Best movies like Parenthood
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The story of the Buckman family and friends, attempting to bring up their children. They suffer/enjoy all the events that occur: estranged relatives, the "black sheep" of the family, the eccentrics, the skeletons in the closet, and the rebellious teenagers.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 54000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, realistic, funny, emotional, light, talky, philosophical, sweet, romantic comedy
Best tv shows and movies like Parenthood (1989):
Similar in 80%
Max Dugan Returns (1983)
Plot Summary:
An English teacher and struggling single mother has her life disrupted when the father who abandoned her as a child comes back into her life.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: talky, feel good, humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic, detective, funny, light, clever
Similar in 80%
Peep World (2010)
Plot Summary:
On the day of their Father's 70th birthday party, four siblings come to terms with the publication of a novel written by the youngest sibling, that exposes the family's most intimate secrets.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 79 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, talky, cynical, semi serious, funny, sad, independent film, crying
Similar in 85%
Polish Wedding (1998)
Plot Summary:
The film centers on a big Polish family. Jadzia is the mother and the ruler of the Pzoniak family (she has five children). Though she's happily married to Bolek, she is also having a long-time affair with Roman. Her young daughter Hala is having an affair with neighbour cop Russell and becomes pregnant by him. Russell is pressed hard to marry Hala.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: light, melancholic, sentimental, touching, semi serious, realistic, talky, stylized, independent film, clever
Similar in 87%
Pieces of April (2003)
Plot Summary:
Quirky and rebellious April Burns lives with her boyfriend in a low-rent New York City apartment miles away from her emotionally distant family. But when she discovers that her mother has a fatal form of breast cancer, she invites the clan to her place for Thanksgiving. While her father struggles to drive her family into the city, April -- an inexperienced cook -- runs into kitchen trouble and must ask a neighbor for help.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: realistic, emotional, intense, sentimental, touching, humorous, talky, entertaining, social, multicultural
Similar in 82%
Miss Firecracker (1989)
Plot Summary:
A girl from Yazoo City, Mississippi pins all her hopes on winning the local beauty pageant.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, talky, sentimental, semi serious, touching, feel good, independent film, clever, entertaining
Similar in 79%
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Plot Summary:
Between two Thanksgivings, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 75000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: ironic, humorous, talky, witty, sentimental, captivating, clever, intellectual, realistic, funny
Similar in 76%
Junebug (2005)
Plot Summary:
On the way to meet with an independent artist in the South, newlywed art dealer Madeleine is convinced by her husband, George, that they should stop to meet his family in North Carolina. Madeleine's affluent lifestyle clashes with the family, but she befriends George's wide-eyed and pregnant sister-in-law, Ashley, who is nearing her due date. Through the family, Madeleine gains greater insight into George's character.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: humorous, independent film, emotional, sentimental, semi serious, realistic, comedy drama, romantic, depressing, romantic comedy
Similar in 79%
Unstrung Heroes (1995)
Plot Summary:
Steven Lidz, unhappy with his home life since his mother got sick, goes and lives with his two crazy Uncles. There he changes and gets closer to his Uncles, but his parents want him home even though he is finally happy and popular. Written by Todd Weiser.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, offbeat, humorous, realistic, semi serious, light, atmospheric, thought provoking
Similar in 75%
Orange County (2002)
Plot Summary:
Shaun Brumder is a local surfer kid from Orange County who dreams of going to Stanford to become a writer and to get away from his disfunctional family household. Except Shaun runs into one complication after another starting when his application is rejected after his dim-witted guidance counselor sends the wrong application.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 52000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: funny, feel good, humorous, entertaining, semi serious, realistic, witty, scary, spiritual, dark comedy
Similar in 80%
The Bad Mother's Handbook (2007)
Plot Summary:
Karen Cooper wants to domineer her family and believes she's its pillar. In fact she does everything wrong. Thus she messes up all their lives and futures, rather then help her loved-ones.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 71 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, emotional, semi serious, funny, light, feel good, captivating, entertaining, realistic
Similar in 76%
Crooklyn (1994)
Plot Summary:
From Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her stubborn jazz-musician husband and their five kids living in '70s Brooklyn.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: humorous, sentimental, touching, light, melancholic, talky, stylized, hood, semi serious, sad
Similar in 90%
Mermaids (1990)
Plot Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Flax is tired of her wacky mom moving their family to a different town any time she feels it is necessary. When they move to a small Massachusetts town and Mrs. Flax begins dating a shopkeeper, Charlotte and her 9-year-old sister, Kate, hope that they can finally settle down. But when Charlotte's attraction to an older man gets in the way, the family must learn to accept each other for who they truly are.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: touching, sweet, teen, emotional, melancholic, sentimental, humorous, semi serious, feel good, funny
Similar in 78%
She's Having a Baby (1988)
Plot Summary:
Jake and Kristy Briggs are newlyweds. Being young, they are perhaps a bit unprepared for the full reality of marriage and all that it (and their parents) expect from them. Do they want babies? Their parents certainly want them to. Is married life all that there is? Things certainly aren't helped by Jake's friend Davis, who always seems to turn up just in time to put a spanner in the works.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, sweet, emotional, humorous, clever, touching, captivating, retro, realistic
Similar in 75%
Bruno (2000)
Plot Summary:
The story of a unique young boy genius, Bruno, whose expression of his own individuality leads his family and community along an emotional journey.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, emotional, semi serious, sentimental, humorous, inspirational, motivational, independent film, flamboyance
Similar in 82%
City Island (2009)
Plot Summary:
The Rizzos, a family who doesn't share their habits, aspirations, and careers with one another, find their delicate web of lies disturbed by the arrival of a young ex-con brought home by Vince, the patriarch of the family, who is a corrections officer in real life, and a hopeful actor in private.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 32000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: feel good, emotional, witty, independent film, funny, humorous, semi serious, sentimental, touching, realistic
