Overview
A poignant exploration of a family's struggle against the shadows of mental illness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- harrowing
- intimate
- musical theater night
- emotionally intense viewing
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Diana Goodman’s worsening bipolar disorder affects her marriage to Dan and her relationships with Gabe and Natalie.
Diana’s illness management and interactions with Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden are central to the family’s crisis.
The musical form gives direct expression to Diana’s depression, instability, grief, and family conflict.
The Goodman family’s struggles are tied to grief that reverberates across Diana, Dan, Gabe, and Natalie.
Films like Next to Normal, and why
Rent
shared stage-musical form, grief, addiction, and emotionally intense family relationships
August: Osage County
shared domestic trauma, psychological illness, and confrontational family drama
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
shared musical storytelling, depression, grief, and intimate psychological conflict
tick, tick... BOOM!
shared theatrical musicality, emotional vulnerability, and pressure surrounding artistic and personal identity
Movie Details
- Directors
- Michael Longhurst, Austin Shaw
- Release Date
- 2025-09-11
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 9.0 / 10 (1)
Cast
- Caissie Levy
- Jamie Parker
- Jack Wolfe
- Eleanor Worthington-Cox
- Trevor Dion Nicholas
- Jack Ofrecio
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- BroadwayHD, Broadway HD Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Next to Normal about?
- A searing stage-to-screen musical drama follows a mother’s psychiatric crisis as it reverberates through the family she is trying to hold together.
- What is Next to Normal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Next to Normal as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Next to Normal violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Next to Normal.
- Which films are like Next to Normal?
- Films with a similar feel include Rent, August: Osage County, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and tick, tick... BOOM!.
- How long is Next to Normal?
- Next to Normal runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch Next to Normal?
- In United States, Next to Normal streams on BroadwayHD, Broadway HD Amazon Channel.
