Best movies like Carnival Magic
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A magician in a carnival--who actually can read minds and levitate people and objects--works with a superintelligent chimp named Alex, who can also talk. The magician and the chimp soon become the stars of the carnival, drawing in big crowds. However, the wild-animal trainer, who has been displaced by the team as the carnival's top act, decides to kidnap Alex and sell him to a medical laboratory for experimentation, thereby getting rid of his competition.
IMDB Rating: 2.5
IMDB Votes: 834
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, humorous, semi serious, cult film
Best tv shows and movies like Carnival Magic (1983):
Similar in 86%
The Projectionist (1970)
Plot Summary:
A projectionist bored with his everyday life begins fantasizing about his being one of the superheroes he sees in the movies he shows.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 425
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: independent film, offbeat, humorous, stylized, semi serious, psychotronic
Similar in 85%
Neverland (2003)
Plot Summary:
Damion Dietz's NEVERLAND is a dark, modernized, and highly original retelling of the childhood classic PETER PAN. In this version, Peter (Rick Sparks) is a juvenile delinquent, Tinkerbell (Kari... Damion Dietz's NEVERLAND is a dark, modernized, and highly original retelling of the childhood classic PETER PAN.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 472
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: serious, offbeat, bleak
Similar in 80%
Angel in the Family (2004)
Plot Summary:
Sarah Bishop and her estranged sister Beth are reunited after their father Buddy suffers a mild stroke. Buddy, who's never accepted the loss of his wife Lorraine, wants only one thing-to return home for Christmas. With sweet memories of a life gone by, Sarah makes an impossible wish that her mother could be there, too. By morning, it is as if a winter prayer has been answered. Bearing a message of hope, healing, and everlasting love, a miracle has arrived.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 591
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, sweet, emotional
Similar in 86%
Mandorla (2015)
Plot Summary:
The only journey is the one within. Mandorla explores a man's search for a meaningful life despite conflicts between his inner and outer worlds. Ernesto is a visual artist and seeker stuck in a corporate job, who is drawn by dark magical visions to a medieval French city. There he seeks an elusive banker to help him unlock an obscure dream that threatens his job, family, and sanity.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 42
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: France, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: spiritual, experimental
Similar in 75%
Midori: The Camellia Girl (2016)
Plot Summary:
14-year-old Midori is the constantly abused chore girl for a freakshow. Things begin to change for her after a dwarf magician joins the freak show, but not always for the better.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 342
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: sadistic, intense, compassionate, dark, manga, erotic, weird
Similar in 85%
The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
Plot Summary:
In Milagro, a small town in the American Southwest, Ladd Devine plans to build a major new resort development. While activist Ruby Archuleta and lawyer/newspaper editor Charlie Bloom realize that this will result in the eventual displacement of the local Hispanic farmers, they cannot arouse much opposition because of the short term opportunities offered by construction jobs.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, entertaining, sentimental, light, melancholic, semi serious, humorous, captivating, clever
Similar in 85%
Rough Magic (1995)
Plot Summary:
A sleazy politician sends an agent (Russell Crowe) after his ex-fiancee (Bridget Fonda), who fled to Mexico with incriminating film of him.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA, France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: surreal, touching, humorous, melancholic, intense, semi serious, romantic, neo noir, independent film, atmospheric
Similar in 82%
The Beautiful Fantasy of Final Purpose (2020)
Plot Summary:
A small town, a flower of Amancay, a topaz of the most beautiful color and a broken family.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 10
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: Argentina
Duration: 52 min
Plot tags: psychological, bleak, captivating, suspense, dark, suspenseful, independent film, student film
Similar in 90%
Westender (2003)
Plot Summary:
Set in a fictional medieval world, this is the story of Asbrey of Westender. Once a great heroic knight, he has mysteriously fallen from grace. One night he drunkenly bets and loses his ring, his last possession of worth. He then embarks on a mission to regain his ring and, in due course, confront the demons of his past.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 315
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: serious, contemplative, exciting, captivating
Similar in 79%
Babin (2008)
Plot Summary:
As scripted by Quebecois raconteur Fred Pellerin and directed by Luc Picard, this offbeat fantasy comedy details the adventures of Babine (Vincent Guillaume Otis), the son of a witch and a village pariah, as he ventures forth into the world and narrowly evades death.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 785
