Best movies like The Late Shift
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show.".
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, talky, clever, independent film, biting, suspense
Best tv shows and movies like The Late Shift (1996):
Similar in 89%
Get Well Soon (2001)
Plot Summary:
After having a nervous breakdown, a popular talk-show host confronts his ex-girlfriend who is dating a cross-dresser.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: talky, semi serious, humorous, realistic, witty, clever, cynical, biting, suspense
Similar in 81%
Burnzy's Last Call (1995)
Plot Summary:
A downtown Manahattan gin mill plays host to a series of comic vignettes.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 113
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: independent film, sincere, offbeat, humorous, realistic, contemplative, talky, semi serious
Similar in 76%
Search and Destroy (1995)
Plot Summary:
A satire about desperate hustling, pop philosophy and big money.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, independent film, light, captivating, offbeat, realistic, witty, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Break a Leg (2005)
Plot Summary:
A talented but struggling actor is willing to go to any length to get a job - including "breaking a leg" - especially those of other actors!.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 307
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, atmospheric, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 86%
Stuntmen (2009)
Plot Summary:
When the industry's two biggest stuntmen are nominated for Stuntman of the Year, an over-ambitious documentarian reignites a dormant rivalry between the two men that results in an all out press war.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 761
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: rough, realistic, humorous, semi serious, exciting, mockumentary
Similar in 85%
Dying of Laughter (1999)
Plot Summary:
Nino and Bruno are two comedians who reach the heights of success with their duo act, turning them into huge TV celebrities. However, the hate between them grows as fast, and as much, as their fame.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, clever, offbeat, humorous, captivating, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting
Similar in 89%
Dinner at Eight (1989)
Plot Summary:
A wry, insightful comedy of manners in which somewhat dizzy society matron Millicent Jordan arranges a dinner party to honor some visiting aristocrat while remaining oblivious to her husband's health and financial problems as well as her daughter's feelings and emotions. Party guests include the vain, the greedy, and the self-absorbed.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 194
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: clever, humorous, realistic, witty, talky, cynical, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Trust Me (2013)
Plot Summary:
Trust Me follows flailing Hollywood agent Howard, who seemingly strikes gold after signing the next big child star. What results is an unexpected ride through the nasty inner workings of Hollywood, as Howard desperately tries to make it in an industry that has no interest in recognizing his bumbling but ultimately genuine nature.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, cynical, semi serious, realistic, independent film, biting, surprise ending, suspense
Similar in 79%
The Last Stand (2006)
Plot Summary:
The Last Stand, a drama that chronicles the life of four very different people attempting success as performers in Los Angeles until life becomes too much to handle.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 284
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, captivating, tragicomedy, talky, semi serious, independent film, dark comedy
Similar in 83%
The Three Stooges (2000)
Plot Summary:
A biography of the Three Stooges, in which their careers and rise to fame is shown throughout the eyes of their leader, Moe.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious, slapstick, slapstick comedy
Similar in 82%
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 77%
Open Season (1995)
Plot Summary:
When the television ratings machines suddenly malfunction, public television suddenly, but mistakenly, soars to #1 in this humorous satire.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 247
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: independent film, humorous, realistic, semi serious, biting, sexy, clever, unusual plot structure, suspense, entertaining
Similar in 86%
Fish in a Barrel (2001)
Plot Summary:
6 gun wielding people are trapped in a NY loft with $4 million in stolen diamonds.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 307
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, cynical, semi serious, suspense, independent film, clever, realistic, witty, talky, biting
Similar in 85%
Stay Hungry (1976)
Plot Summary:
Stay Hungry is a 1976 dramatic comedy film by director Bob Rafelson from a screenplay by Charles Gaines. The story centers on a young Birmingham, Alabama, scion, played by Jeff Bridges, who gets involved in a shady real-estate deal. In order to close the deal, he needs to buy a gym building to complete a multi-parcel lot. When he visits the gym, however, he finds himself romantically interested in the receptionist (Sally Field) and drawn to the carefree lifestyle of the Austrian body builder "Joe Santo" (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who is training there for the Mr. Universe competition.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: feel good, realistic, humorous, witty, semi serious, funny, cult classic
Similar in 79%
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 85%
The Last Producer (2000)
Plot Summary:
An old-time mogul struggles to reenter the club where power and money make the rules.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 356
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 85%
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Mork & Mindy' (2005)
Plot Summary:
An inside look at the ABC sitcom which turned Robin Williams into a star in 1978.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 489
