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For Sale Mar 28, 2026 at 3:27 PM

Is there a genre for movies about characters whose passion/hobby becomes obsession and leads to self-destruction?

Posted by Extremerunners976

I’m trying to figure out if there’s a recognized genre or type of movie where: \- The main character is deeply passionate about something (music, art, performance, etc.) \- They feel like they’re not good enough—and/or others tell them they aren’t—which pushes them to extremes -Their obsession harms them physically, mentally, socially, or emotionally \- The ending is usually dark, bittersweet, or tragic Examples of movies like this are Whiplash, Birdman, Black Swan, and The Substance. Is there a name for this kind of story?
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MrBrawn Mar 28, 2026 +19
I know youre not looking for more examples but Moby D*** is a classic one.
19
Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +5
Other people are sharing examples too, so it’s fine. Thanks for it
5
gremdel Mar 28, 2026 +3
And the "White Whale" trope is a pretty good description of the genre (though maybe not exact).
3
MurkDiesel Mar 28, 2026 -1
hey look, someone who knows how to read lol
-1
MantisFetish Mar 28, 2026 +6
You're a real prick.
6
thespianomaly Mar 28, 2026 +42
It’s due to revenge and pride but I’d say “The Prestige” might fit? Both characters try to one-up each other so much with their art that it leads to their destruction.
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Miserable_Spell5501 Mar 28, 2026 +1
Definitely fits!
1
[deleted] Mar 28, 2026 -4
[deleted]
-4
Shok3001 Mar 28, 2026 +19
You sound like ai
19
MurkDiesel Mar 28, 2026 +1
what do all the replies offering suggestions - *when none were asked for -* sound like?
1
exitium666 Mar 28, 2026 -5
I feel like there are a lot of dummies in this thead, including op.
-5
Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +5
Thanks for your input. Even though nobody asked for it
5
reg_panda Mar 28, 2026 +2
Just replace "[](https://www.listnook.com/r/movies/comments/1s63cfr/comment/ocyzz31/)You’re right—" with literally anything else. Not that hard
2
kusuri8 Mar 28, 2026
It’s the long dash. It shows you’re using AI to reply to chats
0
RodneyOgg Mar 28, 2026 +13
Trust me on this one, you want "Synecdoche, New York" As far as a name for the genre, that's something I haven't thought about. Psychological obsessive thriller? I don't know, thriller seems a bit over the top. But if you consider movies like Single White Female or Swimfan, these examples just replace the person with a hobby
13
Shaiziin Mar 28, 2026 +4
I think you might have coined the name..." Psychological Obsession"
4
VampireHunterAlex Mar 28, 2026 +16
I recall a Netflix film a few years back called ‘The Perfection’. Suppose the genre would be psychological-something.
16
Plug_5 Mar 28, 2026 +1
FYI everyone, this movie is excellent but it's straight up body horror and doesn't exactly fit the question.
1
Dispenser-JaketheDog Mar 28, 2026 +4
Why does it not fit? The substance is also just straight up body horror
4
MobileMessage Mar 28, 2026 +6
nightcrawler w Jake Gyllenhaal I think loosely fits
6
szucs2020 Mar 28, 2026 +26
Whiplash Sorry I missed you had it in your list lol
26
Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +4
It's all good
4
MurkDiesel Mar 28, 2026 -17
you also missed the *entire point* of the post and you apparently have *zero* comprehension skills OP wasn't asking for more movies >**Is there a genre for movies** about characters whose passion/hobby becomes obsession and leads to self-destruction? [](https://www.listnook.com/r/movies/?f=flair_name%3A%22Question%22)**I’m trying to figure out if there’s a recognized genre** or type of movie where: **Is there a name for this kind of story?** never *once* did OP ask for recommendations we are not going to make it
-17
Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +3
I mean, recommendations are fine too. They relate to what I asked, even if it’s not exactly what I was specifically asking for.
3
random_user_081985 Mar 28, 2026 +5
the guy made a mistake on listnook and you feel the need to tear him apart? what is wrong with you?
5
szucs2020 Mar 28, 2026 +7
It's ok I don't feel torn apart lol. My first thought was just "yikes". I was trying to think of more but I couldn't so I just quickly edited my post and moved on.
7
RodneyOgg Mar 28, 2026 +4
You're becoming a good example of the genre yourself
4
Generzone2 Mar 28, 2026 +11
Marty supreme
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Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +2
Another great example I forgot
2
MurkDiesel Mar 28, 2026 -11
here's another listnookor with poor comprehension skills where in the post did OP ask for more movies?
-11
cheapwalkcycles Mar 28, 2026 +5
☝️🤓
5
Unhappy_Service_7552 Mar 28, 2026 +6
The Number 23
6
Cicer Mar 28, 2026 +3
23
3
[deleted] Mar 28, 2026 +6
[removed]
6
sagittariums Mar 28, 2026 +1
