Social problems movies and TV shows

The list contains the best, new and most relevant social problems movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out disturbing, serious, realistic, sincere, emotional and captivating films and TV shows about / with social problems, society, teenager, profanity, coming of age, life is a bitch, friendship, family relations, kiss and love plots mostly in Drama, Crime and Thriller genres shot in USA, France, UK and other countries.
social problems
 2263
social problems movies
TOP 10 movies tagged as social problems: Detachment (2011), Luce (2019), Atypical (2017), Magnolia (1999), System Crasher (2019), Better Days (2019), Critical Thinking (2020), Young Royals (2021), Sin Nombre (2009), This Is England (2006).

List of social problems movies

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 7.7
 98K
Detachment (2011)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story: A chronicle of three weeks in the lives of several high school teachers, administrators and students through the eyes of substitute teacher, Henry Barthes. Henry roams from school to school, imparting modes of knowledge, but never staying long ...
Style: depressing, psychological, bleak, thought provoking, touching ...
Audience: teens
Plot: teacher, depression, suicide, teachers and students, dedicated educator, school, unhappy, social problems, life is a bitch, human relationship, teen angst, society ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: usa
Is relevant ?
 6.6
 15K
Luce (2019)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story: A star athlete and top student, Luce's idealized image is challenged by one of his teachers when his unsettling views on political violence come to light, putting a strain on family bonds while igniting intense debates on race and identity.
Style: psychological, non-linear, suspense, thought provoking, cult classic ...
Audience: adult
Plot: social problems, track and field, cheerleader, african american, interracial, trust, mistrust, public speaking, drunkenness, drinking, independence day, doubt ...
Place: ohio, middle east
Is relevant ?
 8.2
 103K
Atypical (2017)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story: Sam, an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum, takes a funny, yet painful, journey of self-discovery for love and independence and upends his family.
Style: light, sincere, humorous, hilarious, teen ...
Audience: teens, girls' night, family friendly, teen drama
Plot: autism, coming of age, teenager, lesbian relationship, lesbian, social problems, high school, teenage protagonist, penguins, asperger's syndrome, family relations, lgbt ...
Time: 2020s, 2010s, 21st century
Place: connecticut
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 327K
Magnolia (1999)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 188 min.
Story: An epic mosaic of many interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.
Style: philosophical, cerebral, sincere, depressing, mind bending ...
Audience: chick flick, adult
Plot: social problems, multiple storylines, depression, human nature, child prodigy, dysfunctional family, introspection, cancer, terminal illness, loneliness, alienation, coincidence ...
Time: 20th century, 90s, year 1999, 60s, 1950s ...
Place: los angeles, california, reno nevada
Is relevant ?
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 7.8
 15K
System Crasher (2019)
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 125 min.
Story: The wild and energetic journey of 9-year-old girl Benni through all possible stations of German Child Proctective Services.
Style: realistic, psychological, disturbing, sincere, intense ...
Plot: problem child, teenager, social problems, parents and children, outcast, social outcast, fighting the system, society, school, family problems, life is a bitch, rebel ...
Time: year 2019
Place: germany, central europe
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 13K
Better Days (2019)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 135 min.
Story: A bullied teenage girl forms an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man who protects her from her assailants, while she copes with the pressures of her final examinations.
Style: enigmatic, romantic, disturbing, social, brutal ...
Audience: teens
Plot: bullying, romantic relationship, friendship, grownups, love and romance, relationships, social problems, murder, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, dishonesty, asian, love ...
Place: china
Is relevant ?
Critical Thinking (2020)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story: Based on a true story from 1998, five Latino and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.
Style: motivational, thought provoking, contemplative, psychological, captivating ...
Plot: chess, social problems, high school, life is a bitch, society, hardcase students, human relationship, dedicated educator, teacher, city, new teacher, contest ...
Place: miami
Is relevant ?
 8.3
 42K
Young Royals (2021)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Sweden
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story: Prince Wilhelm adjusts to life at his prestigious new boarding school, Hillerska, but following his heart proves more challenging than anticipated.
