Movies and TvShows featuring "character-study" theme.

Aspiring bodybuilder Killian Maddox struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest.

Joker is a dark and gritty character study that explores the descent of a mentally troubled comedian named Arthur Fleck into becoming the iconic supervillain known as the Joker. Set in the gritty and chaotic streets of Gotham City in the 1980s, Arthur struggles with his own inner demons and the societal decay around him. As he faces humiliation, rejection, and a series of unfortunate events, Arthur's psychological torment transforms him into the criminal mastermind who wreaks havoc and terrorizes the city.

Travis Bickle, a Vietnam War veteran, becomes a taxi driver in New York City. Lonely and disturbed, Travis becomes infatuated with a campaign volunteer named Betsy. As Travis's mental state deteriorates, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the city's moral decay and decides to take violent action. His obsession with saving a child prostitute leads him on a path of bloodshed and chaos. Ultimately, Travis's irrationality resurfaces, leaving his sanity in question.

Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran, becomes a hit-man for the Bufalino crime family. He befriends union leader Jimmy Hoffa and becomes his bodyguard. Eventually, Frank is tasked with assassinating Jimmy. The film explores Frank's life from his time in the war to his involvement in organized crime and his relationships with Jimmy and his family.

1950. William Lee, an American expat in Mexico City, spends his days almost entirely alone, except for a few contacts with other members of the small American community. His encounter with Eugene Allerton, an expat former soldier, new to the city, shows him, for the first time, that it might be finally possible to establish an intimate connection with somebody.

Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, becomes a crime journalist in L.A. Blurring the line between observer and participant, he becomes the star of his own story, using manipulation and unethical tactics to gain traction in the industry.

Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New York City investment banking executive, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent and hedonistic fantasies.

Hirayama, a janitor in Tokyo, leads a simple life working as a toilet cleaner. He finds solace in his passion for music, books, and photography, often taking pictures of trees. As his story unfolds through unexpected encounters, we discover more about his past.

A young Donald Trump, eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn, the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

In 1898, Daniel Plainview, a prospector in New Mexico, mines a potentially precious ore vein from a pit mine. In 1902, he discovers oil near Los Angeles and establishes a drilling company. He adopts an orphaned boy and presents him as his business partner. In 1911, Daniel attempts to buy a farm with oil deposits, but faces resistance from the pastor who demands a large sum of money. Daniel's oil production begins, but disasters occur, leading to conflicts with the pastor. Over the years, Daniel's greed and violence escalate, leading to the downfall of those around him, including his adopted son. In 1927, Daniel is a recluse, wealthy but suffering from alcoholism. When his adopted son wants to dissolve their partnership, Daniel reacts brutally and reveals his son's true origins. Daniel's final act of violence is against the pastor who betrayed him. Daniel is left with a sense of despair and emptiness.

A solitary and cold assassin battles his employers and himself, going on an international manhunt. He insists that it isn't personal but as time passes, he begins to question his sanity. This brutal and stylish noir story explores the life of a professional assassin who is armed to the teeth and slowly losing his mind.

With his debts mounting and angry collectors closing in, Howard, a New York City jeweler, risks everything in hope of staying afloat and alive. As his gambling addiction worsens, Howard struggles to pay off his debts, including a large sum owed to his loan shark brother-in-law. His life becomes complicated when his estranged wife, his girlfriend, and a basketball star become involved. As Howard's desperate actions escalate, the consequences become deadly.

Kelly-Anne, a model, becomes consumed by the high-profile murder trial of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier. As reality and her morbid fantasies intertwine, she embarks on a disturbing journey to find a missing video of a murdered teenager who bears a striking resemblance to her.

Erika Kohut, a piano teacher at a prestigious conservatory, becomes obsessed with one of her students and engages in a dangerous and destructive relationship.

Lydia Tár is an acclaimed composer-conductor and the first openly gay female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. As she prepares for a live recording of Mahler's 5th Symphony, her relationships, including her marriage, personal assistant, and an affair with a young Russian cellist, become strained. Accusations of abuse and favoritism arise, leading to a lawsuit and a viral scandal. Removed as conductor, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption, eventually finding a new orchestra in the Philippines.

A young woman becomes obsessed with a pop star, leading her down a dark path of obsession, murder, and revenge.

In a holiday home by the Baltic Sea, a group of friends experience intense emotions as a raging forest fire threatens their surroundings.

Ryōsuke Yoshii, an ordinary reseller, carelessly earns grudges by people and becomes entangled in a life-threatening struggle.

After being released from prison, an ex-con named Billy kidnaps a young woman named Layla and forces her to pretend to be his girlfriend when he visits his parents. As their strange relationship develops, Billy's dark past and the dysfunction of his family come to light.

A former soldier haunted by his past joins a poker tournament to exact revenge on the man who betrayed him. Along the way, he finds redemption and forms a mentor-protege relationship. The journey is filled with violence, fear, and memories of his time in Iraq.