Motion-Picture-Motion-Sickness (MPMS) movies

If certain movies make you nauseated when there's a lot of handheld camera work, you are part of this group that includes me. Please post a comment if you think of any I've omitted from the list and especially if you have found a cure or preventative measure (other than walking out). I move to the back of the theatre when I start to feel bad. Lately I've found it also helps to just look away from the screen, at the wall or the floor, from time to time. At least I have learned not to blame my last meal.

Also known as Visually Induced Motion Sickness and now officially recognized by the New York Times in this article.

Watching these on a small screen should be less of a problem for us. Any movie title with a live link refers to my summary elsewhere in the blog.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) Sit in the back for the occasional jumpy camera moves.

1917 (2019) Sit in the back and/or medicate.

'71 (2014) Look away from time to time when the camera operator is obviously running.

All Is Lost (2013) Sit far back, look away occasionally.

American Factory (2019) The hand-held camera operators do a lot of walking. Sit far back, even at home.

American Honey (2016) Sit way back, look away occasionally, or wait for the DVD.

American Made (2017) Medicate or wait for home video.

At Eternity's Gate (2018) Sit as far back as you can, medicate, and look away from time to time.

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) Sit as far back as possible, bring meds if you have them, and look away from time to time. It's extremely jumpy.

The Biggest Little Farm (2018) Occasional use of hand held devices may make you uncomfortable. Take your medication in advance.

The Blair Witch Project (1999) I haven't seen it but Wikipedia cites it as a strong MPMS inducer.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) Sit back. The camera calms down when the characters aren't on the move.

Biutiful (2010) Sitting halfway back made it okay.

Blue Is the Warmest Color (La vie d'Adéle - 2013) Sit in the last row and look away occasionally.

Blue Valentine (2010) Because I was warned, I sat in the back and was okay.

The Brothers Grimsby (2016) If you can stand the raunchy, explicit sex jokes, pick a seat in the back row.

Bully (2011) Sit as far back as possible and look away when you can.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Sit far back.

Captain Phillips (2013) One of the worst yet. If MPMS is your problem, wait for the DVD.

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012) You'll be fine watching the DVD.

Chappie (2015) Sit in the back row, look away occasionally, take meds, watch it at home if you must.

Creative Control (2015) Not too bad. Sit in the back.

Destroyer (2018) May occasionally trigger MPMS so don't sit too close.

Detroit (2017) The camera operators frequently run after the cast. Sit as far back as you can and medicate if possible.

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014) The occurrences end quickly.

The Disaster Artist (2017) Sit far back.

District 9 (2009) I'm adding this five years after its release and you'll be fine watching it on a DVD if you don't sit too close.

The Do-Deca-Pentathalon (2012) Sit near the back.

Don't Change the Subject (2012) Sit at least halfway back or watch it on a small screen.

Don't Think Twice (2016) We sat in the last row and I was fine but some scenes use a not-so-steadicam.

Elysium (2013) Sit as far back as possible and look at the wall or exit sign occasionally.

End of Watch (2012) Sit back, look over at the wall from time to time, or pause your disc to get a beverage.

Fair Game (2010) Sit far back!

Final Portrait (2017) Sit far back for occasional bursts.

First Man (2018) Sit as far back as you can, take meds if you have any, and look away from time to time.

Fish Tank (2009) Sit at least halfway back.

The Florida Project (2017) Pre-medicate, sit far back and look away from time to time.

Fruitvale Station (2013) Sit as far back as you can, or watch it on DVD.

Future Weather (2012) Not too bad but there are some instances of jumpy handheld camera moves.

Gifted (2017) Sitting in the back will be fine. The hand-held camera sequences are short.

Gravity (2013) Sit near the back and beware of super-loud music at the beginning and end.

Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009) Move back from your screen or skip it altogether.

Holler (2020) Move back from your screen.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017) Don't sit close.

Husbands and Wives (1992) I wasn't warned and it was difficult to watch.

I, Tonya (2017) Sit in the back and/or medicate.

Icarus (2017) Don't sit too close to your screen.

The Impossible (Lo impossible - 2012) Sit far back and you should be okay.

In Darkness (2011) Sit near the back, but don't worry, the jerky camera movements don't go on the whole time.

Interstellar (2014) Spaceships hurtling through black holes, trucks hurtling through dust storms. 'Nuff said. Sit in the back and look away when you need to.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011) Sit far back.

La La Land (2016) Sit in the last row.

Life of Pi (2012) Sit far back.

Limitless (2011) Sit at least halfway back.

Lion (2016) Sit as far back as you can.

Look at Us Now, Mother! (2015) Full of home movies, it would make you sick if you watched it in a theatre. But it's available only on DVD now, so you'll be okay.

Melancholia (2011) Sit as far back as you can, perhaps in another room (we didn't like it one bit).

Mid90s (2018) The camera doesn't swing too often but it will go wild from time to time.

Moonlight (2016) Sit far back and look away when the cameraman starts running without his steadicam.

Nightcrawler (2014) Sit in the last row, take meds, and look away occasionally.

Pariah (2011) Sit as far back as possible.

Patti Cake$ (2017) Medicate, sit far back, look away from time to time.

The Perfect Storm (2000) (I didn't see it).

Pig (2021) I watched it at home and wasn't bothered but more sensitive folks might need to put a chair behind the couch.

The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) Sit at least halfway back and look away during the motorcycle chases.

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011) Sit at least halfway back.

Prince Avalanche (2013) Look at the wall when the camera starts bouncing.

Queen of Katwe (2016) Sit in the back. I wasn't bothered but it may have been because I frequently looked at the closed caption device.

Rachel Getting Married (2008) Sit all the way back and bring medication. This movie is the inspiration for this MPMS list--the first on the blog to make me sick.

Snowden (2016) Sit in the back row and be prepared for the occasional bursts of shaky camera movements.

Song to Song (2017) Sit in the very last row and medicate as well as you can.

Starlet (2012) If you can find it on DVD, it won't be a problem to watch.

Suffragette (2015) Sitting in the last row, I still had to look away from time to time, especially near the end.

Tangerine (2015) Sit as far back as you can. I actually felt sick watching it in my home theatre but was able to move farther away from the screen.

Toni Erdmann (2016) Sit in the back and keep your eyes on the subtitles when the camera starts swinging.

The Tree of Life (2011) Sit far back. Leave the room during the parts I didn't like.

Vice (2018) I may have unfairly put this on the list so sit in the back to be safe.

We the Animals (2018) Even at home, don't sit too close to the screen.

Whiplash (2014) Sit in the back for the occasional bursts of wildness.

Wonderstruck (2017) Sit far back and, if you must watch it at home, make sure the room is very dark or you won't be able to make out what's on the screen.

You Were Never Really Here (2017) Don't sit too close to the TV.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012) Sit far back.