Best movies like Cowboy Up
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
"Cowboy Up" is a celebration of the risk-taking, daredevil personalities of modern rodeo. In the world of professional bull riding, newcomer Ely Braxton (Marcus Thomas) is the craziest guy around; his brother Hank (Kiefer Sutherland) is a rodeo clown, and the two use each other to play up their acts. But love may be one thing that tears the brothers apart. When Ely falls for the rodeo's sweetheart (Daryl Hannah), Hank is filled with jealousy and hatred. The brothers try to come to grips with their differences, but the competition gets as fierce as the bulls in the ring.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 941
Genere: Drama, Romance, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sincere, touching, sex comedy
Best tv shows and movies like Cowboy Up (2001):
Similar in 87%
Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
Plot Summary:
In 1880's China, young Lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in an Idaho gold-mining town, the property of a saloon owner who renames her China Polly and plans to sell her as entertainment for the locals. Refusing to become a whore, Lalu ultimately finds her own way in this strange country filled with white demons.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 712
Genere: Romance, Western
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: emotional, period piece, independent film, serious, realistic
Similar in 89%
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991)
Plot Summary:
Scott Glenn is H.D., a champion rodeo rider whose career is ruined after being gored by a bull. He returns home to discover things have drastically changed -- the family farm has been abandoned, his old girlfriend Julie (Kate Capshaw) is a now a widowed mother, and his sister Cheryl (Tess Harper) has put his father (Ben Johnson) in a nursing home. H.D. rescues his father from the home and returns him to the ranch. But when H.D. leaves the farm to visit Julie, his father seeks out Cheryl. Cheryl retaliates by threatening to return her father to the nursing home and sell the ranch. At this point, H.D. takes notice of rodeo contest which would give him $100,000 if he can ride four bulls for a total of 32 seconds. H.D. bonds with his father as he gruelingly prepares for a return to the rodeo to win the contest and buy the ranch. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 701
Genere: Drama, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 79%
Radio Inside (1994)
Plot Summary:
As two brothers fall in love with the same woman they must come to grips with the accidental death of their father in this sensitive drama set in Miami.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 587
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: independent film, psychological, sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, contemplative, talky
Similar in 75%
Woman Wanted (1999)
Plot Summary:
A new woman comes between a widower and his adult son.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 798
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: erotic, sex comedy, sentimental, atmospheric, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 90%
Paper Hearts (1993)
Plot Summary:
Western drama directed by Rod McCall. Henry deserted his family years before, Henry (James Brolin) kicks up a storm when he shows up to see his youngest daughter before her wedding. He has ulterior motives, including a divorce from wife Jenny (Sally Kirkland), but her new beau, Tom (Kris Kristofferson), throws his plans off the rails. Meanwhile, Sally's older daughter must choose between love with a cowboy and life in New York.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 158
Genere: Drama, Romance, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 84%
Angel and the Badman (2009)
Plot Summary:
A remake of the classic 1947 John Wayne western about an injured gunslinger who falls in with good company in the form of some Quakers.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 507
Genere: Drama, Romance, Western
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: captivating, serious, tense, psychological, touching, realistic, intercultural, inter cultural
Similar in 79%
Falling Like This (2001)
Plot Summary:
Falling Like This showcases compelling performances by two young actors, Brian Vaughan and Megan Wilson. Writer/Director Dani Minnick has crafted a compassionate examination of the ragged edge of suburban life as characterized by Boyd, a charming, vulnerable and inveterate juvenile delinquent whose love nearly derails the life of a middle-class teenage girl. The understated themes of adolescent rebellion, adult responsibility and the redemptive power of love are woven elegantly into this dream-like film.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 451
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic, independent film, sexual, sexy, cinema verite
Similar in 86%
Violets Are Blue... (1986)
Plot Summary:
After fifteen years of traveling around the world Gussie (Spacek), a famous photographer, returns to the Maryland coastal resort where she grew up.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, contemplative, talky, gloomy, crying
Similar in 85%
Safe Harbour (2007)
Plot Summary:
Melissa Gilbert stars in this film adaptation of Danielle Steel's bestselling novel, in which a young girl named Pip and her mother meet an artist on the beach in Safe Harbour, where they have retreated in order to recover from the devastating loss of Pip's father and brother.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 520
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic
Similar in 77%
Seducing Maarya (2000)
Plot Summary:
