Best movies like The Chess Players
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies related to The Chess Players? Leverage your knowledge to steer others toward tv series and movies you've seen that might interest them as well. Aid in increasing the network of individuals proposing videos to each other. We welcome your participation!
Plot Summary:
It is the year 1856. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the king of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British colonialists, intent on controlling this rich land, have sent general Outram on a secret mission to clear the way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political manoeuvres, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either—Court nobles Mir and Mirza, ignoring the situation of their country and all their duties towards their families, spend their days playing endless games of chess. The film is based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, History
Country: India
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: art film, insightful, parallel cinema, relaxing, serious, realistic, contemplative
Best tv shows and movies like The Chess Players (1977):
Similar in 88%
Bolivar Is Me (2002)
Plot Summary:
Santiago Miranda¸ an actor representing Bolivar in a television series¸ leaves furious recording because it disagrees with the scripts they oblige die Bolívar¸ against the wall. Between the lucidity and the madness¸ Miranda really acts as a Bolívar prepared to perform any act that allows to conclude the unifying of the Liberator task and as an actor which seeks to rewrite reality to make it look to the dreams of Simón Bolívar.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 344
Genere: Comedy, Drama, History
Country: Colombia, France
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, semi serious, realistic, metafiction, soap opera, biting, parody, suspense
Similar in 77%
Punjab 1984 (2014)
Plot Summary:
This is the story of a mother and her missing son set in the backdrop of 1984 Punjab, when the state was going through a terrible time of terrorism. The film depicts the longing of a mother for her son and her search for her son, who is labelled a terrorist because of the bad times in Punjab.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family, History
Country: India, Canada
Duration: 159 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, tense, realistic, mind blowing
Similar in 82%
The Black Prince (2017)
Plot Summary:
The Black Prince follows the story of the last Sikh Maharaja — the son of the powerful ruler Ranjit Singh — who was placed on the throne at the age of five, after the death of his father. In 1849, the young prince was removed from the throne and eventually sent off to England. His attempts to return to India and reclaim his kingdom were subsequently thwarted by the British.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, India, USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 86%
The Opium War (1997)
Plot Summary:
The story of the Opium War between China, in the waning days of the Qing Dynasty, and the British Empire, in the 1830s, and the subsequent takeover of Hong Kong by Britain; through the eyes of the key figures, fiercely nationalistic Lin Zexu, and opportunistic British naval diplomat Charles Elliot.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 590
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: China
Duration: 153 min
Plot tags: epic, thought provoking, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 77%
Kingdom of War: Part 1 (2007)
Plot Summary:
The film concerns the life of King Naresuan, who liberated the Siamese from the control of Burma. Born in 1555, he was taken to Burma as a child hostage; there he became acquainted with sword fighting and became a threat to the Burmese empire.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 689
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: Thailand
Duration: 163 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, period drama
Similar in 78%
When the Last Sword is Drawn (2002)
Plot Summary:
Kanichiro Yoshimura is a Samurai and Family man who can no longer support his wife and children on the the low pay he receives from his small town clan, he is forced by the love for his family to leave for the city in search of higher pay to support them.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 143 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, bleak, captivating, realistic, serious, spiritual, jidai geki, stylized, gloomy
Similar in 77%
Mandi (1983)
Plot Summary:
This classic film is based on a classic Urdu short story 'Aanandi' by Pakistani writer Ghulam Abbas. It deals with a brothel at the heart of a city, in an area that some politicians want for its prime locality. They rally up against the brothel and its inhabitants in the name of morality, and soon everyone in the area jumps on the bandwagon. The politicians offer to put up an alternative residence for the prostitutes, only this place is miles away, isolated from the city. The madam of the house has no choice but to comply, but by the end things take a (logical) turn for the better. After all, men will be men.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 933
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 167 min
Plot tags: satirical, art film, parallel cinema, black comedy
Similar in 86%
In Custody (1994)
Plot Summary:
Ismail Merchant's feature directorial debut addresses a subject close to his heart: the expressive Urdu language of Northern India, in danger of extinction as political trends and modernization obscure its contributions to Indian culture. Merchant 's treatment is wry and good humored , as his characters - an aging Urdu poet (Shashi Kapoor) and a worshipful young college lecturer - clash despite their shared passion for the beauty of words. Anita Desai adapted her novel with Shahrukh Husain, incorporating poems by Urdu author Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The movie won the President of India Gold Medal for Best Picture in 1994.(http://www.merchantivory.com/custody.html).
