Best tv shows like Breaking Away
Last updated March 2024
Looking for tv shows similar to Breaking Away? Provide your expertise to help others to movies and tv shows you've viewed before that might similarly immerse them. Aid in expanding the group of people raising videos between one another. We encourage your participation!
Plot Summary:
Breaking Away is a 1980 American comedy-drama television series that was based on the 1979 film of the same name. It was created by Steve Tesich, who wrote the original film, and the film's director Peter Yates served as Executive Producer. As a prequel, the series was set during the year prior to the events of the film. Shaun Cassidy took over the role of Dave Stohler, a young man mad about bicycle racing and all things Italian. Barbara Barrie, Jackie Earle Haley and John Ashton reprised their roles from the film. The television series was set in Bloomington, Indiana, but was actually shot in Athens, Georgia. The show was caught up in the 1980 Screen Actors Guild Strike and did not begin production until that fall. While heavily promoted by ABC, it was overlooked by TV audiences once it got on the air and suffered low ratings. It was cancelled after eight episodes were filmed, though only seven episodes aired during its original run. ABC showed reruns of the show during the summer of 1981, and it was also rerun by the Arts & Entertainment cable channel during 1985–1987.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 179
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sitcom
Best tv shows and movies like Breaking Away (1980):
Similar in 87%
Byker Grove (1989)
Plot Summary:
Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One. It was aimed at an older teenager and young adult audience, tackling serious and sometimes controversial storylines.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 913
Genere: Drama, Family, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 83%
Our House (1986)
Plot Summary:
Our House is an American television drama series that aired on NBC for two seasons from September 11, 1986 to May 8, 1988. The series centers on the Witherspoon family and the challenges they face adjusting to life with three generations living in the same house.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 885
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: retro, sitcom, sentimental, feel good, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
A Level (2017)
Plot Summary:
After getting through the O/L Examination with outstanding results, Anuththara with his friends eagerly look forward to experience their final years in school as seniors in the A/L class. They befriend Ahinsa and the other new girls who join their school. Ahinsa draws everyone’s attention for her smartness as well as her cheerful yet mysterious behaviour. Her irregular school attendance and the rumours circulating about her, make the others suspect that there’s a hidden story behind her cheerfulness.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 214
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Sri Lanka
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: crying
Similar in 88%
Just Dance (2018)
Plot Summary:
In a Girls' Vocational High School in Geoje, six students dream to win a dance sports competition.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 51
Genere: Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 35 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 84%
One of the Boys (2023)
Plot Summary:
The socially awkward Lau goes on the traditional Man Camp with the provincial town boys to prove that he's a "real man". But, things get tricky when he develops feelings for another boy on the trip.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 184
Genere: Drama
Country: Denmark
Duration:
Plot tags: queer cinema
Similar in 86%
13 Never Again! (1996)
Plot Summary:
13-year old Rikke sees Bea, the new girl in her class, as a challenge. After an endurance test to find which of them can lie longer in a circle of flames, they become friends. However, as a result of some unfortunate truths and half-truths, the friendship falters. Rikke feels that Bea has let her down, and resolves to continue the rivalry between them, but now in a less physical, more artful way. In addition we meet Rikke's elder sister Ninni, who has been in England to learn the language, and has had to leave her great love, a man twelve years her senior. The film is also about the problems Rikke encounters in fulfilling the expectations of those around her as she approaches womanhood.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 312
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Norway
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 84%
Ebba och Didrik (1990)
Plot Summary:
Two siblings, Ebba and Didrik, live in small society by the sea. An ordinary family with usual struggles. They're looking for love in different ways, but it's easier said than done.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 627
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Sweden
Duration: 262 min
Plot tags: masterpiece
Similar in 77%
Youth (2018)
Plot Summary:
When five college students share a house, they also share their experiences with life and love. Han Yi Tong, Ni Jin, Chen Chen Chen, Lin Xiao Chun and Zhang Sheng Nan are roommates who share a house while attending the same university. Can they support each other through the many challenges they face?.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 50
Genere: Drama
Country: China
Duration:
Plot tags:
Similar in 88%
Rubber Tarzan (1981)
Plot Summary:
Ivan is a very lonely 8 year boy who is bullied almost every day in school. Even his father taunts him because Ivan litteraly is a weakling (That should explain the title Rubber Tarzan). As a result of this Ivan spends a lot of his time on daydreaming until he meets a kind of kindred spirit - the friendly and lonely crane driver Ole.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Denmark
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 88%
Gigantic (2010)
Plot Summary:
A half-hour dramedy that takes a fictional look at the glitzy, chaotic and often hilarious life of being a Hollywood "it" kid. Set in the world of the Hollywood elite packed with A-list parties and privilege, it tells a coming-of-age story infused with pop culture fame. It's not easy being teenagers growing up in the shadow of their parents' superstar status, and "Gigantic" skewers the celebrity machine while exposing the humanity and comedy beneath the glamour of Tinseltown. With an insider look behind the tabloids and gossip blogs, it features an ensemble cast that includes: 17-year-old Anna (Grace Gummer) and her younger brother Walt (Tony Oller), both kids of a famous movie star couple; their best friends Piper (Jolene Purdy) and Finn (Malcolm Kelley); frenemy Vanessa (Gia Mantegna) and Anna's boy crush with a big secret Joey (Ryan Rottman).