Yes, I've been seeing obsession drama being used more often for these types of books. It's been in the description online and on the covers of the last few I've read.
1
bishop375 Mar 28, 2026 +6
Se7en
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Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +3
"What's in the box"
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FrogFlavor Mar 28, 2026 +9
The genre is Drama or Tragedy
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chchchchips Mar 28, 2026 +1
The only response answering the question. Suspense or thriller too, depending on how dark the obsession gets. I don’t think there’s a known genre specifically for OP’s criteria. 
1
Healthy_Impression53 Mar 28, 2026 +4
i feel like I, Tonya fits here
4
TimeRaveler Mar 28, 2026 +6
“My name is Daniel Plainview, and I’m an oil man.”
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Klondike_banana Mar 28, 2026 +3
In a strange way, Being John Malkovich might fit.
3
Catharticfart Mar 28, 2026 +1
Also made me think of Chris Cooper’s character in Adaptation.
1
Adultery Mar 28, 2026 +3
Does “The Gift” with Jason Bateman fit this description? It’s been a while since I watched it. Uncut Gems?
3
Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +1
Yess, Uncut Gems counts (thanks for reminding me) The Gift fits too
1
WasteAd7284 Mar 28, 2026 +3
Would fall under the umbrella of psychological drama usually.
3
Absofrickinlutely Mar 29, 2026 +3
Pi
3
gussly1 Mar 28, 2026 +2
The Ugly Stepsister Starry Eyes The Fly A lot of body horror can fall into this category
2
Extremerunners976 Mar 28, 2026 +1
The fly is great but I'm not watching that movie again
1
pp7jm Mar 28, 2026 +2
Cameraperson by Keislowski is this
2
micxxx22 Mar 28, 2026 +2
Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo
2
TheGabeCat Mar 28, 2026 +2
The fly fits for sure, I would say uncut gems does to
2
Valuable_Shock5080 Mar 28, 2026 +2
i just call it the "darren aronofsky special" dude. it doesn't have a strict genre name but it usually falls under psychological thriller or intense character study. stuff like whiplash, black swan, and nightcrawler fit this perfectly.
2
gremdel Mar 28, 2026 +1
His first movie, π, is the platonic ideal of this movie trope. 
1
mosi_moose Mar 28, 2026 +2
Auto Focus about Bob Crane
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braves-geek Mar 28, 2026 +2
"Price of Excellence" or just "Obsession" works for me
2
QuellishQuellish Mar 28, 2026 +2
Deep Blue is a great example.
2
StarFox-6 Mar 28, 2026 +2
The Novice
2
JohnRobGnar Mar 28, 2026 +2
Nightcrawler. More a job than hobby but still
2
CakeMadeOfHam Mar 28, 2026 +2
The Fly It's the ultimate story of a workaholic literally being consumed by his work.
2
res30stupid Mar 28, 2026 +2
In France, I think it's called *Fantastique*? I'm not entirely sure -- I saw some discussion about it in regards to Ratatouille.
2
East_Requirement7375 Mar 29, 2026 +3
*Fantastique* is pretty broad and somewhat vague in its boundaries but concerns films that are set in the real world but figure an element that isn't. Like a talking rat who can cook by steering a sous-chef. The Substance, albeit a body horror, could be adjacent to this genre, while Whiplash would not be.
3
space-cyborg Mar 28, 2026 +2
It’s not a genre but there are several tropes that match what you’re asking. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ObsessionTropes
2
B2Dirty Mar 28, 2026 +2
Maybe a "cautionary tale"
2
VeryMoistMan Mar 28, 2026 +2
Not so much a hobby but No Other Choice might(?) fit your description.
2
Seagoon_Memoirs Mar 28, 2026 +2
Tragedy
2
ZorroMeansFox Mar 28, 2026 +2
Just to add to the discussion, here's a movie where the central characters are all obsessed: Nicolas Roeg's **Track 29** --starring a young Gary Oldman. (I think it's critically underrated.) Here's a Trailer that shows, if nothing else, its wild excesses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAszjRTHeUk
2
Livid-Walk-2709 Mar 28, 2026 +2
Pearl
2
Extremerunners976 Mar 29, 2026 +2
"No, I'm a STAR!
2
zudoplex Mar 28, 2026 +3
Lost city of z
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IIILORDGOLDIII Mar 28, 2026 +4
The Wrestler and Black Swan are companion pieces
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Impossible_Mall6133 Mar 28, 2026 +2
Denzel's character in He Got Game.
2
cizzlewizzle Mar 28, 2026 +1
Yes, the genre is called Drama.
1
reg_panda Mar 28, 2026 +1
Subgenre?
1
VeryMoistMan Mar 28, 2026
Listnook comment
0
Frequent-Hat-9835 Mar 28, 2026 +1
American mary is good
1
HeManClub Mar 28, 2026
omg i literally just watched whiplash for a film studies assignment and was thinking the same thing!! these movies hit different bc you're like "chase your dreams!" but then it's like "wait no not like that" 😭.
0
Playful_Top6635 Mar 28, 2026
Your description (if not your examples) is very Film Noir. Film Noir is a subset of Melodrama, as is Psychological Thriller which might be the 'genre' you are looking for.
0
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