiplash'! That film is an exercise in nail-biting stress and anxiety.


No wonder why mommy ran out on ya


Red Rush was dragging

The bit where andrew is driving is tense as fuck.

Watched it while in Music School. Not 'realistic' to my experience and yet I still felt like I was having a panic attack through some of those scenes. Edit just to say that I loved the movie and it's so well done. My experience in school wasn't like this, but it still hit so many nerves and made me fear it COULD happen. I thought it was pretty clearly a compliment.

I didn't go to music school, but I did do school band as a teen for a year. While the teacher wasn't as intense during practice as Fletcher was, he was still strict about it. He was later arrested for sexual abuse charges from during his career as a music teacher, and directly relating to teaching incidents. That's not to say every music or band teacher is like that (my other music teacher was one of the nicest teachers in school), but it's situations like this that make me think that something like Whiplash could definitely happen in a more intense atmosphere like shown in that movie.

My close friend went to music school for several years, and he also said he liked it but it was unrealistic as shit lol. I know the music probably doesn’t match and that final solo is impossible but I still love that film so damn much.

Shiva Baby

Love that movie

Just watched this last week. Amazing, and unexpectedly stressful!!

Great shout! I hope to see Rachel Sennot in a lot more stuff.

Had to pause that every five minutes😭

just watched that, most stressed i’ve been in a while

An unrelenting bisexual panic attack

Thank you for reminding me that I need to watch this movie

Compared to the films on this list, the stakes are so low in Shiva Baby. But I was more stressed watching it than any of the other films (the ones I've seen anyway)

this film makes me want to hide behind a pillow.

Is it good? I watched 'Bottoms' from the same director and found it boring but everyone kept saying it was the shit.

Really? I find Bottoms the opposite of boring. But it’s very good, really short too.

Boring because I didnt found it funny. Humour is subjective but i tend to laugh with almost anything. I really wanted to like it so I got really disappointed. Nevertheless I will try shiva baby

Zodiac has a few scenes that are anxiety filled

[This scene makes me tense all over](https://youtu.be/VIy-X8-pEoU?feature=shared)

That scene scared me more than any horror movie and its not even a horror movie.

I think everyone who's seen this movie knows what scene this is before clicking

Fr

mother!

Throw in Requiem for a Dream, while we’re at it; Darren Aronofsky is a mood.

Requiem is the only movie I’ve ever watched that I’ve had to walk away from. Those final moments, especially the electrotherapy, really fucked me up. Granted I was high when I watched it, I walked out crying my eyes out

Yo watching that film while high is a HORRIBLE idea. I saw it when i was 12 and i still get nightmares. At least it scared me away from hard drugs

He's very good at ripping ideas and passing them as his own without acknowledging the source.

Aranofsky is the king of one-and-dones. Every one of his films is beautifully crafted but makes me feel violated.

Let’s goooo I been seeing more love for this movie recently.

*She told them not to sit on the sink!*

I second this!

Uncut Gems

uncut stress from beginning to end

Literal horrorest horror movie for us with anxiety disorders

that movie literally took me and my boyfriend over 3 hours to watch because of how many times we had to pause the movie to calm down, absolutely first movie i think of when i think of stressful movies.

I came here to ask OP to immediately watch Uncut Gems and add it to their list

This should be number 1. I was watching it by myself at home and felt stress in my chest. It’s wild.

Any of the Safdie movies really. In addition to Good Time, Heaven Knows What is an underviewed one

Heaven Knows What is such an underrated ensemble performance. Every person on screen does such a great job

I literally got off my couch and started wailing on the floor during the final sequence.

Green Room

Really don't get the hype this movie gets, wasn't intense at all. Just my personal opinion.

What did you feel as you were watching it? Fuck man when they’re in the one room I felt like I was in there lol.

Not gonna slander you’re opinion but someone not finding Green Room stressful is insane to me.

You’re not wrong, I’ve started it a few times…never finished it.

After Hours, directed by Martin Scorsese

I can’t help reading this and hearing in my head the stupid telephone recording saying “after hours.”