Style: disturbing, captivating, romantic, psychological, saga ...
Audience: teen drama
Plot: lgbt, gay, boarding school, teenager, gay lead character, heir to the throne, royal family, lgbtq, teenage boy, gay youth, forbidden love, teenage life ...
Time: 2020s, 21st century
Place: eastern europe
Is relevant ?
 7.5
 34K
Sin Nombre (2009)
Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Mexico
Duration: 96 min.
Story: Set on the border, where Mexico becomes the crucible and the fearsome gangs of today’s Mexican countryside, the gauntlet, to freedom. The stories of a girl living in Honduras and hungering for a brighter future, and two teen gang members, for whom ...
Style: road movie, serious, bleak, disturbing, suspenseful ...
Audience: teen drama
Plot: gang, immigrant, juvenile delinquency, rape, street gang, social problems, family reunited, train, gang member, u.s. mexico border, hopes, illegal immigrant ...
Time: year 2009, 21st century
Place: mexico, latin america, central america, guatemala
Is relevant ?
 7.7
 128K
This Is England (2006)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 101 min.
Story: A story about a troubled boy growing up in England, set in 1983. He comes across a few skinheads on his way home from school, after a fight. They become his new best friends even like family. Based on experiences of director Shane Meadows.
Style: emotional, political, depressing, stylized, harsh ...
Audience: teens
Plot: skinhead, racism, childhood, adolescence, neo nazi, coming of age, nationalism, friendship, youth, children, xenophobia, prejudice ...
Time: 80s, year 1983, year 2006, 2000s, 20th century
Place: england, britain, united kingdom, northern england, europe ...
Is relevant ?
 5.5
 43K
Senior Year (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story: A thirty-seven-year-old woman wakes up from a twenty-year coma and returns to the high school where she was once a popular cheerleader to finish her senior year and become prom queen. The main plot is the empowerment of LGBTQ rights and progress ...
Style: satirical, disturbing, captivating, semi serious, psychological ...
Audience: teens, chick flick
Plot: school, social problems, satire, high school, female protagonist, cheerleading, middle aged, schoolgirl, high school life, high school prom, middle aged woman, lifestyle change ...
Time: 2020s, 90s, year 1997, 2000s, year 2002
Is relevant ?
 7.0
 33K
The Fallout (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story: In the wake of a school tragedy, Vada, Mia and Quinton form a unique and dynamic bond as they navigate the never linear, often confusing journey to heal in a world that feels forever changed.
Style: suspense, emotional, disturbing, psychological, teen ...
Audience: teen drama
Plot: lgbt, school shooting, lesbian love, high school student, teenage life, teenage crush, psychological trauma, tragic event, post traumatic stress, social problems, family problems, love ...
Is relevant ?
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Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2020)
Genre: Animation, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 87 min.
Story: After meeting one bright, sunny day, a shy boy who expresses himself through haiku and a bubbly but self-conscious girl share a brief, magical summer.
Style: anime, sincere, romantic, captivating, disturbing ...
Plot: slice of life, shy girl, social problems, teenager, love, friendship, in love, chance meeting, small town, fall in love, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, romantic relationship ...
Is relevant ?
 8.4
 30K
Babylon Berlin (2017)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: Colognian commissioner Gereon Rath moves to Berlin, the epicenter of political and social changes in the Golden Twenties.
Style: atmospheric, neo noir, captivating, tense, costume drama ...
Plot: social problems, political intrigue, espionage, interwar period, german history, conspiracy, european history, police investigation, police, national socialism, world war two, political scandal ...
Time: 1920s, pre world war two, 1930s, year 1929, 20th century
Place: berlin germany, germany
Is relevant ?
The Kid with a Bike (2011)
Genre: Drama
Country: Belgium, France, Italy
Duration: 87 min.
Story: Abandoned by his father, a young boy is left in the hands of an unqualified childcare provider.
Style: sincere, realistic, meditative, emotional, surreal ...
Plot: childhood, kids in trouble, boy, adoption, realism, orphan, youth, adoptive mother, coming of age, social problems, petty criminal, life is a bitch ...
