Best movies like Not for Publication
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Lois Thornedyke, the daughter of a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, writes a scandal column for a New York city tabloid.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 261
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: independent film, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sexual, sex comedy, sexy, neo screwball comedy, campy
Best tv shows and movies like Not for Publication (1984):
Similar in 78%
The Swinger (1966)
Plot Summary:
An authoress writes a steaming sex-novel and proceeds to live out her heroine's adventures.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 557
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, realistic, controversial, semi serious, sexual, sex comedy, sexy
Similar in 87%
Cry Uncle (1971)
Plot Summary:
Private detective Jack Masters takes on a case and gets mixed up in murder, sex and blackmail.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 667
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: erotic, raunchy, independent film, parody, offbeat, humorous, realistic, not serious, sex comedy, detective
Similar in 79%
Slim Susie (2003)
Plot Summary:
When Erik, a Stockholm urbanite, learns that his beauty-queen sister, Susie, is missing, he goes to their country roots to look for her. But after talking to the eccentric locals -- including a shy video store clerk and a corrupt police officer -- Erik finds a woman who is not at all like the girl he left behind. Award-winning director Ulf Malmros helms this black comedy infused with hipster flair.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: Sweden
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, cynical, semi serious, dark comedy, clever, realistic, biting, neo noir, black comedy, suspense
Similar in 88%
Hostile Makeover (2009)
Plot Summary:
Lacey Smithsonian is a stylish journalist who works as a television reporter. When interviewing a prestigious fashion designer Amanda Manville, it confesses that receives death threats from someone. Everything is complicated when the artist is shot dead during the program. Lacey will be involved in the case and launch an investigation to find the guilty.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 180
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, realistic, suspenseful, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Scandalous (1984)
Plot Summary:
An investigative reporter following an espionage story goes to London and gets involved with murder, scam artists and rock concerts.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 261
Genere: Comedy, Mystery
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film, humorous, realistic, suspenseful, witty, semi serious, dark comedy
Similar in 81%
Trixie (2000)
Plot Summary:
Emily Watson stars as Trixie, an eccentric woman who aspires to quit her job as a security guard and become a private detective. However, comedy intervenes and the mess begins.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: humorous, enigmatic, stylized, semi serious, suspense, detective, independent film, offbeat, realistic, witty
Similar in 81%
Switching Channels (1988)
Plot Summary:
A television news chief courts his anchorwoman ex-wife with an eleventh-hour story.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, crying, weeping, feel good, unusual plot structure, bad ending, political
Similar in 87%
Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Plot Summary:
After the theft of copies of SAT exams from a principal's office, teenage reporter Bobby Funke sets out to unmask the thief. Bobby prints an article fingering Class President Paul Moore as the thief, shredding the youth's reputation. But as Bobby gets to know Paul's girlfriend, Francesca, he comes to realize he was wrong about Paul, so he sets out to unmask the true culprit.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: realistic, stylized, talky, semi serious, humorous, suspenseful, teen, clever, neo noir, intense
Similar in 86%
Basic Training (1985)
Plot Summary:
Melinda comes to Washington DC to visit her friend Debbie, and to find a job in government, where she hopes to do her part to make it better. She gets a lower echelon administrative position at the Pentagon, and finds things pretty slack. Her boss seems to be more interested in getting into her pants than trying to find lost data on the Russians. Melinda resists his advances and begins working her way up in the Pentagon, finding subtle ways of getting her policies implemented by manipulating the slovenly males that populate the Pentagon, including finding a way to defuse the mounting conflict with the Russians.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 508
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, sex comedy, feel good, light, independent film, realistic, sexual, sexy
Similar in 85%
So Fine (1981)
Plot Summary:
While trying to get his father out of a financial jam, a man comes up with an idea that turns into an unexpected overnight financial fashion success - the bottomless pants.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sex comedy, sexy, entertaining, humorous, realistic, semi serious, parody, funny, romantic, thought provoking
Similar in 88%
Grilled (2006)
Plot Summary:
Two meat salesmen (Romano, James) will stop at nothing to get a sale.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, feel good, captivating, atmospheric, realistic
Similar in 90%
The 24 Hour Woman (1999)
Plot Summary:
Grace tries to be the perfect mother and TV producer but finds trouble in juggling both.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 466
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: emotional, suspense, humorous, realistic, independent film, sentimental, clever, touching, witty, semi serious
Similar in 88%
Wild Card (2003)
Plot Summary:
Wild Card is an American comedy-drama series starring Joely Fisher. It was broadcast in the United States on Lifetime, and on the Global Television Network in Canada from August 2003 to July 2005.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 360
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, humorous, emotional, semi serious, realistic
Similar in 81%
Corporate Affairs (2008)
Plot Summary:
A family man (Meyer) recent promoted to middle management at work immerses himself in a world of questionable personal and professional ethics by a colleague (Scott).
