Best movies like RKO 281
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A film about the making of Citizen Kane. Orson Welles produces his greatest film, Citizen Kane, despite the opposition of the film's de facto subject, William Randolph Hearst.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: talky, historical drama, sentimental, atmospheric, clever, serious, realistic, stylized, tense, light
Best tv shows and movies like RKO 281 (1999):
Similar in 80%
The Happiest Place on Earth (1999)
Plot Summary:
The story of Robert Hughes-Lambert, who was captured by Nazis when his active homosexuality was discovered during the filming of Mermoz (1943).
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 43
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: France, Germany, Switzerland
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: clever, bleak, realistic, witty, disturbing, semi serious, biting, suspense
Similar in 77%
The Patricia Neal Story (1981)
Plot Summary:
The actress (Glenda Jackson) recovers from a 1966 stroke with help from friends and her husband, author Roald Dahl (Dirk Bogarde).
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 209
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 76%
The Girl (2012)
Plot Summary:
Director Alfred Hitchcock is revered as one of the greatest creative minds in the history of cinema. Known for his psychological thrillers, Hitchcock’s leading ladies were cool, beautiful and preferably blonde. One such actress was Tippi Hedren, an unknown fashion model given her big break when Hitchcock’s wife saw her on a TV commercial. Brought to Universal Studios, Hedren was shocked when the director, at the peak of his career, quickly cast her to star in his next feature, 1963’s The Birds. Little did Hedren know that as ambitious and terrifying as the production would be to shoot, the most daunting aspect of the film ended up coming from behind the camera.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, South Africa, USA, Germany
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, captivating, stylized, realistic, metafiction, period drama
Similar in 86%
Mank (2020)
Plot Summary:
1930s Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 81000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: black and white, historical drama, sentimental, inspirational, emotional, intense, funny, neo noir, period piece, art film
Similar in 86%
The George Raft Story (1961)
Plot Summary:
Ray Danton plays the title role in director Joseph M. Newman's 1961 film biography of the nightclub dancer-turned-movie star. The cast also includes Jayne Mansfield, Barrie Chase, Julie London, Neville Brand and Frank Gorshin.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 290
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: independent film, serious, realistic, stylized, slang, psychotronic
Similar in 76%
Winchell (1998)
Plot Summary:
The true story of the influential and controversial columnist, Walter Winchell.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 623
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, clever, serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing, cynical, biting, suspense
Similar in 76%
Growing Up Brady (2000)
Plot Summary:
A tell-all story of what happened behind the scenes of the 70s hit TV series "The Brady Bunch." Based on the book written by Barry Williams, the actor who played Greg Brady.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 704
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sitcom, sentimental, humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic, sexual, sexy
Similar in 85%
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 88%
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 90%
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 76%
Enid (2009)
Plot Summary:
Edwardian child Enid Blyton begins to tell stories to her brothers as an escape from their parents' rows before the father deserts the family.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, costume drama, cult classic, period drama, weird
Similar in 85%
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 77%
The Pirates of Somalia (2017)
Plot Summary:
After an inspiring chance encounter with his idol, rookie journalist Jay Bahadur uproots his life and moves to Somalia looking for the story of a lifetime. Hooking up with a local fixer, he attempts to get embedded with the local Somali pirates, only to quickly find himself in over his head.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: South Africa, USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, exciting, suspense, factual, art house, cult classic, lovecraft, interesting
Similar in 81%
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 76%
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 78%
Hitchcock (2012)
Plot Summary:
Hitchcock follows the relationship between director Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the making of his most famous film "Psycho" - and the trials and tribulations the director faced from Hollywood censors.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 79000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: suspense, psychological, suspenseful, tricky, serious, captivating, retro, mysterious, cult classic, historical drama
Similar in 79%
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 82%
The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977)
Plot Summary:
The Amazing Howard Hughes is a 1977 television movie about American aviation pioneer and filmmaker Howard Hughes, based on the book by Hughes' business partner Noah Dietrich. The film starred Tommy Lee Jones, Ed Flanders, and Tovah Feldshuh.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 660
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 215 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic
Similar in 82%
Baadasssss! (2003)
Plot Summary:
Director Mario Van Peebles chronicles the complicated production of his father Melvin's classic 1971 film, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." Playing his father in the film, Van Peebles offers an unapologetic account of Melvin's brash and sometimes deceptive conduct on the set of the film, including questionable antics like writing bad checks, tricking a local fire department and allowing his son, Mario, to shoot racy sex scenes at the age of 11.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: sweet, suspense, talky, thought provoking, contemplative, serious, realistic, touching, political, breathtaking
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 78%
Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story (2011)
Plot Summary:
Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story is a made-for-TV film starring Australian actress Poppy Montgomery. The film, which was shot in B.C. Canada locations altered to look like British locations, details the journey of struggling single mother J. K. Rowling, her bid to become a published author, and her rise to fame that followed the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The film aired on Lifetime on July 18th and was criticized for being too lacklustre (mainly down to the fiercely private author having no say in the production) but it also shed some light on her personal life and featured scenes such as her highly abusive first husband and the death of her mother. The eponymous J.K. Rowling is the world's first billionaire (in terms of US dollars) author and the films inspired by her books have been the highest grossing films of all time. Poppy Montgomery reportedly got blue contact lenses to play the role of the highly influential author.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, sincere, touching, realistic, inspirational, art film, ridiculous
Similar in 88%
Life (2015)
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
Similar in 84%
Star 80 (1983)
Plot Summary:
Paul Snider is a narcissistic, small time hustler who fancies himself a ladies man. His life changes when he meets Dorothy Stratten working behind the counter of a Dairy Queen.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: disturbing, stylized, serious, suspenseful, realistic, depressing, thought provoking, neo noir, cynical, gloomy
Similar in 76%
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 81%
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 75%
Trumbo (2015)
Plot Summary:
The career of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo is halted by a witch hunt in the late 1940s when he defies the anti-communist HUAC committee and is blacklisted.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 84000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: political, talky, factual, inspirational, touching, emotional, suspense, intense, sad, depressing
Similar in 83%
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 89%
Last Call (2002)
Plot Summary:
Renowned writer F. Scott Fitzgerald is living the last months of his life with his youthful secretary, confidant, and protégé who later wrote a memoir of their time together.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 963
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: clever, serious, emotional, realistic, contemplative, gloomy, spiritual, masterpiece
Similar in 87%
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 81%
The Aviator (2004)
Plot Summary:
A biopic depicting the life of filmmaker and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes from 1927 to 1947, during which time he became a successful film producer and an aviation magnate, while simultaneously growing more unstable due to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 379000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 170 min
Plot tags: realistic, epic, stylized, period piece, captivating, suspense, factual, visual, visually stunning, compassionate