Best movies like Thelma
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The film tells the story of a tomboyish Ilocano lass from Ilocos Norte, Thelma (Maja Salvador) whose family is beset with challenges when she discovers her uncanny gift of speed. Her talent then opens doors for her – to elevate her family’s situation and change the course of her own life. But to do that she will have to run- against all obstacles, against personal hindrances, against shadows from her past, and against her own self-doubts. Will she ever accomplish her dream as a successful athlete?.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 58
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Philippines
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags:
Best tv shows and movies like Thelma (2011):
Similar in 77%
Affliction (2008)
Plot Summary:
A young girl develops an unknown infection that causes her to evolve into a horrifying monster.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 126
Genere: Drama, Horror
Country: Philippines
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: terrifying
Similar in 75%
Reverse Runner (2013)
Plot Summary:
A teenager pursues his childhood dream of becoming the best at reverse running.
IMDB Rating: 3.4
IMDB Votes: 173
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: Australia
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
What's for Dinner, Mom? (2016)
Plot Summary:
Two sisters Tae and Yo come back to their old house which is soon to be torn down. Clearing up the family mementos, Tae finds a red box full of recipes and letters written by their mother who died 20 years ago. In these recipes and letters, she finds out how her mother had struggled in her life due to relocation from Japan to Taiwan, the death of her Taiwanese husband, and a battle with cancer. Tae travels to Taiwan to trace her mother's past, reminiscing about the dishes she made for the family.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 185
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Japan
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: sincere, captivating, culinary
Similar in 75%
No Worries (1993)
Plot Summary:
A family is forced off their farm due to drought, and move to Sydney.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 57
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Australia, UK
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 79%
Room to Move (1987)
Plot Summary:
Superstar Nicole Kidman (Days of Thunder) stars in Room to Move, one of the star's earliest roles. Kidman is Carol Trig, a high school track star whose life changes dramatically when she meets and befriends Angie, a troubled dancer whose life directly affects Carol's. Pretty soon, Carol realizes her life has become more than she can handle, and she must learn to balance her time between running, the family she neglects, and her social life: particularly Angie. Originally intended to be one part of a larger miniseries, Room to Move features one of the world's biggest stars in one of her earliest roles. With its straightforward plot, this is a film everyone can enjoy!.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 192
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Australia
Duration: 49 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 75%
American Girl: Corinne Tan (2023)
Plot Summary:
13-year-old Corrine deals with her parents' recent divorce while everyone else is already adapted to their new roles as a blended family, challenging herself to train a rambunctious puppy as she discovers her new purpose.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 42
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 61 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 90%
The Dull-Ice Flower (1989)
Plot Summary:
Ku Ah-ming is a 4th grader at Chungshan Elementary School in Shuiyu Township, Taiwan. Despite being not very good in most subjects at school, he is very talented in art and has a great imagination, though most teachers don't know what he's expressing in his artwork.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 428
Genere: Family, Drama
Country: Taiwan
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
The Greatest Store In The World (1999)
Plot Summary:
Geraldine and her two daughters, Livvie and Angeline, are living rough on the streets on London. When their van blows up, they must find an alternitive place to stay. At first, they live in temporary housing, but the conditions are unbearable. Geraldine reacts quickly and the family decides to take up residence in Scottley's, the best department store in London. They must keep it a secret from doorman Brian (whom the girls call Mr. Whiskers), and a couple of bumbling thieves who want to rob the store safe of its jewels.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 455
Genere: Family, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 83%
Tiger Cruise (2004)
Plot Summary:
On its last leg homeward, from Pearl Harbour (Hawaii) to San Diego, the USS Constellation hosts a jolly 'tiger cruise' for USNavy, Marines and USNAF relatives, mainly minors ('Navy brats'). Attitudes and emotions vary from simple joy to open frustration, the worst brat being XO commander Gary Dolan's daughter Maddie, who wants him to refuse a promotion to command for a shore job. Then the news of the WCC terror crisis changes everything, as the crew is recalled to war footing.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sad
Similar in 88%
Wind Dancer (1993)
Plot Summary:
When a young girl is injured by a riding accident, she overcomes her injury with the help of her family and her beloved horse.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 237
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 80%
Mano Po 2: My Home (2003)
Plot Summary:
Antonio Chan, a prominent Chinese businessman, has three women in his life v Sol, a Filipina; Lu Shui, a Chinese; and Belinda, a Filipino-Chinese. Antonio has children with all three women. A crisis shakes up the over-extended Tsinoy family prompting all the members to re-examine their values, their relationships, and confront issues that they have refused to face all these years. With Mano Po 2, My Home, Regal Entertainments continues the tradition established by the critical and box-office hit Mano Po. Features strong dramatic performances from a stellar ensemble cast, lush visuals, a reverberating musical score, an unforgettable theme song, and a heart-warming screenplay that eloquently captures the rich Tsinoy culture. Laugh, cry, and be touched by this family story about forgiveness, healing and undying love.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 78
Genere: Drama
Country: Philippines
Duration: 134 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Primo Baby (1990)
Plot Summary:
A tomboyish juvenile delinquent, Paschal Draney, is sent to live in a foster home run by a well-known horse breeder where he befriends a Thoroughbred seemingly crippled by a congenital eye defect.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 52
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 79%
13 Never Again! (1996)
Plot Summary:
13-year old Rikke sees Bea, the new girl in her class, as a challenge. After an endurance test to find which of them can lie longer in a circle of flames, they become friends. However, as a result of some unfortunate truths and half-truths, the friendship falters. Rikke feels that Bea has let her down, and resolves to continue the rivalry between them, but now in a less physical, more artful way. In addition we meet Rikke's elder sister Ninni, who has been in England to learn the language, and has had to leave her great love, a man twelve years her senior. The film is also about the problems Rikke encounters in fulfilling the expectations of those around her as she approaches womanhood.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 312
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Norway
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 78%
Audrey's Rain (2003)
Plot Summary:
Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland star in "Audrey's Rain" for Hallmark. Jean plays Aunt Audrey, who took in her sister's two kids after her sister's recent suicide.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 276
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
Elementary (2016)
Plot Summary:
Florence is a school teacher devoted to her students. When she encounters young Sacha, a child with problems, she will do everything she can to help him, even to the point of neglecting her own children, her own life, and of questioning her vocation. Little by little Florence realizes that we learning has no age limit.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 516
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
Our Little Sister (2015)
Plot Summary:
A story that revolves around three sisters who live in their grandmother's home and the arrival of their 13-year-old half sister.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Japan
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: touching, sincere, realistic, captivating, independent film, inspirational, offbeat, manga, poignant, art house
Similar in 81%
Alternate Weeks (2009)
Plot Summary:
A 12 year old girl and her 8 year old brother live one week with their mother and the next week with their father. The girl blamers her mother, a super businesswoman for the divorce and turns all her anger on her. She prefers the weeks with her father who is flat broke after leaving his bank job to give people free hugs on street corners. Her brother channels his sense of injustice into the battle to save the planet. As the school year progresses and her parents struggle to mend their lives and as the girl approaches her 13th birthday, she learns to see the world in a new way.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 296
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: France
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
Hand in Hand (1961)
Plot Summary:
Seven-year-olds Michael and Rachel are best friends who do everything together and who have vowed to remain friends "forever and ever and can't be parted for never and never." Unfortunately, the society that Michael and Rachel live in is one of religious intolerance. The fact that Michael is Irish Catholic and Rachel is Jewish is a point of conflict for just about everyone in the community. When the two young children are made aware of their ideological differences, it begins to tear apart their friendship, and they decide to test whose God is stronger. What they discover is that at the core, their religions really aren't that different from one another: both worship a God of love, not vengeance.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 572
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 78 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 80%
Back Home (TV Movie) (1989)
Plot Summary:
During World War II, young Rusty was sent to America for safety. It's now five years later and the spunky redhead returns to her native England. From the family she hardly remembers to snobby classmates and rule-filled boarding schools, Rusty must adapt to a whole new way of life.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 147