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 414
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Quick Change (1990)
Plot Summary:
With the aid of his girlfriend, Phyllis Potter, and best friend, Loomis, Grimm enters a Manhattan bank dressed as a clown, creates a hostage situation and executes a flawless robbery. The only thing left for the trio to do is make their getaway out of the city and to the airport. It sounds simple enough, but it seems that fate deserts them immediately after the bank heist. One mishap after another conspires to keep these robbers from reaching freedom.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, absurd, cult classic, witty, sweet, buddy comedy, fast, realistic
Similar in 84%
Fletch Lives (1989)
Plot Summary:
Fletch is a fish out of water in small-town Louisiana, where he's checking out a tumbledown mansion he's inherited. When a woman he flirts with turns up dead, Fletch becomes a suspect and must find the killer and clear his name. In the meantime, he's got some serious home-ownership issues, such as termites and weird neighbors.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: humorous, slapstick, detective, realistic, witty, semi serious, hilarious, slapstick comedy, parody, funny
Similar in 78%
Fletch (1985)
Plot Summary:
A veritable chameleon, investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher might drive his editor up the wall, but he always produces great pieces for the newspaper. When his next story is about the drug trade taking place on the beach, Fletch goes undercover as a homeless man. Unaware of Fletch's true identity, businessman Alan Stanwyk offers Fletch $50,000 to kill him. Intrigued, Fletch decides to unearth the full story behind the offer.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, light, talky, entertaining, realistic, semi serious, detective, hilarious, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
The Perfect You (2002)
Plot Summary:
A waiter/writer living with his dad and a neat freak who's just landed a job as a reporter in New York, meet by colliding on the Brooklyn Bridge, and romance ensues.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 798
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, independent film, realistic, sex comedy
Similar in 82%
Head Office (1985)
Plot Summary:
In this comic take on big-business wheelings and dealings, an ambitious senator's son (Judge Reinhold) moves up the corporate ladder through undeserved promotions. But against his better judgment, he falls for a woman (the chairman's daughter, no less) who's leading a protest against the company's shady business practices. "Saturday Night Live" writer-performer Michael O'Donoghue scripted this satire co-starring Danny DeVito and Jane Seymour.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: realistic, humorous, witty, semi serious, clever, biting, satirical, suspense, eighties
Similar in 82%
King's Ransom (2005)
Plot Summary:
Hoping to foil his own gold-digging wife's plan, a loathsome businessman arranges his own kidnapping, only to realize that there are plenty of other people interested in his wealth as well.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: witty, humorous, semi serious, feel good, light, realistic, fast
Similar in 78%
The Boss' Wife (1986)
Plot Summary:
Daniel Stern stars as a stockbroker trying to climb the corporate ladder. There's only one thing stopping him...his boss' beautiful and flirtatious wife! THE BOSS' WIFE is a full-bodied, high-spirited, bedroom comedy about lust, love and lechery.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 667
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: sex comedy, sexy, offbeat, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sexual, buddy comedy
Similar in 78%
Get a Clue (2002)
Plot Summary:
A rich kid and her friends investigate the disappearance of one of her teachers.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Family, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, semi serious, teen, romantic, family comedy, realistic
Similar in 84%
The Linguini Incident (1991)
Plot Summary:
A waitress (Rosanna Arquette), a barman (David Bowie) and an underwear designer (Eszter Balint) try to rob a New York restaurant where two of them work.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: offbeat, independent film, clever, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Me and Mrs. Jones (2002)
Plot Summary:
Tabloid journalist Liam Marple, sets about to dig up dirt on Laura Bowden, the new British Prime Minister. Posing as a political fundraiser, Liam gains entrance into Number 10 Downing, where he promptly wins the confidence of the idealistic PM.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 333
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, romantic, sexual
Similar in 81%
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
Plot Summary:
CW Briggs is a veteran insurance investigator, with many successes. Betty Ann Fitzgerald is a new employee in the company he works for, with the task of reorganizing the office. They don't like each other - or at least that's what they think. During a night out with the rest of the office employees, they go to watch Voltan, a magician who secretly hypnotizes both of them.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 42000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Romance
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, detective, neo noir, realistic, atmospheric, feel good, semi serious, funny, mind bending
Similar in 80%
Eating Raoul (1982)
Plot Summary:
A relatively boring Los Angeles couple discover a bizarre, if not murderous way to get funding for opening a restaurant.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, black comedy, cult classic, funny, dark, surreal, humorous, witty, erotic, psychedelic
Similar in 75%
The Last Married Couple in America (1980)
Plot Summary:
Jeff and Mari Thompson have been married for fifteen years. Although their marriage is not perfect, they are seemingly happy in their married and family life. But all their married friends seem to be getting divorced or separated. These newly single friends try to convince both Jeff and Mari - together and individually - that divorce is the way to go. Even if they do decide to remarry, it will be an inevitability that that marriage too will end in divorce. And divorce can even re-energize the love in an otherwise stale marriage. In light of these assertions by their friends, Jeff and Mari do evaluate their marriage. Their friends also place each of them in potentially compromising positions, despite the fact that they still are married. Will Jeff and Mari's marriage be able to withstand all this outside pressure?.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 722
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: sexy, sex comedy, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sexual
Similar in 89%
Intern (2000)
Plot Summary:
A young, underappreciated intern at the ultra-hip magazine Skirt must learn to deal with kissy-face phoniness, model tantrums and bulimic editors, while trying to steal the heart of a dashing British art director from the grips of a supermodel.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 724
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 87%
In the Weeds (2000)
Plot Summary:
It's Martha's first night as a waitress in an upscale New York restaurant. Veteran Chloe shows her the ropes and introduces her to the lives of the restaurant staff. Adam, a hopeful playwright, suffers for his art while dealing with a very indecisive (ex-?)girlfriend. Marlon is a cocky young actor, certain that his big break is just around the corner. When the restaurant's obnoxious owner, Simon, brings a special client in for dinner, pressures mount until an explosion seems inevitable.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 441
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, witty, semi serious, sex comedy, independent film, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 75%
The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
Plot Summary:
A Florida con man uses the passing of the long time Congressman from his district who he just happens to share a name with, to get elected to his version of paradise, Congress, where the money flows from lobbyists. But soon he learns the nature of the game and decides to fight back the only way he knows how, with a con.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: political, realistic, clever, humorous, parody, relaxing, witty, semi serious, hilarious, funny