Best movies like Life
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies similar to Life? Leverage your insights to guide others toward films and tv shows you've viewed previously that they might like too. Help broaden the cohort of people suggesting videos to each other. We appreciate your engagement!
Plot Summary:
In 1955, young photographer Dennis Stock develops a close bond with actor James Dean while shooting pictures of the rising Hollywood star.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, psychological, thought provoking, independent film, cult classic, road movie
Best tv shows and movies like Life (2015):
Similar in 86%
The Wager (2007)
Plot Summary:
An actor at the pinnacle of his Hollywood career finds himself buckling to temptation after he accepts the lead in a classic tale of good versus evil. Michael Steele has just been nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. In the wake of that announcement, Michael is cast in what may be the role of a lifetime. He's set to play the lead in an incredible story of monumental conflict, but will all of the swirling gossip around Michael cause him to stumble on the path of righteousness? His marriage is in jeopardy and his career is on the line. This man who has always tried to do the right thing must find the courage and conviction needed to set his life straight.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 402
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: christian film, serious, realistic, thought provoking, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 88%
Amazon Falls (2010)
Plot Summary:
Amazon Falls tells the story of a faded B-movie actress JANA who refuses to let go of her dream of being a star. Famous for her roles in Amazon movies where she portrayed a variety of pre-Xena warrior-princesses, she desperately tries to keep her leg in the B-movie game, and pursues her career with a zealous fervor.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 110
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: realistic, psychological, atmospheric, captivating, serious, gloomy, semi autobiographical
Similar in 88%
Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story (1999)
Plot Summary:
This is the story of Alan Freed. He was working as a DJ in Cleveland, Ohio, and he discovered how amazing R&B or Rhytym & Blues is, however, the music is considered to be "BLACK" music. So, most radio stations won't play it. However, Freed believed that it's the next wave, so he fights to have it played on the air. Eventually, he went into the big time - New York, and he decided to dub this music "ROCK & ROLL". Despite his success, he still had a lot of opposition and made deals with the wrong people, which would lead to his downfall.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 521
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: independent film, serious, realistic
Similar in 79%
How Strange to be Named Federico (2013)
Plot Summary:
On the 20th anniversary of Federico Fellini’s death, Ettore Scola, a devoted admirer of the incomparable maestro, commemorates the lesser-known aspects of Fellini’s personality, employing interviews, photographs, behind-the-scenes footage as well as Fellini’s drawings and film clips.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 742
Genere: Biography
Country: Italy
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: realistic, sincere, serious, factual, captivating, touching, entertaining
Similar in 86%
A Tale of Two Coreys (2018)
Plot Summary:
The story of teen heartthrobs Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, whose lives were forever changed by the glitz, glamour, and the darker side of show business.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 746
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: psychological, thought provoking, captivating, suspense, disturbing, emotional, sad, teen
Similar in 81%
The Rat Pack (1998)
Plot Summary:
After a brief flash-forward to Frank Sinatra as an old man, saying "I miss my guys," the movie's main narrative begins during high points in the solo careers of the Rat Pack: Dean Martin has become a big success despite the breakup of his partnership with Jerry Lewis; Sinatra's career is at its peak; Sammy Davis, Jr., is making a comeback after a near fatal car crash, and standup comic Joey Bishop is gaining exposure as an opening act for the other three. The Pack becomes complete when Sinatra reconciles with actor Peter Lawford, who has been ostracized since being seen out publicly with Sinatra's ex-wife, Ava Gardner.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic, talky, entertaining
Similar in 89%
Burton and Taylor (2013)
Plot Summary:
TV drama based on Richard Burton's diaries, about his last performance in 1983 with ex-wife Elizabeth Taylor. They meet after several years and he agrees to her suggestion that they star in a stage revival on Broadway of Noel Coward's comedy 'Private Lives', although Elizabeth Taylor has never before performed on stage. Burton soon regrets his agreement, however, when her pill-popping and lack of discipline causes problems already during the rehearsals. The play opens to a critical trashing, but is popular with audiences because they just want to see Taylor. After a two month troubled run, the curtain comes down and Taylor tells Burton she has always loved him and still does. A year later he is dead.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, captivating, stylized, cult classic, historical drama, crying
Similar in 88%
W.C. Fields and Me (1976)
Plot Summary:
Film biography of actor-comedian W.C. Fields, concentrating on his years in Hollywood and his relationship with aspiring actress Caroltta Monti.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 495
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, skit, silent, parody, silent film
Similar in 85%
Flynn (1993)
Plot Summary:
A biographical movie on the film star Errol Flynn's early life before Hollywood fame.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 321
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 80%
The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980)
Plot Summary:
The gaudy rise and dizzy fall of the last great Hollywood blonde bombshell: Jayne Mansfield.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 956
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy, psychotronic, nostalgic
Similar in 89%
Bettie Page: Dark Angel (2004)
Plot Summary:
Bettie Page was America's number one pin-up girl in the 1950s and became a cult icon. This biopic tells the story of the last 3 years of her short-lived career, recreating the incriminating bondage films which gave her the nickname "Dark Angel", and led to her mysterious disappearance.