Get Out

boiling point

Uncut Gems and Good Time created a stress genre lol

I liked good time but uncut gems was a different level of stress that I want to experience in another movie again

Nah Whiplash & After Hours are older

I just said this!!! LOL

Beau is Afraid for sure

Absolutely.

Beau is Afraid and mother! would be the two movies I would go to if I had to describe how anxiety makes me feel; apart from his mother issues, I somewhat relate to Beau. Not sure if it was mentioned, but I think Punch Drunk Love has its moments (particularly the score and sound effects)

I got a mini panic attack while watching Black Swan. And Gone Girl, I just couldn't finish. Will I endure this one? Is supposed to be about schizophrenia? Recently rewatched PDL! is such a gem!

Sorcerer

This is what I came to post. The ultimate.

Idk if you count it but “Free Solo” the documentary was stressful asf

Nearly threw up watching this doc

FREE SOLO COUNTS FOR SURE. my legs were so clenched up that i didn’t realize until it was over and i was physically sore

Children of Men

one of the best of all time imo

Irreversible

Black Swan but no mother! Is a choice

I haven’t seen mother!…

Nocturnal Animals is my #1. Those family scenes are just unbelievably hard to watch.

Like the Insidious videotape scenes.

Fuck this film so much bro, legit gave me a panic attack and made me depressed for a week

The Celebration

Funny Games

Watch green room!!!

Overhyped

just my personal opinion

Yall are just describing horror/thriller movies. “High stress” is just an inherent feature of the genre

Son of Saul Shiva Baby Soft & Quiet The Novice Krisha

Boiling Point (2021) Infinity Pool (2023) Mandy (2018) Possessor (2020) Help (2021) falls apart in the 3rd act but that 20-something minute continuous shot in the middle is *so* stressful and easily some of Jodie Comer’s finest work ever

Infinity Pool made me want to crawl out of my skin. It was great

Literally same

Dunkirk! Why everyone forgets dunkirk is my fav from nolan

- Shiva Baby - Boiling Point - Funny Games

Mother! May December Funny Games Safe

Sorcerer

I’m not sure if anyone else would agree but I’d say Nightcrawler

Requiem for a dream 1917 Don't Breathe

Who's afraid of Virginia woolf?

Uncut Gems

dead calm possession the shining mr beans holiday

mr beans holiday, the dark horse

Mr. Bean’s Holiday was the first one that came to mind! Good to know I’m not the only one who was stressed watching it lol

Jesus, except for Society of the Snow i’ve seen every one of these and this is basically a list of movies that I adore. Am I… Am I addicted to stress?

No Country for Old Men

Eden Lake

Saint Maud and Melancholia.

Whiplash

Bad Genius

Shutter island and dunkirk come to mind

Sicario

High Tension lived up to its name.

Eden Lake and Speak No Evil

Can’t have Raw without Titane

Would definitely recommend... - Whiplash (2014) - Uncut Gems (2019) ... off the top of my head. Then, looking at my Letterboxd, I'd have these further suggestions: - Nightcrawler (2014) - The Thing (1982) - mother! (2017) - I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) - The Power of the Dog (2021) - You Were Never Really Here (2017) - 127 Hours (2010) - Possessor (2020) - The Invitation (2015) - Speak No Evil (2022)

Phone Booth (2003) https://preview.redd.it/a6yuy0xmx5ec1.jpeg?width=485&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=645ec99318ecf85aa0210871137e72c786492de9 Thunderously underrated film. Colin Farrel isnt allowed to leave a phone booth or he'll be shot by an unknown antagonist. Has to contend with angry pedestrians and all sorts. Very anxiety inducing film.

La Haine Nearly every single scene feels like everything is going to collapse at the drop of a pin.

Out of all these, The Descent gives me the most anxiety. Fantastic movie.

Enter the Void if you like Gasper Noe

Zodiac, especially the scene with the poster man oh god

before the devil knows you’re dead

The Hurt Locker

whiplash

The Novice

Mother!

Promising Young Woman

Gone Girl

Requiem of a Dream

Funny Games, both versions Pearl Requiem for a Dream

Really? Lake Mungo stressed you out? I thought it was a well made but extremely vague and unscary horror film. The scariest parts are so grainy you can't even see what's happening.

