Best movies like To Be or Not to Be
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when Poland is invaded by the Germans in World War II. His wife has the habit of entertaining young polish officers while he's on stage, which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape. remake of Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 black comedy with the same name.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: humorous, parody, entertaining, funny, light, hilarious, witty, captivating, dark comedy, offbeat
Best tv shows and movies like To Be or Not to Be (1983):
Similar in 87%
How I Unleashed World War II (1970)
Plot Summary:
How I unleashed World War II is a Polish feature film made in 1969, based on Kazimierz Sławiński's novel "Przygody kanoniera Dolasa" (The adventures of Dolas the cannoneer). The film was divided into three parts: Ucieczka (The escape), Za bronią (Following the arms) and Wśród swoich (Among friends).
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, War
Country: Poland
Duration: 224 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 80%
Which Way to the Front? (1970)
Plot Summary:
Brendan Byers III (Jerry Lewis), one of the richest men in America, has been pronounced 4-F and can't serve his country in it's war against Hitler. Byers does not takes "No" for an answer and recruits other 4-F's to fight against Hitler.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: slapstick, exciting, humorous, realistic, not serious, slapstick comedy, cult film
Similar in 82%
All the Queen's Men (2001)
Plot Summary:
A mismatched team of British Special Services agents led by an American must infiltrate, in disguise, a female-run Enigma factory in Berlin and bring back the decoding device that will end the war.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, War
Country: USA, Austria, Germany
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, spy comedy, art house, independent film, realistic, crying
Similar in 79%
Nobody Loves Me (1994)
Plot Summary:
No overview found.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: melancholic, light, enigmatic, witty, humorous, funny, existential, offbeat, semi serious, sexy
Similar in 75%
The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962)
Plot Summary:
An American Infantry officer assigned to a cloak-and-dagger role in Rome uses homing pigeons for outside contact, with humorous results.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 464
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, realistic, semi serious, freeze frame
Similar in 76%
Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004)
Plot Summary:
A group of American executives making a film about World War II decide that since their lead is rather unglamorous, they will draft in an American G.I. to play the part of Winston Churchill. Their take on the war depicts a handsome Churchill falling in love with Princess Elizabeth, who is herself involved in the war as an undercover agent.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: UK
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: parody, humorous, semi serious, feel good, absurd, offbeat, realistic, alternative comedy
Similar in 77%
A Self-Made Hero (1996)
Plot Summary:
Set in France at the end of World War II Albert Dehousse finds out his father wasn't a war hero and his mother is a collaborator.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, biting, suspense
Similar in 86%
Ensign Pulver (1964)
Plot Summary:
1945, on an old cargo ship somewhere deep in the Pacific ocean: Captain Morton strives to become commander, so he demands the maximum quality of work from his crew, without granting them any freedom or favors - ignoring that they're thousand of miles away from the front. In one word: he drives his crew crazy. They are near mutiny, but no-one dares to do the first step. Until Ensign Pulver plays a prank on the captain that triggers fatal consequences.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, homoerotic
Similar in 90%
Privates on Parade (1983)
Plot Summary:
It is 1947, the year of the communist rebellion in Malaya and the British army's SADUSEA (Song And Dance Unit South East Asia) are called to the Malayan Jungle to entertain the troops. The eccentric, bible-bashing Major Giles Flack (John Cleese) is in command of the unit. Flack is accompanied by an ageing, theatrical drama queen, Terri Dennis (Denis Quilley) who hopes to entertain the troops with his flamboyant impressions, but the bored troops find other ways to enjoy themselves.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 977
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: UK
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, entertaining, independent film
Similar in 76%
Dad's Army (2016)
Plot Summary:
A cinema remake of the classic sitcom Dad's Army (1968). The Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon deal with a visiting female journalist and a German spy as World War II draws to its conclusion.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: not serious, humorous, funny, light, feel good, captivating, entertaining, realistic
Similar in 80%
The Elusive Corporal (1962)
Plot Summary:
The story serves as a companion piece to Renoir's 1937 film, Grand Illusion, once more bringing together men from across the broad social spectrum of French society to depict one man's Sisyphean efforts to escape captivity in a German POW camp.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, contemplative, semi serious
Similar in 86%
How I Won the War (1967)
Plot Summary:
An inept British WWII commander leads his troops to a series of misadventures in North Africa and Europe.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: UK
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: clever, humorous, witty, black comedy, parody, realistic, semi serious, dark comedy, thought provoking, intellectual
Similar in 90%
A Farewell to Fools (2013)
Plot Summary:
Set during World War II, somewhere in Eastern Europe. A German soldier is found dead near the village. The local authorities must find the culprit, or they will be all shot by the Nazis the morning after. There's no way to find the guilty one, but there's Ipu, the madman of the village, whom they promise a hero's funeral if he will claims responsibility and agrees to die in their place. He must decide, and time is running out.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 514
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: Romania, Germany, Belgium
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, semi serious, offbeat, captivating, tragicomedy, realistic, independent film, art film
Similar in 81%
The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
Plot Summary:
During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: humorous, exciting, light, captivating, culinary, atmospheric, feel good, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Seven Beauties (1975)
Plot Summary:
Nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Director, Seven Beauties stars Giancarlo Giannini (Swept Away) as Pasqualino Frafuso, known in Naples as "Pasqualino Seven Beauties." A petty thief who lives off of the profits of his seven sisters while claiming to protect their honor at any cost, Pasqualino is arrested for murder and later sent to fight in the army after committing sexual assault. The Germans capture him and he gets sent to a concentration camp where he plots to make his escape by seducing a German officer.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: Italy
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: black comedy, humorous, disturbing, cynical, biting, sincere, controversial, clever, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 75%
Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again (2011)
Plot Summary:
For four decades comic genius Mel Brooks and talk show king Dick Cavett have partnered to give the world scintillating conversation and sidesplitting humor. In 2010 they reunited on stage to share show business memories and hilarious stories for loyal fans and a new generation of viewers.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 105
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 56 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, funny, light, feel good, captivating, entertaining, witty
Similar in 80%
The Girl of Your Dreams (1998)
Plot Summary:
A company of Spanish movie makers leaves Franco's Spain and moves to Hitler's Germany to make a film in co-production. Soon some problems start to arise.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, captivating, entertaining, sexy, realistic, feel good, pre war
Similar in 78%
How Sweet It Is (2013)
Plot Summary:
An alcoholic theater owner needs to put together a successful musical in order to pay off his mob debt, but problems arise when the wise guys want to cast their friends in the production.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 154
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: humorous, funny, light, captivating, entertaining, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 84%
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)
Plot Summary:
A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's New Earth Army, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 137000
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: absurd, offbeat, humorous, black comedy, dark comedy, surreal, light, clever, not serious, parody
Similar in 79%
The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Plot Summary:
During the build-up to D-Day in 1944, the British found their island hosting many thousands of American soldiers who were "oversexed, overpaid, and over here". That's Charlie Madison exactly; he knows all the angles to make life as smooth and risk-free as possible for himself. But things become complicated when he falls for an English woman, and his commanding officer's nervous breakdown leads to Charlie being sent on a senseless and dangerous mission.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, realistic, witty, funny, black and white, cute, humorous, semi serious, sentimental, light
Similar in 83%
Two Men Went to War (2002)
Plot Summary:
Comedy drama based on the true story of two British Army dentists who in 1942, eager to see action, go AWOL and invade occupied France on their own.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 934
Genere: Comedy, War, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, entertaining, captivating, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 76%
My Führer (2007)
Plot Summary:
Hitler no longer believes in himself, and can barely see himself as an equal to even his sheep dog. But to seize the helm of the war he would have to create one of his famous fiery speeches to mobilize the masses. Goebbels therefore brings a Jewish acting teacher Grünbaum and his family from the camps in order to train the leader in rhetoric. Grünbaum is torn, but starts Hitler in his therapy.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: Germany
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, suspense, offbeat, humorous, controversial, not serious, slapstick comedy, slapstick
Similar in 84%
Behind Enemy Lines (1985)
Plot Summary:
Professor-turned-spy Col. Calvin Turner and his associate, workaholic Lt. Shelley Flynn, plan a daring rescue behind enemy lines in World War II German-occupied Norway of a brilliant scientist who may or may not be aiding the Germans.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 80
Genere: Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, cult film
Similar in 76%
Stones for the Rampart (2014)
Plot Summary:
To be defeated and not be - a victory. This is the motto that life is guided by three young friends: Alek, Sophy and Rudy. Scouts, high school graduates high school in Warsaw drifting ambitious plans for the future broken through September 1939. Entering adulthood in a very dramatic times, which puts them a choice - to survive at any cost, or to join the fighting for a free homeland, risking everything. The boys brought up in patriotic homes, shaped by the ideals of scouting, they decide to fight. They become soldiers, and although every scrape with death, they can live a full life.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, War
Country: Poland
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, suspense, disturbing
Similar in 82%
Catch-22 (1970)
Plot Summary:
A bombardier in World War II tries desperately to escape the insanity of the war. However, sometimes insanity is the only sane way to cope with a crazy situation. Catch-22 is a parody of a "military mentality" and of a bureaucratic society in general.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, surreal, absurd, black comedy, dark, grim, cult classic, psychological, clever, humorous
Similar in 85%
Living in Oblivion (1995)
Plot Summary:
Nick is the director of a low-budget indie film. He tries to keep everything together as his production is plagued with an insecure actress, a megalomaniac star, a pretentious, beret-wearing director of photography and lousy catering. Divided in three acts, each representing a different scene to shoot, this film is an essential for amateur filmmakers.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: surreal, independent film, humorous, funny, atmospheric, talky, light, art house, semi serious, cult classic
Similar in 82%
Train of Life (1998)
Plot Summary:
In 1941, the inhabitants of a small Jewish village in Central Europe organize a fake deportation train so that they can escape the Nazis and flee to Palestine.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Israel, Belgium
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, sad, surprise ending, sincere, road movie, feel good, depressing, art house, twisted, sentimental
Similar in 90%
War Machine (2017)
Plot Summary:
A rock star general bent on winning the “impossible” war in Afghanistan takes us inside the complex machinery of modern war. Inspired by the true story of General Stanley McChrystal.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: political, satirical, intense, humorous, talky, stylized, funny, social, art house, black comedy
Similar in 85%
My Best Enemy (2011)
Plot Summary:
Poland 1943: An unlikely pair - a concentration camp prisoner and a captain in Hitler's notorious SS - free themselves from the wreckage of a crashed SS airplane. The two appear to be strangely familiar with each other and the extent of their extraordinary relationship is thrillingly revealed.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: Austria, Luxembourg
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, tense, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 75%
Jakob the Liar (1999)
Plot Summary:
In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out after curfew. While waiting for the German Kommondant, Jakob overhears a German radio broadcast about Russian troop movements. Returned to the ghetto, the shopkeeper shares his information with a friend and then rumors fly that there is a secret radio within the ghetto.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Drama, War
Country: USA, France, Germany
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sad, cult classic, sincere, uplifting, humorous, emotional, realistic, gloomy, semi serious, sentimental