Similar in 77%
This Is Where I Leave You (2014)
Plot Summary:
When their father passes away, four grown, world-weary siblings return to their childhood home and are requested -- with an admonition -- to stay there together for a week, along with their free-speaking mother and a collection of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. As the brothers and sisters re-examine their shared history and the status of each tattered relationship among those who know and love them best, they reconnect in hysterically funny and emotionally significant ways.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 88000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, independent film, emotional, melancholic, funny, realistic, hilarious, teen, thought provoking
Similar in 82%
Secrets & Lies (1996)
Plot Summary:
A middle-aged London factory worker is shocked when the mixed-race daughter she gave up at birth decides to track her down. At first she denies she is her mother. All family members become emotional, as everyone's secrets are exposed.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 46000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: emotional, independent film, touching, realistic, dark comedy, sincere, spiritual, social, art house, comedy drama
Similar in 84%
Four Christmases (2008)
Plot Summary:
Brad and Kate have made something of an art form out of avoiding their families during the holidays, but this year their foolproof plan is about go bust -- big time. Stuck at the city airport after all departing flights are canceled, the couple is embarrassed to see their ruse exposed to the world by an overzealous television reporter. Now, Brad and Kate are left with precious little choice other than to swallow their pride and suffer the rounds.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 78000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, funny, feel good, romantic, romantic comedy, entertaining, light, sex comedy, teen, happy
Similar in 80%
The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980's.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 89000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: depressing, sincere, talky, dark comedy, absurd, indie film, intellectual, realistic, witty, thought provoking
Similar in 90%
Dan in Real Life (2007)
Plot Summary:
Advice columnist, Dan Burns is an expert on relationships, but somehow struggles to succeed as a brother, a son and a single parent to three precocious daughters. Things get even more complicated when Dan finds out that the woman he falls in love with is actually his brother's new girlfriend.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 106000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: romantic, touching, humorous, feel good, funny, sweet, entertaining, semi serious, light, emotional
Similar in 83%
Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Plot Summary:
Freshly graduated from high school, Ana receives a full scholarship to Columbia University. Her very traditional, old-world parents feel that now is the time for Ana to help provide for the family, not the time for college.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, captivating, sentimental, clever, feel good, uplifting, intense, social, cult classic, humorous
Similar in 86%
Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)
Plot Summary:
A single mother, with dreams of becoming a writer, has a son at the age of 15 in 1965, and goes through a failed marriage with the drug-addicted father.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: emotional, melancholic, sentimental, touching, sad, teen, realistic, humorous, feel good, heartbreaking
Similar in 75%
Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
Plot Summary:
In 1976, a lower-middle-class teenager struggles to cope living with her neurotic family of nomads on the outskirts of Beverly Hills.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, humorous, disturbing, sincere, semi serious, teen, independent film, clever, black comedy, period piece
Similar in 82%
For Keeps? (1988)
Plot Summary:
Darcy, editor at her highschool paper, and her long-term boyfriend Stan are in their last months of school and already have found places in good colleges. Recently they started to sleep with each other and, surprise, surprise, Darcy gets pregnant. Neither Darcy's mother, who was left by her husband and had to bring up Darcy alone, nor Stan's catholic parents are very supportive and urge them to h.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, melancholic, light, romantic, sweet, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 77%
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Plot Summary:
A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 508000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: road movie, feel good, funny, melancholic, independent film, emotional, black comedy, dark comedy, sweet, humorous
Similar in 87%
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Plot Summary:
Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma's marriage, Aurora shows how difficult and loving she can be. The movie covers several years of their lives as each finds different reasons to go on living and find joy. Aurora's interludes with Garrett Breedlove, retired astronaut and next door neighbor are quite striking.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 64000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: tear jerker, touching, emotional, sad, heartbreaking, sentimental, compassionate, romantic, crying, realistic
Similar in 83%
Instant Family (2018)
Plot Summary:
When Pete and Ellie decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15 year old girl, they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 117000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: feel good, sweet, funny, sincere, light, inspirational, sad, humorous, emotional, touching
Similar in 78%
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
Plot Summary:
A story of two love affairs. A father's love for his five sons. And one son's love for his father, a love so strong it compels him to live a lie. That son is Zac Beaulieu, born on the 25th of December 1960, different from all his brothers, but desperate to fit in. During the next 20 years, life takes Zac on a surprising and unexpected journey that ultimately leads him to accept his true nature and, even more importantly, leads his father to love him for who he really is.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Canada, Morocco, France
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, humorous, sentimental, realistic, heartbreaking, talky, semi serious, independent film, inspirational
Similar in 88%
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Plot Summary:
Loving but irresponsible dad Daniel Hillard, estranged from his exasperated spouse, is crushed by a court order allowing only weekly visits with his kids. When Daniel learns his ex needs a housekeeper, he gets the job -- disguised as an English nanny. Soon he becomes not only his children's best pal but the kind of parent he should have been from the start.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 285000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, funny, hilarious, light, sentimental, romantic, sweet, romantic comedy, clever
Similar in 77%
Juno (2007)
Plot Summary:
A young girl named Juno gets herself pregnant and tries to stand on her own, but soon learns a few lessons about being grown up.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 543000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: funny, touching, sweet, sentimental, feel good, teen, humorous, realistic, comedy drama, cute