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 297
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, captivating, light, sincere, offbeat, witty
Similar in 84%
House of Payne (2006)
Plot Summary:
Tyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolved around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella. The show premiered in syndication on June 21, 2006, and new episodes were broadcast exclusively on TBS from June 6, 2007, until August 10, 2012. While primarily a comedy sitcom, House of Payne was known for featuring dark themes and subject matter, such as substance abuse and addiction. It also had elements of slapstick. The storyline of the show is serialized, with many references to past episodes, creating a continuing story arc. House of Payne aired more episodes than any other television series with a predominantly African American cast, surpassing The Jeffersons, Family Matters and The Cosby Show.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, entertaining, light, feel good, realistic, not serious
Similar in 79%
BUNK'D (2015)
Plot Summary:
Siblings Emma, Ravi, and Zuri Ross leave their extravagant New York City penthouse once again to return to Camp Kikiwaka, a rustic summer camp in Maine where their parents met as teenagers.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, entertaining, funny, romantic, feel good, teen comedy
Similar in 87%
Ready or Not (1993)
Plot Summary:
Ready or Not is a Canadian teen drama series which aired on the Showtime Movie Channel and later on the Disney Channel and Global Television Network for 5 seasons and 65 episodes between 1993 and 1997 in both Canada and the United States.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Family (1976)
Plot Summary:
Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split among executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols. A total of 86 episodes were produced.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: retro, touching, serious, realistic, sexual, sexy
Similar in 75%
Tom Brown's Schooldays (1971)
Plot Summary:
Tom Brown's Schooldays is a 1971 television serial adaptation of the Thomas Hughes novel of the same name. It was originally shown on the BBC1 Sunday tea time slot, which often showed adaptations of classic novels aimed at a family audience. It may have been more freely adapted than most of these Sunday adaptations, e.g. including Flashman's father who was not in the novel, and like some other adaptations of Hughes' novel it expanded Flashman and Dr. Arnold's roles. However it was regarded as well-acted, particularly by Murphy, Morant and Cuthbertson, and was later shown on Masterpiece Theater in the USA. Both the programme and Murphy's performance won Emmy Awards. It did include a couple of corporal punishment scenes which were rather strong stuff for family viewing.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 174
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 225 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 87%
The Waltons (1972)
Plot Summary:
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show is centered on a family in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot aired as a television movie entitled The Homecoming: A Christmas Story and was broadcast on December 19, 1971. Beginning in September 1972, the series originally aired on CBS for a total of nine seasons. After the series was canceled in 1981, three television movie sequels followed in 1982, with three more in the 1990s. The Waltons was produced by Lorimar Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution in syndication.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: absurd, sitcom, juvenile, sentimental, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, historical drama
Similar in 87%
Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989)
Plot Summary:
Doogie Howser, M.D. is an American television comedy-drama starring Neil Patrick Harris as a teenage physician who also faces the problems of being a normal teenager. Creators Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, partnering with ABC, aired the show from 1989 to 1993 for four seasons totaling 97 episodes.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, medical drama, humorous, touching, realistic, semi serious, teen comedy
Similar in 86%
Lassie (1997)
Plot Summary:
Lassie is a Canadian television series which aired from 1997 to 1999 on YTV in Canada and Sunday nights on the Animal Planet network in the United States, as a modified remake of the original Lassie series about a boy and his faithful dog. As with previous Lassie TV versions and several movies dating back to the original Lassie Come Home movie of 1943, the star was Lassie, a trained Rough Collie. Not to be confused with a previous, syndicated follow-up series entitled The New Lassie which aired 1989–1991, this Canadian-produced Lassie series starred Corey Sevier as 13-year-old Timmy Cabot in the fictional town of Hudson Falls, Vermont. The show was filmed in Quebec by Cinar Inc.. In this series' story line, Timmy and his recently widowed mother, Dr. Karen Cabot, move to Hudson Falls, where Karen takes over a veterinary practice. In the first season, Lassie was played by "Howard", an eighth generation collie descended from "Pal", the dog in the original 1943 movie Lassie Come Home. As with all previous Lassie movies and television series beginning with Pal, Howard was owned and trained by Weatherwax Trained Dogs, founded by brothers Frank and Rudd Weatherwax. Midway through production, Cinar replaced Howard with a non-Pal descended dog. Following Lassie fan protests, "Hey Hey", son of Howard and a ninth-generation direct descendent of Pal, was brought in to assume the role of Lassie for the final thirteen episodes of the show.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 341
