Best movies like The Indian in the Cupboard
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A nine-year-old boy gets a plastic Indian and a cupboard for his birthday and finds himself involved in adventure when the Indian comes to life and befriends him.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: touching, light, clever, epic, grindhouse, juvenile, cult classic, weeping, offbeat, feel good
Best tv shows and movies like The Indian in the Cupboard (1995):
Similar in 84%
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
Plot Summary:
When alien invaders capture Earth's superheroes, their kids must learn to work together to save their parents - and the planet.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: feel good, entertaining, witty, not serious
Similar in 89%
Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)
Plot Summary:
Mr. Conductor's supply of magic gold dust, which allows him to travel between Shining Time and Thomas's island, is critically low. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to get more. Meanwhile, Thomas is fending off attacks by the nasty diesel engines. Getting more gold dust will require help from Mr. C's slacker cousin, his new friend Lily and her morose grandfather, plus the secret engine.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, entertaining, stylized, independent film, brutal, detective, juvenile, scary, fairy tale
Similar in 78%
Gordy (1994)
Plot Summary:
A talking pig named Gordy becomes involved in a quest to save his family from the slaughterhouse.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: light, feel good, touching, humorous, sad, hilarious, independent film, semi serious, road movie, sexy
Similar in 82%
North (1994)
Plot Summary:
Eleven-year-old North has had it with his parents. They are always busy with their careers and don't give North the attention he needs, so he files a lawsuit against them. The judge rules that North should either find new parents or return to his own parents within two months. Thus north starts off on an hilarious journey around the world to find the parents that really care about him.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: light, melancholic, stylized, feel good, humorous, semi serious, epic, black comedy, dark comedy, scary
Similar in 79%
Shiloh (1996)
Plot Summary:
An abused beagle runs away from his owner. On the road, he meets young Marty Preston and follows him home. The boy immediately forms a bond with the dog and names him Shiloh. His stern father won't let him keep the dog because it belongs to Judd Travers, a local hunter. After Shiloh is mistreated again, he runs away and returns to Marty. Knowing his father will once again make him bring Shiloh back to Judd, he makes a home for the dog in an old shed up the hill from the Prestons' house and hides him from his family. His secret is soon discovered when a stray attacks the dog one night and he must turn to his father for help.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sweet, touching, emotional, semi serious, feel good, gothic, epic, independent film, fairy tale, sentimental
Similar in 81%
The Brothers Lionheart (1977)
Plot Summary:
9-year old Karl Lejon, 'Skorpan' is suffering from tuberculosis and knows that he will die soon. But his older brother Jonathan tries to comfort him by promising that they one day will meet in Nangijala, a magic country beyond the stars. Jonathan dies soon after in a house fire and Skorpan also passes away not long after. They meet in Nangijala, a country divided into the Cherry Blossom Valley and the Briar-Bush Valley. The people in the later are oppressed by the black knight Tengil and his dragon Katla. The two brothers, who now call themselves Jonathan and Karl Lion Heart, decide to help the freedom fighters against the oppression.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Sweden, Iceland
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: touching, exciting, atmospheric, epic, serious, stylized
Similar in 78%
The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter (1990)
Plot Summary:
Once again, Bastian is transported to the world of Fantasia which he recently managed to save from destruction. However, the land is now being destroyed by an evil sorceress, Xayide, so he must join up with Atreyu and face the Emptiness once more.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Germany, USA, Australia
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, stylized, mysterious, surreal, tripping, fantasy adventure, action adventure, touching, offbeat, feel good
Similar in 85%
FairyTale: A True Story (1997)
Plot Summary:
Two children in 1917 take a photograph, believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on a true story.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, costume drama, touching, mysterious, humorous, semi serious, sentimental, light, inspirational, romantic
Similar in 77%
The Neverending Story III (1994)
Plot Summary:
A young boy must restore order when a group of bullies steal the magical book that acts as a portal between Earth and the imaginary world of Fantasia.
