There's a certain allure to watching the best movies about toxic relationships, where love and pain are entwined like a cinematic dance. Our Ranker community, with over 950 votes, has ranked the most compelling of these films, where Fear, Gone Girl, and Candy top the charts. These relationship movies reflect the good, the bad, and the ugly of romantic entanglements, reminding us of the razor-thin line between passion and poison.
From psychological thrillers to heart-wrenching dramas, this collection spans a breadth of toxic love movies that are as instructive as they are entertaining. Whether it's the devastating portrayal of a relationship gone sour in Revolutionary Road or the twisted love story in Gone Girl, these films offer a gripping look at toxic romance movies.
For those who prefer streaming, we've included movies about toxic relationships on Netflix, where you can find modern tales of complicated relationships alongside classics. Not all stories are of despair, however, as some movies about healthy relationships also make an appearance, providing a beacon of hope in a sea of tumultuous love stories.
Whether you're in the mood for a toxic love movie or looking for examples of movie relationships that weather the storm, there's a film on this list to meet your needs. So curl up with someone special—or enjoy the solitude—and delve into the highs and lows of love with the best toxic relationship movies, as chosen by movie lovers like you.
- 1
In this thrilling adaptation of Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel, Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike play a married couple swept up in a series of jaw-dropping, twisted events. Beneath the surface of their seemingly ideal marriage, lies deceit and betrayal that push the limits of devotion and loyalty.
- Released: 2014
- Directed by: David Fincher
- 2
Starring Reese Witherspoon as a teenager and Mark Wahlberg as her dangerously possessive boyfriend, Fear delves deep into the consequences of a relationship consumed by obsession and violence. As the film progresses, the once-enamoring romance takes a dark turn, exposing alarming behaviors that can arise from toxic love.
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: James Foley
- 3
Depicting the disintegration of a suburban couple's (Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio) marriage, Revolutionary Road delves into the unhappiness and resentments that have been festering beneath the surface. As they contend with unsatisfied desires, a better life appears tantalizingly within reach.
- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Sam Mendes
- 4
In this inventive romantic drama, Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet portray a couple who undergo a procedure to erase their tumultuous relationship from memory. Along the way, they realize the true value of their once-passionate love and the lasting impact memories have on our lives.
- Released: 2004
- Directed by: Michel Gondry
- 5
Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams portray a couple entangled in a horrifying racial nightmare, using their relationship as a chilling exploration of societal tensions and prejudice.
- Released: 2017
- Directed by: Jordan Peele
- 6
Julia Roberts portrays a strong, resilient woman who devises a plan to escape her violent, controlling husband by faking her own death. This suspenseful drama highlights the courage and strength required to break free from an abusive relationship and reclaim one's life.
- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Joseph Ruben