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sentimental, light, inspirational, clever, touching, feel good, sweet, entertaining, semi serious
Similar in 77%
Out There (2003)
Plot Summary:
Out There is an Australian comedy-drama series following the trials and tribulations of an American high school boy named Reilly who moves to Australia from Connecticut as his father flees the authorities. He stays with his aunt and uncle who are the owners of a nature reserve and veterinary clinic.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 105
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, serious, realistic
Similar in 80%
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1992)
Plot Summary:
The Adventures of Pete & Pete is an American children's television series produced by Wellsville Pictures and broadcast by Nickelodeon. The show featured humorous and surreal elements in its narrative, and many recurring themes centered on two brothers both named Pete Wrigley, and their various interactions with family, friends, and enemies. The show was created by Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi and began as minute-long shorts in 1989 that aired in between regular programs. Owing to the popularity of the shorts, five half-hour specials were made, followed by a regular half-hour series that ran for three seasons and continued in reruns until around 1999. The N aired reruns of the show between 2002–2003. The first two seasons were released on DVD in 2005; the third was planned for 2006 but was indefinitely postponed. Jason Ankeny of Allmusic called the series "the greatest children's show ever," while IGN called it "One of the most well-written kids shows ever.".
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, offbeat, humorous, surreal, witty, not serious, mad, cult film
Similar in 81%
Party of Five (1994)
Plot Summary:
Following his parents' tragic death, 24-year-old Charlie Salinger is back at home – and in over his head – as his siblings' legal guardian. Together, Charlie, 16-year-old Bailey, 15-year-old Julia and 11-year-old Claudia share the responsibility of taking care of 11-month-old Owen. Through it all, as they learn to run their parents' restaurant, manage disastrous relationships and school problems.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, sentimental, serious, teen, gloomy, vintage
Similar in 84%
Good Luck Charlie (2010)
Plot Summary:
Good Luck Charlie is an American television sitcom, which premiered on April 4, 2010, on Disney Channel. The series was created by Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen, who wanted to create a program that would appeal to entire families, as opposed to only children. It focuses on a Denver family, the Duncans, as they try to adjust to the births of their fourth and fifth children, Charlotte "Charlie" Duncan and Toby Duncan. In each episode, Teddy Duncan creates a video diary containing advice for Charlie about their family and life as a teenager. Teddy tries to show Charlie what she might go through when she is older in the video diaries for future reference. Each video diary ends with Teddy saying the eponymous phrase, "Good luck, Charlie". Among other decisions, executives included adult-centric scenes and changed the series title from Oops to Love, Teddy and finally to Good Luck Charlie in order to ensure the series would appeal to all family members. Good Luck Charlie premiered on Disney Channel in the United States on April 4, 2010. It premiered in Canada on April 5, 2010, the United Kingdom and Ireland on May 14, 2010, and in Australia and New Zealand on July 23, 2010. Good Luck Charlie was renewed for a second season, with production beginning in August 2010 with a season premiere on February 20, 2011. A feature-length Christmas Disney Channel Original Movie based on the series entitled Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! began production in March 2011 for a December 2011 premiere.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: sitcom, feel good, humorous, witty, sentimental, realistic, semi serious, funny, fun, nostalgic
Similar in 88%
Best Friends (2007)
Plot Summary:
Best Friends follows the life of a group of friends at their high school ‘Spangalis College’. Inside and outside of school exciting and challenging experiences take place. Growing up is never easy; every character has its own, unique story of love, friendship, loneliness, sorrow, discovery. There is drama and joy in school, family, teachers, parents, divorce, bullying, and always dreams for the future.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 440
