Simren Jhalli, Second Year, Comparative Literatures and Cultures
We’re all living through it: the slings and arrows of deadlines. Essays piling up, exams looming like storm clouds, and your caffeine intake has officially entered a new, slightly concerning category. When the pressure mounts and your brain is threatening to implode, sometimes it helps to take a step back and see it reflected on screen. Films have a way of capturing the chaos of academic, personal, and professional stress.
Whiplash, 2014:
This psychological drama embodies the toxic perfectionism of academia. Watching Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a promising young drummer, endure relentless verbal abuse and psychological torment from a music instructor who will stop at nothing to ‘realise’ a student’s potential is both harrowing and compelling. Intense but somehow mesmerising, Whiplash speaks directly to anyone who knows the thrill and agony of striving to be the best under impossible expectations.
The Devil Wears Prada, 2006:
Deadline-driven, soul-sucking work environments meets glamorous chaos. Miranda Priestley’s cold perfectionism will feel painfully familiar to anyone who’s ever been told, ‘Do it better, faster, now.’ To top it off a subtle commentary on sacrificing your personal life for professional approval.
Network, 1976:
Network is a biting American satire that exposes the corrosive effects of corporate pressure and performance-driven culture. The film follows longtime news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) as a television network exploits his public mental breakdown in a desperate attempt to boost ratings. In doing so, Network lays bare the dangers of overwork, turning personal suffering into spectacle, and the decline of mental health in professional environments. Beale’s famous outburst - ‘I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ - captures the collective frustration of anyone pushed to the breaking point, whether in the workplace or academia.
Good Will Hunting, 1997:
Good Will Hunting explores the quieter, internalised side of academic and professional pressure. Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a genius whose intelligence becomes a burden as professors, employers, and even friends impose expectations on him. Unlike the overt intensity of Whiplash, Will’s struggle is subtle: self-doubt, fear of failure, and the pressure to meet others’ standards create a tension that feels suffocating. The film highlights how stress isn’t always loud or public, sometimes it’s the weight of potential and the difficult choices that come with it.
Dead Poets Society, 1989:
Dead Poets Society captures the emotional intensity of academic pressure through the eyes of students at a rigid boarding school. Under the stern guidance of authority figures, they are pushed to conform, achieve, and suppress their individuality. Until an inspiring teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), encourages them to think for themselves. The film highlights how institutional expectations can create deep stress, but also shows the transformative power of passion, creativity, and courage. It’s a reminder that even within strict systems, moments of rebellion and self-expression can offer an outlet.
Whether it’s the physical intensity of Whiplash, the corporate tyranny of The Devil Wears Prada, or the quiet psychological pressure in Good Will Hunting, these films each provide a lens on the many faces of academic and professional stress. So next time you’re staring down a mountain of deadlines, take a break, press play, and remember, you’re not alone in the chaos.
Featured Image: IMDb / Simren Jhalli
Which of these will you be watching when having your freaking out in the ASS?