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, sentimental, sitcom
Similar in 76%
The Blue Tooth Virgin (2008)
Plot Summary:
Two writers must face a dilemma that is common to anyone who has ever had an artistic friend: what happens when you have to give feedback, and the news isn't good? Sam, an aspiring screenwriter, and David, a successful magazine editor, have been pals for years. When David doesn't appreciate Sam's latest attempt, it opens a fissure in their friendship, one that spreads through the rest of their lives. Ultimately, both men must reevaluate their motivations to write, their need for praise and validation, and what it means to see yourself as you actually are.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 186
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: realistic, semi serious, humorous, captivating, independent film, sentimental, witty
Similar in 90%
Queen of the Lot (2010)
Plot Summary:
An electronic ankle bracelet and being under house arrest aren't about to stop up-and-coming actress Maggie Chase (Tanna Frederick) from the two things she craves the most: real fame and true love. With more "Google points" than her Iowa hometown, but far less than Angelina Jolie, Maggie is desperate to claw her way off the B-list of action/adventure pictures and into major movie stardom.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 169
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, humorous, realistic, talky, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 90%
Man of the Year (2002)
Plot Summary:
Bill is the guest of honor as the "Man of the Year". A very successful head of a large energy firm, he is a man with many dark secrets. His best friend, Stuart, hosts the party at his ritzy ultra modern Hollywood Hills home. During the course of the night, secrets will be revealed, trusts will be broken and relationships will change forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 236
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, talky, semi serious, clever, biting
Similar in 89%
Mistress (1992)
Plot Summary:
A comedy about a screenwriter (Wuhl) whose old movie script is read by a producer (Landau) and the search for financial backers begins. But it seems that each money source (Aiello, DeNiro, Wallach) has his own mistress that he wants put into the film. Gradually, the screenwriter is forced to make changes to his script to accommodate these backers until he finally sees no semblance of his original ideas in the writing.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: humorous, cynical, light, captivating, cult classic, exciting, independent film, realistic, witty, talky
Similar in 81%
The TV Set (2006)
Plot Summary:
As a writer named Mike struggles to shepherd his semi-autobiographical sitcom into development, his vision is slowly eroded by a domineering network executive named Lenny who favors trashy reality programming. The irony, of course, is that every crass suggestion Lenny makes improves the show's response from test audiences and brings the show a step closer to getting on the air.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: satirical, melancholic, witty, semi serious, funny, clever, entertaining, humorous, realistic, talky
Similar in 88%
Monster in a Box (1992)
Plot Summary:
This is the story of Spalding Gray and his attempt to write a novel. It is a first person account about writing and living, and dealing with success while trying to be successful.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 870
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: independent film, clever, witty, talky, humorous, realistic, semi serious, psychological, tense, philosophical
Similar in 86%
Livin' Large! (1991)
Plot Summary:
A young black reporter begins to lose his identity.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 518
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: independent film, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 82%
The Final Curtain (2002)
Plot Summary:
The Final Curtain is a British film from 2002 directed by Patrick Harkins and starring Peter O'Toole. It tells the story of J. J. Curtis, ageing gameshow host played by O'Toole, who hires novelist Jonathan Stitch (Adrian Lester) to pen his biography, in the hope of sealing his immortality in the hearts and minds of the British public. This is made more difficult by his rivalry with fellow gameshow host Dave Turner (Aidan Gillen), and events from his past.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 577
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: serious, witty, clever, realistic, black comedy, cynical, biting, dark comedy, suspense
Similar in 84%
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 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 81%
What Just Happened (2008)
Plot Summary:
During the course of an ordinary week in Hollywood, movie producer Ben (Robert De Niro) must navigate his way through shark-infested waters as he struggles to complete his latest projects. A demanding studio boss (Catherine Keener) demands extensive changes to a movie starring Sean Penn, while another chief won't greenlight a project unless star Bruce Willis shaves his beard. Meanwhile, Ben tries to reconcile with his wife and maintain a relationship with his young daughter.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: melancholic, stylized, witty, humorous, realistic, satirical, black comedy, dark comedy, indie film, clever
Similar in 85%
Grassroots (2012)
Plot Summary:
Grant Cogswell, a liberal music critic decides to run for city council against a popular black incumbent and is assisted by a reporter who recently lost his job. Initially given no chance, things turn dark when Cogswell makes it into the general election. Based on a true story.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, political, clever, biting, suspense
Similar in 85%
Primary Colors (1998)
Plot Summary:
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan
Duration: 143 min
Plot tags: political, intense, witty, talky, semi serious, thought provoking, humorous, realistic, clever, satirical