Best movies like Swallows and Amazons
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Four children dream of escaping the tedium of a summer holiday with their mother. When finally given permission to camp on their own on an island in the middle of a vast lake, they are overjoyed. But when they get there they discover they may not be alone… The battle for ownership of a lonely island teaches them the skills of survival, the value of friendship and the importance of holding your nerve.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, War
Country: UK
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, humorous, sweet
Best tv shows and movies like Swallows and Amazons (2016):
Similar in 84%
Blue Fin (1978)
Plot Summary:
Based on the children's novel by celebrated South Australian author 'Colin Thiele' , this is an emotional father and son story about tuna fishing of Southern Blue Fin tuna in South Australia's Port Lincoln fishing district. Accident prone son Snook is forever making mistakes much to the chagrin of his father Pascoe. But when tragedy strikes the fishing boat during a deep sea fishing trek in the Southern Ocean, the boy is called on to become a man in a rites of sea passage to reconcile is past mishaps and save both his father and the ship from certain disaster.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 268
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Australia
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: semi serious, independent film
Similar in 90%
Pippi Goes on Board (1969)
Plot Summary:
This is the film version which is a compilation of the 1969 TV Series shown in 13 parts. It is therefore technically the "first" Pippi Långstrump film, although it wasn't released as a film until 1973. Pippi lives alone in Villekulla because her mother is an angel in heaven and her father is a king in the Southern Seas. Brother & sister Tommy and Annika become her friends and the 13 episodes detail their adventures together. Pippi Goes on Board is the USA title, with the original title being "Here Comes Pippi Longstocking!" (Här kommer Pippi Långstrump).
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: Sweden, West Germany
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: exciting, offbeat, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 84%
War of the Buttons (2011)
Plot Summary:
Occupied France; Lebrac leads a play war between two rival kid gangs, but a girl he likes, who's Jewish, is in danger of being discovered by local Nazi sympathisers. Lebrac and the village must now respond to the reality of what's happening.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: France
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic
Similar in 77%
Swallows and Amazons (1974)
Plot Summary:
On holiday with their mother in the Lake District in 1929 four children are allowed to sail over to the nearby island in their boat Swallow and set up camp for a few days. They soon realise this has been the territory of two other girls who sail the Amazon, and the scene is set for serious rivalry.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film, happy, sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 87%
Secret of the Cave (2006)
Plot Summary:
A young American boy spends his summer in Ireland and solves the mystery that captivates the entire village. Driven by curiosity and his own search for meaning in life, he faces his fears and discovers the Secret of the Cave.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 507
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, suspenseful, captivating
Similar in 87%
Hanni & Nanni (2010)
Plot Summary:
A drama centered around twins attending the same boarding school.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 407
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, semi serious, light, captivating, entertaining, sentimental, realistic
Similar in 89%
Lassie Come Home (2020)
Plot Summary:
Remake of 1943 movie based on Eric Knight's book, "Lassie Come Home".
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 594
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: captivating, sentimental, light, touching, feel good, humorous, sweet, suspense, entertaining, realistic
Similar in 89%
The Water Horse (2007)
Plot Summary:
A lonely boy discovers a mysterious egg that hatches a sea creature of Scottish legend.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 43000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, War
Country: New Zealand, UK, USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: entertaining, scenic, emotional, fairy tale, mystical, exciting, costume drama, spiritual, sweet, ironic
Similar in 82%
Belle & Sebastian (2013)
Plot Summary:
Belle and Sebastian is set high in the snowy Alps during the Second World War. The resourceful Sebastian is a lonely boy who tames and befriends a giant, wild mountain dog, Belle – even though the villagers believe her to be ‘the beast’ that has been killing their sheep.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: France
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, stylized, educational, realistic
Similar in 76%
Storm Boy (2019)
Plot Summary:
When a highly successful retired businessman, Michael Kingley, starts to see things he at first can't explain, his life takes a dramatic turn. And when his grand-daughter rebels against her father, he is forced to re-evaluate his life and to act to prevent her going down a similar path to one he took years before. He tells her his story, when as a boy he lived a lonely existence with his father, Hideaway Tom, on an isolated coastline and how a bond with an orphaned pelican, Mr. Percival, changed his life forever.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Australia
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: psychological, sincere, touching, captivating, disturbing, motivational, extraordinary
Similar in 85%
Follow Me, Boys! (1966)
Plot Summary:
Lem Siddons is part of a traveling band who has a dream of becoming a lawyer. Deciding to settle down, he finds a job as a stockboy in the general store of a small town. Trying to fit in, he volunteers to become scoutmaster of the newly formed Troop 1. Becoming more and more involved with the scout troop, he finds his plans to become a lawyer being put on the back burner, until he realizes that his life has been fulfilled helping the youth of the small town.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: retro, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 87%
An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky (2013)
Plot Summary:
Meet nine-year old Saige, a talented artist with a passion for horses, in this modern-day story about finding your voice! Saige is excited about the new school year, until she discovers that art-her favorite class-has been cut. On top of that, her best friend, Tessa, seems to be spending more and more time with another girl. For help, Saige turns to her grandma Mimi, a well-known artist and horse-woman, who inspires her to take action. Can Saige find the courage to overcome her fears and save the art program-and her friendship with Tessa? Heart-warming, empowering, and fun, it's a movie for every girl who has ever dreamed big. Written by Anonymous (IMDB.com).
