Best movies like Emil and the Detectives
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The twelve-year-old Emil and his father are haunted by bad luck. To take a break from a series of family disasters, Emil is allowed to spend a few days with a friend of the family, the female priest Hummel in Berlin. In the train he runs across the slick Max Grundeis who anaesthetizes Emil and steals his savings of 1500 DM. When he finally arrives in Berlin, Emil and a gang of street kids, led by the cheeky girl Pony Hütchen, try to find the gangster, who haunts the posh Hotel Adlon as a hotel thief. Meanwhile, to prevent anyone from finding out about Emil's mishap, Gypsi, a member of the gang of kids, passes himself off as Emil, thus wreaking havoc on the home of the priest.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Family, Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Country: Germany
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, humorous, entertaining
Best tv shows and movies like Emil and the Detectives (2001):
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The Pasta Detectives 3 (2016)
Plot Summary:
The friends and amateur detectives Rico and Oskar experiencing their last adventure together. Here everything is really only one well, because now they live next door to. Ricos mother Tanya and Buhl are together, Oskar is with his father Lars pulled to Rico into the house. But dies as the grumpy Fitzke, the trouble begins. The stone Breeder inherited Rico his beloved stone-collection over which the boy also very pleased - but then he and his buddy note that Rico's favorite stone calf stone was stolen. The task now is to make the thieves apprehended. And because there are on the way to the Baltic Sea, Rico and Oskar must as soon as possible afterwards. Glad Tanja is flown by Buhl in the "snogging holiday".
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 244
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 75%
The Pasta Detectives (2014)
Plot Summary:
The child-duo Rico and Oskar, one of them is quite more sluggish, but precisely because of fantasy and own world view; the other one is a smart whiz, but scared for life.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 587
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 80%
Emil and the Detectives (1964)
Plot Summary:
When Emil travels by bus to Berlin to visit his grandmother and his cousin, his money is stolen by a crook who specializes in digging tunnels. Emil must get the money back as it is for his grandmother. While following the thief, Emil runs into Gustav, an enterprising young boy who gathers up all his friends to help Emil find the money. Emil's cousin also gets involved and they get into more trouble than they bargained for when Emil's pickpocket turns out to be mixed up with a couple of notorious bank robbers.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 805
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Family
Country: USA, West Germany
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: detective, exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 80%
The Little Gangster (2015)
Plot Summary:
Rik Boskamp is tired of being bullied all the time. After he sees a maffia movie, he decides to pretend that his dad is an important - and dangerous! - mob boss.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: funny, light, feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, satirical
Similar in 85%
TKKG (2019)
Plot Summary:
When Willi's father is abducted and is only released for a valuable statue from his art collection, Tim is the only one who believes Willi that the police are on the wrong track. Together with the smart policeman's daughter Gaby and the highly intelligent outsider Karl, they start to investigate on their own. Against all odds the four discover a conspiracy. In the course of their first big detective adventure they grow together into a committed community, and so Tim, Klöschen, Karl and Gaby become the band TKKG.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 490
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: light, captivating, not serious
Similar in 90%
I Didn't Do It! (1999)
Plot Summary:
Eleven-year-old Martin is a basically good boy. Unfortunately each time he decides to give a hand things end in disaster. This summer, he has been invited to spend a vacation at the Hotel Nautilus by his friend Vincent's parents. This is a great place for kids with its cabin hidden among the branches of a tree they call the "baobab". The trouble is that this year a holiday camp settles nearby and that those trespassers immediately undertake to appropriate the "baobab". The war is declared.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 230
Genere: Family, Comedy
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 87%
Hier is Lola! (2010)
Plot Summary:
A nine-year-old girl who has just moved with her parents to Hamburg, Germany, is desperate for finding a best friend.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 142
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Musical
Country: Germany
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, captivating, entertaining, sentimental, feel good, realistic
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Famous Five (2012)
Plot Summary:
The film recounts the adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog on their first holiday together at the seaside. In an old smugglers' cave, the children happen to overhear a radio message that refers to the abduction of George’s father Quentin. The professor has set up a laboratory on Kirrin Island where he’s doing research on a new energy generation method. Someone has obviously taken great interest in the valuable research results. But neither the police nor George’s mother Fanny believe the children. They are now on their own and discover a conspiracy that almost takes their breath away.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 766
