Best movies like Purlie
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Based on Davis' 1961 play Purlie Victorious (which was later translated into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days! and which included all of the original Broadway cast, including Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Beah Richards, and Godfrey Cambridge), it is set in an era when Jim Crow laws still were in effect in the American South. Its focus is on dynamic traveling preacher Purlie Victorious Judson, who returns to his small Georgia town hoping to save Big Bethel, the community's church, and emancipate the cotton pickers who work on oppressive Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee's plantation. With the assistance of Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, Purlie hopes to pry loose from Cotchipee an inheritance due his long-lost cousin and use the money to achieve his goals. Also playing a part in Purlie's plans is Cotchipee's son Charlie, who ultimately proves to be far more liberal than his Simon Legree-like father and saves the church from destruction with an act of defiance that has fatal consequences.
IMDB Rating: 8.9
IMDB Votes: 115
Genere: Comedy, Musical, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags:
Best tv shows and movies like Purlie (1981):
Similar in 88%
Nunsense (1993)
Plot Summary:
An unfortunate convent cooking accident causes most of the order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken to die of botulism. Before all of the deceased sisters can be buried, Reverend Mother Superior (Rue McClanahan) buys a camcorder and VCR for the convent - resulting in not having enough money to bury the four remaining sisters (which, by the way, are temporarily being stored in the freezer). In order to raise money to bury the four dead sisters, the Little Sisters of Hoboken (well, what's left of them) put on a riotous revue packed with hilarious, show-stopping song and dance numbers.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 184
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 78%
Knucklehead (2015)
Plot Summary:
When his brother disappears, mentally disabled Langston Bellows (Gbenga Akinnagbe) is left without a protector in Brooklyn's housing projects. Now under the control of his abusive mother (Alfre Woodard) Langston must take his future into his own hands. He sets out to find the one doctor he believes can cure him, a celebrity magazine columnist who touts questionable prescription drug cocktails. If Langston can become "mentally excellent", it will mean moving into an apartment of his own with his girlfriend, who may herself be a creation of his wishful thinking. Landing in the unscrupulous world of pharmaceutical marketing, the search for his mysterious doctor and hero leads to some unwanted discoveries. Langston strives for independence from his prior life; from his mother, from his neighborhood and from his fractured mind - while all around him people are not who they seem.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 105
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 90%
A Star of the Screen (1974)
Plot Summary:
A young actress before playing in the movie legendary partisan, looking for everyone who knew her character. And suddenly learns that the fearless guerrilla is alive and works as the Director of resort hotel where the film crew stopped. Then follow the exciting meeting of the rising movie star with the heroine of the glorious past and the truth of life….
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 27
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: Soviet Union
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Darktown Strutters (1975)
Plot Summary:
When a prominent abortion clinic owner goes missing along with a string of other black community leaders, her singing daughter and her fellow female biker gang members investigate.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 523
Genere: Action, Comedy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: surreal, psychedelic, independent film, slapstick comedy, slapstick, campy, cult film
Similar in 85%
Applause (1973)
Plot Summary:
An aspiring actress, whose sugar-coated appearance belies her ruthless drive, worms herself into the life of an aging star and schemes to replace her on the stage as the star of a new play.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 183
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Forever Plaid (2008)
Plot Summary:
Forever Plaid is an affectionate musical homage to the close-harmony 'guy groups' that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. This quartet of high-school chums, and their earnest dreams of recording an album, ended (symbolically, and even literally) in death, when their cherry red '54 Mercury collided with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The girls were fine. The play begins with the wondrous and wondering Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 87
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)
Plot Summary:
Film version of Melvin Van Peebles' Broadway musical. A pair of devil-bats take human form and crash a Harlem house party in an attempt to break it up. But somehow, their attempts to ruin the party fail.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 370
Genere: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, offbeat, feel good, humorous, semi serious, black cinema, cult film
Similar in 89%
Snow Day (2022)
Plot Summary:
A pair of siblings make the most of a school snow day, while trying to avoid their nemesis, the Snowplowman.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 329
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 84%
Oh! Calcutta! (1972)
Plot Summary:
Based on the controversial off-Broadway musical comedy revue, "Oh! Calcutta! is a series of musical numbers about sex and sexual mores. Most of the skits feature one or more performers in either a state of undress, simulating sex, or both.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 297
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: erotic, sketch comedy, independent film
Similar in 81%
Blue's Big City Adventure (2022)
Plot Summary:
When Josh gets the opportunity of a lifetime to audition for Rainbow Puppy’s Broadway musical, Josh and Blue skidoo to NYC for the very first time where they meet new friends and discover the magic of music, dance, and following one’s dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 707
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 79%
Come Blow Your Horn (1963)
Plot Summary:
The story of a young man's decision to leave the home of his parents for the bachelor pad of his older brother who leads a swinging '60s lifestyle.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: retro, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 81%
Gone Are the Days! (1963)
Plot Summary:
A young, idealistic man returns home to the plantation where he grew up in servitude. With him, he brings his fiance, Lutiebelle, in hopes of convincing the plantation owner that she is really his cousin in order to secure the family inheritance. To aid in the comic complications that follow are his family members Missy and Gitlow, and the plantation owners endearing (but ineffectual) son Charlie.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 207
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 81%
Ah, Vaudeville, Vaudeville... (1980)
Plot Summary:
A romantic love story set in a good old XIX century in the best traditions of Russian vaudevilles.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 187
Genere: Comedy, Musical
Country: Soviet Union
Duration: 67 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
The Kid with the Broken Halo (1982)
Plot Summary:
Andy LeBeau is a fallen angel of sorts. He keeps messing up and causing trouble in angel training. The archangel, Michael, decides to give him one more shot. His mission: Help out the problems of three cases. First, the Desautel family, who are on the edge of breaking up. Then, the McNulty family, who are workaholics. Finally, Dorothea Powell who is a secluded, grumpy old woman. Andy's guide on earth is Blake, who is none too thrilled to work with Andy.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 264
Genere: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 88%
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1973)
Plot Summary:
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 292
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
The Kid With the 200 I.Q. (1983)
Plot Summary:
A very intelligent teenager is sent to college where he meets his roommate, a popular jock. Therefore, he must learn to adapt to adult life, wild parties, and romance.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 344
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 78%
A Baby for Christmas (2015)
Plot Summary:
It's Christmas with the Chandlers but no one seems to have the Christmas spirit - except for Stephanie, that is. Marci and Blair are obsessing over being the perfect parents, Myra and Donald have retired and suddenly feel useless and Elizabeth is bending over backwards to get a promotion at work. Add to that Stephanie's blooming romance with Lawrence - who is torn between being with her and continuing his mission work - and Christmas seems to be taking a back seat. That is, until a group of kids at an orphanage helps the family to realize that there's more to Christmas than wrapping gifts and baking cookies.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 179
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 87%
Norman... Is That You? (1976)
Plot Summary:
Parents (Redd Foxx, Pearl Bailey) discover their son is gay and lives in Hollywood with his white lover (Dennis Dugan).
