(Posted 2026 April)
Watching movies or shows can be helpful to learn about the experiences of some survivors and start conversations about sexual violence in our communities. Many of these works explore important topics in our communities, including safety, equity, justice, resilience, healing, and more.
You can stream these movies from the comfort of your home with friends or family, or you can jumpstart the community dialogue and connect with your local movie theater or your school or campus to request a screening in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. DSVS is happy to support and you can request, using the SPEAKS form, a crisis counselor, a resource table, or subject-expert panelists for free at your event. Just be aware of potential licensing fees for showing films in public.
Here are 9 suggestions (plus a bonus!) of shows or movies that explore the issue of sexual violence from various perspectives:
*Trigger warning: sexual assault and sexual violence
- Unbelievable (TV Series 2019) – This series, based on the true story of a Washington state rape victim police refused to believe, is a devastating look at criminal justice in a climate where three out of four rapes go unreported, often because victims fear they won’t be believed and their attackers will be free to rape again. In Unbelievable, three years after the Washington rape, trained detectives find a link to the initial report while investigating a string of assaults in Colorado. The series is an important study in how families, friends, and authorities can better support sexual assault survivors. (TV-MA)
- I May Destroy You (TV Series 2020) – This series is about a young writer in London who explores themes of consent, trauma, friendship, and self-discovery in the aftermath of experiencing sexual assault. She searches for the truth while setting up thought experiments on how finding and confronting the person who harmed her could play out on her journey toward justice and peace. (TV-MA)
- Promising Young Woman (2020) – Years after classmates assaulted her best friend, a woman grapples with the injustice and questions the individuals and the system that continue to deny victims’ safety, potential, and futures. (R)
- Mom (Hindi language film 2017) – A stepmom seeks justice for her daughter after the daughter is gang raped in Delhi, India. The themes and visuals connect the treatment of victims in society to the ancient text of Mahabharata, which tells the story of a sexual assault of a woman triggering war between cousins and the near destruction of the world. (TV-MA)
- Sean Combs: The Reckoning (TV Series 2025) – This mini-documentary details sexual assault allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, including interviews with survivors who share their stories and the impact the abuse has had on their lives. (TV-MA)
- A Teacher (TV Series 2020) – This slow-burning drama explores the emotional and psychological fallout of an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and her high school student. The series avoids sensationalism and instead focuses on power dynamics, manipulation, and the long-term impact of abuse on the survivor. It’s uncomfortable but thoughtfully told, anchored by strong performances that make the story feel disturbingly real. (TV-MA)
- Pose (TV Series 2018-2021) – Set in the 1980-90s, Pose follows a group of black and Hispanic LGBTQ individuals finding community in the New York City underground ball culture, despite experiencing societal trauma, discrimination, and violence. (TV- MA)
- Sorry, Baby (2025) – A young graduate student deals with the aftermath of an assault by her thesis adviser. (R)
- Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) – A boy seeks belonging, joy, and friendship in high school after experiencing loss, mental illness, and childhood trauma. (PG-13)
Looking for more? The National Sexual Violence Resource Center also has a list of suggested films.
Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division supports adults, teens, and children who have been impacted by domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Services are confidential, free, and provided regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
If you or someone you know is experiencing interpersonal violence, call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline at 703-360-7273 for resources and support. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
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