Best movies like Joe Hill
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
In the early 1900's, the legendary Joe Hill emigrates with his brother to the United States. But after a short time, he loses touch with his brother. Joe gets a few jobs but is struck by all the injustice and tragedy going on. He becomes active in the forbidden union IWW, a union for workers without trades. It is forbidden to demonstrate and to speak in public but Joe gets around that by singing his manifests with the Salvation Army. He manages to get more and more people to get on strike with him but he also makes powerful enemies doing that. Finally he gets connected with a murder and during the trial he fires his lawyer and takes upon himself to become his own defender.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 918
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Sweden, USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, sentimental, bleak, serious, realistic, factual, period drama
Best tv shows and movies like Joe Hill (1971):
Similar in 90%
Elvira Madigan (1967)
Plot Summary:
Hedvig Jensen is a famous ropewalker and is known to her public as Elvira Madigan. She meets Lieutenant Sixten Sparre, a Swedish officer who is married and has two children. They both decide to run away, but since Sixten deserted the army, he cannot find any job and the couple encounters many hardships. Moreover, while on the run, Sixten meets a friend who tries to convince him to come back to his country and family.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: Sweden
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: art house, aesthetic, atmospheric, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, stylized, gloomy, period drama
Similar in 75%
Adalen 31 (1969)
Plot Summary:
A 1969 Swedish drama film directed by Bo Widerberg. It depicts the 1931 Ådalen shootings, in which Swedish military forces opened fire against labour demonstrators in the Swedish sawmill district of Ådalen, killing five people, including a young girl.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Sweden
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: tense, sincere, serious, realistic, interesting
Similar in 78%
Raven's End (1963)
Plot Summary:
In the middle of this film, about the working class in pre-world war II Sweden, is Anders who wishes to become an author. His father who is a notorious dreamer and liar, and his mother, who struggles to keep their family alive.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: Sweden
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, serious, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 85%
The Molly Maguires (1970)
Plot Summary:
Life is rough in the coal mines of 1876 Pennsylvania. A secret group of Irish emigrant miners, known as the Molly Maguires, fights against the cruelty of the mining company with sabotage and murder. A detective, also an Irish emigrant, is hired to infiltrate the group and report on its members. But on which side do his sympathies lie?.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, tense, suspenseful, rough, captivating, detective, period drama
Similar in 82%
Salvador (2006)
Plot Summary:
The story of Salvador Puig Antich, one of the last political prisoners to be executed under Franco's Fascist State in 1974.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Spain, UK
Duration: 134 min
Plot tags: rough, suspenseful, disturbing, thought provoking, serious, realistic, political, political thriller, bleak
Similar in 86%
A Matter of Sex (1984)
Plot Summary:
Drama - Jean Stapleton, Nancy Beatty, J. Winston Carroll.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 139
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, thought provoking, serious, realistic, disturbing, crying
Similar in 89%
Cesar Chavez (2014)
Plot Summary:
A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez. Chronicling the birth of a modern American labour movement, Cesar Chavez tells the story of the famed civil rights leader and labour organiser torn between his duties as a husband and father and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers. Passionate but soft-spoken, Chavez embraced non-violence as he battled greed and prejudice in his struggle to bring dignity to working people.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Mexico, United Arab Emirates
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: serious, tense, captivating, realistic, inspirational, political, independent film
Similar in 83%
Rasputin (1996)
Plot Summary:
Into an era seething with war and revolution, a man comes with an incredible power to heal a nation...or destroy it. Based on the true story of one of the most powerful and mysterious figures in Russian history.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, Hungary
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: mysterious, esoteric, tense, atmospheric, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, period drama
Similar in 79%
Killing Jesus (2015)
Plot Summary:
Jesus of Nazareth’s life and ministry were subject to seismic social and political events that led to his execution and changed the world forever.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, biblical, psychological, spiritual, esoteric, historical drama
Similar in 84%
Priest Daens (1992)
Plot Summary:
In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Belgium, France, Netherlands
Duration: 138 min
Plot tags: bleak, sincere, serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing, gloomy, road movie, rough, sexy
Similar in 84%
Jimmy's Hall (2014)
Plot Summary:
In the 1930s political activist Jimmy Gralton is deported from Ireland during the 'Red Scare'.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Japan
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, touching, serious, inspirational, political, factual, historical drama, period drama, political drama
Similar in 83%
Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (1992)
Plot Summary:
Rise of Jackie Presser to President of the Teamster Union.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 222
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sincere, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 77%
Zuzu Angel (2006)
Plot Summary:
"Zuzu Angel" covers the last years of the famous Brazilian fashion designer in her doomed quest for justice in the case of her activist son Stuart's arrest, torture, murder and subsequent corpse disposal by the military forces in early 1970s Rio de Janeiro, during the darkest era of Brazilian military regime and media censorship. Not even the fact that she was a widely known public figure saved her from being killed in a car crash in 1976, in one of the regime's favorite elimination techniques (many other similar "car crashes" still have to be re-investigated).