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 391
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, India
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: insightful, parallel cinema, clever, humorous, realistic, contemplative, semi serious, biting, surprise ending, suspense
Similar in 87%
Storm (1975)
Plot Summary:
J.K. is a hotel Manager in a scenic location in India. One day he gallantly comes to the rescue of a drunk daughter, Aarti, of a politician, and chooses to be discrete about it. When she recovers, she and he fall in love; get married in a small marriage ceremony, have a daughter, and thereafter differences arise to such an extent that they decide to separate. Years pass J.K. and Aarti meet again when she is an established politician, both are still attracted to each other, but she does not want her name to be tarnished and stigmatized as a "separated" woman.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: India
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: realistic, retro, touching, serious, banned, banned film
Similar in 84%
We Five (1980)
Plot Summary:
Tyrannical and wealthy Veer Pratap Singh, rules over a small town - ruthlessly. Whoever opposes him is crushed. He is attracted to women, and has a lengthy affair with Soundariya, and even has a secret marriage ceremony with her. When Soundariya gets pregnant, he asks her to abort the child. When she refuses, he shuns her, and denies ever having married her or even being intimate with her. Her brothers attempt to get justice, but are dealt with ruthlessly by Pratap Singh's bodyguard, Bhima. Soundariya then must garner support of herself, and must find someone who can stand up to Veer Pratap Singh and end his tyranny, in a town with men who have been subdued for eons by Veer Pratap Singh and his men for eons.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 242
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 163 min
Plot tags: cult classic, exciting, rough, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 78%
Umrao Jaan (2006)
Plot Summary:
Bollywood film about the famous courtesan of the title. Aishwarya Rai stars in the lead role. The film is directed by J.P. Dutta and also stars Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Divya Dutta, Himani Shivpuri and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: India
Duration: 188 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, captivating, emotional, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 82%
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019)
Plot Summary:
Story of Rani Lakshmibai, one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and her resistance to the British Rule.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: India
Duration: 148 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, captivating, patriotic
Similar in 83%
1942: A Love Story (1994)
Plot Summary:
In 1942 the British ruled India, a time when people were either working for the British or rallying for underground meetings and protests against them. Amidst this background, Naren Singh, falls in love with Rajeshwari Pathak. But their romance is not an easy one, for Naren comes from a wealthy, British supporting, family. But Rajeshwari is poor and is fighting against the British.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Musical, Romance
Country: India
Duration: 157 min
Plot tags: romantic, patriotic, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 90%
The Rider Named Death (2004)
Plot Summary:
In pre-Soviet Russia, Boris Savinkov leads a terrorist faction of Socialist-Revolutionary Party members responsible for the deaths of governors and ministers.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 416
Genere: Drama
Country: Russia
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, serious, clever, captivating, realistic, contemplative, epic, talky, entertaining
Similar in 89%
An Earthy Paradise for the Eyes (2009)
Plot Summary:
Adolescence is always a difficult time; it is doubly so for Gábina. For one thing, she is growing up in the normalization years of the 1970s, and then she also has to face the reality that her father is a well-known actor disavowed by the regime. Although he abandoned the family years before, his existence casts an ominous shadow over the lives of not only Gábina, but also her older sister and mother, who are trying to find a civilized way through the social mire of the times.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 152
Genere: Comedy, Drama, History
Country: Czech Republic
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: sentimental, realistic, semi serious, humorous, talky, biting, suspense
Similar in 79%
Beginning of the Great Revival (2011)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of the events that led to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
IMDB Rating: 3.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, factual, banned
Similar in 89%
The Leopard (1963)
Plot Summary:
As Garibaldi's troops begin the unification of Italy in the 1860s, an aristocratic Sicilian family grudgingly adapts to the sweeping social changes undermining their way of life. Proud but pragmatic Prince Don Fabrizio Salina allows his war hero nephew, Tancredi, to marry Angelica, the beautiful daughter of gauche, bourgeois Don Calogero, in order to maintain the family's accustomed level of comfort and political clout.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 186 min
Plot tags: epic, political, visual, visually appealing, period piece, cerebral, stylized, romantic, retro, philosophical
Similar in 75%
The Supper (1992)
Plot Summary:
France, 1815. After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon heads for exile. Royalists occupy Paris and attempt to restore the monarchy. However, the battle doesn't seem to be over. On July 6, Talleyrand, a shrewd politician of flexible convictions, invites chief of police and zealous revolutionary Fouché to supper and tries to convince him to serve the king. Over the meal they insult each other, accuse each other, and, at first sight, look like mortal enemies. But they definitely have one thing in common: they are both power-hungry.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 629
Genere: Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: political, thought provoking, clever, serious, realistic, disturbing, contemplative, talky, cynical, biting
Similar in 78%
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of events that led to the British involvement in the Crimean War against Russia and which led to the siege of Sevastopol and the fierce Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 which climaxed with the heroic, but near-disastrous calvary charge made by the British Light Brigade against a Russian artillery battery in a small valley which resulted in the near-destruction of the brigade due to error of judgement and rash planning on part by the inept British commanders.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: epic, factual, harsh, serious, exciting, realistic, patriotic, light, romantic, depressing