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 523
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, captivating, light, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 77%
War of the Buttons (1994)
Plot Summary:
The children of Ballydowse and Carrickdowse engage in battles where they cut of the buttons, shoe-laces and underwear of their captured opponents. This is to get the boys in trouble with their parents. They go to battle in mass groups of dozens, throwing stones and cutting off their opponents buttons etc. And sometimes they go to battle completely naked and exposed. In one such scene about 30 boys return from a battle to celebrate victory at a barn-house only to find some girls waiting for them and they get very embarrassed at losing their privacy.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: UK, France, Japan, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, realistic, epic, sincere, serious, contemplative, light, romantic, sexy
Similar in 89%
Heidi (1968)
Plot Summary:
Heidi is an orphaned girl initially raised by her aunt Dete in Maienfeld, Switzerland. In order to get a job in Frankfurt, Dete brings 5-year-old Heidi to her grandfather, who has been at odds with the villagers for years and lives in seclusion on the alm. He at first resents Heidi's arrival, but the girl manages to penetrate his harsh exterior and subsequently has a delightful stay with him and her best friend, young Peter the goat-herd.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 665
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: West Germany, USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, touching, feel good, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
Lassie (2005)
Plot Summary:
A family in financial crisis is forced to sell Lassie, their beloved dog. Hundreds of miles away from her true family, Lassie escapes and sets out on a journey home.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA, France, Ireland, UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, sad, crying, realistic, independent film
Similar in 83%
Booky & the Secret Santa (2007)
Plot Summary:
Booky does everything she can to make an enjoyable Christmas, for her family, during the depression as her father is out of work.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 311
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, realistic, sincere, captivating, feel good, serious
Similar in 77%
Flipper (1963)
Plot Summary:
Many kids might say their best friend is a puppy or a pony. But for 12-year-old Sandy, the most special pet of all is the exuberant dolphin he rescues and who returns the favor by rescuing Sandy from sharks.The dolphin named Flipper first swam into the world's minds and hearts in this 1963 film starring Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin as Sandy (a role he would continue in the 1964-68 TV series that followed.) James B. Clark, a long-time family filmmaker whose credits include "Island of the Blue Dolphins" and "My Side of the Mountain," directs the story of hard times (Hurricane Hazel and its aftermath) and joy (Sandy's dolphin-powered rides through the waves). And two fins up for Mitzie, the animal star who plays flipper.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: melancholic, touching, exciting, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sentimental, romantic, clever
Similar in 76%
Horrid Henry: The Movie (2011)
Plot Summary:
When Henry fails yet again to hand in his homework for the umpteenth time, he has no idea that this will set off a chain of events which will see him forming an unlikely alliance with Moody Margaret, the infuriating girl next door, and his irritating little brother Perfect Peter, outwitting corrupt School Inspectors and toppling an evil Headmaster, winning a talent contest and facing his ultimate nemesis with no way out - all because he is trying to save the very school which he has always professed to hate!.