Time: year 2011, year 2012, 2010s, 21st century
Place: belgium, france
Is relevant ?
 8.2
 98K
Swades (2004)
Genre: Drama, Musical
Country: India, USA
Duration: 210 min.
Story: Set in modern day India, Swades is a film that tackles the issues that development throws up on a grass root level. It is to this India, which is colorful, heterogeneous and complex that Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan), a bright young scientist ...
Style: touching, sincere, patriotic, inspirational, uplifting ...
Audience: family outing
Plot: poverty, discrimination, village, immigrant, self discovery, obsessive quest, follow your dream, human spirit, homecoming, journey, social differences, change of heart ...
Time: year 2004, y2k, 2000s, 21st century
Place: india, middle east, asia
Is relevant ?
 7.0
 84K
Kids (1995)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: A controversial portrayal of teens in New York City which exposes a deeply disturbing world of sex and substance abuse. The film focuses on a sexually reckless, freckle-faced boy named Telly, whose goal is to have sex with as many different girls as ...
Style: disturbing, depressing, psychedelic, independent film, bleak ...
Audience: teens, chick flick, kids, teen drama
Plot: coming of age, aids, innocence lost, virginity, youth, puberty, sex, underage sex, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, street kid, teenager ...
Time: 90s
Place: new york, seattle, los angeles, usa
Is relevant ?
 7.3
 18K
Trade (2007)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany, USA, Mexico
Duration: 120 min.
Story: A Texas cop (Kevin Kline), whose own daughter might have been forced into sexual slavery, joins forces with a Mexican youth (Cesar Ramos) to find the boy's sister, who was abducted and forced into prostitution. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian woman who ...
Style: rough, suspenseful, disturbing, tense, detective ...
Audience: teen drama
Plot: human trafficking, kidnapping, slavery, missing child, sexual abuse, sex slavery, child molestation, sexual assault, rape victim, forced prostitution, child rape, rescue ...
Time: year 2007, 21st century
Place: new jersey, mexico city, el paso texas, poland, texas ...
Is relevant ?
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Girl From Nowhere (2018)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Thailand
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: A mysterious, clever girl named Nanno transfers to different schools, exposing the lies and misdeeds of the students and faculty at every turn.
Style: atmospheric, mysterious, serious, horror comedy, psychological horror ...
Plot: school, violence, social problems, victim, bullying, high school, vigilantism, death, rape, murder, teenager, extreme violence ...
Place: thailand
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 100K
Persepolis (2007)
Genre: Animation, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France, USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story: In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she ...
Style: adult animation, political, black and white, serious, realistic ...
Audience: teens, kids, teen drama, adult
Plot: revolution, coming of age, feminist, iraq iran war, female protagonist, politics, freedom, biopic, self discovery, childhood, social problems, adolescence ...
Time: 80s, year 2007, 70s, 20th century, near future ...
Place: iran, middle east, france, tehran iran, asia ...
Is relevant ?
Wonder Showzen (2005)
Genre: Animation, Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story: Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR. The show is rated TV-MA. The show's format is that of educational PBS ...
Style: surreal, parody, sketch comedy, adult animation, not serious ...
Audience: kids, teens, adult
Plot: puppet, social satire, absurd humor, satire, social problems, racial slur, religions or cults, disorder, dark humor, stupidity, children, society ...
Time: 2000s, 70s, 21st century
Is relevant ?
 8.4
 1.5M
Joker (2019)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada, Australia
Duration: 122 min.
Story: During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
Style: thought provoking, suspense, atmospheric, bleak, psychological thriller ...
Audience: teens, adult
Plot: mental illness, mental disorder, villain, psycho, psychopath, loneliness, psychological trauma, character change, insanity, social problems, comedian, social decay ...
Time: 2010s, 80s, year 2019, year 1981, 20th century
Place: new york, new jersey, los angeles, persia
Is relevant ?
 7.5
 15K
Omar (2013)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller, War
Country: Palestine
Duration: 98 min.
Story: The drama, the story of three childhood friends and a young woman who are torn apart in their fight for freedom, is billed as the first fully-financed film to come out of the Palestinian cinema industry.
