Best movies like American Dreams in China
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
During the economic reform period of the 80’s, three undergraduates bind together by a common ambition – to live the American dream. They are Cheng Dongqing, a hillbilly who refuses to accept his destiny of being a farmer; Meng Xiaojun, a self-confident, cynical intellectual; and Wang Yang, an idealistic romantic poet. Xiaojun is the first to obtain an US Visa for studying abroad. Yang follows but decides to remain in China for his beloved. Poor Dongqing is rejected by the US Embassy repeatedly. Baffled, he reluctantly accepts the job as an English instructor in the university but eventually gets fired for teaching tutorial classes in private. Across the Pacific, Xiaojun fails to find a decent job and is driven to work as a busboy in a diner.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: China
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: inspirational, realistic, captivating, thought provoking, clever, humorous, semi serious
Best tv shows and movies like American Dreams in China (2013):
Similar in 90%
W817 (1999)
Plot Summary:
The show is about 6 students living together in a student house.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 512
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Belgium
Duration:
Plot tags: cult classic, humorous, realistic, sitcom, semi serious
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Mongolian Ping Pong (2005)
Plot Summary:
Bilike has never seen a ping-pong ball before. He and his family live without electricity and running water in a solitary tent home among the vast steppe grasslands. The magnificent landscape here has changed little since the days of Genghis Kahn. But life in the middle of nowhere can be exciting for a young boy. The smallest of details become big events for curious Bilike and his best friends Erguotou and Dawa. The mystery of the small white ball floating in the creek leads to questions about the world around them, as well as innocent mischief.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 827
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: China
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, captivating, contemplative, feel good, semi serious
Similar in 89%
The Last Stand (2006)
Plot Summary:
The Last Stand, a drama that chronicles the life of four very different people attempting success as performers in Los Angeles until life becomes too much to handle.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 284
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, captivating, tragicomedy, talky, semi serious, independent film, dark comedy
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Harry's War (1981)
Plot Summary:
After his aunt dies of a heart attack while fighting the IRS, Harry Johnson decides to take up the cause.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 365
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: independent film, thought provoking, humorous, captivating, realistic, semi serious
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Garbage (2012)
Plot Summary:
Two best friends, garbage truck drivers in Hollywood become celebrities overnight after they find Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Best Supporting Actor Oscar for JERRY MAGUIRE in the trash and suddenly their lives go topsy-turvy.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 625
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, captivating, realistic, semi serious, independent film
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Good Luck (1996)
Plot Summary:
Bernard "Bern" Lemly (Gregory Hines) is fed up with being in a wheelchair and wants more out of life. Meanwhile, former football player Tony "Ole" Olezniak (Vincent D'Onofrio) is stewing after recently losing his sight. The men soon realize they can put their frustrated energy to good use by competing in a whitewater rafting race on Oregon's Rouge River. In the process, they discover their disabilities don't have to destroy their dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 549
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, feel good, humorous, captivating, realistic, semi serious
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Women Who Flirt (2014)
Plot Summary:
When Zhang Hui is told by long-time best friend Xiao Gong that he has a new girlfriend, she is determined to learn new tricks to gain him back. Based on the novel written by Luo Fuman, "Everyone Loves Tender Women".
