Best movies like Grassroots
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Grant Cogswell, a liberal music critic decides to run for city council against a popular black incumbent and is assisted by a reporter who recently lost his job. Initially given no chance, things turn dark when Cogswell makes it into the general election. Based on a true story.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, political, clever, biting, suspense
Best tv shows and movies like Grassroots (2012):
Similar in 78%
The Comedy (2012)
Plot Summary:
Indifferent to the notion of inheriting his father's estate, a restless, aging New Yorker passes time with his friends in games of mock sincerity, irreverence, and recreational cruelty towards those around them.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, realistic, cynical, mumblecore, psychological, humorous, captivating, cult classic, witty, semi serious
Similar in 77%
Good Fences (2003)
Plot Summary:
Set in the 1970s, Tom Spader is an attorney who is determined to end what he has dubbed "the colored man's losing streak." When his winning of a high-profile case thrusts him into the limelight, he decides to moves his wife and their two kids out of their mixed lower-middle-class town and into the posh enclave of Greenwich, Connecticut.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 876
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, black comedy, biting, suspense
Similar in 86%
Lower Learning (2008)
Plot Summary:
Barry Goldwater Elementary is on the brink of collapse: the lowest test scores in the state, teachers who are either drunk or having sex on school grounds, and a principal who extorts money from parents. It's up to Tom, the down-on-his-luck vice-principal, to rally the lazy teachers, expose the principal's corruption, and turn the school around before an end of the day board decision.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Frownland (2007)
Plot Summary:
A rotten egg lobbed with spazmo aim at the spotless surface of the silver screen, FROWNLAND centers on social misfit and self-labeled "troll from under the bridge" Keith Sontag (Dore Mann). When he's not trying to sell coupons door-to-door, Keith struggles with evicting his roommate from their seedy apartment, helping a friend who's suicidal and just getting by as an outsider in the cruel city.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 758
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: mumblecore, humorous, semi serious, clever, realistic, witty, stylized, inspirational, controversial, offbeat
Similar in 79%
Hits (2014)
Plot Summary:
A talentless teen will do anything to get on TV's "The Voice." Meanwhile, her father, a municipal worker, creates an uproar when a video of his rants at City Hall goes viral.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, black comedy, independent film, biting, suspense
Similar in 76%
Holy Flying Circus (2011)
Plot Summary:
A fantastical re-imagining of the events of 1979, when Monty Python made Life of Brian and the debate about what is an acceptable subject for comedy was blown wide open.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: clever, humorous, surreal, witty, semi serious, parody, offbeat, biting, suspense, banned
Similar in 80%
Cocked (2015)
Plot Summary:
The Paxsons are a broken family working together - and against each other - in the most quintessentially American business, the business of guns.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 662
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 49 min
Plot tags: clever, humorous, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 87%
The Late Shift (1996)
Plot Summary:
David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show.".
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, talky, clever, independent film, biting, suspense
Similar in 86%
Amazing Grace (1974)
Plot Summary:
Amazing Grace is a 1974 light comedy featuring black comedienne Moms Mabley as a widow who tries to influence the local mayoral election in Baltimore, Maryland, after she discovers that a black candidate is being used by the incumbent mayor to further his own reelection efforts. Mabley appeared in the film, along with veteran actors Butterfly McQueen and Stepin Fetchit, only a year before her death at the age of 81. The film does not deal with the popular Christian hymn (with words by John Newton) but is a play on Mabley's character, who happens to be named Grace. It has been released on home video.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 275
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, slapstick, biting, suspense
Similar in 90%
The Obama Effect (2012)
Plot Summary:
A serious health scare ignites John Thomas, an insurance salesman in his 50s, to take a closer look at his life. Motivated by a misguided obsession with getting Barack Obama elected, John takes an overwhelming involvement in the Presidential campaign. While John becomes obsessed with the ideal of change that Obama represents for Americans, he has in turn neglected to create positive change in his own life, particularly with regard to his health and familial relationships. John hides his health problems from his strong, yet supportive wife, Molly, creating a strain on their marriage. John seeks the support of a Republican relative, MLK, who initially starkly resists supporting a Democratic candidate. John's son, Kalil, rebels against his father's avid support of Obama by supporting the Republican candidate as well. John neglects to support his daughter, Tamika, at a crucial moment in her life.