IMDB Rating: 3.4
IMDB Votes: 281
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 75 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sexual, captivating, sexy, iconic
Similar in 83%
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Plot Summary:
A film about the life and career of the early rock and roll star.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, serious, captivating, realistic, entertaining, light, clever
Similar in 83%
The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story (2014)
Plot Summary:
The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story delves into the experiences of six unknown young actors placed into the Hollywood spotlight, exposing the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sentimental
Similar in 89%
Martin and Lewis (2002)
Plot Summary:
The story of the 10-year rocky relationship between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 810
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, slapstick, sexual, sexy
Similar in 86%
See Arnold Run (2005)
Plot Summary:
This biographical docu-drama alternates between two parallel threads in the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger: his formative early years as the repeat winner of the Mr. Olympia body-building championship; and his modern foray into the world of politics, hitting the campaign trail and competing in the frenzied atmosphere that accompanied California's chaotic recall election.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 481
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 76%
Set Fire to the Stars (2014)
Plot Summary:
An aspiring poet in 1950s New York has his ordered world shaken when he embarks on a week-long retreat to save his hell raising hero, Dylan Thomas.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, atmospheric, realistic, psychological, captivating, black and white, serious, stylized, gloomy
Similar in 90%
Nina (2016)
Plot Summary:
The story of the late jazz musician and classical pianist Nina Simone including her rise to fame and relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: captivating, touching, serious, controversial, thought provoking, anamorphic, realistic, black cinema
Similar in 84%
The Brittany Murphy Story (2014)
Plot Summary:
A look at Brittany Murphy's rise to Hollywood fame in the 1990s, her struggles with celebrity and self-esteem, and her mysterious death in 2009 at the age of 32.
IMDB Rating: 3.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 87%
Polanski Unauthorized (2009)
Plot Summary:
An unauthorized chronicle of the life of Roman Polanski.
IMDB Rating: 2.7
IMDB Votes: 164
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, serious, realistic, captivating, sexual, independent film, sexy
Similar in 85%
Bruce Lee, My Brother (2010)
Plot Summary:
Bruce Lee, My Brother is an action-dramatic biopic of the eponymous martial arts legend as told by his younger brother, Robert Lee. It revolves around Bruce Lee's life as a rebellious adolescent in Hong Kong before he sets off for the USA and conquers the world at the age of 18 with only US$100 in his pocket.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, mind blowing
Similar in 77%
My Week with Marilyn (2011)
Plot Summary:
Sir Laurence Olivier is making a movie in London. Young Colin Clark, an eager film student, wants to be involved and he navigates himself a job on the set. When film star Marilyn Monroe arrives for the start of shooting, all of London is excited to see the blonde bombshell, while Olivier is struggling to meet her many demands and acting ineptness, and Colin is intrigued by her. Colin's intrigue is met when Marilyn invites him into her inner world where she struggles with her fame, her beauty and her desire to be a great actress.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 89000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: sentimental, period piece, romantic, melancholic, factual, touching, historical drama, smart, cute, informative
Similar in 79%
Anna Nicole (2013)
Plot Summary:
Voluptuous beauty Anna Nicole Smith marries an elderly millionaire and poses for Playboy, but after her husband's death, her excessive drinking, pill-popping and weight fluctuations take their toll.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, thought provoking, captivating, sexy
Similar in 82%
The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000)
Plot Summary:
The film spans from Hepburn's early childhood to the 1950s which details her life as a Dutch ballerina, coming to grips with her parents' divorce, and enduring life in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II. She then settles in the U.S. where she succeeds in making it big as a movie actress, in such movies as Breakfast at Tiffany's.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: uplifting, feel good, serious, sentimental, touching, emotional, realistic, iconic
Similar in 83%
Liz & Dick (2012)
Plot Summary:
On the set of Cleopatra, Hollywood's most beautiful star, Elizabeth Taylor, fell into the arms of one of the world's greatest actors, Richard Burton - and she didn't leave. Their subsequent white-hot, scandalous love affair gave rise to the paparazzi and they became the most hunted and photographed couple on earth. Their rocky, passionate, relationship, born in front of the cameras, was subsequently captured in a series of films, including The V.I.P.s and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The last of the great, extravagant stars, flaunting diamonds, yachts and private planes, they continually seized the headlines. They even divorced and married again - only to divorce again - but remain in each other's hearts. This Elizabeth Taylor - Richard Burton story is a no-holds barred account of their undying, but impossible love.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, stylized, sexy, ridiculous
Similar in 78%
Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996)
Plot Summary:
This film follows Norma Jean from her simple, ambitious youth to her sex star pinnacle and back down. She moves from lover to lover in order to further her career. She finds fame but never happiness, only knowing seduction but not love.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, serious, realistic, disturbing, contemplative, gloomy, iconic
Similar in 88%
James Dean (2001)
Plot Summary:
The man behind the legend and a knowing look at the 1950's Hollywood are revealed in this dynamic bioepic of the meteoric star whose troubled life echoed his gut-grabbing performances in East of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause and Giant.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic, captivating, clever, iconic
Similar in 76%
Grace Kelly (1983)
Plot Summary:
The fairy tale story of the actress who became a princess is told in this biography that traces her rise from Philadelphia socialite to Hollywood movie star.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 344
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 78%
Sal (2011)
Plot Summary:
James Franco's Sal chronicles the final hours of the life of actor Sal Mineo, one-time teen idol and star of the blockbuster films Rebel Without a Cause and Exodus.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 510
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: sincere, atmospheric, touching, serious, realistic, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 79%
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
Plot Summary:
Dorothy Parker remembers the heyday of the Algonquin Round Table, a circle of friends whose barbed wit, like hers, was fueled by alcohol and flirted with despair.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: intellectual, clever, witty, talky, heartbreaking, serious, captivating, realistic, cynical, independent film
Similar in 89%
Whitney (2015)
Plot Summary:
Chronicles Whitney Houston's rise to fame and turbulent relationship with husband Bobby Brown.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: emotional, realistic, touching, serious, sincere, entertaining