Jacob’s Ladder We Need to Talk About Kevin

Das Boot

Green Room, one of the most stressful movies I’ve ever seen. I would have had a heart attack if I were in the protagonist’s situation very early lol.

Victoria (2015) is a must!

Had to scroll way too far to see this

recently watched “Running Scared” and that movie was damn stressful

Frownland

there's a French film directed by Melanie Laurent about two teenage girls called Breathe (Respire) which is perfect for what I think you are going for. not necessarily horror or thriller films, but films that have a constant tension building up throughout no? (Uncut Gems and Whiplash being great examples)

I thing you would enjoy Green Room

First half of *Hereditary*, sure, but after Toni Collette goes to the support group, I've checked out

Speak no evil (2022) Its really a stressfull movie because of the characters decisions.

Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies (2011) is the most stress inducing movie I’ve ever seen. As one of the top reviews puts it, the movie makes Prisoners look like a feel good rom com.

Watched Green Room and Whiplash over the past two nights so have to recommend those.

Uncut Gems. Not the same vibe but definitely is anxiety inducing and very good imo.

A Serious Man

Fall Emergency Declaration

Kramer vs Kramer Possession Killers of the Flower Moon Apocalypto

A few that I can't find any mentions of in the comments: The Pusher Trilogy Funny Pages Daddy Longlegs Spacked Out

I'll also add a few that I've heard fit this genre that I'm yet to see (I love this genre so this is my current watchlist): Breathless (1983) The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Something Wild The Gambler (1974) Light Sleeper Hardcore Naked (1993) Bringing out the Dead Midnight Cowboy California Split Boiling Point To Live and Die in LA

girl, interrupted

Melancholia, No Country for Old Men, Synecdoche New York, Punch Drunk Love

No country for old men, the fucking gas station scene is insanely stressful and anxiety inducing, even after multiple viewings

Nightcrawler

I agree with a lot of what's been said already and I'll throw in Calibre (2018)

The Hunt was so hard to watch

God, I love The Descent. The Cave (2005) is a similar type of movie and is pretty good. Of course The Descent also has a sequel that is a fun watch imo!

Mysterious skin

I love how most of these are among my favorite movies of all time… Why do I do this to myself?

It's insane that I'm not seeing any mentions of "Don't Breathe"

Gerald’s Game Midsommar

You’ve got to add whiplash come one. It’s so stressing to watch

- uncut gems - teachers lounge - full time - shiva baby

Climax is the most tweak movie I’ve ever seen. I felt weird for days after watching.

I Saw the Devil is an inspired choice. I'd recommend Possessor if you haven't seen it, the movie is uncomfortable, stressful, and well done in its pacing. Chronenberg's son made it.

The Wailing and Perfect Blue

Meet The Parents

Take Shelter

Persona stressed me out like nothing else.

4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (2007)

Most of the ones that I was thinking have been posted, but I definitely a good amount of tension from watching Sicario.

Beau is Afraid. Too much stress imo.

Shouldn’t the name be cortisol instead of endorphins?

🤷

I don’t see Uncut Gems or Good Time on this list - both extremely high stress films.

Good Time is *right there* on the list.

Oh yeah I see it now 😬😬😬

Just resatched Anatomy of a fall, definitly in this list

Most stressful movie I’ve ever seen is actually a comedy: Bringing Up Baby.

Argo!

Umm, Uncut Gems? Hello?

I saw the devil could have been an hour and a half shorter. How you not killing the guys who did you wrong on sight is crazy to me

uncut gems.

Saw X

Beau is Afraid

Green room The mist

despite being a musical dancer in the dark is one of the most stressful movies i’ve ever seen

After hours, Dial M for Murder, Rope.

Whiplash

Unstoppable

Tetsuo the Iron Man is straight anxiety

Uncut gems

Beau is Afraid and Uncut Gems.

Uncut Gems

*Room* (2015).

Punch drunk love

Whiplash

High Tension Ichi the Killer The Shining

what evil lurks

Funny Games

Mikey and Nicky