Style: disturbing, suspenseful, thought provoking, mind blowing, political ...
Audience: family friendly
Plot: israeli palestinian conflict, muslim, friendship, moral dilemma, confession, resistance, power of love, gain trust, life is a bitch, danger, terrorism, social problems ...
Time: year 2013, 2010s, 21st century
Place: middle east, palestine, palestinian authority, israel, maghreb
Is relevant ?
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Louis C.K.: Hilarious (2010)
Genre: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min.
Story: In this unique and dynamic live concert experience, Louis C.K.'s exploration of life after 40 destroys politically correct images of modern life with thoughts we have all had...but would rarely admit to.
Style: humorous, witty, realistic, talky, unusual plot structure ...
Plot: comedian, stand up comedian, parenthood, sarcasm, storytelling, dark humor, stand up comedy, artists and showbiz, everyday life, social problems, lifestyle, sexual activity ...
Time: 21st century
Place: usa
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 1K
Crematorium (2011)
Genre: Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 397 min.
TV show
Story: Crematorio is a Spanish TV series written and directed by Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo. It is based on Rafael Chirbes' novel of the same name.
Style: captivating, realistic, serious
Plot: family business, corruption, rise to the top, family life, society, architect, social problems, mogul, family relations, business venture, nordic, economist ...
Time: 21st century
Place: spain
Is relevant ?
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, South Africa
Duration: 141 min.
Story: A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Style: emotional, realistic, serious, political, inspirational ...
Plot: prison, civil rights, rebellion, apartheid, biopic, human spirit, racism, prison life, oppression, courage, politics, brutality ...
Time: 20th century, 90s, year 2013, 1950s, 60s ...
Place: south africa, africa
Is relevant ?
 7.4
 7K
Any Day Now (2012)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story: In the late 1970s, when a mentally handicapped teenager is abandoned, a gay couple takes him in and becomes the family he's never had. But once the unconventional living arrangement is discovered by authorities, the men must fight the legal ...
Style: thought provoking, sad, sincere, uplifting, touching ...
Plot: gay, gay relationship, adoption, gay adoption, lgbt, gay couple, down syndrome, homosexual, gay slur, gay parent, district attorney, disability ...
Time: 70s, year 2012, year 1979, 20th century
Place: california, los angeles, usa
Is relevant ?
 7.3
 15K
Polisse (2011)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 127 min.
Story: The daily grind for the cops of the Police Department's Juvenile Protection Unit - taking in child molesters, busting underage pickpockets, interrogating abusive parents, confronting the excesses of teen sexuality, enjoying solidarity with ...
Style: disturbing, serious, realistic, sincere, indie film ...
Plot: violence against women, journalism, society, sexual abuse, confession, police station, police investigation, social decay, abusive parent, abused child, life is a bitch, fighting crime ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: france, paris france, europe
Is relevant ?
 7.0
 11K
The Lady (2011)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: France, UK, Thailand
Duration: 132 min.
Story: The film is about the life of Aung San Suu Kyi (Yeoh) who spent more than a decade under house arrest. David Thewlis portrays Suu Kyi's husband, Dr. Michael Aris. Rebecca Frayn began working on the project after she and her husband, producer ...
Style: touching, realistic, sincere, sentimental, educational ...
Plot: military dictatorship, resistance, politics, election, leadership, human spirit, selflessness, social activist, tragic love, idealism, biopic, social problems ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, 80s, year 1998, year 1947 ...
Place: burma, france, china, asia, oxford university
Is relevant ?
This Is England '86 (2010)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 47 min.
TV show
Story: This Is England '86 is a 2010 British drama miniseries written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne, a spin-off from the 2006 film This Is England. Shaun has just finished his final exams and he realizes he is no longer a kid. It's mid ...
Style: emotional, sentimental, disturbing, touching, serious ...
Plot: subculture, skinhead, life is a bitch, youth, friendship, friends, rebelliousness, teenage life, sexual relations, adolescence, couples, student ...
Time: 20th century, year 1986, 80s
Place: england, yorkshire, europe
Is relevant ?
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