Best movies like The Great Buck Howard
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
When a law school dropout answers an advertisement to be a personal assistant he unknowingly signs on to work for a belligerent has-been magician struggling to resurrect his career. This leads to a journey across the country staging the comeback of a lifetime.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: entertaining, suspense, witty, stylized, semi serious, sentimental, humorous, clever, captivating, spiritual
Best tv shows and movies like The Great Buck Howard (2008):
Similar in 90%
On Tour (2010)
Plot Summary:
Formerly successful television producer Joachim Zand returns from America to his native France, where he previously has left everything behind, including friends, enemies and his own children. In his company is a burlesque striptease troupe whom he has promised a grand performance in Paris.Together they tour the French port cities, staying at cheap hotels and making success along the way. Old conflicts are however reignated upon the return to the French capital. Joachim is betrayed by people from his past, making him lose the venue where they were to perform, and the Paris finale comes to nothing.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: France, Germany
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: sentimental, semi serious, humorous, realistic, witty, funny, comedy drama, clever
Similar in 82%
Two Days (2003)
Plot Summary:
Paul Miller (Paul Rudd - Friends, The Cider House Rules) has struggled as an actor in Hollywood for years, and now he's had enough. But not just of show business-of life. In two days, he's going to kill himself. But in true Hollywood style, he's hired a film crew to chronicle his last moments and the events leading up to them; it's the role of a lifetime. Often ironic and darkly comical, this is the story of a man searching for meaning and hope. This is the story of two days in the life of Paul Miller. The only question is, will they be his last?.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 996
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: realistic, witty, semi serious, humorous, cerebral, offbeat, crying, mockumentary, documentary filmmaking
Similar in 78%
Punchline (1988)
Plot Summary:
Lilah Krytsick is a mother and housewife who's always believed she could be a stand-up comedian. Steven Gold is an experienced stand-up seemingly on the cusp of success. When the two meet, they form an unlikely friendship, and Steven tries to help the untried Lilah develop her stage act. Despite the objections of her family and some very wobbly beginnings, Lilah improves, and soon she finds herself competing with Steven for a coveted television spot.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: talky, humorous, intense, realistic, clever, romantic comedy, cult classic, psychological, touching, semi serious
Similar in 90%
Colour Me Kubrick (2005)
Plot Summary:
The true story of a man who posed as director Stanley Kubrick during the production of Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, despite knowing very little about his work and looking nothing like him.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France, Canada
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: satirical, entertaining, stylized, humorous, light, hilarious, realistic, semi serious, biting, witty
Similar in 88%
The Magician (2006)
Plot Summary:
İskender (Cem Yılmaz) hokkabazdır. Yani aslında sihirbazdır. Ama onun ve çocukluk arkadaşı Maradona'nın (Tuna Orhan) dışında herkes onun hokkabaz olduğunu düşünmektedir. İstanbul'dan hızla kaçmak zorunda kalan ikili, turne programına Sait'i (Mazhar Alanson) de dahil ederek büyük risk alırlar. Baba Sait, İskender'i takdir etmeyi uzun yıllar evvel bırakmıştır. Turne üçlüyü kaynaştırırken, aynı zamanda görkemli bir dağılmaya sebep olur. İskender, Maradona ve Sait, yol arkadaşları Fatma ile bir dağılıp bir toparlanırlar.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Turkey
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: sentimental, humorous, semi serious, realistic, road movie
Similar in 79%
Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)
Plot Summary:
An uninterrupted rehersal of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" played out by a company of actors. The setting is their run down theater with an unusable stage and crumbling ceiling. The play is shown act by act with the briefest of breaks to move props or for refreshments. The lack of costumes, real props and scenery is soon forgotten.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: melancholic, sincere, cerebral, clever, talky, stylized, entertaining, absurd, philosophical, spiritual
Similar in 84%
Winter Passing (2005)
Plot Summary:
Actress Reese Holden has been offered a small fortune by a book editor if she can secure for publication the love letters that her father, a reclusive novelist, wrote to her mother, who has since passed away. Returning to Michigan, Reese finds that an ex-grad student and a would-be musician have moved in with her father, who cares more about his new friends than he does about his own health and well-being.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, serious, realistic, heartbreaking, cult classic, psychological, clever, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 84%
That Thing You Do! (1996)
Plot Summary:
A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 73000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: humorous, sentimental, feel good, light, sincere, period piece, touching, sexy, retro, emotional
Similar in 87%
Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
Plot Summary:
Buddy Young was the comic's comic, beloved by everyone. Now, playing to miniscule crowds in nursing homes, it seems like everybody but Buddy realizes that he should retire. As Buddy looks for work in show business, he realizes that the rest of the world has forgotten the golden days of Buddy Young, and that there just may not be room in the business for an old comic like himself.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: humorous, intense, captivating, realistic, stylized, sentimental, touching, factual, entertaining, independent film
Similar in 76%
Cannes Man (1997)
Plot Summary:
Film producer Sy Lerner makes a bet with a fellow film executive that he can turn any nobody into a star at the Cannes Film Festival. A New York cab driver who is visiting the festival is chosen as the test subject to settle the bet and Sy uses his skills of hype and manipulation to try and turn the cab driver named Frank into the talk of the town. Many celebrities make cameos throughout the film.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 708
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: parody, mockumentary, clever, offbeat, humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 80%
My Giant (1998)
Plot Summary:
Billy Crystal plays a Hollywood agent who stumbles upon Max, a giant living in Romania, and tries to get him into the movies.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, touching, light, entertaining, feel good, captivating, clever, smart, cult classic, realistic
Similar in 80%
Orange County (2002)
Plot Summary:
Shaun Brumder is a local surfer kid from Orange County who dreams of going to Stanford to become a writer and to get away from his disfunctional family household. Except Shaun runs into one complication after another starting when his application is rejected after his dim-witted guidance counselor sends the wrong application.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 52000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: funny, feel good, humorous, entertaining, semi serious, realistic, witty, scary, spiritual, dark comedy
Similar in 83%
Queens Logic (1991)
Plot Summary:
When childhood friends Al, Dennis and Eliot get together for Ray's wedding, which may or may not happen, they end up on a roller-coaster ride through reality. During one tumultuous, crazy weekend, they face adulthood and each other with new found maturity and discover what Queens Logic is all about. This comedy takes a look at friendship, loyalty, and love.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, clever, humorous, realistic, talky, semi serious, independent film, philosophical, sexy, thought provoking
Similar in 82%
Lisa Picard Is Famous (2000)
Plot Summary:
A documentarian decides to follow the career of New York actress Lisa Picard, believing she is on the brink of fame. Instead, he bears witness to Lisa's continued, humorous, struggles as an actress, as well as the conflict that arises when Lisa's best friend Tate hits it big with an off-Broadway one-man show.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 620
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, mockumentary, independent film, clever, offbeat, talky
Similar in 81%
Me and Orson Welles (2008)
Plot Summary:
New York, 1937. A teenager hired to star in Orson Welles' production of Julius Caesar becomes attracted to a career-driven production assistant.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: talky, emotional, sentimental, touching, realistic, stylized, compassionate, cult classic, serious, sincere
Similar in 89%
Celebrity (1998)
Plot Summary:
The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to another and engages in numerous empty romances, he starts to doubt the worth of his work. Meanwhile, top TV producer Tony falls for Robin and introduces her to the world of celebrity.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: black and white, stylized, satirical, humorous, realistic, semi serious, independent film, clever, art house, motivational
Similar in 87%
Stardust Memories (1980)
Plot Summary:
While attending a retrospect of his work, a filmmaker recalls his life and his loves: the inspirations for his films.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: black and white, philosophical, cult classic, clever, humorous, surreal, witty, talky, postmodern, existential
Similar in 82%
American Splendor (2003)
Plot Summary:
An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 52000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: realistic, stylized, dark comedy, independent film, sincere, semi serious, cult classic, metafiction, clever, cynical
Similar in 89%
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
Plot Summary:
After his mistress runs over a young teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight, and attracting the interest of a down and out reporter.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: stylized, humorous, witty, semi serious, cult classic, clever, black comedy, social, existential, realistic
Similar in 77%
Art School Confidential (2006)
Plot Summary:
Starting from childhood attempts at illustration, the protagonist pursues his true obsession to art school. But as he learns how the art world really works, he finds that he must adapt his vision to the reality that confronts him.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, humorous, cynical, semi serious, independent film, clever, funny, perverse, comedy drama, twisted
Similar in 78%
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 85%
Almost Famous (2000)
Plot Summary:
In 1973, 15-year-old William Miller's unabashed love of music and aspiration to become a rock journalist lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to interview and tour with the up-and-coming band Stillwater – fronted by lead guitar Russell Hammond and lead singer Jeff Bebe William.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 289000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: sentimental, road movie, feel good, realistic, semi autobiographical, teen, emotional, independent film, cult classic, sweet
Similar in 84%
Edtv (1999)
Plot Summary:
Video store clerk Ed agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a tv network.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 45000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: humorous, funny, light, entertaining, satirical, witty, intense, semi serious, clever, inspirational
Similar in 82%
St. Vincent (2014)
Plot Summary:
A young boy whose parents just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic, war veteran who lives next door.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 108000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: realistic, feel good, inspirational, entertaining, witty, humorous, touching, sincere, social, sad
Similar in 81%
Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
Plot Summary:
Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become increasingly tired of his humdrum life. As he tells his girlfriend, Clara, he feels like a fraud: he hasn’t really tasted life, and yet he’s offering advice to patients who are just not getting any happier. So Hector decides to break out of his deluded and routine driven life. Armed with buckets of courage and child-like curiosity, he embarks on a global quest in hopes of uncovering the elusive secret formula for true happiness. And so begins a larger than life adventure with riotously funny results.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 50000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: Germany, Canada, UK, South Africa, USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: feel good, sentimental, entertaining, emotional, semi serious, funny, romantic comedy, touching, psychological, motivational
Similar in 80%
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Plot Summary:
Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo drive a red convertible across the Mojave desert to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to cover a motorcycle race. As their consumption of drugs increases at an alarming rate, the stoned duo trash their hotel room and fear legal repercussions. Duke begins to drive back to L.A., but after an odd run-in with a cop, he returns to Sin City and continues his wild drug binge.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 298000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: surreal, psychedelic, atmospheric, road movie, mind bending, cult classic, dark comedy, disturbing, mindfuck, cerebral
Similar in 84%
You've Got Mail (1998)
Plot Summary:
Book superstore magnate, Joe Fox and independent book shop owner, Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet – both blissfully unaware that he's putting her out of business.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 226000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: feel good, sweet, touching, sentimental, light, romantic, entertaining, humorous, cute, inspirational
Similar in 87%
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Plot Summary:
The Devil Wears Prada is about a young journalist who moves to New York to work in the fashion industry. Her boss however is extremely demanding and cruel and won’t let her succeed if she doesn’t fit into the high class elegant look of their magazine when all she really wants to be a good journalist.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 451000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, France
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: romantic, feel good, funny, romantic comedy, light, teen, realistic, entertaining, cute, witty
Similar in 80%
The Bucket List (2007)
Plot Summary:
Corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 257000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: feel good, inspirational, thought provoking, sentimental, touching, philosophical, sad, emotional, tear jerker, road movie
Similar in 78%
The Terminal (2004)
Plot Summary:
Viktor Navorski is a man without a country; his plane took off just as a coup d'etat exploded in his homeland, leaving it in shambles, and now he's stranded at Kennedy Airport, where he's holding a passport that nobody recognizes. While quarantined in the transit lounge until authorities can figure out what to do with him, Viktor simply goes on living – and courts romance with a beautiful flight attendant.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 486000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: touching, sincere, sweet, feel good, motivational, sentimental, emotional, light, inspirational, entertaining