IMDB Rating: 3.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: humorous, entertaining, light, realistic, not serious
Similar in 81%
Flipper (1996)
Plot Summary:
Sandy Ricks is sent by his mom to Coral Key, a rustic island in the Florida keys, to spend the summer with his uncle Porter Ricks. Sandy dislikes everything about his new environment until a new friend comes into his life, a dolphin named Flipper, that brings uncle and nephew together and leads Sandy on the summer adventure of a lifetime.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, cult classic, sincere, touching, feel good, serious, realistic, scary, sentimental, light
Similar in 84%
Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997)
Plot Summary:
Willy the whale is back, this time threatened by illegal whalers making money off sushi. Jesse, now 16, has taken a job on an orca-researching ship, along with old friend Randolph and a sarcastic scientist, Drew. On the whaler's ship is captain John Wesley and his son, Max, who isn't really pleased about his father's job, but doesn't have the gut to say so. Along the way, Willy reunites with Jesse.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, humorous, retro, epic, semi serious, exciting, romantic, feel good, unusual plot structure
Similar in 84%
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove (2010)
Plot Summary:
After young Kirra (Bindi Irwin) leaves her Australian home to summer with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) in South Africa, she soon discovers a baby orca stranded in the lagoon near her grandfather’s rundown seaside amusement park. She names the lonely whale Willy--and embarks on a great quest to lead the little guy back to his anxious pod.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: serious, sentimental, touching, realistic, uplifting
Similar in 83%
The Young Black Stallion (2003)
Plot Summary:
When courageous young Neera becomes separated from her family in the desert, she chances upon a wild colt. Together they find friendship, trust, and their way back home only to discover her family is about to lose everything!.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
Free Willy 2 (1995)
Plot Summary:
Jesse becomes reunited with Willy three years after the whale's jump to freedom as the teenager tries to rescue the killer whale and other orcas from an oil spill.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: France, USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, sweet, retro, epic, anamorphic, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Duma (2005)
Plot Summary:
An orphaned cheetah becomes the best friend and pet of a young boy living in South Africa.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sweet, sentimental, touching, captivating, inspirational, sad, atmospheric, realistic, semi serious, romantic
Similar in 87%
Andre (1994)
Plot Summary:
The true story of how a marine seal named Andre befriended a little girl and her family, circa 1962.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, sad, feel good, humorous, semi serious, fairy tale, light, inspirational, romantic
Similar in 88%
Free Willy (1993)
Plot Summary:
When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 82000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, uplifting, feel good, sweet, light, inspirational, retro, sexy, epic
Similar in 86%
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Plot Summary:
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 364000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, feel good, sentimental, surreal, melancholic, independent film, touching, visual, witty, cute
Similar in 81%
Pollyanna (2003)
Plot Summary:
Pollyanna Whittier goes to live with her wealthy but bitter aunt after the tragic death of her father. Pollyanna shares a game her father taught her -- the 'Glad Game' -- in which everyone can find a silver lining in even the darkest cloud, and her sunny nature, good humor and determination to look on the bright side of life prove to have an astonishing effect on those around her. With the help of her orphaned friend, Jimmy Bean, she casts her spell on the grumpiest townsfolk of Beldingsville -- including the cynical shut-in Mrs. Snow, the morose millionaire Mr. Pendleton and the enigmatic Dr. Chilton. And Pollyanna masterminds the romance between her Aunt's maid, Nancy, and the handyman, Tim. It is only Aunt Polly, who cannot bring herself to embrace Pollyanna's innocence and joy. But all is not straightforward in Pollyanna's war against pessimism, since she must overcome a personal tragedy that threatens to banish "glad" from her vocabulary forever.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, uplifting, sentimental, realistic, semi serious, humorous, tear jerker, period drama, tearjerker
Similar in 81%
Alice Upside Down (2007)
Plot Summary:
Still mourning the death of her mother a few years back, ALICE McKINLEY finds her life seriously disrupted when her father BEN buys a store and moves her and her older brother LESTER to a new town. In the painful throes of adolescence, Alice has a rough time adjusting to her new school, especially after she gets the stern MRS. PLOTKIN as her core teacher. Feeling shy and isolated, Alice frequently escapes into a vivid fantasy life that occasionally gets her into hot water. But with a little unexpected help from Mrs. Plotkin, Alice learns not to judge by appearances or jump to conclusions. More importantly, she confronts her father over his inability to accept their loss and move on into the future.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: France, USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, teen, silent, silent film
Similar in 87%
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)
Plot Summary:
The Great Depression hits home for nine year old Kit Kittredge when her dad loses his business and leaves to find work. Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin stars as Kit, leading a splendid cast in the first ever "American Girl" theatrical movie. In order to keep their home, Kit and her mother must take in boarders - paying house - guests who turn out to be full of fascinating stories. When mother's lockbox containing all their money is stolen, Kit's new hobo friend Will is the prime suspect. Kit refuses to believe that Will would steal, and her efforts to sniff out the real story get her and friends into big trouble. The police say the robbery was an inside job, committed by someone they know. So if it wasn't Will, then who did it.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sentimental, melancholic, inspirational, stylized, feel good, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious, crying