IMDB Rating: 3.2
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: offbeat, feel good, fairy tale, mysterious, fantasy adventure, cult classic, action adventure, stylized, semi serious, metafiction
Similar in 84%
The Thief Lord (2006)
Plot Summary:
A tale about two young boys, Prosper and Bo, who flee to Venice after being orphaned and dumped in the care of a cruel auntie. Hiding in the canals and alleyways of the city, the boys are befriended by a gang of young urchins and their enigmatic leader, the Thief Lord. From their home base of an old cinema theater, the children steal from the rich to support themselves and soon capture the interest of a bumbling detective. However, a greater threat to the children is something from a forgotten past - a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, Germany, Luxembourg
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, semi serious, exciting, detective, serious
Similar in 79%
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Plot Summary:
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie, and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 431000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, emotional, sad, inspirational, sweet, touching, entertaining, light, exciting
Similar in 80%
The Secret Garden (2020)
Plot Summary:
Mary Lennox is born in India to wealthy British parents who never wanted her. When her parents suddenly die, she is sent back to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven. She meets her sickly cousin Colin and the two children find a wondrous secret garden lost in the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: UK, France, USA, China
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, mysterious, sentimental, exciting, touching, feel good, light, crying, period drama
Similar in 79%
A Simple Wish (1997)
Plot Summary:
Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, fairy tale, funny, semi serious, humorous, mysterious, offbeat, light, romantic, clever
Similar in 78%
The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)
Plot Summary:
One of puppet-maker Geppetto's creations comes magically to life. This puppet, Pinocchio, has one major desire and that is to become a real boy someday. In order to accomplish this goal he has to learn to act responsibly. This film shows you the adventures on which he learns valuable lessons.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Germany, UK, Czech Republic, France
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, touching, offbeat, feel good, humorous, mysterious, anamorphic, independent film, semi serious, exciting
Similar in 86%
The Borrowers (1997)
Plot Summary:
The four-inch-tall Clock family secretly share a house with the normal-sized Lender family, "borrowing" such items as thread, safety pins, batteries and scraps of food. However, their peaceful co-existence is disturbed when evil lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the will granting title to the house, which he plans to demolish in order to build apartments. The Lenders are forced to move, and the Clocks face the risk of being exposed to the normal-sized world.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: light, entertaining, humorous, not serious, fairy tale, feel good, epic, slapstick comedy, touching, offbeat
Similar in 82%
Fluke (1995)
Plot Summary:
Workaholic Thomas Johnson dies in an auto accident and comes back to life as a dog. Remembering some of who he was, he returns to his wife and son to protect them from the man who caused his accident. But, as time goes by, he remembers more of his life, and realizes he wasn't such a good husband and father.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: emotional, sentimental, light, semi serious, touching, entertaining, sad, cult classic, sweet, tear jerker
Similar in 82%
Prancer (1989)
Plot Summary:
Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished apple farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides the reindeer in her barn and feeds it cookies, until she can return it to Santa. Her father finds the reindeer an decides to sell it to the butcher, not for venison chops, but as an advertising display.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: touching, entertaining, mysterious, sad, crying, feel good, humorous, semi serious, independent film, weeping
Similar in 81%
Prancer Returns (2001)
Plot Summary:
This holiday-themed children's film offers a unique take on the legend of Santa Claus and his tiny reindeer. In this movie, a young boy finds a deer in the forest he is sure is Santa's beloved Prancer. Determined to return the creature to the North Pole and his rightful destiny, the child overcomes the cynicism of his family to teach them and us a lesson about the true spirit of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 651
Genere: Family, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Inkheart (2008)
Plot Summary:
The adventures of a father and his young daughter, in their search for a long lost book that will help reunite a missing, close relative.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 81000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Germany, UK, USA, Italy
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, touching, exciting, dark fantasy, serious, entertaining, tense, mystical, captivating, sentimental
Similar in 79%
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007)
Plot Summary:
A boy's life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the dark.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: light, exciting, intense, captivating, entertaining, serious, stylized, psychotronic, arthurian, epic
Similar in 86%
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Plot Summary:
Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 101000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, exciting, scary, semi serious, visual, visually stunning, mystical, captivating, spooky, psychological
Similar in 80%
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Plot Summary:
Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts -- Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander -- crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 108000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Horror
Country: Germany, USA, Australia
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: emotional, touching, stylized, dark fantasy, light, talky, captivating, fairy tale, melancholic, sad
Similar in 82%
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 76%
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 87%
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 85%
A Little Princess (1995)
Plot Summary:
When her father enlists to fight for the British in WWI, young Sara Crewe goes to New York to attend the same boarding school her late mother attended. She soon clashes with the severe headmistress, Miss Minchin, who attempts to stifle Sara's creativity and sense of self- worth.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, fairy tale, heartbreaking, serious, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sweet, sad
Similar in 80%
Benji: Off the Leash! (2004)
Plot Summary:
Benji and his friends try to save his mother from a puppy mill.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 668
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 90%
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Plot Summary:
While hiding from bullies in his school's attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 154000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: West Germany, USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, feel good, light, surreal, touching, scenic, offbeat, atmospheric, epic, melancholic
Similar in 77%
The Santa Clause (1994)
Plot Summary:
Scott Calvin is an ordinary man, who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve and is knocked unconscious. When he and his young son finish Santa's trip and deliveries, they go to the North Pole, where Scott learns he must become the new Santa and convince those he loves that he is indeed, Father Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 130000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, sentimental, light, sweet, entertaining, fairy tale, semi serious, funny, hilarious
Similar in 80%
Jack Frost (1998)
Plot Summary:
A father, who can't keep his promises, dies in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman, who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 40000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: christmas special, sad, tear jerker, fairy tale, anamorphic, romantic, cult classic, comedy drama, crying, feel good