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 919
Genere: Comedy
Country: China
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, light, romantic comedy, sentimental, realistic
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Tiny Times 2.0 (2013)
Plot Summary:
Set four years after the first movie, Lin Xiao, Lily, Nan Xiang, and Ruby, confront opportunities and challenges as their school days come to an end.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: China
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: sexy, captivating, realistic, stylized, semi serious
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Tomorrow's Another Day (2000)
Plot Summary:
Such an inconsequential event - the unfortunate purchase of a package of cling film - reveals the character and behavior of a small group of individuals caught up in the chaos of today's society. Though it creates arguments and inner questioning, this event - and its various consequences - also creates bonds.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 535
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, clever, offbeat
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Among Friends (2015)
Plot Summary:
Three longtime friends set off on a boat trip with their romantic partners, but inclement weather, jealousy and confessions, will put to test their friendships.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 766
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, psychological, realistic, talky
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Queens Logic (1991)
Plot Summary:
When childhood friends Al, Dennis and Eliot get together for Ray's wedding, which may or may not happen, they end up on a roller-coaster ride through reality. During one tumultuous, crazy weekend, they face adulthood and each other with new found maturity and discover what Queens Logic is all about. This comedy takes a look at friendship, loyalty, and love.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, clever, humorous, realistic, talky, semi serious, independent film, philosophical, sexy, thought provoking
Similar in 78%
Patti Rocks (1988)
Plot Summary:
It's Christmas time in the twin cities. Billy's working a lot of overtime, running barges on the Mississippi. He calls his friend Eddie, whom he hasn't seen in six months, and asks a favor: to drive with him to see his pregnant girlfriend, Patti, because Billy hasn't told her he's married and already has two children. The road trip of guy talk becomes a night of truths exchanged between men and women.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 337
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: independent film, clever, humorous, realistic, talky, semi serious, sex comedy
Similar in 86%
Highball (1997)
Plot Summary:
A newly-married couple tries to build their social life.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 915
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: independent film, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, talky, cynical, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Moola (2007)
Plot Summary:
Just as the business which Steve helped create, American Lightsticks, is on the brink of collapse, a huge 'deal' suddenly materializes, and he and his partners are sure that their lives have changed forever. A true-to-life comedy inspired by actual events.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 425
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, contemplative
Similar in 90%
Heartaches (1981)
Plot Summary:
A young wife becomes pregnant, but the child's father is not her husband. Afraid to tell him, she leaves home, and meets an outgoing, free-spirited woman on a bus. Although the two are polar opposites, the wife moves in with the young woman, and finds out that they have much more in common than she realized.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 196
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, offbeat, humorous, emotional, realistic, semi serious, cult film
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One Too Many Mornings (2010)
Plot Summary:
Fischer can't remember the last time he woke up without a hangover. He lives in a church: a real one. Where people baptize, marry, pray and die. It's an ideal situation for a young guy with no aspirations: if he locks up the church, he can sleep in the back. Free of charge. 6:00am. Tuesday morning. Fischer's old friend from high school shows up unannounced. Even though they haven't seen each other in years, Peter just drove 10 hours straight because his girlfriend of five years just cheated on him. He's looking for a place to hide. To think. To drink. What better place than Fischer's church? After leaving 50 unanswered voice-mails, Rudy shows up four days later. That's Peter's girlfriend. She didn't cheat on him. She did something much worse.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 121
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, mumblecore, captivating, psychological, light, uplifting, clever, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 83%
Funeral Kings (2012)
Plot Summary:
It's always a good day for a funeral at St. Mark's Middle School. Andy and Charlie, two altar servers, don't just get to miss class anytime a parishioner kicks the bucket, they cut out early and play hooky as soon as the service is over. Eventually their irreverent personalities will put them in a situation that is too big for them to handle.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, captivating, psychological, semi serious, independent film
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Diner (1982)
Plot Summary:
Set in 1959, Diner shows how five young men resist their adulthood and seek refuge in their beloved Diner. The mundane, childish, and titillating details of their lives are shared. But the golden moments pass, and the men shoulder their responsibilities, leaving the Diner behind.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: humorous, melancholic, sentimental, touching, semi serious, cult classic, clever, realistic, witty, talky
