Black Swan was arguably the most important film in Natalie Portman's career - and probably just as important for director Darren Aronofsky. It was a critical and commercial success that even earned Portman an Academy Award for Best Actress.
But probably the most interesting part of it is the theme of artists dedicating themselves to art to the point of exhaustion - a theme that doesn't always get much attention in entertainment. Perhaps, this is why it's so hard to find similar films to Black Swan. But there are still some noteworthy movies of the kind to watch.
Split (2016)
Split is undoubtedly one of M. Night Shyamalan's best works (even if his career hasn't been as steady as many predicted). For some, James McAvoy's performance is everything. For others, it's the tension that the film builds. Anya Taylor-Joy from Robert Eggers' The Witch also starred in the film.
The story follows a man with dissociative identity disorder (played by James McAvoy) who kidnaps three teenage girls. He has 23 registered personalities, but there seems to be a 24th personality, more evil and powerful than others.
Pi (1998)
Pi is Darren Aronofsky's directorial debut which impressed many people at the time of its release and can still be considered one of the best debuts of all time. The black-and-white film deals with such themes as religion, mysticism, mathematics, and mental illness.
The story follows a mathematician obsessed with finding a key number that will allow him to unlock the universal patterns found in nature and discover how everything in the universe is connected.
The Machinist (2004)
The Machinist is known as that very film for which Christian Bale lost so much weight that he looked like a walking skeleton. Obviously, Bale's acting talents are undeniable and he was praised by critics for his performance.
The film follows a machinist struggling with insomnia and other mental issues who causes a serious accident at work. After he is fired, he continues descending into depression and delusion.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a film that sports a cast of Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and others with an Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Inarritu. The film was a massive success both commercially and critically.
Looking like it is a single long shot, Birdman tells the story of a fading cinema star who once played the character of a well-known superhero - Birdman. The actor plans to resurrect his career with his own Broadway production. What's peculiar is that Keaton is known for his performance as Batman, but he hadn't been getting roles of the same caliber for a while.
Nightcrawler (2014)
Nightcrawler can be considered a creation of both writer-director Dan Gilroy and the lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal (who was quite involved in the film's production). Upon its release, the film was widely praised both for Gyllenhaal's performance and for Gilroy's screenplay.
Focusing on the topic of unethical journalism and its connection to consumer demand, the film follows a stringer in Los Angeles who records violent events occurring at night and sells them to a local news station.
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Requiem for a Dream is arguably Darren Aronofsky's masterpiece which might be second only to Black Swan. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Ellen Burstyn, and Marlon Wayans deliver powerful performances while the screenplay, cinematography, and editing all add to the atmosphere of loneliness and hopelessness.
Indeed, it's a very depressing film. The story focuses on four characters and how their lives are influenced by their use of drugs. They want to feel alive and loved, but their choices go against their interests.
Memento (2000)
Memento is the film that skyrocketed Christopher Nolan's career. Though it was only his second feature film and the first one after the black-and-white indie film he financed by himself, Memento managed to get two Academy Award nominations and is still considered one of the best examples of non-linear storytelling.
There are two storylines with one going backward and one forward. The main character Leonard has anterograde amnesia, so he can't remember anything longer than fifteen minutes. Nevertheless, Leonard wants to find the person who killed his wife and get his revenge.
The Prestige (2006)
The Prestige is another Christopher Nolan film with a complex non-linear structure that shares a major theme with Black Swan - both are concerned with the dilemma of perfecting one's artistic abilities. Interestingly, it was one of the three 2006 films that explored the world of magicians - the other two being The Illusionist and Scoop (which also starred Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson).
The film follows two nineteenth-century magicians in London who are friends-turned-rivals as they compete against each other trying to become the superior performer.
Whiplash (2014)
Whiplash is yet another film by a contemporary up-and-coming director (Damien Chazelle) that closely examines the theme of greatness and the price one must pay to achieve it. The film went on to get multiple award nominations and wins predicting Chazelle's later win for Best Directing for La La Land.
Set in New York City, it follows an aspiring drummer who attends a prestigious conservatory and dreams of becoming a famous musician one day. Working towards his goal, he realizes how much he will need to sacrifice to achieve it while his new mentor turns out to be demanding and even abusive.
Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and praised films ever created. Though it received mixed reviews and wasn't as big of success at the box office as the studio had anticipated, it nevertheless went on to become a cult film.
Based on Chuck Palahniuk's 1996 novel of the same name, it follows an unnamed Narrator who struggles with insomnia and hates his job. One day, he meets a guy named Tyler Durden who makes and sells soap and seems to be a complete opposite of the Narrator. Together, they form the so-called fight club where men can come to fight and be reborn.