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Canada
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, exciting, semi serious, captivating, entertaining, light, offbeat, humorous
Similar in 88%
Now You See It... (2005)
Plot Summary:
While producing a reality TV show, a teenager meets a magician whose powers are real but put him in danger.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, semi serious, captivating, teen
Similar in 75%
The Christmas Dragon (2014)
Plot Summary:
Medieval Europe: Father Christmas is a fading memory, after Christmas hasn't come for several years. A young orphan girl, Ayden, receives a magic crystal from a dying elf, with a warning that the North has lost its magic, and that she alone can save Christmas. Ayden and her orphan friends begin a perilous journey and must escape dragons, goblins, bandits, ogres, and other fantasy creatures as they team up with Airk, the wayward son of Father Christmas, to return a stolen Christmas orb to the North. When Santa's magic cannot overpower the growing Snarl (an evil forest with tentacle branches), Ayden and Airk must deliver Christmas on a sleigh pulled by a young dragon, fulfilling Christmas wishes for children to restore Santa's magic and save Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 805
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 85%
The Magic Sword (1962)
Plot Summary:
The son of a sorceress, armed with weapons, armour and six magically summoned knights, goes on a quest to save a princess from a vengeful wizard.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, mythical, arthurian, classic horror, exciting, semi serious, psychotronic, campy
Similar in 83%
The Good Witch's Wonder (2014)
Plot Summary:
Cassie Nightingale (Bell) finds herself with only days to plan her stepson Brandon's (Knight) wedding to Tara (Leggat) when the happy couple unexpectedly pushes up the date for their big day. Meanwhile, Martha (Disher), the newly elected mayor of Middleton has roped her into chairing the silent auction to raise much-needed funds for her pet project, the Middleton Botanical Gardens. Audrey (Wilson), a new arrival in town, pops in to Cassie's store Bell, Book & Candle and the two instantly bond. Needing help in the store, Cassie immediately hires Audrey as her new store associate and she even pitches in and helps Cassie organize the auction. But, Audrey is hiding a secret past and suspicions start to swirl around her when the donated auction items are missing. With the use of her "special" powers - as well as some teamwork by the Mayor and Jake (Potter), her husband and local Chief of Police - Cassie hopes to conjure up the truth before it's too late.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, semi serious
Similar in 82%
Superbror (2009)
Plot Summary:
"Superbrother" tells the story of Anton, a 10 year old boy desperate for, he says, an older and true brother as Buller, his brother, is autistic. Always distracted looking at the sky, Anton receives an unexpected visit from some stranger who comes from space and Buller becomes a superhero. Unfortunately, these powers do not last forever. Will they be able to learn to use them?.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 270
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Denmark
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, captivating, semi serious, exciting, uplifting, offbeat
Similar in 79%
The Good Witch's Gift (2010)
Plot Summary:
Almost as soon as Jake and Cassie decide to get married on Christmas Eve, complications arise.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Canada
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: semi serious, touching, humorous, light, saga, romantic comedy
Similar in 81%
The Good Witch's Garden (2009)
Plot Summary:
Middleton prepares for its bicentennial, and Grey House is to be the party venue. Good witch Cassie is remodeling it as B&B. her first and only guest, Nick Chasen, claims to be a distant relative. He produces papers to prove he's the heir of the builder, colonial era captain Hamblin, while the Grey lady was his mistress and stole it. Police chief and lover Jake Russell goes all the way to motivate her to fight and disprove the claim before she's effectively disowned. Brandon is dared to pass a rascals-initiation by local brat Steve and Duke. George's gardening skills lead to romance.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Canada
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: semi serious, captivating, light, sincere, entertaining, saga, romantic comedy, touching
Similar in 80%
The Night They Saved Christmas (1984)
Plot Summary:
An oil company is exploring two Arctic sites for oil. The needed blasting at the first site rocks Santa Claus' North Pole village. He realizes that any blasting at the second site will destroy his home. He enlists the aid of a woman and her children to convince her husband (who works for the company) that the first site is where the oil they want is. Along the way, Santa explains all his secrets in delivering presents all around the world.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 85%
Under the Mountain (2009)
Plot Summary:
Teenage twins battle dark forces hidden beneath Auckland's volcanoes.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: New Zealand
