Best movies like Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Two brothers share a house in LA's Fairfax district: Tony's a feckless actor, Chris is an accountant. Both are in relationships on rocky ground. As these emotions swirl, Tony meets his US Postal Service letter carrier, a single mom named Kathy who's come to LA from Wyoming with her daughter, a budding actress. Chris meets Anna, an Italian beauty working in the States for a few months wrangling animals on movie sets. Chris also befriends Clive, an aging and crusty man whose longing for his recently-deceased wife is a portrait of true love. Can Clive's example help Chris sort out his love life, and can Tony grow up enough to see the possibilities with Kathy and her daughter?.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, offbeat, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, crying, light, thought provoking
Best tv shows and movies like Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire (1999):
Similar in 76%
Cool Blue (1989)
Plot Summary:
Dustin, an aspiring painter meets this woman named Christiane. Dustin is on a search for love, sex, and inspiration. When Christiane dumps him and disapears as quickly as she dropped in, Dustin embarks on an obsessive search in Southern California to search for her.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 491
Genere: Comedy, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, offbeat, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Hollywood Palms (2001)
Plot Summary:
Set entirely in the Hollywood Palms apartment building and its yard, this movie shows how people there live and interact with each other.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 174
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, semi serious, realistic, biting, suspense
Similar in 86%
Boynton Beach Club (2005)
Plot Summary:
A handful of men and women of a certain age pick up the pieces of their lives and look for new love after the loss of their mates in this comedy drama from writer-director Susan Seidelman.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, semi serious, humorous, realistic
Similar in 83%
30 Days Until I'm Famous (2004)
Plot Summary:
A Latina working in Los Angeles as a messenger is randomly discovered and fashioned into a pop music star.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 420
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic
Similar in 81%
Free Enterprise (1998)
Plot Summary:
Young filmmakers trying to hawk a movie titled "Bradykillers" about a serial killer who goes after victims Marcia, Jan, and Cindy meet their screen idol, William Shatner. The two young men, who idolize him and in their fantasies have seen him as a shadowy fairy godfather figure, are alarmed at the reality of the middle-aged non-Captain Kirk man that they meet.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, semi serious, independent film, clever, talky, realistic, cynical, ironic, parody
Similar in 80%
Loving Jezebel (1999)
Plot Summary:
A man is cursed with falling in love with other men's women.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 432
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: independent film, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Muffin Top: A Love Story (2014)
Plot Summary:
"Muffin Top: A Love Story" is the story of Suzanne (Cathryn Michon) a Women's Studies Pop Culture professor at Malibu University, who studies images of women in the media for a living, and yet is made insecure by the constant parade of female perfection that is our airbrushed culture. She has been going through IVF treatments to get pregnant by her network executive husband (Diedrich Bader), but discovers on her birthday, that her husband has knocked up his younger, skinnier, co-worker (Haylie Duff) and wants a divorce. Happy Birthday! She goes on to find a more authentic version of who she really is, despite the delights of being suddenly single in Los Angeles, where low self-esteem for women is our number one export to the world.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 754
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, captivating, independent film
Similar in 88%
Crazy Eyes (2012)
Plot Summary:
Zack (Haas) is a young, divorced father who starts to develop romantic feelings towards his friend Rebecca (Zima), whom he refers to as "Crazy Eyes". He spends a lot of time at a bar run by his best friend Dan Drake (Busey) and hanging out with Autumn (Raymonde). As he pursues a sexual relationship with Rebecca, Zack grows increasingly aware of the importance of his son's role in his life amidst the failing health of his own father.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 587
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, feel good, captivating, light, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 89%
Hairshirt (1998)
Plot Summary:
Danny Reilly (Dean Paras) is a self-obsessed man who, after dumping Renee Weber (Neve Campbell), falls in love again with Corey Wells (Katie Wright). But Renee makes it her mission to see that Danny never falls in love again and sets out for attack when he falls for Corey. Who will get the girl when Danny's constantly talking roomie Tim (Stefan Brogren) falls in love with Corey too?.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 724
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, realistic, humorous, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 81%
Just Write (1997)
Plot Summary:
