Best movies like Uptight
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Black militants building up an arsenal of weapons in preparation for a race war are betrayed by one of their own.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 928
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: political, independent film, rough, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, black cinema
Best tv shows and movies like Uptight (1968):
Similar in 77%
The Trespasser (2001)
Plot Summary:
Estevão , Ivan e Gilberto são companheiros desde os tempos de faculdade e sócios de uma construtora de sucesso há mais de 15 anos. O relacionamento entre eles sempre foi muito bom, até que um desentendimento na condução dos negócios faz com que eles entrem em choque, com Estevão, sócio majoritário, ameaçando abandonar a empresa. Acuados, Ivan e Gilberto decidem então contratar AnÃsio , um matador de aluguel, para assassinar Estevão e, assim, poderem conduzir a construtora do modo como bem entendem. Entretanto, AnÃsio tem seus próprios planos de ascensão social e aos poucos invade cada vez mais as vidas de Ivan e Gilberto.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: Brazil
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspenseful, bleak, captivating, realistic
Similar in 80%
Forfeit (2007)
Plot Summary:
An armored car guard's elaborate plan for revenge is threatened by his relationship with an old friend -- a brilliant and unpredictable television preacher.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 282
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: psychological, rough, suspenseful, disturbing, bleak, serious, realistic, psychological thriller, psycho film
Similar in 75%
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
Plot Summary:
A South-African preacher goes to search for his wayward son who has committed a crime in the big city.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: South Africa, USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: christian film, touching, political, thought provoking, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative, independent film
Similar in 86%
Brotherhood of Death (1976)
Plot Summary:
A group of Black soldiers are home from the war and head to a small Southern town. The town is dominated by a group of Klansmen who keep the Black majority from voting or being treated like human beings. However, these newcomers convince the local population to register to vote so they can take back power and achieve justice. When hundreds show up to register, the Klan responds with violence. Eventually, though, the Black community has little choice other than fight back and the film ends with a small war between these combat vets and the Klan.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 533
Genere: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
Streets of Blood (2009)
Plot Summary:
A police officer's partner has died during Hurricane Katrina, but he later discovers that his partner may have been murdered. An investigation follows, taking the officer and his new partner into the depths of the criminal underworld.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: rough, bleak, serious, realistic, hood, crime drama, exciting, suspenseful, neo noir
Similar in 85%
Cadence (1990)
Plot Summary:
As punishment for drunken, rebellious behavior, a young white soldier is thrown into a stockade populated entirely by black inmates. But instead of falling victim to racial hatred, the soldier joins forces with his fellow prisoners and rises up against the insanely tyrannical and bigoted prison warden.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: inspirational, serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing, independent film
Similar in 80%
The Activist (2014)
Plot Summary:
A political thriller taking place during the Wounded Knee insurrection in 1973. Two activists are arrested and in the custody of the local sheriff's office. During their stay they are visited by a Nixon advisor, a lawyer, a senator and a movie star who is also an activist.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 118
Genere: Thriller
Country: France, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: tense, realistic, psychological, captivating, political, bleak, serious, suspenseful, independent film
Similar in 87%
10,000 Black Men Named George (2002)
Plot Summary:
In the 1920s, the rights of American workers to join a labor union was still considered an open question, and African-Americans were routinely denied their civil and economic rights. 10,000 Black Men Named George, the title, refers to the fact Pullman porters were often called "George" by white passengers, which was considered a racial slur.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 349
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, captivating, disturbing, tense, sincere, serious, realistic, contemplative, entertaining
Similar in 83%
Lockdown (2000)
Plot Summary:
Avery (Jones) returns to college as a competitive swimmer after getting his life back on track. But his life takes another unexpected turn when he and his two friends (Bonds, Casseus) are wrongly accused of murder and end up in prison.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: disturbing, rough, serious, realistic, hood, crime drama, bleak, independent film
Similar in 78%
White Man's Burden (1995)
Plot Summary:
The story takes place in alternative America where the blacks are members of social elite, and whites are inhabitants of inner city ghettos. Louis Pinnock is a white worker in a chocolate factory, loving husband and father of two children. While delivering a package for black CEO Thaddeus Thomas, he is mistaken for a voyeur and, as a result, loses his job, gets beaten by black cops and his family gets evicted from their home. Desperate Pinnock takes a gun and kidnaps Thomas, demanding justice.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: France, USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, bleak, serious, realistic, rough, feel good, unusual plot structure, bad ending, political
Similar in 90%
Confess (2005)
Plot Summary:
political thriller that charts the exploits of disillusioned ex-hacker Terell Lessor. A return to New York, coupled with a humiliating attempt at getting a new job, serves as the catalyst for him to take action against those who slighted him in the past. Employing strategically placed spy-cams, and operating in tandem with backer, strategist and lover Olivia, he captures compromising footage and broadcasts the edited clips via a newly-minted website. Recognizing the power of their model, the two begin to target CEOs, politicians, those who represent the worst of the establishment. Soon Terell's every move is front-page news, law enforcement is after him, and copy-catters are taking his abduction-and-confession model to extremes he never imagined. With these forces colliding, Terell has to decide whether his actions are sustainable - a decision that will compromise his agenda, his first taste of romance, and his physical wellbeing.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 458
Genere: Thriller, Drama
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, suspense, realistic, surprise ending, political thriller
Similar in 77%
The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)
Plot Summary:
Having spent 10 years in prison for nationalist activities, Shack Twala is finally ordered released by the South African Supreme Court but he finds himself almost immediately on the run after a run-in with the police. Assisted by his lawyer Rina Van Niekirk and visiting British engineer Jim Keogh, he heads for Capetown where he hopes to recover a stash of diamonds, meant to finance revolutionary activities, that he had entrusted to a dentist before his incarceration. Along the way, they are followed by Major Horn of the South African State security bureau and it becomes apparent that he has no intention of arresting them until they reach their final destination.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, captivating, political
Similar in 87%
Land of the Blind (2006)
Plot Summary:
A soldier recounts his relationship with a famous political prisoner attempting to overthrow their country's authoritarian government.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: serious, psychological, bleak, disturbing, political, captivating, apocalyptic, inspirational, philosophical, black comedy
Similar in 80%
06/05 (2004)
Plot Summary:
A fictional version of the events that led to the assassination of the Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn on May 6, 2002. The movie is based upon the book "The sixth of May" by Tomas Ross.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, suspenseful, disturbing, serious, realistic
Similar in 79%
The Insurgents (2006)
Plot Summary:
Set in a post-9/11 America, four Americans come together to build a truck bomb and plan to detonate it on a target in the U.S. Highlighting the days leading up to the event.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 331
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, independent film, realistic
Similar in 85%
The Final Comedown (1972)
Plot Summary:
Black revolutionaries take action in the white suburbs.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 434
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: political, independent film, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, black cinema
Similar in 88%
Drop Squad (1994)
Plot Summary:
Controversial film about an underground organization that kidnaps and 'deprograms' African Americans who sell out or deny their cultural heritage. Spike Lee is the Executive Producer.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 651
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: independent film, psychological, serious, realistic, biting, suspense, black cinema
Similar in 79%
Panther (1995)
Plot Summary:
Panther is a semi-historic film about the origins of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The movie spans about 3 years (1966-68) of the Black Panther's history in Oakland. Panther also uses historical footage (B/W) to emphasize some points.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: political, disturbing, controversial, philosophical, hood, cult classic, tense, bleak, serious, realistic
Similar in 83%
F.I.S.T. (1978)
Plot Summary:
Johnny Kovak joins the Teamsters trade-union in a local chapter in the 1930s and works his way up in the organization. As he climbs higher and higher his methods become more ruthless and finally senator Madison starts a campaign to find the truth about the alleged connections with the Mob.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 145 min
Plot tags: realistic, disturbing, rough, serious, cult classic, psychological, thought provoking, bleak
Similar in 84%
The Infiltrator (1995)
Plot Summary:
The Infiltrator is an American film about an Israeli freelance journalist who travels to Germany circa the early 1990's and uncovers a story about a dangerously pervasive underground Neo-Nazi faction, who are intent to bring Nazism back to the forefront in Germany. It originally aired on HBO in 1995. Among its cast include: Oliver Platt, Arliss Howard, and Tony Haygarth. It is based on the book In Hitler's Shadow : An Israeli's Journey Inside Germany's Neo-Nazi Movement by Yaron Svoray.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 731
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: rough, thought provoking, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 75%
Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977)
Plot Summary:
A renegade USAF general, Lawrence Dell, escapes from a military prison and takes over an ICBM silo near Montana and threatens to provoke World War 3 unless the President reveals details of a secret meeting held just after the start of the Vietnam War between Dell and the then President's most trusted advisors.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: West Germany, USA
Duration: 146 min
Plot tags: neo noir, political, political thriller, tense, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 89%
The Enemy Within (1994)
Plot Summary:
Colonel Casey discovers what appears to be plans by General Lloyd to use fake military excercises to assist Jack Giddings in his plans to remove President Foster from office. Colonel Casey, and President Foster must find evidence that there is a coup planned and stop it, before it takes place. Unfortunately, there isn't much time.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, tense, realistic, political thriller
Similar in 90%
A Dry White Season (1989)
Plot Summary:
Taking place during the 1976 Soweto uprising, the story follows a white school teacher whose life and values are threatened when he asks questions about the death of a young black boy who died in police custody.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: talky, emotional, disturbing, rough, thought provoking, serious, realistic, political, retro, thinking
Similar in 82%
The Pentagon Papers (2003)
Plot Summary:
This compelling political drama is based on the true story of high-ranking Pentagon official Daniel Ellsberg, who, during the Nixon era, strove to preserve American democracy by leaking top-secret documents to the New York Times and Washington Post. The documents in question would eventually become famous as the Pentagon Papers, which revealed the true reasons for U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, disturbing, captivating, realistic, political, bleak
Similar in 82%
The Klansman (1974)
Plot Summary:
A small southern town has just been rocked by a tragedy: a young woman has been violently raped. The white town fathers immediately declare that the attacker had to be black, and place the blame on Garth, a young black man. Assuming that the men in white sheets aren't intent on holding a fair and impartial trial, Garth takes to the woods as the Klansmen lynching party hunts him down.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: political, tense, sincere, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, campy
Similar in 76%
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Plot Summary:
An African American detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racist southern town.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 82000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: detective, tense, atmospheric, suspenseful, suspense, thought provoking, intense, serious, rough, neo noir
Similar in 90%
Canal Street (2018)
Plot Summary:
A Chicago lawyer embraces his undying faith when his teenage son is accused of murdering a classmate.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 398
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, thought provoking, captivating, suspense, spiritual, sad, independent film
Similar in 75%
Halls of Anger (1970)
Plot Summary:
An all-black inner city school has to become an integrated school. Few dozen white kids are transfered there, but the black students are aggressively opposed to this. The school then approaches a tough black teacher for help.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 425
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: black and white, independent film, sincere, thought provoking, bleak, serious, realistic, black cinema
Similar in 77%
Freedom Song (2000)
Plot Summary:
Freedom Song (2000) is a made-for-TV film based on true stories of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi in the 1960s. It tells the story of the struggle of African Americans to register to vote in the fictional town of Quinlan. In the midst of the Freedom Summer, a group of high school students in the small town are eager to make grassroots changes in their own community. The young activists meet resistance not only from white southerners, but from their parents, who have experienced firsthand the violence that can result from speaking out.[1] As high school students band together with the support of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, they make strides in registering African-American voters and gaining awareness for their cause.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 891
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: sincere, thought provoking, captivating, emotional, political, tense, serious, realistic
Similar in 77%
Attica (1980)
Plot Summary:
A behind the scenes look of the 1971 prisoners revolt at the Attica prison.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 526
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: political, rough, thought provoking, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, tension, suspense