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, captivating, suspense, scary, feel good, lovecraft, serious, disaster movie
Similar in 82%
Heaven Sent (1994)
Plot Summary:
Eddie, a fourteen-year-old juvenile delinquent of sorts, collides with a car during a petty theft and dies in the hospital. Due to some confusion in heaven, however, he is given three days to clean up his life with the help of a beginner angel - and save his mom.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 272
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 77%
I Am the Cheese (1983)
Plot Summary:
Adapted from the Robert Cormier novel. This film follows the life of a young boy whose happy, if somewhat unusual life with his friends and family gradually starts to unravel, until the truth of the boy's situation is finally revealed.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 315
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film, psychological, tense, mind bending, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, non-linear
Similar in 87%
Gordy (1994)
Plot Summary:
A talking pig named Gordy becomes involved in a quest to save his family from the slaughterhouse.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: light, feel good, touching, humorous, sad, hilarious, independent film, semi serious, road movie, sexy
Similar in 86%
Cremaster 3 (2002)
Plot Summary:
CREMASTER 3 (2002) is set in New York City and narrates the construction of the Chrysler Building, which is in itself a character - host to inner, antagonistic forces at play for access to the process of (spiritual) transcendence. These factions find form in the struggle between Hiram Abiff or the Architect.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 182 min
Plot tags: surreal, mind bending, atmospheric, stylized, serious, thought provoking, psychedelic, disturbing, independent film, avant garde
Similar in 79%
The Cobbler (2014)
Plot Summary:
Max Simkin repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations. Disenchanted with the grind of daily life, Max stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. Sometimes walking in another man's shoes is the only way one can discover who they really are.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 60000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, entertaining, stylized, surreal, semi serious, touching, uplifting, intellectual, mysterious
Similar in 80%
Carny (1980)
Plot Summary:
Tired of being a small-town waitress, Donna departs with the latest carnival show, living with entertainers Frankie and Patch in a tense, emotional triangle.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: stylized, realistic, disturbing, gloomy, semi serious, light, road movie, atmospheric, sexy, feel good
Similar in 75%
Merlin and the War of the Dragons (2008)
Plot Summary:
In 5th Century Britian, a young Merlin struggles for his place in his known land under the tutelage of The Mage, a local wizard whom sees the young man's potential for magic, as well as face off against his evil former friend, Vendiger, whom plots with a feudal warlord king to conquer all of Britian using an army of flying dragons, and only Merlin with the alliance of the local Prince Uther and Ingraine and a pair of mystical goddesses, can have the power to stop the evil from taking over the land.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, suspense, entertaining, mockbuster, arthurian, surreal, epic, suspenseful, stylized
Similar in 79%
Northpole (2014)
Plot Summary:
Northpole, the magical city where Santa and his elves live and work is in trouble. Families around the globe have gotten too busy to enjoy the season together, and Northpole depends on their holiday happiness to keep running. In the hopes of turning things around, a determined young elf befriends a little boy with a lot of spirit. His skeptical journalist mom doesn’t have room in her heart for anything but the facts, so it’s going to take a little nudge from his charming teacher to create an unbeatable Christmas team to turn around this town and share the importance of the season with the whole world.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: feel good, sentimental, captivating, humorous, serious
Similar in 78%
Prancer (1989)
Plot Summary:
Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished apple farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides the reindeer in her barn and feeds it cookies, until she can return it to Santa. Her father finds the reindeer an decides to sell it to the butcher, not for venison chops, but as an advertising display.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: touching, entertaining, mysterious, sad, crying, feel good, humorous, semi serious, independent film, weeping
Similar in 78%
Mirrormask (2005)
Plot Summary:
In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a 15-year old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: stylized, atmospheric, surreal, offbeat, visually stunning, mindfuck, visually appealing, cerebral, visual, cult classic
Similar in 84%
A Little Princess (1995)
Plot Summary:
When her father enlists to fight for the British in WWI, young Sara Crewe goes to New York to attend the same boarding school her late mother attended. She soon clashes with the severe headmistress, Miss Minchin, who attempts to stifle Sara's creativity and sense of self- worth.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, fairy tale, heartbreaking, serious, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sweet, sad