Best movies like Rocket Science
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Hal, a 15-year-old high-school student with a minor yet socially alienating (and painful) disability: he stutters uncontrollably. Determined to work through the problem, Hal opts for an extreme route he joins the school debating team, which sends him on a headfirst plunge into breakneck speech competitions and offers a much-needed boost toward correcting the problem.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: clever, sincere, psychological, sentimental, touching, teen, indie film, realistic, funny, feel good
Best tv shows and movies like Rocket Science (2007):
Similar in 85%
Puberty Blues (1981)
Plot Summary:
The mating rituals of two teenage surf chicks from the southern suburbs of Sydney.Meet Sue, a teenage Australian girl in the late 70s, whose life mainly consists of doing what everyone else does - watch the surfing boys and have sex with the same surfing boys. The girls have to follow lots of strange customs, e.g. do not eat or go to the bathroom when a boy is around. Ugly girls have two choices - being bitches and hate boys, or being generally cheap and looked down upon by everyone. The afternoons are spent on the beaches, in the backseats of car or at home-alone-parties where sex and alcohol are the main ingredients. Parents and teachers are trying to straighten the kids out, but that is not easy.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Australia
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: teen sex comedy, sex comedy, anamorphic, realistic, semi serious, independent film, iconic
Similar in 76%
Mid90s (2018)
Plot Summary:
Stevie is a sweet 13-year-old about to explode. His mom is loving and attentive, but a little too forthcoming about her romantic life. His big brother is a taciturn and violent bully. So Stevie searches his working-class Los Angeles suburb for somewhere to belong. He finds it at the Motor Avenue skate shop.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 75000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, social, teen, humorous, inspirational, retro, brutal, controversial, independent film, dark comedy
Similar in 79%
The Chumscrubber (2005)
Plot Summary:
The Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too self consumed to worry about anything else than themselves. And everybody is on some form of drug just to get through their days.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: surreal, dark comedy, bleak, independent film, black comedy, humorous, semi serious, witty, dark, clever
Similar in 78%
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
Plot Summary:
A group of Catholic school friends, after being caught drawing an obscene comic book, plan a heist that will outdo their previous prank and make them local legends.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: realistic, talky, teen, harsh, touching, independent film, epic, sex comedy, sentimental, atmospheric
Similar in 80%
Flower (2017)
Plot Summary:
Rebellious, quick-witted Erica Vandross is a 17-year-old firecracker living with her single mom, Laurie, and her mom's new boyfriend, Bob, in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. When Bob's mentally unbalanced son, Luke, arrives from rehab to live with the family, Erica finds her domestic and personal life overwhelmed. With Luke and her sidekicks Kala and Claudine in tow, Erica acts out by exposing a high school teacher's dark secret.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, suspense, psychological, road movie, mumblecore, disturbing, sexy, independent film, dark comedy, cult classic
Similar in 77%
Fat Girls (2006)
Plot Summary:
Fat Girls is an original off-beat comedy feature. It focuses on Rodney Miller, not your typical Texas high school student...he is a theater lover and his ultimate dream is to be on Broadway. Awkward and shy, he doesn't have many people to talk to in his small Texas town that understand him. He ends up finding what he was looking for in his theater teacher, Mr. Cox.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 583
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, semi serious, clever, realistic, sexual, crying, freeze frame, sexy, cult film
Similar in 85%
Running with Scissors (2006)
Plot Summary:
Young Augusten Burroughs absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father and an unstable mother, he's handed off to his mother's therapist, Dr. Finch, and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch's bizarre extended family.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: disturbing, stylized, intense, touching, realistic, talky, humorous, tragicomedy, psychological, cult classic
Similar in 81%
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%
The Last of the High Kings (1996)
Plot Summary:
It is 1977, Dublin rocks to the music of Thin Lizzy and the world is stunned by the death of Elvis Presley. Frankie, caught between acne and adulthood, has just completed his final exams in school. Convinced he will fail, he survives the summer organising a beach party, having lustful thoughts about two girls he believes are unobtainable and fending off the advances from a visiting American family friend, all whilst coping with his oddball family.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Ireland, Denmark, UK