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 433
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: sex comedy, queer cinema
Similar in 81%
John Grin's Christmas (1986)
Plot Summary:
An adaptation of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol " with Robert Guillaume as John Grin, the Scrooge character. His son Kevin has a role as the Bob Cratchit character, with Geoffrey Holder and Ted Lange as two of the Ghosts.
IMDB Rating: 8.9
IMDB Votes: 37
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: christmas special
Similar in 77%
Once Upon a Mattress (1972)
Plot Summary:
The second television adaptation of Once Upon a Mattress was broadcast on December 12, 1972, on CBS. This production, videotaped in color, included original Broadway cast members Burnett, Gilford and White, and also featured Bernadette Peters as Lady Larken, Ken Berry as Prince Dauntless, Ron Husmann as Harry, and Wally Cox as The Jester. It was directed by Ron Field and Dave Powers.[9] Again, several songs were eliminated and characters were combined or altered. Since the parts of the Minstrel and the Wizard were cut from this adaptation, a new prologue was written with Burnett singing "Many Moons Ago" as a bedtime story.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 171
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: fairy tale
Similar in 78%
The J Team (2021)
Plot Summary:
The story follows a young girl named JoJo whose life is turned upside down when her beloved dance coach decides to retire and is replaced by a sparkle-hating instructor named Poppy. Wanting to stay in the running for an upcoming dance competition, JoJo and her best friends, The Rubies, must try their hardest to abide by Poppy’s new, harsh rules. Realizing she cannot hide her sparkle or bow anymore, JoJo is kicked out of her dance troupe and must rediscover what dancing means to her.
IMDB Rating: 3.7
IMDB Votes: 333
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Benson (1979)
Plot Summary:
Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap; however, Benson discarded the soap opera format of its parent show in favor of a more conventional sitcom structure. The series was created by Susan Harris, and produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, political, humorous, realistic, witty, not serious
Similar in 81%
Annie Live! (2021)
Plot Summary:
A young orphan opens the heart of billionaire Sir Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 80%
Five on the Black Hand Side (1973)
Plot Summary:
Leonard Jackson plays a barber who is also the domineering head of a middle-class African American family. Jackson is forced to rethink his values when his previously docile wife (Clarice Taylor) joins their three children in rebelling against her husband's retrogressive behavior.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 476
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 78%
John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)
Plot Summary:
John Mulaney and his kid pals tackle existential topics for all ages with catchy songs, comedy sketches and special guests in a nostalgic variety special.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious, funny, sitcom, cult classic, weird
Similar in 88%
The Music Man (1962)
Plot Summary:
A con man comes to an Iowa town with a scam using a boy's marching band program, but things don't go according to plan.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 151 min
Plot tags: period piece, sentimental, retro, entertaining, aesthetic, feel good, humorous, captivating, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Sneakerella (2022)
Plot Summary:
When El, an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens, meets Kira King, the fiercely independent daughter of legendary basketball star and sneaker tycoon Darius King, sparks fly as the two bond over their mutual affinity for sneakers. With a little nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic, El finds the courage to use his talent to pursue his dream of becoming a ‘legit’ sneaker designer in the industry.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious, teen comedy
Similar in 81%
Annie: A Royal Adventure! (1995)
Plot Summary:
Annie is back! Along with her friends Molly, Hannah, her dog Sandy, and her wealthy father Oliver Warbucks. They take a trip to England where Oliver Warbucks is going to be Knighted by the King. Annie and the gang stumbles onto a wicked scheme led by an evil noblewoman who plans to blow up Buckingham Palace so she can become Queen and claim the throne for herself! And now it is up to Annie and her friends to stop her!.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 789
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Annie (1982)
Plot Summary:
An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan, Annie believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks' mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 48000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: feel good, sentimental, period piece, inspirational, retro, entertaining, juvenile, cult classic, touching, humorous
Similar in 90%
Annie (2014)
Plot Summary:
Ever since her parents left her as a baby, little Annie has led a hard-knock life with her calculating foster mother, Miss Hannigan. However, all that changes when hard-nosed billionaire and mayoral candidate Will Stacks takes her in on the recommendation of his advisers. Stacks believes that he's Annie's guardian angel, but the plucky youngster's confidence and sunny outlook may mean that Annie will save Will instead.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 40000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: emotional, touching, feel good, sincere, teen, captivating, sentimental, realistic, hilarious, humorous