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: humorous, mysterious, exciting, light, educational
Similar in 80%
Monica and Friends: Bonds (2019)
Plot Summary:
Fluffy, Jimmy Five's pet dog, vanished. He develops an infallible plan to rescue the little dog, but, he will need help from his faithful friends: Monica, Maggy and Smudge. Together, they will face challengers and live incredible adventures to get Fluffy back home.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: Brazil
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: light, sincere, feel good, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 78%
Shiverstone Castle (2016)
Plot Summary:
Eleven-year-old outsider Stephan arrives at Castle Schreckenstein, an all-boys boarding school, where he learns about life within a community and soon finds himself being part of a funny 'pranks-competition' the boys are currently fighting against the neighboring girls of Castle Rosenfels. When the girls have no choice but to move to Schreckenstein after a failed prank, life at school is suddenly nothing like it used to be.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 294
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: funny, light, feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, educational
Similar in 82%
Wild Chicks (2006)
Plot Summary:
Sprotte is about 12 years old and has a "gang" with her three friends Frieda, Melanie and Trude. Together the girls take Care of Sprottes grandmothers chickens. The new girl in School, Wilma, wishes to join the group, which Melanie is very unhappy about, and on top of all of that they have an on going revalisasion with a group of boys. Sprottes grandmother is planning on slaughtering the chickens! Will the Wild Chicks put Down their war with the boys? And Will they be able to save the chicken?.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 861
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, captivating
Similar in 79%
Bernie the Dolphin (2018)
Plot Summary:
A brother and sister who befriend a badly sunburned dolphin separated from his family and uncover a secret plan that could destroy the beach and their new friend's home. The kids must devise a clever plan to stop the bad guys, protect the sea life, and, most importantly, save their best friend, Bernie.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sincere, feel good, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 76%
Monica and Friends: Lessons (2021)
Plot Summary:
In the sequel of Turma da Mônica - Laços, we follow Monica, Jimmy Five, Maggy and Smudge dealing with the consequences of a mistake made at school. At the same time, they face transformations from childhood to adolescence and are about to discover the value of friendship.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: Brazil
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: feel good, funny, humorous, captivating, entertaining, satirical
Similar in 84%
Famous Five 3 (2014)
Plot Summary:
In their third cinema adventure the Famous Five are searching for a pirate treasure.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 429
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Family
Country: Germany, Thailand
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, light, exciting
Similar in 88%
The Crocodiles (2009)
Plot Summary:
Ten-year-old Hannes, growing up with his young, poor and single mother wants to join the coolest gang in the area, the Vorstadtkrokodile. When the ‘entry test’ goes wrong, Hannes’s life is saved by Kai, who is desperate to join too but is wheelchair bound and unable to even run away when things get hot. Hannes would accept Kai but the other gang members don’t seem happy to accept a handicapped member. Finally Kai has something to offer. One night a shop is robbed and Kai sees the robbers with his telescope. This is his chance to give some important information to the Crocodiles who want to catch the robbers and gain the € 1000 reward. The Crocodiles and their new member will embark on a big and dangerous adventure.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: feel good, realistic, semi serious, captivating, entertaining, light, educational, humorous, fast
Similar in 88%
Famous Five 2 (2013)
Plot Summary:
For their bicycle tour to Catmoor, the friends Julian, Dick and Anne, their cousin Georgina, called George, and her dog Timmy have long looked forward to. But the camping holiday in the countryside ends with the kidnapping of Dick, confuse the two underprivileged hoodlums with the same age millionaire's son Hardy. With sophistication and courage, the five friends take on his trail that leads from a mysterious traveling circus to the castle "Owls Nest" where the kidnappers force Dick to coax the clue to a giant emerald.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 506
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: semi serious, humorous, light, captivating, exciting, realistic
Similar in 75%
Cop Dog (2008)
Plot Summary:
Ever since Robby's father was killed while on police duty, Robby has been angry and alone. His father's old partner, a police dog named Marlowe, suffers the same fate. So when Robby sees Marlowe alone and locked up in a cage he begs his mum to let him have him. Instantly, the two are best friends. But, being a cop dog, when Marlowe, sees two familiar criminals in the woods.