IMDB Rating: 2.0
IMDB Votes: 453
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: sentimental, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Tanner '88 (1988)
Plot Summary:
In 1988, renegade filmmaker Robert Altman and Pulitzer Prize–winning Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau created a presidential candidate, ran him alongside the other hopefuls during the primary season, and presented their media campaign as a cross between a soap opera and TV news. The result was the groundbreaking Tanner ’88, a piercing satire of media-age American politics, in which actors Michael Murphy (as contender Jack Tanner) and Cynthia Nixon (as his daughter) rub elbows on the campaign trail with real-life political players Jesse Jackson, Gary Hart, Bob Dole, Ralph Nader, Kitty Dukakis, and Gloria Steinem, among many others. The Criterion Collection is proud to present the complete eleven-episode television series—more relevant today than ever.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 936
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 353 min
Plot tags: mockumentary, political, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting, suspense
Similar in 77%
Elvis Meets Nixon (1997)
Plot Summary:
A "mockumentary" about Elvis's real-life trip to the White House to become a federal marshal under the DEA.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 716
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: mockumentary, offbeat, humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, biting, suspense
Similar in 82%
K Street (2003)
Plot Summary:
K Street is a 2003 HBO television series about lobbyists and politicians in Washington, D.C. It was named for a street that is home to many lobbying and legal firms.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 317
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: political, clever, serious, realistic, cynical, satirical, witty, talky, biting, black comedy
Similar in 83%
Knife Fight (2012)
Plot Summary:
A political strategist juggling three clients questions whether or not to take the high road as the ugly side of his work begins to haunt him.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, talky, independent film, biting, suspense
Similar in 79%
HealtH (1980)
Plot Summary:
HealtH is set at a health food convention at a Florida luxury hotel, where a powerful political organization is deciding on a new president.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 911
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: political, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting, postmodern, suspense
Similar in 76%
The Campaign (2012)
Plot Summary:
Two rival politicians compete to win an election to represent their small North Carolina congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 136000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: parody, funny, political, humorous, black comedy, hilarious, witty, sex comedy, ironic, surreal
Similar in 90%
Silver City (2004)
Plot Summary:
The discovery of a corpse threatens to unravel a bumbling local politician's campaign for governor of Colorado.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: clever, political, satirical, stylized, suspenseful, thought provoking, talky, sincere, realistic, witty
Similar in 81%
The Second Civil War (1997)
Plot Summary:
When a planeload of Pakistani orphans are shipped to his state for permanent relocation, the governor of Idaho (Beau Bridges, who won an Emmy) defies the president (Phil Hartman) and closes the state's border. News Net Television, a cable news program that makes hay by reporting on political scandals, quickly spins the racist act into an overnight media sensation, creating a divide in national opinion over the issue.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, futuristic, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting, black comedy, suspense
Similar in 87%
Spinning Boris (2003)
Plot Summary:
Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin's re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: clever, realistic, political, humorous, witty, talky, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Man of the Year (2006)
Plot Summary:
The irreverent host of a political satire talk show decides to run for president and expose corruption in Washington. His stunt goes further than he expects when he actually wins the election, but a software engineer suspects that a computer glitch is responsible for his surprising victory.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: humorous, political, stylized, semi serious, sincere, realistic, hilarious, satirical, feel good, romantic comedy
Similar in 88%
Bob Roberts (1992)
Plot Summary:
Mock documentary about an upstart candidate for the U.S. Senate written and directed by actor Tim Robbins. Bob Roberts is a folksinger with a difference: He offers tunes that protest welfare chiselers, liberal whining, and the like. As the filmmakers follow his campaign, Robbins gives needle-sharp insight into the way candidates manipulate the media.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: mockumentary, political, witty, cynical, talky, humorous, funny, satirical, independent film, parody
Similar in 85%
Head of State (2003)
Plot Summary:
When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, the Democratic party unexpectedly picks a Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Rock) as his replacement.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, entertaining, light, absurd, realistic, witty, semi serious, parody, hilarious
Similar in 77%
Running Mates (2000)
Plot Summary:
A governor running for President gets revealed to be a serial philanderer.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 693
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, political, biting, suspense
Similar in 77%
Two-Bit Waltz (2014)
Plot Summary:
Suspension from school, the loss of a friend, a broken heart and lack of inspiration lead to Maude's downfall in this romp through teenage error. Your teenage years are never easy… but for Maude, things couldn't be worse. Within one week, she is suspended from school, stranded by her best friend, dumped by the boy she loved and inherits an enormous amount of money with the passing of her grandmother– only to be claimed under one condition: Maude must prove by age 18 that she knows exactly what to do with her life. But with her 18th birthday rapidly approaching, Maude must dive into a world of self-discovery or else lose the inheritance.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 455
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: semi serious, sentimental, humorous, realistic, witty, stylized, clever, offbeat, independent film
Similar in 79%
Chalk (2006)
Plot Summary:
Life in the trenches of that most honorable and frustrating profession...teaching. It's the start of a memorable new year at Harrison High. The self-conscious Mr. Stroope is convinced that his time has come - this year he will be furnished with the golden title of "Teacher of the Year," if only his smarter students would stop using words that he can't understand.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: mockumentary, humorous, semi documentary, psychological, captivating, clever, realistic, witty, semi serious, biting
Similar in 82%
Primary Colors (1998)
Plot Summary:
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan
Duration: 143 min
Plot tags: political, intense, witty, talky, semi serious, thought provoking, humorous, realistic, clever, satirical
Similar in 90%
Wag the Dog (1997)
Plot Summary:
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 88000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: black comedy, political, talky, dark comedy, realistic, satirical, funny, melancholic, humorous, thought provoking
Similar in 82%
The Candidate (1972)
Plot Summary:
Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: political, witty, realistic, cynical, thought provoking, clever, talky, biting, entertaining, funny
Similar in 85%
Power (1986)
Plot Summary:
Pete St. John is a powerful and successful political consultant, with clients spread around the country. When his long-time friend and client Ohio senator Sam Hastings decides to quit politics, he is rapidly drafted to help with the campaign of the man destined to succeed him, unknown and mysterious businessman Jerome Cade.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, clever, cynical, political, retro, talky
Similar in 89%
Bulworth (1998)
Plot Summary:
A suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: political, humorous, witty, funny, thought provoking, controversial, clever, biting, dark comedy, spiritual