Entertainment
15 Movies Based on True Stories That Were Darker in Real Life
15. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin's addiction has been the talk of the town for years, and even though the actor has denied having an addiction, the evidence suggests otherwise. In 2004, at the age of 24, he was even arrested for carrying marijuana and a controlled substance without a prescription. | © 20th Century Fox
14. Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry began his struggle with alcohol at the age of 14 and was drinking regularly by 18. His battle with opioids and a mix of substances became so severe that he later admitted to not remembering the filming of seasons 3 to 6 of Friends. Tragically, it went so far that drugs ultimately played a part in his death in 2023. | © Warner Bros. Television
13. Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst entered a treatment center in 2008 as she battled depression and turned to alcohol and ecstasy to cope with a recent breakup. After receiving professional help for her depression and addiction, she has since made a strong recovery. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
12. Marilyn Monroe
Monroe suffered from several mental health problems, including the abuse of amphetamines, barbiturates, and alcohol for several years leading into the early 1960s. She also battled depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and chronic insomnia, which took a heavy toll on her life. | © Marilyn Monroe
11. Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen had a highly publicised history of substance abuse, which even led him to enter rehab and have his probation extended in 1998 following a previous drug offense. In a 2004 interview, he revealed that an earlier overdose was caused by injecting cocaine. | © 20th Century Studios
10. Maureen McCormick
Maureen McCormick struggled with cocaine and quaaludes addiction after The Brady Bunch was cancelled, which held back her career. She later revealed that in her early 20s, she sometimes traded intimacy for drugs. | © Paramount Pictures
9. June Fairchild
The drug habit left June Fairchild homeless and bereft. Even though Three Dog Night singer Chuck Negron got her into rehabilitation, the treatment failed and she soon found herself on the streets, where she faced robberies and assaults. | © Columbia Pictures
8. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has struggled with addiction to prescription drugs, including opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines, which can be very dangerous. He sought professional help after developing an addiction to Roxicodone, a drug that was originally prescribed for a leg injury. | © Walt Disney Pictures
7. Corey Haim
Canadian-born Corey Haim, known for his roles in films like License to Drive and The Lost Boys, battled with cocaine and Valium addiction. He was reportedly admitted to rehab more than 15 times as he struggled to overcome his demons. | © Universal Pictures
6. Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman, who had been clean for over two decades, tragically died after relapsing into drug use. He had a long battle with heroin and alcohol (once even in rehab), which highlights how relapses can occur even after years. | © Universal Pictures
5. Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger had consistent problems with prescription drug abuse. In an interview, the actor announced that he used to smoke five joints a day for 20 years. His death was caused by an abuse of prescribed medications, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
4. Chris Farley
Chris Farley, one of the most talented American comedians, has died tragically at 33 when he overdosed on a dangerous speedball. His system also showed traces of marijuana, and his advanced heart disease further weakened him, contributing to his untimely death. | © Sony Pictures Releasing
3. River Phoenix
River Phoenix was considered a beautiful boy with such great aspirations by the time when he lost his life at just 23 years old on Halloween 1993 in West Hollywood. He overdosed on a mix of cocaine and heroin, a dangerous combination known as a speedball. | © Columbia Pictures
2. Lindsay Lohan
Using drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription medications took a toll on the physical and mental health of Lindsay Lohan. Her struggles led to her first rehab stint in January 2007, and over the next six years, she spent more than 250 days in rehabilitation. | © Netflix
1. Judy Garland
Judy Garland was already fighting addiction to barbiturates and amphetamines by the age of 17, by the time when she finished filming The Wizard of OZ. She was significantly pressured by the studio bosses to stay thin and full of energy for long, demanding film days. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