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Brazil
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: disturbing, psychological, serious, suspenseful, thought provoking, captivating, realistic
Similar in 85%
Forever Enthralled (2008)
Plot Summary:
A biographical account of Mei Lanfang, China's greatest opera star.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 150 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, epic
Similar in 84%
A Woman Called Golda (1982)
Plot Summary:
The story of the Russian-born, Wisconsin-raised woman who rose to become Israel's prime minister in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 191 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, thought provoking, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 75%
Fidel & Che (2002)
Plot Summary:
Fidel Castro rises to power in Cuba.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 206 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, tense, sincere, edutainment
Similar in 78%
The Least Among You (2009)
Plot Summary:
Black college graduate Richard Kelly reluctantly accepts a plea bargain requiring him to spend two semesters at an all-white seminary after he's wrongly accused of crimes committed during the 1965 Watts riots. Facing bigotry on all sides, he's close to cracking until he meets an elderly custodian who helps him navigate the trials of racism.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 176
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, captivating, emotional, thought provoking, serious, realistic, contemplative, independent film, period piece
Similar in 89%
Gideon's Trumpet (1980)
Plot Summary:
True story of Clarence Gideon's fight to be appointed counsel at the expense of the state. This landmark case led to the Supreme Court's decision which extended this right to all criminal defendants.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: sincere, thought provoking, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 76%
Harlan County War (2000)
Plot Summary:
A Kentucky woman whose mine-worker husband is nearly killed in a cave-in, and whose father is slowly dying of black lung disease, joins the picket lines for a long, violent strike.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 604
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, disturbing, rough, realistic, independent film, captivating, political, sincere, bleak, serious
Similar in 78%
Sacco & Vanzetti (1971)
Plot Summary:
The story of two anarchists who were charged and unfairly tried for murder when it was really for their political convictions.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: political, historical drama, rough, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, contemplative
Similar in 88%
Act of Vengeance (1986)
Plot Summary:
In 1969, an administrator runs against the corrupt president of the United Coal Miners Union, and becomes the target of a murder plot.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 797
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sincere, rough, thought provoking, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing, contemplative
Similar in 90%
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 29000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, South Africa
Duration: 141 min
Plot tags: emotional, serious, realistic, political, inspirational, educational, social, novela, cult classic, informative
Similar in 83%
Che! (1969)
Plot Summary:
Biography of Argentinian revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who helped Fidel Castro in his struggle against the corrupt Batista regime, eventually resulting in the overthrow of that government and Castro's taking over of Cuba. The film covers Guevara's life from when he first landed in Cuba in 1956 to his death in an ambush by government troops in the mountains of Bolivia in 1967.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, serious, captivating, realistic, political, factual, philosophical, exciting
Similar in 83%
Che: Part One (2008)
Plot Summary:
The Argentine, begins as Che and a band of Cuban exiles (led by Fidel Castro) reach the Cuban shore from Mexico in 1956. Within two years, they mobilized popular support and an army and toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 48000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France, Spain, USA
Duration: 134 min
Plot tags: political, talky, intense, sincere, captivating, thought provoking, serious, heroic, realistic, cerebral
Similar in 84%
Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long (1995)
Plot Summary:
A look at the life and career of controversial Louisiana governor Huey Long, whose nickname was "The Kingfish.".
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 512
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: political, sincere, thought provoking, serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing
Similar in 83%
Bound for Glory (1976)
Plot Summary:
A biography of Woody Guthrie, one of America's greatest folk singers. He left his dust-devastated Texas home in the 1930s to find work, discovering the suffering and strength of America's working class.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 147 min
Plot tags: realistic, road movie, compassionate, talky, period piece, sentimental, touching, serious, political, sincere
Similar in 79%
The Last Sentence (2012)
Plot Summary:
Renowned journalist Torgny Segerstedt declares war against Hitler as he criticizes Swedish politicians who tried to look away from the tyranny of the Nazis with the good excuse of “neutralism”. His only weapon is his pen and his life is full of gossip such as an affair with his boss’ wife, a love scandal with a secretary younger than his daughter, and the suicide of his wife. However, he continues to fight a one man battle against Hitler and the Nazi regime until his death, throwing the question “Can one person really change history?” to the audience.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 839
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Sweden, Norway
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, touching, serious, uplifting, bleak, realistic, gloomy, period drama
Similar in 88%
Che: Part Two (2008)
Plot Summary:
After the Cuban Revolution, Che is at the height of his fame and power. Then he disappears, re-emerging incognito in Bolivia, where he organizes a small group of Cuban comrades and Bolivian recruits to start the great Latin American Revolution. Through this story, we come to understand how Che remains a symbol of idealism and heroism that lives in the hearts of people around the world.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: Spain, France, USA, Germany
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: political, inspirational, suspense, talky, factual, atmospheric, sincere, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 89%
Quiz Show (1994)
Plot Summary:
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film which tells the true story of the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 72000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: intellectual, clever, period piece, talky, intense, realistic, serious, entertaining, game show, sincere
Similar in 87%
Malcolm X (1992)
Plot Summary:
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 100000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 202 min
Plot tags: inspirational, political, factual, intense, stylized, realistic, thought provoking, serious, captivating, emotional