A Hollywood tour bus driver poses as a screenwriter to romance an up-and-coming young actress.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: feel good, witty, humorous, semi serious, inspirational, art house, independent film, realistic
Similar in 75%
This Is Not a Film (2003)
Plot Summary:
New Yorker Michael Connor attempts to find the woman who left him by making a film about her, hoping that someone (maybe you?) will recognize his ex and convince her to get back together with him. To help the viewer understand who he is and why his girlfriend left, Michael opts to re-enact his failed relationship for the camera. He hires an actress to portray his ex-girlfriend, and during the process of filming she quickly and mercilessly points out all of his mistakes, blunders and inadequacies as a boyfriend. "This Is Not a Film" is a romantic comedy about making mistakes and recognizing them in the most painful way possible--by making them over and over again.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 305
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sentimental, realistic, talky, semi serious, humorous, witty, independent film, offbeat
Similar in 80%
Amelia's 25th (2013)
Plot Summary:
Aspiring actress Amelia begins her 25th birthday by breaking up with her boyfriend, and things only go downhill from there. After visiting a dubious psychic for advice, Amelia sets off on a bizarre adventure to find money for rent and possibly love.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 163
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 79 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 86%
Luminarias (1999)
Plot Summary:
Welcome to Luminarias-where hot spicy dish gets served up with a Latin twist by four successful friends from East LA...with very discriminating taste in men! When separated divorce attorney Andrea finds herself guilty of falling for her white and Jewish opposing council, her three single friends choose sides in the ongoing and often hilarious debate over race and sex. As they discover just how much negative stereotypes color their relationships with men-and even with each other-it becomes clear that the search for Mr. Right is not exactly black and white!.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 630
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, talky, semi serious, hispanic
Similar in 81%
I Love You, Don't Touch Me! (1997)
Plot Summary:
The story of a 25 year old virgin girl, looking for the right boyfriend, not realizing that "the one" has been next to her for many years.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 511
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: sexy, witty, sexual, independent film, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, erotic
Similar in 86%
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (2004)
Plot Summary:
s after an earthquake convince Owen, a writer of hack "as told to" autobiographies, to leave L.A. He burns his bridges telling people what he really thinks, quits his current client (a randy astronaut), and heads for the airport. Waiting for his flight to New York, he sees Val, a friend of his latest ex; they chat, and Owen postpones leaving just to make sure she's not for him.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: semi serious, sentimental, feel good, humorous, clever, realistic
Similar in 76%
Butch Jamie (2007)
Plot Summary:
The film follows the story of Jamie, a struggling butch lesbian actress who gets cast as a man in a film. The main plot is a romantic comedy between Jamie's male alter-ego, "Male Jamie," and Jill, a heterosexual woman on set. The film's subplots include Jamie's bisexual roommate Lola and her cat actor Howard, Lola's abrasive butch German girlfriend Andi, and Jamie's gay Asian friend David.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 194
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, feel good, captivating, offbeat, realistic, semi serious, independent film, queer cinema
Similar in 84%
So Woman! (2009)
Plot Summary:
Clemence is a brilliant young lawyer who has just settled herself in a comfortable chair. She does not want to be involved in love.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 98
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: France
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Cake (2005)
Plot Summary:
A travel writer improves her love life when she becomes an editor for her father's wedding magazine.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic
Similar in 77%
Slightly Single in L.A. (2013)
Plot Summary:
Dale Squire is a hip, quirky, independent single gal living in the glossy city of Los Angeles. After several failed attempts in quasi-relationships, Dale concludes that finding a meaningful relationship in L.A. is impossible. But being anti-social is tough for any young girl in Hollywood. With Jill's frantic wedding right around the corner, Dale finds herself reflecting on the significance of marriage, and the mutual respect needed for a successful relationship. When Zach, a successful heartthrob rock star and old friend of Dale's finds his way back into her life, Dale slowly starts to think that maybe finding love in L.A. is possible - the only problem is that her realization might have come too late, leaving Dale in a silent love triangle, with no way out. Written by Will, Christie.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, sentimental, feel good, semi serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 89%
Novel Romance (2006)
Plot Summary:
Book editor Max Normane can perfect anyone’s story apart from her own. Highly successful but highly single, she comes up with a novel plan: a publication in exchange for a sperm donation. But will she get her happy ending?.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 282
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, semi serious, humorous, realistic, independent film
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The Night We Never Met (1993)
Plot Summary:
Sam has a problem with his roommates: they are disgusting, and don't seem to share his views on responsibility, privacy, and basic hygine. Such is his discomfort with his living arrangements that he agrees to share the occupancy of another flat: he gets two nights a week, the owner (a sleazy frat-boy yuppie named Brian, soon to be married) and Ellen (a would-be painter seeking relief from her boring marriage) each get their seperate nights in the flat. Things go extremely well until Sam and Brian swap nights without telling Ellen, who attributes the "nice" things that happen around the place to the slob Brian, while berating the responsible Sam for his hedonistic lifestyle.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: offbeat, clever, feel good, humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 75%
Friends (With Benefits) (2009)
Plot Summary:
Meet Chloe and Owen: best buds since their sandbox days. Now, in med school as they attempt to balance the weight of their studies, his job, her band, their parents, their friends (their sanity), they find little time for relationships...but lots of time for the desire. One fateful day, a brave Owen proposes the "perfect" solution: Friends (read: no messy relationship stuff)...with benefits (read: insanely messy sex stuff). "Perfect," that is...if the two hadn't always been secretly in love with one another So what DOES happen when two close friends decide to secretly blur the lines dividing friendship and relationship...and the rest of their tight knit group of friends finds out? The answer: complications arise. A LOT of complications. In fact, to quote their therapist, "It's brought down empires; imagine what it can do to a group of friends".
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 420
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sexy, touching, humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, independent film, sexual, sex comedy, hot
Similar in 79%
Never Again (2001)
Plot Summary:
A man and a woman who have pledged never to fall in love again meet in a gay bar.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 967
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, humorous, witty, semi serious, romantic, independent film, romantic comedy, realistic
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Mutual Appreciation (2005)
Plot Summary:
Alan is a musician who leaves a busted-up band for New York, and a new musical voyage. He tries to stay focused and fends off all manner of distractions, including the attraction to his good friend's girlfriend. Film of the "Mumblecore" genre.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: mumblecore, sincere, touching, humorous, witty, black and white, independent film, romantic, romantic comedy, clever
Similar in 77%
Mona (2008)
Plot Summary:
Two 35 year old men going backwards in life meet a vibrant 23 year woman, bounding unselfconsciously forward.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 139
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, emotional, independent film, touching, realistic
Similar in 89%
Shades of Ray (2008)
Plot Summary:
American-born Ray Rehman comes home one night to find his Pakistani father on his doorstep. Ray's Caucasian mother threw him out. It's an awkward time for his father to move in as Ray just proposed to his Caucasian girlfriend - who hasn't given him an answer. While trying to get his parents back together, Ray meets a South Asian girl of mixed descent, just like him, and must decide where his identity truly lies.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic, informative, romantic comedy, independent film
Similar in 90%
Shirin in Love (2014)
Plot Summary:
Despite being engaged to a successful Iranian plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, Shirin finds herself falling for a mysterious young man who lives in a lighthouse in northern California.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 904
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, light, sentimental, realistic, independent film
Similar in 85%
Bridal Fever (2008)
Plot Summary:
It’s a race to the altar when a steamy romance novelist with a long line of torrid romances – and ex-husbands – sets out to help a single woman ditch her bridesmaid dresses once and for all.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 566
Genere: Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: feel good, semi serious, sentimental, touching, humorous, realistic
Similar in 82%
Pipe Dream (2002)
Plot Summary:
A lonely plumber poses as a movie director to meet women, and the writer whose script he's stolen builds on his ruse to get her movie made.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, witty, clever, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 82%
Black Coffee (2014)
Plot Summary:
Robert picked the wrong time to meet his soul mate! After being fired from his own father's company, he feels like his luck has run out - until Morgan enters into his life.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 805
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, touching, feel good, captivating, light, erotic, sentimental, realistic, semi serious, independent film