Best movies like Stranger Than Fiction
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies similar to Stranger Than Fiction? Contribute your knowledge to direct others toward tv shows and films you've viewed before that may also consume them. Help enlarge the circle of people referring videos between each other. We welcome your engagement!
Plot Summary:
Everybody knows that your life is a story. But what if a story was your life? Harold Crick is your average IRS agent: monotonous, boring, and repetitive. But one day this all changes when Harold begins to hear an author inside his head narrating his life. But when the narration reveals he is going to die, Harold must find the author and convince them to change the ending.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 235000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: philosophical, surreal, offbeat, humorous, witty, talky, funny, feel good, clever, depressing
Best tv shows and movies like Stranger Than Fiction (2006):
Similar in 87%
Adaptation. (2002)
Plot Summary:
A love-lorn script writer grows increasingly desperate in his quest to adapt the book 'The Orchid Thief'.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 200000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: absurd, philosophical, psychological, satirical, black comedy, mind bending, dark comedy, postmodern, surreal, mindfuck
Similar in 89%
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Plot Summary:
Scott Pilgrim is a 23 year old Canadian slacker and wannabe rockstar who falls in love with an American delivery girl, Ramona V. Flowers, and must defeat her seven "evil exes" to be able to date her.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 457000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK, Canada, Japan
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: stylized, entertaining, colorful, surreal, visual, funny, teen, cult classic, visually stunning, action comedy
Similar in 80%
Sliding Doors (1998)
Plot Summary:
Gwyneth Paltrow plays London publicist Helen, effortlessly sliding between parallel storylines that show what happens if she does or does not catch a train back to her apartment. Love. Romantic entanglements. Deception. Trust. Friendship. Comedy. All come into focus as the two stories shift back and forth, overlap and surprisingly converge.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 71000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: romantic, feel good, clever, sentimental, sweet, touching, semi serious, entertaining, cute, mind twisting
Similar in 85%
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Plot Summary:
Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 147000
Genere: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: philosophical, funny, humorous, romantic, satirical, clever, ironic, spectacular, cynical, light
Similar in 83%
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Plot Summary:
A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 516000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: gothic, fairy tale, surreal, touching, sentimental, atmospheric, dark fantasy, sad, visually stunning, visual
Similar in 87%
The One I Love (2014)
Plot Summary:
On the brink of separation, Ethan and Sophie escape to a beautiful vacation house for a weekend getaway in an attempt to save their marriage. What begins as a romantic and fun retreat soon becomes surreal, when an unexpected discovery forces the two to examine themselves, their relationship, and their future.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 43000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: surreal, tricky, suspense, mindfuck, enigmatic, emotional, suspenseful, clever, cerebral, psychological
Similar in 79%
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
Plot Summary:
Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 130000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: independent film, mumblecore, enigmatic, melancholic, romantic, feel good, absurd, humorous, offbeat, funny
Similar in 82%
Swiss Army Man (2016)
Plot Summary:
Alone on a tiny deserted island, Hank has given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a dead body washes ashore, and he soon realizes it may be his last opportunity to escape certain death. Armed with his new “friend” and an unusual bag of tricks, the duo go on an epic adventure to bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 131000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: surreal, buddy comedy, touching, mindfuck, dark comedy, humorous, psychological, philosophical, breathtaking, dark
Similar in 75%
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Plot Summary:
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mudane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 54000
Genere: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: sentimental, romantic, humorous, surreal, touching, sweet, melancholic, feel good, semi serious, bleak
Similar in 85%
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Plot Summary:
A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 444000
Genere: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Spain, USA, France
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: feel good, melancholic, surreal, romantic, sweet, sentimental, inspirational, light, witty, stylized
Similar in 83%
Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)
Plot Summary:
Zia, distraught over breaking up with his girlfriend, decides to end it all. Unfortunately, he discovers that there is no real ending, only a run-down afterlife that is strikingly similar to his old one, just a bit worse. Discovering that his ex-girlfriend has also "offed" herself, he sets out on a road trip, with his Russian rocker friend, to find her. Their journey takes them through an absurd purgatory where they discover that being dead doesn't mean you have to stop livin'!.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: road movie, humorous, independent film, dark comedy, surreal, black comedy, cult classic, contemplative, semi serious, romantic
Similar in 90%
The Science of Sleep (2006)
Plot Summary:
A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is lovestruck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 71000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: France, Italy
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: surreal, psychedelic, psychological, philosophical, mind bending, intellectual, meditative, visually appealing, cerebral, mindfuck
Similar in 84%
Ruby Sparks (2012)
Plot Summary:
Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 105000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: feel good, psychological, romantic, independent film, surreal, philosophical, absurd, witty, thought provoking, touching
Similar in 88%
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Plot Summary:
Spike Jonze’s debut feature film is a love story mix of comedy and fantasy. The story is about an unsuccessful puppeteer named Craig, who one day at work finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters it’s mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 349000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: surreal, psychological, cerebral, mind bending, offbeat, mindfuck, philosophical, dark comedy, disturbing, black comedy
Similar in 82%
Interstate 60 (2002)
Plot Summary:
An aspiring painter meets various characters and learns valuable lessons while traveling across America.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: road movie, surreal, witty, enigmatic, offbeat, independent film, mindfuck, psychological, black comedy, dark comedy
Similar in 85%
Click (2006)
Plot Summary:
A workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 351000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: inspirational, humorous, funny, feel good, hilarious, romantic comedy, weeping, sad, surprise ending, romantic
Similar in 79%
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Plot Summary:
Extremely shy Lars finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother and sister-in-law worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor, his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 153000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: touching, psychological, depressing, humorous, melancholic, dark comedy, cute, sweet, indie film, offbeat
Similar in 85%
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Plot Summary:
A timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 334000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: feel good, inspirational, motivational, surreal, scenic, touching, offbeat, funny, visually stunning, sentimental
Similar in 89%
500 Days of Summer (2009)
Plot Summary:
Tom, greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer, suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their 500 days together to try to figure out where their love affair went sour, and in doing so, Tom rediscovers his true passions in life.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 546000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sweet, romantic, touching, independent film, sentimental, emotional, feel good, sad, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 75%
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Plot Summary:
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 734000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: romantic, touching, offbeat, emotional, depressing, realistic, sentimental, feel good, sweet, talky
Similar in 75%
About Time (2013)
Plot Summary:
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can't change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life – so he decides to make his world a better place... by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as he thinks.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 377000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, sincere, sentimental, reflective, melancholic, emotional, romantic, cute, humorous
Similar in 89%
Pleasantville (1998)
Plot Summary:
Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 135000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: black and white, touching, humorous, feel good, surreal, visual, light, talky, semi serious, clever
Similar in 79%
Big Fish (2003)
Plot Summary:
Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 454000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: surreal, feel good, sentimental, touching, visually stunning, fairy tale, offbeat, emotional, sad, visual
Similar in 80%
Groundhog Day (1993)
Plot Summary:
A narcissistic TV weatherman, along with his attractive-but-distant producer and mawkish cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 670000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: feel good, philosophical, romantic, humorous, sentimental, hilarious, surreal, clever, funny, sweet
Similar in 82%
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Plot Summary:
Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: psychological, surreal, melancholic, romantic, mind bending, sentimental, philosophical, cerebral, psychedelic, clever
Similar in 81%
What Dreams May Come (1998)
Plot Summary:
Chris Neilson dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he dies, his wife, Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in hades for the small chance that he will be able to bring her back to heaven.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 113000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, New Zealand
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: surreal, philosophical, touching, inspirational, spiritual, emotional, tear jerker, cerebral, reflective, thought provoking
Similar in 90%
The Family Man (2000)
Plot Summary:
Jack's lavish, fast-paced lifestyle changes one Christmas night when he stumbles into a grocery store holdup and disarms the gunman. The next morning he wakes up in bed lying next to Kate, his college sweetheart he left in order to pursue his career, and to the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists. As he stumbles through this alternate suburban universe, Jack finds himself at a crossroad where he must choose between his high-power career and the woman he loves.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 117000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, inspirational, sweet, sentimental, sincere, contemplative, romantic, humorous, romantic comedy
Similar in 81%
Amelie (2001)
Plot Summary:
At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amélie (Audrey Tautou) accidentally discovers a gift for helping others. Soon Amelie is spending her days as a matchmaker, guardian angel, and all-around do-gooder. But when she bumps into a handsome stranger, will she find the courage to become the star of her very own love story?.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 784000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: France, Germany
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: feel good, inspirational, touching, sweet, stylized, sentimental, romantic, visually stunning, surreal, colorful
Similar in 86%
The Truman Show (1998)
Plot Summary:
Truman Burbank is the star of "The Truman Show", a 24-hour-a-day "reality" TV show that broadcasts every aspect of his life -- live and in color -- without his knowledge. His entire life has been an unending soap opera for consumption by the rest of the world. And everyone he knows -- including his wife and his best friend -- is really an actor, paid to be part of his life.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 12000000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: philosophical, thought provoking, psychological, touching, surreal, cerebral, clever, dramatic, motivational, spiritual
Similar in 88%
It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
Plot Summary:
A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 147000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: touching, sentimental, independent film, funny, feel good, humorous, teen, sweet, visually appealing, semi serious