Similar in 89%
April Morning (1988)
Plot Summary:
A teenager grows up during the onset of the American revolution.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 759
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, thought provoking, bleak, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, disturbing, period drama
Similar in 89%
The Viceroys (2007)
Plot Summary:
No overview found.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 386
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Italy, Spain, Germany, USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: captivating, psychological, atmospheric, epic, serious, emotional, realistic, saga
Similar in 83%
Zulu Dawn (1979)
Plot Summary:
In 1879, the British suffer a great loss at the Battle of Isandlwana due to incompetent leadership. Cy Endfield co-wrote the epic prequel Zulu Dawn 15 years after his enormously popular Zulu. Set in 1879, this film depicts the catastrophic Battle of Isandhlwana, which remains the worst defeat of the British army by natives, with the British contingent outnumbered 16-to-1 by the Zulu tribesmen. The film's opinion of events is made immediately clear in its title sequence: ebullient African village life presided over by King Cetshwayo is contrasted with aristocratic artifice under the arrogant eye of General Lord Chelmsford (Peter O'Toole). Chelmsford is at the heart of all that goes wrong, initiating the catastrophic battle with an ultimatum made seemingly for the sake of giving his troops something to do. His detached manner leads to one mistake after another.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Netherlands, USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: cult classic, action adventure, historical drama, exciting, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, independent film
Similar in 76%
Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)
Plot Summary:
On the glorious battlefields of the American Revolution, two great generals distinguished themselves; George Washington and Benedict Arnold. Washington is remembered as America's founding father, Arnold as America's most notorious traitor. Benedict Arnold rose from humble origins to become the most respected and feared of America's generals. He won brilliant military victories against the English colonists and was Washington's favorite soldier. But two conflicting forces battled inside Arnold's heart; a deep concern for his country and his passionate love for an enchanting and manipulative English woman, Peggy Shippen. Blinded by desire, Arnold defected to the English army, orchestrating an attempt to assassinate his own mentor, George Washington.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 535
Genere: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, thought provoking, emotional, realistic, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 90%
Revolution (1985)
Plot Summary:
New York trapper Tom Dobb becomes an unwilling participant in the American Revolution after his son Ned is drafted into the Army by the villainous Sergeant Major Peasy. Tom attempts to find his son, and eventually becomes convinced that he must take a stand and fight for the freedom of the Colonies, alongside the aristocratic rebel Daisy McConnahay. As Tom undergoes his change of heart, the events of the war unfold in large-scale grandeur.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: UK, Norway
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspense, dramatic, cult classic, historical drama, independent film, epic, period drama, cult film
Similar in 77%
55 Days at Peking (1963)
Plot Summary:
Diplomats, soldiers and other representatives of a dozen nations fend off the siege of the International Compound in Peking during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion. The disparate interests unite for survival despite competing factions, overwhelming odds, delayed relief and tacit support of the Boxers by the Empress of China and her generals.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 154 min
Plot tags: serious, epic, exciting, realistic, tense, suspense, surprise ending, independent film, vintage
Similar in 88%
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
Plot Summary:
The Legend of Bhagat Singh is a 2002 Indian historical biographical film about Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter who fought for Indian independence.It shows in detail how Singh came to develop his views on the British Raj and his struggle for Indian independence.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: India
Duration: 155 min
Plot tags: realistic, patriotic, sincere, serious, emotional, inspirational, philosophical, touching, political, social
Similar in 79%
Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008)
Plot Summary:
Mahadev (Shreyas Talpade) is an unemployed graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Satna college, who is forced to make a living writing letters for the uneducated people of his village. His real ambition is to become a novel writer. Through his humble occupation, Mahadev has the potential to impact numerous lives. The movie is a satirical, but warm-hearted portrait of life in rural India.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: humorous, touching, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 86%
The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005)
Plot Summary:
The film begins in 1857, when India was ruled by the British East India Company. Mangal Pandey is a sepoy, a soldier of Indian origin, in the army of the East India Company. Pandey is fighting in the Anglo-Afghan Wars and saves the life of his British commanding officer, William Gordon. Gordon is indebted to Pandey and a strong friendship develops between them, transcending both rank and race.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: India, UK, USA
Duration: 150 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, captivating, emotional, patriotic, realistic, educational
Similar in 88%
Cromwell (1970)
Plot Summary:
Disgusted with the policies of King Charles I, Oliver Cromwell plans to take his family to the New World. But on the eve of their departure, Cromwell is drawn into the tangled web of religion and politics that will result in the English Civil War.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: epic, realistic, factual, talky, serious, stylized, period piece, sincere, captivating, contemplative
Similar in 88%
Gandhi (1982)
Plot Summary:
In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of 'passive resistance', endeavouring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 238000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, India, USA, South Africa
Duration: 191 min
Plot tags: epic, spiritual, inspirational, political, uplifting, factual, motivational, touching, compassionate, emotional