Best movies like 80 Steps to Jonah
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Wayne Newton stars as an accused thug hiding out at a camp for blind children.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 225
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags:
Best tv shows and movies like 80 Steps to Jonah (1969):
Similar in 88%
When the Whales Came (1989)
Plot Summary:
A pair of children befriend an eccentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and the whales who sometimes come. Meanwhile WWI is making life hard in the village.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 450
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 84%
The Last Island (2012)
Plot Summary:
Alicia is a selfish brat who is crazy about video games. As her parents work and nobody cares about her, her mother decides to send her to an island where old Aunt Belinda lives. No running water or electricity, by the sea and at the foot of volcano, Alicia fears that the holidays are a bore. In addition, it is rumored that her aunt is a witch, there is a man chasing dragons and two very strange. Something mysterious and magnetic fields emanating from the mountain.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 45
Genere: Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 89%
The Big Ceremonial (1969)
Plot Summary:
Fantasy is a favourite theme for directors, since it enables them to give vent to diabolical situations with unlimited licence. This film is of this category. It is the story of a jealous and protective mother who allows her son only home-made dolls to satisfy his sick fantasy. But as in all fairy stories, there comes a day when a real, warm girl enters the sheltered life of the son. His natural and innate thirsts for oddities soon make him repeat on the girl what, until then, he has been doing with the dolls. The story then evolves into a fight of wills between the mother and the girl.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 24
Genere: Drama
Country: France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 84%
Thank You All Very Much (1969)
Plot Summary:
Rosamund Stacey (Sandy Dennis), a young 'bookish' girl in London society, spends her days studying for a doctorate in the British Museum and her nights avoiding the sexual attention of the men in her life. But one day, all that changes. Through a friend, she is introduced to rising TV newsreader/announcer George Matthews (Ian McKellen) and after a further chance meeting and a tumble on the sofa, she finds herself pregnant from her first sexual encounter. A failed attempt at self-abortion just re-inforces Rosamund's resolve to have the child - leaving her on a solitary and at times dismal path through pregnancy and into motherhood, aided only by close friend Lydia (Eleanor Bron). Will she get through it? Will her child? And will she let Matthews know that he is actually the father?.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 466
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
Valentina (1982)
Plot Summary:
In 1939, in a French prison camp, José Garcés of the defeated Spanish Republican army raises the spirits of his fellow prisoners by telling the story of the year he was 8 years old, 1911, in a small town in northeastern Spain. He was a rascal, baffling his father, always in trouble, and in love with Valentina, a neighbor girl. On his roof top at night he sends semaphore messages to her. He writes poems. He gets them into trouble, killing her father's breeding pigeons. When the two families camp at a decaying castle, his tutor, a sympathetic priest, tells him about the most valiant men, the saints, the heroes, and the poets. Already a poet, he learns a lesson about being a hero.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 427
Genere: Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 76%
Stranger in Town (1998)
Plot Summary:
A 13-year-old boy, whose single mother moved her family from the big city to a small town, begins to suspect that a stranger who befriends his family is not who he initially appears to be. Harry Hamlin, Graham Green, Rebecca Jenkins and Trevor Blumas star.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 313
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
When Every Day Was the Fourth of July (1978)
Plot Summary:
A little girl convinces her attorney father to defend a mute war veteran accused of murdering a store owner.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 136
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 75%
Fielder's Choice (2005)
Plot Summary:
Phillip Fielder is a man who is struggling to rise up in his competitive career. Then his sister passes away leaving him custody of her 8 year old autistic son. Soon Fielder learns responsibilities of being a father.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 315
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 80%
Family Prayers (1993)
Plot Summary:
This coming of age story set in the 1960s takes a look at the effects of a couple's break-up on a sensitive, thirteen year old Jewish boy in the 1960s.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 184
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: crying, independent film
Similar in 84%
Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1991)
Plot Summary:
While newspaper writer Church struggles with the death of his wife, he receives a "special" assignment. He must answer a little girl's question about whether Santa Claus really exists.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 946
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 88%
Blessing (1994)
Plot Summary:
Set on a Wisconsin dairy farm, Randi, the daughter, is trying to find a way to escape the farm, but her devotion to her family especially Clovis her younger brother is preventing her from doing that; until, that is, she met the local milk truck driver.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 53
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 79%
Fish Hawk (1979)
Plot Summary:
A hardened and embittered man turns his life around with the help of a farm boy in this uplifting family tale. Down on his luck and dependent on booze, Native American Fish Hawk (Will Sampson) changes his fate when he accepts a job hunting down a bear that's been killing local livestock. His temporary residence with the Boggs family brings young Corby (Charles Fields) into his life, and the boy's friendship gives Fish Hawk a new reason to live.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 121
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 82%
Child Murders (1993)
Plot Summary:
A melodrama about children, the child murders that the film’s title refers to are the million and one ways that children’s souls are ravaged by neglect, unkindness and cruelty, even though several physical deaths take place in the story.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 140
Genere: Drama
Country: Hungary
Duration: 78 min
Plot tags: thought provoking
Similar in 76%
Fallen Angel (1997)
Plot Summary:
Caught in a seedy underworld of lies, lust and murder, Antonelli, the local mob boss, and his sultry young wife, Michelle, share a game of deception and jealousy that soon turns deadly.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 94
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 90%
The Genesis Children (1972)
Plot Summary:
A charismatic leader and a high-spirited student group are on holiday in Italy. The surreal adventures of these friends are a free-flowing, four-part "multi-sensual symphony," bereft of traditional story line. One national critic described the boys' anarchic revelry as a "dream-like descent from civilization into the chaos reminiscent of Lord of the Flies.".