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, talky, sentimental, touching, feel good, semi serious, sincere, independent film, realistic
Similar in 79%
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988)
Plot Summary:
A recent high school graduate is faced with two options, either go to a business school where his father wants him to go to, or get a full time job. However he decides to defy his father and go to Hawaii. Trouble is he has no money. Along the way he comes to understand his parents and eventually bonds with his father.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, humorous, semi serious, touching, entertaining, sex comedy, realistic, erotic, romantic, sexy
Similar in 83%
Thumbsucker (2005)
Plot Summary:
Justin, a teenager boy, throws himself and everyone around him into chaos when he attempts to break free from his addiction to his thumb.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: emotional, humorous, witty, sentimental, dark comedy, realistic, independent film, funny, gothic, educational
Similar in 77%
Igby Goes Down (2002)
Plot Summary:
A young man's peculiar upbringing renders him unable to competently cope with the struggle of growing up.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, depressing, cynical, humorous, clever, realistic, witty, talky, suspense, black comedy
Similar in 81%
Outside Providence (1999)
Plot Summary:
In this coming-of-age comedy, Tim Dunphy is leading a go-nowhere existence, spending his days smoking pot and hanging out with his best friend, Drugs Delaney. But Tim's lazy days of getting high are jettisoned after a brush with the law convinces his blue-collar dad to send him to a Connecticut prep school. The one saving grace of the new school is Jane, a fellow student Tim falls for immediately.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, sweet, intense, semi serious, touching, independent film, epic, sentimental, realistic
Similar in 87%
Angus (1995)
Plot Summary:
Angus is a large, pathetic 14 year old whose thoughts are most often filled with the image of one Melissa Lefevre. Angus is shy and thinks that he has no chance of ever 'getting' her. Being especially uncool, he is incredibly surprised (along with the rest of the school) that he is chosen to dance with her at the Winter Ball. The only one not surprised is the cool-kid who set him up to fail, but Angus' best friend is going to help him win the heart of Melissa by developing a new look for him.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France, Germany, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, light, sentimental, humorous, teen, touching, realistic, epic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 86%
Kick'n Rush (2003)
Plot Summary:
The story revolves around Jakob, Bo and Mikkel - three friends who spend their days lusting over unattainable women and engaging in a variety of illegal activities (i.e. they'll rent a movie and then break into a house to watch it). After he's assigned to work with Mathilde on a school project, Jakob finds himself falling for the girl - despite the fact that Mikkel has been secretly lusting after her for years.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 502
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Denmark
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: realistic, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Saved! (2004)
Plot Summary:
Teenage Mary Cummings, who has "been Born Again her whole life," is about to enter her senior year at American Eagle Christian High School near Baltimore with her Fundamentalist Christian friends Hilary Faye and Veronica, the three of whom have formed a girl group called the Christian Jewels. Everything seems perfect—until Mary’s "perfect Christian boyfriend" Dean tells her, as they’re swimming underwater, that he thinks he's gay.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: touching, independent film, witty, humorous, funny, teen, dark comedy, clever, realistic, cult classic
Similar in 89%
The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Plot Summary:
Two high school girls are best friends until one dates the other's older brother, who is totally his sister's nemesis.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 138000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, China
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: teen, emotional, witty, touching, realistic, depressing, suspense, comedy drama, parody, inspirational
Similar in 86%
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Plot Summary:
An unattractive 7th grader struggles to cope with suburban life as the middle child with un-attentive parents and bullies at school.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, disturbing, realistic, depressing, black comedy, brutal, controversial, cult classic, teen, talky
Similar in 84%
How to Deal (2003)
Plot Summary:
Mandy Moore stars as Halley, a young hip high school student who's convinced true love doesn't exist based on the crazy relationships around her. Her mother is divorcing her father who is dating a younger woman Halley can't stand. Her crazed sister is planning a wedding but has second thoughts and her best friend has fallen madly in love for the first time leaving Halley to feel even more alone.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: romantic, sweet, sentimental, feel good, semi serious, teen, touching, humorous, realistic, light
Similar in 89%
Terri (2011)
Plot Summary:
Terri, a pajama-clad, disaffected high school student learns how to engage the world with the help of Mr. Fitzgerald, his assistant principal.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: melancholic, compassionate, mumblecore, clever, thought provoking, sweet, surreal, visually appealing, sex comedy, comedy drama
Similar in 88%
Adult World (2013)
Plot Summary:
Amy, a naive college graduate who believes she's destined to be a great poet, begrudgingly accepts a job at a sex shop while she pursues a mentorship with reclusive writer Rat Billings.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sexy, independent film, melancholic, teen, sincere, funny, psychological, sentimental, realistic, social
Similar in 84%
Queen Sized (2008)
Plot Summary:
An overweight girl, Maggie Baker, is elected Homecoming queen by the mean girls in the high school.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: feel good, uplifting, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious, teen comedy
Similar in 88%
Charlie Bartlett (2007)
Plot Summary:
Awkward teenager Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has trouble fitting in at a new high school. Charlie needs some friends fast, and decides that the best way to find them is to appoint himself the resident psychiatrist. He becomes one of the most popular guys in school by doling out advice and, occasionally, medication, to the student body.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: teen, entertaining, independent film, sentimental, cynical, funny, feel good, indie film, clever, witty
Similar in 83%
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008)
Plot Summary:
Georgia Nicolson is fourteen, lives with nosey parents who don't understand her, an annoying three year old sister and has to wear a beret to school. She would, however, rather be blonde, have a smaller nose and a boyfriend. Revolving around her hilarious journal entries, prepare to be engulfed in the world of the soaring joys and bottomless angst of being a teenager.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Germany, UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, teen, feel good, romantic, romantic comedy, humorous, sexy, realistic, heartbreaking, cute
Similar in 86%
The Spectacular Now (2013)
Plot Summary:
A hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl.".
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 160000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: touching, teen, sincere, melancholic, emotional, independent film, romantic, feel good, sweet, heartbreaking
Similar in 84%
Submarine (2010)
Plot Summary:
15-year-old deep-thinking Welsh schoolboy, Oliver Tate struggles to initiate and maintain a relationship with Jordana, his devilish, dark-haired classmate at their Swansea high school. As his parents' marriage begins to fall apart, similar problems arise in his relationship with Jordana.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 95000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: visually appealing, witty, surreal, touching, talky, independent film, unusual plot structure, melancholic, offbeat, indie film
Similar in 76%
The First Time (2012)
Plot Summary:
Dave, a high school senior, spends most of his time pining away over a girl he can’t have. Aubrey, a junior with artistic aspirations, has a hot boyfriend who doesn’t quite understand her or seem to care. Although they go to different schools, Dave and Aubrey find themselves at the same party. When both head outside to get some air, they meet. A casual conversation sparks an instant connection, and, over the course of a weekend, things turn magical, romantic, complicated, and funny as Aubrey and Dave discover what it's like to fall in love for the first time.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 73000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: romantic, sexy, sincere, touching, realistic, light, feel good, sweet, teen, witty
Similar in 75%
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
Similar in 75%
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Plot Summary:
Five high school students, all different stereotypes, meet in detention, where they pour their hearts out to each other, and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 428000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: teen, talky, feel good, realistic, cult classic, humorous, semi serious, funny, inspirational, sincere
Similar in 77%
Flipped (2010)
Plot Summary:
When Juli meets Bryce in the second grade, she knows it's true love. After spending six years trying to convince Bryce the same, she's ready to give up - until he starts to reconsider.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 96000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, sweet, feel good, romantic, emotional, sentimental, realistic, romantic comedy, teen, cute