Best movies like Jessica Darling's It List
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Jessica Darling – a smart, witty, opinionated girl heading into 7th grade – was never too concerned about where she'd fit in the middle school hierarchy. But before her first day of school, her older sister — the super popular Bethany, now in college—decides to help out by giving her the “It List”—a cheat sheet on how to navigate the middle school maze and rise to the top of the popularity chain. The instructions appear simple enough to follow, but, like life, nothing is as easy as it seems.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 79 min
Plot tags: realistic, semi serious, light, feel good, humorous
Best tv shows and movies like Jessica Darling's It List (2016):
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Lift Me Up (2015)
Plot Summary:
A young lady, who recently lost her mother, faces the challenges of high school and her very strict step-father. Through personal growth, and an amazing dedication to dance, she learns to find the peace and happiness of family.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 699
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing
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Karla & Jonas (2010)
Plot Summary:
Karla met Jonas during a summer vacation at the lake. After being unable to stop thinking about him and their kiss she phones him, making up a school assignment about children living in an orphanage, which is precisely where Jonas lives.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 259
Genere: Family
Country: Denmark
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, light, sincere, captivating, touching, serious, realistic
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Go! The Unforgettable Party (2019)
Plot Summary:
Mia is happy to be able to spend a vacation with her dad, but Lupe, Mercedes, Juanma and Alvaro arrive by surprise at the same resort ... and bring the school drama with them!.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 186
Genere: Family
Country: Argentina
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, sitcom, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Contest (2013)
Plot Summary:
Bullied high school student Tommy is suddenly befriended by his chief tormentor, Matt, the school's most popular student and star athlete. Tommy is suspicious, but is forced to accept the awkward friendship in order to enter a cooking contest with a big prize. And besides, it's so much easier to impress his crush, Sarah, when he's not getting beat up by Matt and his team. As the cooking contest heats up, Sarah sniffs out a conspiracy, but nobody wants to hear about it. Can Tommy trust his budding friendship with Matt or is it all a huge joke on him?.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 680
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, light, entertaining, teen, humorous, realistic, semi serious
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Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (2011)
Plot Summary:
Jeremy Fink and his best friend Lizzy must search high and low throughout the streets of Manhattan for clues to unlock the mysterious box he received a month before his birthday.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 386
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, sentimental, captivating, light, feel good, entertaining, touching, interesting
Similar in 86%
Fergus McPhail (2004)
Plot Summary:
Fergus McPhail is an Australian children's comedy series that was released on Network Ten in 2004.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 53
Genere: Family
Country: Australia
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, feel good, captivating, offbeat, realistic, nostalgic
Similar in 78%
Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars (2010)
Plot Summary:
Young spy Harriet Welsch crosses paths with popular student Marion Hawthorne as the two girls vie to become the official blogger of their high school class.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, feel good, spy comedy, light, captivating, entertaining
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Max Embarrassing (2008)
Plot Summary:
Max is hitting puberty, and foxy Ofelia from class has touched his heart. He now plans to spend Christmas break with her or, at the very least, New Year's Eve. Watching her little boy grow up, his mother Agnete doesn't know what leg to stand on. Trying to give Max the best Christmas possible, she makes a mess of things, as usual. With his friends, Hassan and Ester, Max eventually tamps down the chaos and throws a super New Year's Eve bash. Everyone is there, and Ester seizes the moment to hook up with Max ahead of Ofelia.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 284
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: Denmark
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, entertaining, parody, realistic, not serious
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A Lesson in Romance (2014)
Plot Summary:
A successful career Mom gets a case of empty nest syndrome when her children go off to college, and her husband decides to join them and follow his own dreams. Fearing she might be losing her family for good, she enrolls determined to save her family. Will she win her family back, or drive them farther away?.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 362
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: light, sincere, feel good, humorous, entertaining
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When in Rome (2002)
Plot Summary:
Teenage sisters Charli and Lola are on the verge of an experience beyond their wildest dreams! Pack your bags and jet off to Rome as the girls start their summer internship working for the legendary Derek Hanson - the totally cool international tycoon whose empire reaches from airlines to cutting-edge fashion. Amid the fabulous sights of this exciting city, the girls do their best to impress their boss, while still finding time to design their own line of very hip clothing, meet some very cute guys and turn their summer abroad into one awesome adventure they - and you - will never forget!.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, teen, sweet
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)
Plot Summary:
Back in middle school after summer vacation, Greg Heffley and his older brother Rodrick must deal with their parents' misguided attempts to have them bond.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: not serious, humorous, realistic, light, feel good, funny, buddy comedy
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Flicka 2 (2010)
Plot Summary:
Carrie is a big-city teenager whose life is turned upside down when she moves to a horse ranch in Wyoming to live with her father. But everything changes when Carrie meets Flicka, a wild, jet-black mustang who's just as free-spirited and strong-willed as Carrie. The two form a special bond and Carrie opens her heart to her father and a handsome, local boy, but when a jealous rival puts Flicka's life in jeopardy, Carrie must do whatever it takes to save her best friend.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, realistic, feel good, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 82%
Flicka: Country Pride (2012)
Plot Summary:
Flicka and Toby help out a struggling stable owner and her teenage daughter.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, semi serious, realistic, light, sincere, sentimental
Similar in 77%
Where Is Winky's Horse? (2007)
Plot Summary:
In the sequel to "Winky's Horse", 8-year old Winky looks after the horse of St Nicholas. Then one day the horse runs away.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 462
Genere: Family
Country: Netherlands, Belgium
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, light, captivating, entertaining, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious
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Monkey in the Middle (2014)
Plot Summary:
Chris has just moved to the East Coast, and already his workaholic father is encouraging him to make new friends. Luckily football (soccer) practice is starting up, and Chris meets a few kids on the team-including his cute neighbor Mara. When Mara invites Chris to help liberate some mistreated animals from the local fair, Chris accepts. They head to the fair that night, but get busted by ringleader Malick, who chases them off the grounds. It isn't until the next morning that Chris realizes Momo, a lovable little monkey, stowed away in his backpack. Not wanting to send Momo back to Malick's greedy clutches, Chris must find a way to keep him out of sight. But handling a monkey does have its perks: Mara is spending a lot of time with Chris, and Momo is even lending Chris a paw on the football field. Chris' summer is bound to have a lot of monkey business, but is it enough to drive him bananas?.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 143
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
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Dear Dumb Diary (2013)
Plot Summary:
Based on the best selling series "Dear Dumb Diary" by Jim Benton. Follow Jamie Kelly as she navigates Mackeral Middle School with the help of her best friend Isabella, her nemesis Angeline and the boy of her dreams Hudson.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 868
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, humorous, semi serious, sincere, captivating, light, realistic
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Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight (2014)
Plot Summary:
Isabelle is an inspired dancer, but when her sister and a classmate make her doubt herself, she's motivated by a ballerina to find her own way to shine. Stars Erin Pitt & Grace Davidson.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 438
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic
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No Limit Kids: Much Ado About Middle School (2010)
Plot Summary:
Comedy - Bill Cobbs, Lee Meriwether, Blake Michael.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 74
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, captivating, light, serious, realistic
Similar in 84%
Mr. Troop Mom (2009)
Plot Summary:
Public Defender Eddie is a widower with a 13 year-old daughter, Naomi. A classic workaholic, Eddie has been M.I.A. for most of Naomi's big moments. But when an unfortunately timed accident gives Eddie the opportunity to become the "Team Mom" for the Killer Bees, Naomi's team in the Spring Action Classic at camp Hulka's Rock, he grabs it.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 917
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic
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Naturally, Sadie (2005)
Plot Summary:
Naturally, Sadie is a Canadian comedy teen drama sitcom that ran for three seasons from June 24, 2005 to August 26, 2007. It was produced in Canada, set in Whitby, Ontario. Filmed in Toronto, Ontario, most of the show was shot inside a former Catholic elementary school in Little Italy, including the school and home scenes. Mall scenes were filmed in the nearby Dufferin Mall.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, captivating, light, touching, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 85%
A.N.T. Farm (2011)
Plot Summary:
A.N.T. Farm is a Disney Channel sitcom which premiered on May 6, 2011 as a special preview and continued as a regular series on June 17, 2011. The pilot episode, "transplANTed" aired after the series finale of The Suite Life on Deck. The series was created by Dan Signer, a former writer and co-executive producer of The Suite Life on Deck and creator of the Disney XD series Mr. Young. In mid-November 2010, Disney Channel green-lit the series, with production beginning in early 2011. The first promo was released during the premiere of Lemonade Mouth. Taking place in San Francisco, the series stars China Anne McClain, Sierra McCormick and Jake Short are middle-schoolers in a gifted program at their local high school called the "Advanced Natural Talent" or "A.N.T." program. On November 30, 2011, A.N.T. Farm was officially picked up for a second season, which premiered on June 1, 2012 with two back-to-back episodes. On October 2, 2012, A.N.T. Farm was officially renewed for a third season by Disney Channel, which premiered on May 31, 2013 with a one hour special however, it was also announced that Carlon Jeffery will not return for the third season and Aedin Mincks joined the main cast.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, sentimental, semi serious, funny, novela, realistic, fun, nostalgic
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100 Things to Do Before High School (2014)
Plot Summary:
With real life and teen drama awaiting her after 8th grade graduation, CJ Parker has only a short time left to make the most of her middle school years. Together with her two lifelong best friends Fenwick and Crispo, she is determined to get the most out of this time, using an ever-expanding list of challenges as a guide. For this group, growing up means trying everything and taking chances while they still can.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, feel good, captivating, realistic, semi serious
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Legally Blondes (2009)
Plot Summary:
Moving from England to California, the youngest cousins of Elle Woods must defend themselves when their schools reigning forces turn on the girls and try to frame them for a crime.
IMDB Rating: 3.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, not serious, teen, realistic, teen comedy
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How to Be Indie (2009)
Plot Summary:
How to Be Indie was a Canadian television show on YTV. The main character is a 13-year-old Indian Canadian teenager named Indira "Indie" Mehta. The program is a single-camera series intended for a youth audience. The series was created by Vera Santamaria, John May, and Suzanne Bolch. The series ran for two seasons and aired its final episode on October 24, 2011 on YTV in Canada and May 26, 2012 on Disney Channel in the United Kingdom.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 400
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, captivating, light, realistic, witty, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Girl Meets World (2014)
Plot Summary:
The adventures of relatable and adventurous Riley Matthews, the tween daughter of Cory and Topanga Matthews, and her bold best friend Maya as they traverse the twists and turns of teenage years at Manhattan's John Quincy Adams Middle School where Riley's dad is their History teacher.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: humorous, sitcom, realistic, feel good, semi serious, sincere, thought provoking, entertaining, sad, sentimental
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Hannah Montana (2006)
Plot Summary:
At home and school, she's Miley Stewart, a typical teenager, but when the lights go down and the curtain goes up, she emerges as the glamorous and talented Hannah Montana. Having the "Best of Both Worlds" is a complicated proposition, and keeping her identity under wraps leads Miley and her friends into some hilarious capers as she tries to balance her normal life with her rock star persona.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 43000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, sitcom, touching, semi serious, sincere, realistic, cult classic, sentimental, telenovela
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Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016)
Plot Summary:
A quiet teenage artist Rafe Katchadorian has a wild imagination and is sick of middle school and the rules that have been put before him. Rafe and his best friend Leo have come up with a plan: break every rule in the school hand book and as you expect trouble follows.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: entertaining, funny, light, feel good, humorous, captivating, inspirational, hot, teen comedy
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The Worst Witch (2017)
Plot Summary:
Join Mildred Hubble in CBBC's adaptation of The Worst Witch books, written by Jill Murphy.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, Germany
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: entertaining, humorous, feel good, light, captivating, spooky
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Wonder (2017)
Plot Summary:
The story of August Pullman – a boy with facial differences – who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 175000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA, Hong Kong, Canada
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, uplifting, touching, sincere, thought provoking, motivational, sad, feel good, tear jerker, cute
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Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004)
Plot Summary:
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide is an American live action sitcom on Nickelodeon that debuted in the Nickelodeon Sunday night TEENick scheduling block on September 12, 2004. The series' actual pilot episode aired on September 7, 2003 without many of the current version's main characters. The main series finale aired on June 8, 2007. The show was produced by Apollo ProScreen GmbH & Co. Filmproduktion KG in association with Jack Mackie Pictures. Its main executive producer and creator is Scott Fellows, the head writer for The Fairly OddParents.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, realistic, semi serious, captivating, entertaining, funny, light, feel good, satirical