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Bullying is a serious problem, and these movies illustrate it perfectly.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart — Written on Oct 05, 2021
When I was a kid, the idea of a school shooting was pretty alien. Nobody could fathom the idea of a person under 18 being so angry at the world that they’d take it out on everyone around them.
It was a different time, one that was far less anxious, aggressive, and defensive than it was now.
Don’t ask me why, but when Columbine happened, everything seemed to change. People began to get anxious about their safety. Talking about bullying and mental health started to get to the forefront.
Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to really cure the issue of shootings, bullying, cyberbullying, or anything else.
As the reality of bullying culture really set in, movie producers have seen the potential anti-bullying films have can for making a difference and teaching kids and parents how to deal with bullying online, at school and even in the workplace.
These 14 movies about bullying show just how deeply this behavior affects people of all ages and from all walks of life, as well as what you can do about it.
The 14 Best Movies About Bullying and Where to Watch Them
1. Bowling for Columbine
Love it or hate it, Michael Moore really blazed a trail when it came to the genre of movies uncovering bullying. As a journalist, he was the first to take a look at the infamous Columbine school shooting, the motives behind it, and what would drive teenagers to kill.
Was it bullying? Was it a bunch of teens that hyped themselves up to kill? Video games? "Bowling for Columbine" provides epic food for thought, all while staying relative decades later.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
2. Mean Girls
Though it was made back in 2004, "Mean Girls" remains one of the most heavily quoted films of its time. It’s a classic story: new girl in school meets the mean girl clique, girl changes to become one of them, and girl realizes she's turned into a bully.
It has its funny moments, its scarily relatable moments, as well as times when you just see yourself in the characters. Everyone knows a Regina George, after all.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
3. A Girl Like Her
Did you ever have a person in your school (or office) that tormented you, but you could never quite prove that they were hurting you? Of course, you did. Most of us have at one point or another because bullies can be slick that way.
"A Girl Like Her" is a drama that involves a bullied teen asking her guy friend to help prove that the “sweet, innocent, and beautiful” queen of the school is actually the queen of mean. The tagline says it’s “based on a million true stories.” You’ll relate.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
4. Cyberbully
“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”
Uh, not true. Anyone who has ever gotten into a seriously ugly online argument can tell you that words can sting. Cyberbullying has now become one of the most pervasive forms of bullying in the world, and unlike regular forms of bullying, it doesn’t cease when you get home.
"Cyberbully" follows a very realistic story of a girl who is being cyber bullied by a classmate and the lengths her mom goes to try to help her. It’s pretty shocking, to say the least.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
5. Wonder
Unlike most movies about bullying, "Wonder" takes an inspirational tone to the phenomenon. This insanely uplifting film features the true story of a boy who was born with a very rare facial deformity, how he overcame the cruelty of bullies at school, and how he helped the world be a better place.
This film will bring you to tears. It won a Humanitarian Award and is now one of the most critically acclaimed films in recent years. You need to see this.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
6. Carrie
If you really think about it, the 1976 film "Carrie" was one of the very first movies about bullying to ever be made. The entire concept was a horror script that was a fantasy of anyone who ever found themselves being bullied by a large group of kids at school.
A psychic, telekinetic nerd reached her limit after the jocks pour animal blood on her during a school dance. She gets revenge in a way that is beyond anything anyone ever expected.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
7. Audrie and Daisy
Though Michael Moore’s "Bowling for Columbine" opened the floodgates for documentaries related to bullying, it’s far from the only take on this pervasive problem. The newest movie to join this genre is "Audrie and Daisy", a documentary following the true stories of teenage girls victimized by online bullying.
This documentary hits hard, especially when it brings up topics of sexual assault and humiliation. If you have trauma related to these topics, you might want to skip this one.
Where to watch: Netflix
8. Revenge of the Nerds
Okay, okay, hear me out. This 80s movie definitely doesn’t have a lot of socially acceptable messages in it, and if it was made today, would be banned. However, it still teaches a lot about what it’s like to be bullied and tells a great story of how the “nerds” managed to beat bullies at their own game.
This cult classic is funny, off-beat, and, yes, delightfully crass. If that’s your shtick, you definitely should give this a watch. Your inner nerd will love you.
Where to watch: HBO Max
9. Bully
2011’s "Bully" is a must-watch for students, teachers, and parents that want to understand the dynamics of modern-day bullying. You see, bullies are no longer heavy kids demanding lunch money. They are kids who tend to go out of their way to wreck lives, torment, and endanger others.
"Bully" is a documentary that really brings things to a head with its amazing cinematography, insightful writing, and exceptionally true-to-life story. This cutting documentary follows the lives of five bullied teenagers, two of whom died by suicide. You will cry, and you will question humanity after seeing this.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
10. The Devil Wears Prada
I want to point out that bullying doesn’t end in high school; office bullies exist too. "The Devil Wears Prada" is an excellent example of what life is like in a place where bullies never grew up.
It’s high pressure. It’s fashion. And it’s a real-world version of "Mean Girls" in so many ways. If you love work stories, this might be one of the best flicks to check out.
Where to watch: Hulu
11. The Karate Kid
"The Karate Kid" follows the story of a teen who moves New Jersey to LA, only to be met with an angry and jealous school bully. He is taught the ancient art of karate as means to defend himself, then ends up competing against his bully in a tournament.
The film teaches us that we shouldn't be scared and that there is more than one way to fight back.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
12. Fat Boy Chronicles
This 2010 film is about an overweight teen who ends up focusing on his goals of losing weight and getting the girl of his dreams, despite being teased and tormented by his classmates.
Where to watch: Tubi
13. Heathers
"Heathers" takes high school bullying to another level. The movie follows Veronica and her new boyfriend, anti-bullying fanatic, JD. Veronica becomes part of the most popular clique in school but disapproves of her "friends" cruel behavior.
One thing leads to another in this killer satire of teen life, which lets you know that bullying is never worth it.
Where to watch: Pluto TV, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
14. Disconnect
This drama/thriller film follows the stories of a disparate group of people as they interact online via social media and the internet. A student is bullied on a social network, a woman seeks comfort via an internet forum and a young man works for a webcam sex service.
Where to watch: Pluto TV
According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of every five students report being bullied.
It isn't just happening to you, and it shouldn't be happening to you.
If you or someone you know is being bullied you can reach help at the 24/7 live chat helpline at Stomp Out Bullying.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is a Jack-of-all-trades writer based out of Red Bank, New Jersey. When she's not writing, she's drinking red wine and chilling with some cool cats. You can follow her on Twitter for more.