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 463
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: independent film, art film, gay cinema
Similar in 83%
The Perfect Gift (2009)
Plot Summary:
A spoiled schoolgirl, her overworked executive mother, and a disillusioned young minister each receives an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas from a friendly, but mysterious drifter.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 464
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, christian film
Similar in 79%
Return to Macon County (1975)
Plot Summary:
In 1958, two teenagers take their pride and joy, a hopped-up Chevy, and start a cross-country journey to enter it in the National Championship drag races in California. Along the way they hook up with a pretty but dingy waitress who quits her job and hops in their car--and turns out to be more trouble than they thought--drag-race a gang of town punks who lose to to them and then accuse them of cheating, and come up against a local cop who is obsessed with putting these two "juvenile delinquents" in jail.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 863
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, exciting, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 76%
November Christmas (2010)
Plot Summary:
A young father asks for pumpkins at the local farm stand. "In August? No." the farmer replies. The farmer ruminates on the odd request and gets involved with strangers for the first time since his son's death long ago.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: emotional, sincere, serious, disturbing, sad, realistic
Similar in 86%
A Hobo's Christmas (1987)
Plot Summary:
A hobo played by Barnard Hughes decides it's time to go home. Drifting from place to place, Hughes finds himself in his hometown of Salt Lake City at Christmas time. Here he hopes to close old wounds and be reunited with his unforgiving son played by Gerald McRaney, and get to know the grandchildren he has never met. McRaney, still resenting the fact that Hughes ran out on his family 25 years earlier, gives his father only one day with his grandkids; after that, he's expected to leave and never come back. All the while Hughes' friends warn him that his son and the past are memories that are best left alone, and should leave, but he has to find out for himself.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 431
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 79%
Go Toward the Light (1988)
Plot Summary:
A young couple faces the realities of life with their child who is diagnosed with AIDS.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 572
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 85%
Boy (1969)
Plot Summary:
A family of four lives off of scams in which they pretend to be injured by automobiles. After suffering an injury during the war, the father believes he is an invalid. He and his wife have a 10-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl. The adults pretend to be injured by autos in crowded traffic, blackmailing the fearful motorists with threats to call in the police.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: experimental, atmospheric, thought provoking, touching, serious, realistic, gloomy, cult film
Similar in 78%
All the Wilderness (2014)
Plot Summary:
Keeping to himself in the wake his father's death, James Charm finds refuge in solitary walks and creating morbid sketches — until a charismatic new friend and a quirky young woman begin to draw him out of his shell.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, independent film, teen, stylized, interesting
Similar in 81%
Second Chances (1998)
Plot Summary:
A little girl's physical and emotional reawakening after an accident claims her father and her spirit.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 437
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, uplifting, touching, serious, realistic, contemplative, reflective
Similar in 83%
Dog Days of Summer (2007)
Plot Summary:
A mysterious drifter lures two boys into uncovering the secrets of a sleepy southern town.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 462
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, offbeat, serious, realistic, surprise ending, neo noir
Similar in 76%
Letters to Elena (2011)
Plot Summary:
In the beautiful hills of the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico, a young boy (Emilio) is adopted by the mailman (Teo). As part of their daily tasks, they not only deliver the mail but read letters to the villagers, as well as take dictation, since most are illiterate. Young Emilio quickly learns to read and write but feels saddened by the mostly difficult stories sent by relatives, that moved north to Denver, Colorado in pursuit of a better future. One day Teo becomes disabled and Emilio takes over the mail route and with great imagination, he changes the letters to happy and optimistic stories. Within days, the village is transformed. The elders, once hopeless, lonely and sad, are now happy and enthusiastic, enjoying the "supposed" success their loved ones write from the United States. But the enjoyment is short lived, as they realize that all the wonderful stories are the same.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 130
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic
Similar in 89%
Red Zone (2003)
Plot Summary:
Mac and his high school gangster buddies try to take over the world of sports betting in a city filled with crime, prostitution and gambling. When the Mafia gets involved, they do whatever it takes to keep these tough young-bloods off their turf.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 175
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: captivating, psychological, tense, suspense, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 82%
Standing Up (2013)
Plot Summary:
Based on one of the most beloved Young Adult novels of all time: Two kids are stripped naked and left together on an island in a lake - victims of a vicious summer camp prank; But rather than have to return to camp and face the humiliation, they decide to take off, on the run together. What follows is a three day odyssey of discovery and self-discovery.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: touching, sincere, realistic, serious, sad, independent film
Similar in 87%
Camp (2013)
Plot Summary:
12-year-old Eli finds himself at summer CAMP.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 790
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, emotional, realistic, christian film, biting, independent film, suspense
Similar in 76%
Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie (2002)
Plot Summary:
Moyher's good boy Benny Silman from Brooklyn becomes an economics student at Arizona State University for the sun and sexy girls- and the proximity of gambling paradise Las Vegas. Benny aces his studies, being a mathematical genius, but the one who earns money from him at sports is bookie Troy, who however recruits him as subcontractor, making a few thousand for himself. The next year Benny starts for himself, with a few dozen student vassals, and makes a hundredfold.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 792
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, tense, captivating
Similar in 89%
Just a Dream (2002)
Plot Summary:
Film crew arrives in a small town in Nevada desert. Ends up changing the life of a 12-year-old kid and a friend of his, a movie lover.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 367
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, sentimental, touching, realistic