Sybil originally aired as a made-for-television miniseries in 1976. Sally Field starred in the title role, with Joanne Woodward playing the part of Sybil's psychiatrist, Cornelia B. Wilbur. Based on the book Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber, the movie dramatises the life of a shy young graduate student, Sybil Dorsett (in real life, Shirley Ardell Mason), suffering from dissociative identity disorder. With the help of her psychiatrist, Sybil gradually recalls the harrowing childhood abuse that led to the development of thirteen different personalities. Sally Field's portrayal of Sybil won an Emmy.

The film, originally 198 minutes long, was initially shown over the course of two nights in 1976. In the VHS version of Sybil, released in the 80's the film was edited, with one version running 122 minutes and another, extended version running 132 minutes. Several key scenes, including Sybil's final climactic "introduction" to each of her thirteen selves, are missing in both versions. The film is shown frequently on television, often with scenes restored or deleted to adjust for time constraints and the varying sensitivity of viewers. The film was graphic for its original prime-time viewing slot and even today contains many disturbing images and themes.

Due to high viewer demand, a 30th anniversary edition of Sybil was released on DVD in North America on July 18, 2006, with the original full length running time of 198 minutes.

Warner Bros. has produced a remake which will air in 2007 on CBS. The remake stars Tammy Blanchard as Sybil and Jessica Lange as Dr. Wilbur.

Sybil is a remake of the 1976 made-for-TV miniseries about the life of a woman, Sybil Dorsett, suffering from dissociative identity disorder and the process by which her psychiatrist unravels her abusive childhood. The CBS produced remake stars Tammy Blanchard as Sybil and Jessica Lange as Dr. Wilbur, and has been released in 2007.

The real "Sybil" was recently identified as Shirley Ardell Mason, an art teacher who died in 1998 at the age of 75 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Patty Duke auditioned for the lead role, although was not cast due to a clash with the original director. Daniel Petrie later signed on to direct, but Sally Field already accepted the role.

Joanne Woodward, who plays the Doctor, starred in another famous film about multiple personalities, Three Faces of Eve, The (1957) where she starred as the titular Eve. However, unlike Sybil, she had only a trio of personalities.