IMDB Rating: 2.7
IMDB Votes: 498
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, entertaining, light, feel good, semi serious
Similar in 87%
War of the Buttons (2011)
Plot Summary:
1960. The thrilling battles waged by a band of kids from two rival villages in the southern French countryside.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: France
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: realistic, sentimental, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Monkey Trouble (1994)
Plot Summary:
Dodger, a criminal monkey, belongs to a crooked street performer but escapes his life of crime only to end up in the arms of Eva, an innocent little girl whose mother has no idea that her daughter is harboring a fugitive.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: humorous, independent film, touching, feel good, semi serious, light, road movie, sexy, clever, unusual plot structure
Similar in 82%
Cache Cash (1994)
Plot Summary:
Antoine, 11, is on holiday with his grandfather. One night he catches thieves hiding their booty in a pond. Antoine seizes the 40 million. But Liza, his new friend, is the daughter of one of the criminals. Both children soon face threats.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 123
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, suspense
Similar in 87%
Son of Rambow (2007)
Plot Summary:
Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) is looking for an escape from his family's stifling home life when he encounters Lee Carter (Will Poulter), the school bully. Armed with a video camera and a copy of "Rambo: First Blood", Lee plans to make cinematic history by filming his own action-packed video epic. Together, these two newfound friends-turned-budding-filmmakers quickly discover that their imaginative ― and sometimes mishap-filled ― cinematic adventure has begun to take on a life of its own!.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 33000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: UK, France, Germany, USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, stylized, humorous, melancholic, realistic, captivating, entertaining, independent film, philosophical
Similar in 83%
The Flying Classroom (2003)
Plot Summary:
A boy who was once a perpetual outcast finds friends in a new boarding school, united with his new peers gets involved in a heated rivalry with a group of students from a neighboring school.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: sentimental, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 79%
Vicky and the Treasure of the Gods (2011)
Plot Summary:
When does the little Vicky finally a real Viking? This question can his father Halvar no rest. But when the terrible Sven kidnapped the chief of Flake, has to prove himself unexpectedly Vicky: As deputy chief, he leads the strong men and it gets support from the fearless Svenja. Take course for the Cape Fear to free Halvar from Sven's castle - but the biggest problem is the Vikings still to come ... On stormy seas, tropical beaches and Valkyries by dangerous icy wastes before they fight their way to a secret location to be due to the hidden treasure of the fabled gods. The terrible Sven does everything it can to get him - and only Vicky can stop him with his clever ideas.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, exciting
Similar in 81%
Bixler High Private Eye (2019)
Plot Summary:
Teenage detective Xander DeWitt is the new kid at Bixler Valley High, and he's there to unravel the biggest mystery of his life- the truth about his missing father. But in order to crack this case, Xander must learn to work with a partner- fearless investigative reporter Kenzie Messina.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 436
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 66 min
Plot tags: entertaining, not serious, humorous, detective
Similar in 75%
The Sleepover (2020)
Plot Summary:
Two siblings who discover their seemingly normal mom is a former thief in witness protection. Mom is forced to pull one last job, and the kids team up to rescue her over the course of an action-packed night.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: entertaining, captivating, exciting, light, humorous, semi serious, action adventure, colorful, feel good, colourful
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The Treasure of the White Falcons (2005)
Plot Summary:
Three friends find a treasure map from the mysterious 'White Falcons', a juvenile gang whose leader disappeared ten years before.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 259
Genere: Family, Adventure
Country: Germany
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, entertaining, semi serious
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Bingo (1991)
Plot Summary:
Bingo, the runaway circus dog, is off the leash and saving Chuckie's life! Bingo and the boy become the best of friends in this canine comedy featuring doggy disguises and skateboarding, pinball and prison. Chuckie and his parents (Cindy Williams and David Rasche) are moving house, a thousand miles away, but Bingo won't be allowed to join them. Chuckie and Bingo's determination to be reunited is t.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: humorous, touching, not serious, spoof, entertaining, feel good, parody, funny, clever, unusual plot structure
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The Magic Kids: Three Unlikely Heroes (2020)
Plot Summary:
Vlad has just moved and joined one of the most famous magical schools in the world, where he meets fairies, witches, trolls and dwarfs. Him and his father are the first vampires in town, but he soon meets other special kids.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 559
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: Germany
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: light, feel good, fairy tale, funny, entertaining
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Little Monsters (1989)
Plot Summary:
A young boy is scared of the monster under his bed. He asks his 6th grade brother to swap rooms for the night as a bet that the monster really exists. Soon the brother becomes friends with the monster and discovers a whole new world of fun and games under his bed where pulling pranks on kids and other monsters is the main attraction.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: light, entertaining, melancholic, feel good, humorous, semi serious, epic, mysterious, visual, creepy
Similar in 76%
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Plot Summary:
Instead of flying to Florida with his folks, Kevin ends up alone in New York, where he gets a hotel room with his dad's credit card—despite problems from a clerk and meddling bellboy. But when Kevin runs into his old nemeses, the Wet Bandits, he's determined to foil their plans to rob a toy store on Christmas eve.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 388000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: feel good, funny, humorous, hilarious, slapstick, exciting, christmas special, cute, sweet, parody