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: crying
Similar in 87%
Heidi (1965)
Plot Summary:
After her mother's death, the five year old orphan Heidi is brought by her aunt to her grumpy grandfather Alp, who leads a hermit life in the beautiful Swiss mountains. Heidi's natural cheerfulness quickly brings renewed joy in grandfather Alps life. Heidi becomes friends with the goatherd Peter who is about the same age as her and spent two beautiful years in the pasture. But then she is sent by her aunt to Frankfurt in the house of Consul Sesemann where Heidi should get a proper education and upbringing. After some initial difficulties Heidi eventually adjusts to her new situation and makes friends with Clara, the paralyzed daughter of the consul. Only with the strict governess Miss Rottingmeier she keeps getting in trouble. Miss Rottingmeier clearly can not cope with the free and outdoors spirit of Heidi. But Heidi lets a fresh wind blow through the Sesemann house and even causes Clara to overcome her illness.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 179
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Austria
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 83%
My Angel (2011)
Plot Summary:
Fifteen year old Eddie's mother falls very ill after a serious car accident. Eddie and his brother Stewart end up having to take care of themselves and one night when they have ran out of food and electricity, Eddie dreams that his mother asks him to find an angel's halo so that she can be saved. Will Eddie be able to save his mother in time for Christmas?.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 182
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: uplifting, emotional, captivating, sincere, serious
Similar in 87%
The Miracle of Kathy Miller (1981)
Plot Summary:
With the support of her parents (Sharon Gless & Frank Converse), an Arizona adolescent (Helen Hunt) overcomes severe injuries to run in a 10K race.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 204
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 80%
Running (1979)
Plot Summary:
An Olympic hopeful marathon runner hopes his success will be the answer to his marriage woes and other personal problems.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 818
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: Canada
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
About Scout (2015)
Plot Summary:
A rebellious Goth girl embarks on a road trip across Texas with a suicidal young man in an effort to find her little sister.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 829
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 80%
Fatima (2015)
Plot Summary:
Fatima, a Moroccan-born woman who now lives in France with her two teenage daughters, with whom she is barely able to communicate.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: France, Canada
Duration: 79 min
Plot tags: touching, sincere, captivating, realistic
Similar in 87%
Spin (2003)
Plot Summary:
"Spin" tells the story of a boy who loses his parents in a plane crash, is taken in by his uncle (Tucci), who then leaves him for ten years in the care of his Hispanic ranch hand (Blades) and his wife (Delany). Once in high school, Eddie (Merriman) reconnects with a girl from his past (Garces), and their growing interracial relationship teaches the sometimes-sullen Eddie to think of others before himself.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 537
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, independent film
Similar in 75%
Bridge to Terabithia (1985)
Plot Summary:
Jess Aarons and new girl Leslie Burke create a world of their own and call it Terabithia and pretend to be the king and queen. They return to their magical kingdom every day after school.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 730
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: crying, independent film
Similar in 85%
Paper Planes (2014)
Plot Summary:
The film tells the story of 11-year-old Dylan (Ed Oxenbould), who is brought up by his father (Sam Worthington) in a remote town in the country of Australia. Dylan’s life is changed forever when he wins a place in the regional Paper Plane Championships in Sydney. The heart warming journey of a young boy and his father reconnecting after a family’s struggle will have us cheering them all the way to the world championships of paper plane flying in Japan.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Australia, Japan
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, serious, realistic
Similar in 88%
The Color of Paradise (1999)
Plot Summary:
The story revolves around a blind boy named Mohammed who is released from his special school in Tehran for summer vacation. His father, shamed and burdened by Mohammed's blindness, arrives late to pick him up and then tries to convince the headmaster to keep Mohammed over the summer. The headmaster refuses, so Mohammed's father eventually takes him home.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Iran
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, dramatic, depressing, sentimental, realistic, inspirational, spiritual, educational, art house
Similar in 80%
Wonder (2017)
Plot Summary:
The story of August Pullman – a boy with facial differences – who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 175000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA, Hong Kong, Canada
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, uplifting, touching, sincere, thought provoking, motivational, sad, feel good, tear jerker, cute