Vijay Chatterjee is a lonely widower and a successful restaurateur in Montreal. His thoroughly Westernized son Ashish works at his father's eatery but is more interested in the rock band that he started with his friend Michael. One day, Vijay meets the elegant, strikingly beautiful Maarya, who recently emigrated from Calcutta. He immediately hires her for his restaurant and introduces her to Ashish, thinking that she would make the perfect wife. Though Maarya soon realizes that the young Chatterjee has a closer relationship to Michael than she originally thought, she plays along, keeping the secret from Ashish's dad so that she can remain in the country. When the elder Chatterjee starts to pursue Maarya and her jealous knife-wielding brother arrives on the scene, this volatile situation turns downright explosive.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 186
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Canada, India
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, semi serious, captivating, erotic
Similar in 77%
Dance of the Dragon (2008)
Plot Summary:
The story of three people whose lives are pulled into review and assessment when their paths cross. The initial sparks of what could be a new romance plays off against a couple falling out of love, a student and teacher, a father and son, a mother's influence and competing suitors - all explored with sensitivity, delicacy and refined artistry.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 728
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Singapore
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, touching, realistic, serious, captivating, stylized, epic
Similar in 85%
Heartbeat (1993)
Plot Summary:
The beautiful and talented Adrian is a writer for one of America's most popular TV soap operas. She is also pregnant, and when she refuses to abort her baby, Adrian's selfish husband deserts her. It falls to one of the soap opera's producers, the recently divorced Bill, to convince Adrian to give romance a second chance.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 407
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, realistic, humorous, serious, soap opera
Similar in 83%
8 Seconds (1994)
Plot Summary:
This film chronicles the life of Lane Frost, 1987 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, his marriage and his friendships with Tuff Hedeman (three-time World Champion) and Cody Lambert.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sentimental, captivating, sincere, realistic, independent film, serious, exciting, light, inspirational, romantic
Similar in 87%
American Wake (2004)
Plot Summary:
A musician and a fireman work against certain expectations in order to pursue their respective dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 43
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: psychological, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 81%
Picnic (2000)
Plot Summary:
The son of the richest man in town wants to marry the town's beauty queen, but she meets a more interesting stranger who just got off the train.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 242
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: serious, emotional, realistic, tense
Similar in 89%
Tempted (2003)
Plot Summary:
The strain of juggling her responsibilities as wife, mother, and successful paralegal have worn Emma Burke (Virginia Madsen) out. Thus it is that Emma welcomes the opportunity to briefly take leave of her Boston home and head for sunny Hawaii. It is not, however, a pleasure trip: Having promised to honor the dying wishes of her Hawaiian-born surrogate mother, Emma had agreed to transport the woman's ashes to the Islands for a traditional burial ceremony. Leaving her husband, Mike (Andrew McFarlane), behind to care for their two children, Emma arrives in Hawaii for the first time since childhood, where she is reunited with her childhood friend Kala (Jason Momoa), the handsome son of her late surrogate parent. Against her better judgment, Emma falls in love with Kala, and he with her. Complications arise when Mike and the kids show up in the Islands, a the obligatory evil land developer rears his ugly head, and Emma learns the shocking truth about her biological mother.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 503
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: emotional, touching, serious, realistic, romantic drama, sexual, sexy
Similar in 78%
Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
Plot Summary:
A middle-aged steelworker is content with his job and his family, but feels that something is missing in his life. On his 50th birthday, he stops in at a local bar for a drink to celebrate. He finds himself attracted to the young, very sexy barmaid--and, to his surprise, he finds that she is also very attracted to him.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: sentimental, emotional, realistic, sincere, touching, serious, independent film, contemplative
Similar in 75%
Alexander the Last (2009)
Plot Summary:
An ensemble drama about a married actress, her sister and their myriad sexual and creative temptations.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 902
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 72 min
Plot tags: mumblecore, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, heartfelt, contemplative, independent film, sexual, sexy
Similar in 77%
Not Since You (2009)
Plot Summary:
A romantic drama about a tight-knit group of college friends who graduated from NYU the year of 9/11 and reunite years later for a weekend wedding in Georgia. Unresolved conflicts and love affairs spark again.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: realistic, talky, sincere, disturbing, sex comedy, serious, contemplative, independent film
Similar in 83%
No Looking Back (1998)
Plot Summary:
Charlie returns to his old town where he meets his ex-girlfriend again and tries to get her back.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: emotional, disturbing, sentimental, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, gloomy, scary, light
Similar in 81%
Islander (2006)
Plot Summary:
After a tragic accident at sea, Eben Cole loses his family, friends and stature in his island fishing community. He returns to the island an outcast but determined to win back the way of life he fought so hard to protect. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Maine coast, Islander captures the grit and integrity of this hard working community and celebrates man's unerring need for redemption.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 298
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 77%
Preacher's Kid (2010)
Plot Summary:
Small-town girl Angie King leaves the church and her home to pursue a dream of singing stardom. Luckett plays Angie, the daughter of a stern but loving bishop, whose attraction to the hunky star (Tank) of a traveling gospel show takes her on the road…and into romance, heartbreak and the realization that happiness may lie in the home she left behind.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 865
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, christian film, independent film
Similar in 88%
A Touch of Fate (2003)
Plot Summary:
One night in a small town in North Carolina, fate brings together three lives: an entertainment lawyer returning home to his dying mother after years in escape of his past, a woman trying to reclaim her supposed love, and a boy with a penchant for the sixth sense who struggles with the death of his father and overbearing love of his single mother. When the past and future suddenly bind these people together on a journey of need, forgiveness and discovery, they realize they've gained something when they least expected it.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 216
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 79%
My Heart Is Yours (2002)
Plot Summary:
Some twenty years ago Sarita promised to raise her husband's love child (Shalu) together with their own daughter (Nimmi). The girls grow up as the best of friends but Sarita has never been able to forgive Shalu her background. It doesn't make it better when she sees Shalu getting close to the man Nimmi is also in love with.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: India
Duration: 210 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, touching, captivating, romantic drama
Similar in 89%
The Bread, My Sweet (2001)
Plot Summary:
Dominic works round the clock: nights making biscotti for his family's bakery in a working-class Italian neighborhood in Pittsburgh, then days downtown where he's a specialist in firing people at a company that negotiates mergers. He's thrown for a loop with he learns that Bella, an elderly neighbor who's his family's closest friend, has but a few months to live. All her life, she's saved money in coffee cans for her daughter, Lucca's, wedding, but Lucca is off in foreign lands, initially as a Peace Corps volunteer, and doesn't need a man. Dominic vows to bring Lucca home and convince her to marry him to fulfill Bella's most fervent wish. What will Lucca say?.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 959
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, realistic, feel good, semi serious, romantic drama, humorous
Similar in 79%
Bigger Than the Sky (2005)
Plot Summary:
After being dumped by his girlfriend, a man stuck in a deadend life decides to audition for a small role in a local community theatre's production of Cyrano de Bergerac. Despite having no experience as an actor, he lands the lead role, which wreaks havoc upon his life.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, spiritual, clever, realistic, talky, independent film
Similar in 89%
Listen to Me (1989)
Plot Summary:
It was the best time of their lives. A kid from Oklahoma. An immigrant's daughter. A senator's son, a society girl, and a college professor with a dream. They had one thing in common...the will to win. A group of college debaters learn about the world, friendships, love, dreams and family.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: independent film, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 85%
Cafe Setareh (2006)
Plot Summary:
Filmmaker Saman Moghadam details the struggles of three women living in an antiquated district of Tehran in this emotionally resonant drama. Fabria's husband has been morally corrupted, and now it's up to her to take charge of the small café that proves the only source of income to the couple. Saloomeh is a beautiful young woman who dreams of marrying Ebi, but how will the couple survive on the salary of a simple mechanic? Lastly, middle aged Moluk has fallen for a much younger man, and her heart breaks when she discovers that her love is unrequited.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 899
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Iran
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: psychological, sentimental, sincere, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 81%
Lover's Concerto (2002)
Plot Summary:
Lee Ji-hwan receives photographs in the mail that reminds him of how he met two girls, Shim Su-in and Kim Gyeong-heui, one summer five years ago. He shares his memories with his friend Cheol-hyeon. He recalls initially being in love with Su-in, but she rejects him. Throughout the summer, the three remain friends. Ji-hwan and Gyeong-heui develop feelings for each other but are reluctant to admit it. Ji-hwan recalls the complex relationship between the three to Cheol-hyeon.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, touching, romantic, captivating, romantic comedy, serious, emotional, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 79%
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
Plot Summary:
The year is 1949. A young Texan named John Grady finds himself without a home after his mother sells the ranch where he has spent his entire life. Lured south of the border by the romance of cowboy life and the promise of a fresh start, Cole and his pal embark on an adventure that will test their resilience, define their maturity, and change their lives forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: melancholic, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, anamorphic, romantic, sexy, thought provoking, enigmatic