A psych professor at a Boston community college, Sean Maguire can barely hold the attention of his students. But there’s a bright, if unsatisfied, mind at work inside of him, one that is tested and challenged when he agrees to meet with a troubled young man who just happens to be a once-in-a-generation genius. Robin Williams (in glorious full-beard mode) lets audiences see the loneliness that threatens to consume and paralyze the part-time therapist. Maguire sees more than a bit of himself in Will (Matt Damon): they’re both gifted but under-achieving Southies. Their sessions — which begin with the tense energy of two prizefighters circling one another in the ring — lead to each finding out a lot about each other (and themselves) and, of course, ends with a memorable breakthrough moment that caused many a man-tear to be shed.
Top 10 Movie Shrinks
As 'A Dangerous Method' offers revealing portraits of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, TIME sets up appointments with 10 of cinema's most memorable psychiatrists and therapists.
Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting
Full List
The Doctor Is In
- Dr. Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs
- Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting
- Dr. Caligari, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
- Dr. Malcolm Crowe, The Sixth Sense
- Dr. Tyrone Berger, Ordinary People
- Dr. Ben Sobel, Analyze This
- Dr. Sam Loomis, Halloween
- Dr. Eudora Fletcher, Zelig
- Dr. Constance Peterson, Spellbound
- Dr. Leo Marvin, What About Bob?