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 20 min
Plot tags: light, captivating, feel good, humorous, sentimental, sincere, thought provoking, serious, realistic, soap opera
Similar in 76%
Full House (1987)
Plot Summary:
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife Pam, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 62000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, sentimental, touching, realistic, feel good, semi serious, captivating, game show, sensitive
Similar in 75%
Chesapeake Shores (2016)
Plot Summary:
A divorced mom deals with an old romance and complicated family issues when she returns to her hometown with her twin daughters.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: romantic, sincere, emotional, semi serious, touching, feel good
Similar in 82%
Sister, Sister (1994)
Plot Summary:
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom starring identical twins Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry. The premise of the show was that the girls were separated and adopted at birth, one to a single mother, one to a single father, and have met again after 14 years apart. Created by Kim Bass, Gary Gilbert and Fred Shafferman, the series was produced by de Passe Entertainment and Paramount Network Television. The cast, along with Tia and Tamera Mowry, also included Jackee Harry, Marques Houston and Tim Reid, with RonReaco Lee and Deon Richmond joining the cast in the fifth season. The series ran from April 1, 1994 to April 28, 1995 on ABC, and was canceled by the network after two seasons, due to poor ratings. The series was picked up by The WB and aired on that network from September 6, 1995, through May 23, 1999.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic, sweet, telenovela, teen comedy, nostalgic
Similar in 76%
Unfabulous (2004)
Plot Summary:
Unfabulous is an American children's television series that aired on Nickelodeon. The series is about an "unfabulous" 7th Grade middle school student named Addie Singer, played by Emma Roberts. The show, which debuted in late summer 2004, was one of the most-watched programs in the United States among children between the age of 10 and 16 and was created by Sue Rose, who previously created the animated series Pepper Ann and Angela Anaconda. The series ended on December 16, 2007, with the third season being the last. Reruns of the show ended on Nickelodeon on June 2008. The show aired reruns on The N but ended in late 2009. The show then returned to TeenNick on October 11, 2011, and lasted until April 2, 2012. The show returned to the channel again on December 3, 2012. All the episodes are narrated by Addie, and are told in flashbacks. The episode titles all start with the article "The". The show's theme song is performed by Jill Sobule, who also writes the songs for the series.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sitcom, nostalgic
Similar in 83%
Lizzie McGuire (2001)
Plot Summary:
Lizzie McGuire is an American live-action teen sitcom, which features an animated version of the title character performing soliloquy. The animated sequences were interspersed with the show's live-action sequences. It premiered on the Disney Channel on January 12, 2001 following the premiere of Zenon: The Zequel and ended February 14, 2004. A total of 65 episodes were produced and aired. Its target demographic was preteens and adolescents. The series won Favorite TV Show at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2002 and 2003.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, feel good, witty, semi serious, realistic, teen comedy, nostalgic
Similar in 85%
Anne with an E (2017)
Plot Summary:
A coming-of-age story about an outsider who, against all odds and numerous challenges, fights for love and acceptance and for her place in the world. The series centers on a young orphaned girl in the late 1890’s, who, after an abusive childhood spent in orphanages and the homes of strangers, is mistakenly sent to live with an elderly woman and her aging brother. Over time, 13-year-old Anne will transform their lives and eventually the small town in which they live with her unique spirit, fierce intellect and brilliant imagination.
IMDB Rating: 8.6
IMDB Votes: 63000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: compassionate, sincere, touching, realistic, emotional, costume drama, period piece, sad, historical drama, period drama
Similar in 82%
Boy Meets World (1993)
Plot Summary:
Boy Meets World is an American television sitcom that chronicles the coming of age events and everyday life-lessons of Cory Matthews, a Philadelphian who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the network's TGIF lineup. The entire series has been released on DVD, as well as on iTunes.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 46000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, realistic, feel good, semi serious, touching, sweet, teen comedy, nostalgic