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The Dandelions (2012)
Plot Summary:
A young girl is frustrated by her over-protective mom. At school, she meets another fearless little girl that is going to have a big influence on her.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: touching, semi serious, humorous, realistic
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The Big Ask (2013)
Plot Summary:
The Big Ask is a dark comedy about three couples who head to the desert to help their friend heal after the death of his mother. They would do anything for him - except for the one thing he wants.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 679
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, psychological, captivating, realistic, independent film
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2 B Perfectly Honest (2004)
Plot Summary:
Business partners Frank and Josh go bankrupt after their dot-com start-up collapses before it goes online. Frank, a bachelor and broke, reluctantly moves back home to live with his parents while Josh, a hippie computer wiz who's married and has a son, is forced to consider the unthinkable - getting a real job.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 271
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: clever, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 82%
Either Way (2011)
Plot Summary:
Icelandic drama about two remote road-workers.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 631
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Iceland
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: humorous, atmospheric, contemplative, captivating, psychological, offbeat, realistic, talky, semi serious
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Downhill (2014)
Plot Summary:
Four old school friends reunite to attempt the epic coast to coast walk, across the United Kingdom. As their journey unfolds, this comically incompatible foursome walk full tilt into their mid-life crises.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 164
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, road movie, fake documentary
Similar in 85%
Gueros (2014)
Plot Summary:
Set amidst the 1999 student strikes in Mexico City, this coming-of-age tale finds two brothers venturing through the city in a sentimental search for an aging legendary musician. Shot in black-and-white, Güeros brims with youthful exuberance.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Mexico
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: road movie, humorous, light, captivating, thought provoking, hispanic, art film, black and white, existential, realistic
Similar in 84%
Team Spirit (2000)
Plot Summary:
The story centers around a group of friends (and girlfriends) who have been playing football together for over 10 years, and who are now getting everything ready for their 500th match.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Belgium
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, humorous, semi serious, realistic
Similar in 82%
Winter Break (2003)
Plot Summary:
Viscerally experience a "year off" in Aspen, Colorado with a group of recent college grads who have elected to defer graduate school and career opportunities to ski, snow-board, climb, party, fall in love and basically live life to its absolute fullest out in this spectacular mountain town.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 85%
Gung Ho (1986)
Plot Summary:
When a western Pennsylvania auto plant is acquired by a Japanese company, brokering auto worker Hunt Stevenson faces the tricky challenge of mediating the assimilation of two clashing corporate cultures. At one end is the Japanese plant manager and the sycophant who is angling for his position. At the other, a number of disgruntled long-time union members struggle with the new exigencies of Japanese quality control.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: humorous, funny, light, captivating, cult classic, realistic, semi serious, inspirational, romantic, clever
Similar in 82%
With Honors (1994)
Plot Summary:
Convinced he'll graduate with honors because of his thesis paper, a stuffy Harvard student finds his paper being held hostage by a homeless man, who might be the guy to school the young man in life.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, inspirational, road movie, humorous, semi serious, realistic, light, sincere
Similar in 79%
Badmaa$h Company (2010)
Plot Summary:
Life in the 1990's was remarkably same for the average Indian. Consumerism had not set in. It was devoid of most of the luxuries of the West. In fact everything "imported" was good, and everything Indian, passé. Badmaash Company is an extraordinary story set in the 1990's in middle class Bombay (as it was known then), of four ordinary youngsters, who came together to start an import business of things longed for by yuppie Indians! What made their venture such a stupendous success was the fact that they found a way to beat the system and soon became the undisputed kings in their business, realizing their one dream of making quick money by doing all the wrong things... the right way! Living the life of champagne wishes and caviar dreams, the four friends discover that to make a business successful you don't need big money. All you need is a big idea!.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags: exciting, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, inspirational, witty
Similar in 90%
Nanban (2012)
Plot Summary:
The plot of the film illustrates the embankment of two friends on a quest for a lost buddy, who was once an optimistic and successful student. On their journey, they recount their college life and special moments that the three shared up until their lost friend secretly parted ways after convocation. During their quest, the two encounter a rival classmate who once made a long forgotten bet with them, a funeral that goes impossibly out of control, and a wedding they must crash.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 188 min
Plot tags: humorous, touching, light, sincere, captivating, realistic, semi serious