Best movies like Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Ken Harrison is an artist that lives to make sculptures. One day he is involved in a car accident, and is paralyzed from his neck down. All he can do is talk and move his head, and he wants to die. Whilst he is in hospital he makes friends with some of the staff, and they support him when he goes to trial to be allowed to die.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: sad, touching, emotional, psychological, sincere, uplifting, serious, realistic, biting, sentimental
Best tv shows and movies like Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981):
Similar in 82%
Walk in the Shadow (1962)
Plot Summary:
A young girl, Ruth (Lynn Taylor), is injured in a boating accident and taken to hospital for what is regarded as a routine emergency. Her parents are informed that only a blood transfusion will save her life, but her religious fundamentalist father, John Harris (Michael Craig), ignores the doctors advice and forbids the procedure, believing that God will inexplicably heal his daughter. His embittered wife, Pat (Janet Munro), who has tolerated her husband's religious convictions throughout their marriage finally relents and signs the required papers, but sadly too late and their daughter dies. The angry Dr. Brown Brown, (Patrick McGoohan), decides to press ahead with manslaughter charges against Harris and the case quickly comes to the law courts. After a lengthy and emotional trial, Harris is eventually acquitted. Though a free man, he must come to terms with his own conflicting feelings over his faith and his daughter’s death.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 288
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, psychological, thought provoking, serious, emotional, realistic, controversial, vintage
Similar in 87%
Article 99 (1992)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Richard Sturgess leads a team of compassionate doctors at a veteran's hospital. Along with Drs. Morgan, Handleman and Van Dorn, he fights to deliver adequate care to needy veterans in the face of funding cuts and a corrupt administration. To succeed, the staff may have to bend the rules and circumvent the villainous "Article 99," a bureaucratic loophole that prevents veterans from receiving the benefits they deserve.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: humorous, thought provoking, realistic, semi serious, biting, medical drama, independent film, sentimental, light, feel good
Similar in 78%
The House of God (1984)
Plot Summary:
Comedy about a couple of interns in a hospital named 'The House of God'.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 222
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, black comedy
Similar in 75%
Five (2011)
Plot Summary:
An anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people's lives.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, emotional
Similar in 83%
Inconceivable (2008)
Plot Summary:
A physician who helps his clients bring new life into the world is accused of an ethical breach that's also criminal in this independent drama. Dr. Freeman (Colm Feore) is a doctor who runs an upscale fertility clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada. Freeman specializes in helping women who have had trouble getting pregnant conceive, usually through artificial insemination techniques or transplanting donated eggs into his patients. Over the course of several weeks, Freeman inseminates nine women from different walks of life, eight become pregnant and give birth to healthy children, but when the new mothers compare notes, they discover their children bear a striking resemblance to one another.
IMDB Rating: 3.2
IMDB Votes: 486
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Canada, UK, USA, France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, disturbing, touching, serious, realistic, dark comedy, emotional, independent film
Similar in 75%
I Don't Give a Damn (1987)
Plot Summary:
Like many, another young Israeli, Rafi never gave much thought to the fact that when he reached a certain age, he would be expected to serve in the Israeli Army and that he would experience active duty in combat. It certainly never occurred to him that he might be injured, and if it did, it never occurred to him that he would be crippled, as he was. Now he must try to learn to cope with a life which is vastly different from anything he ever imagined, and at first he has nothing but bitterness. An older veteran tries to help him learn to cope, and his relatives work hard to adjust as well. However, only his sister-in-law Maya seems to understand his state of mind and doesn't freak out at his easily provoked displays of temper.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 68
Genere: Drama
Country: Israel
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 75%
Loved (1997)
Plot Summary:
After a husband is accused of droving his third wife to suicide, his first wife Hedda, a troubled woman who can't hate or hurt others even if they had wronged her, is subpoenaed to testify on his abusive behavior during their marriage.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 728
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: independent film, psychological, sincere, thought provoking, bleak, serious, emotional, realistic, disturbing, contemplative
Similar in 77%
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino (1982)
Plot Summary:
Esther Cimino, a music teacher who has reached retirement age, finds that her mental faculties are slipping somewhat. The film is a trenchant, realistic study of the ravages and displacements, socially, physically, and mentally, that are visited upon a once-proud, sensitive, and still highly intelligent woman who is declared mentally incompetent by her children. She is subjected to a hearing, where her blurred responses prompt the judge to put her in a nursing home, and she begins to deteriorate. However, her granddaughter who loves her rouses her back to life and helps her learn how to live again.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 774
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 89%
Octavia (1982)
Plot Summary:
Everybody has a little murder in their heart... somewhere.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 140
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy, sexual, sexy
Similar in 88%
David's Mother (1994)
Plot Summary:
Sally Goodson has been raising her autistic son David alone since her husband left many years ago. Now a social worker discovers that Sally has been dodging 'The System' to keep her son with her, instead of putting him in an institution. Each feels they know what's best for David. But their opinions are not the same. Sally's developing relationship with John Nils is caught in the middle.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 371
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 86%
Critical Care (1997)
Plot Summary:
Werner Ernst is a young hospital resident who becomes embroiled in a legal battle between two half-sisters who are fighting over the care of their comatose father. But are they really fighting over their father's care, or over his $10 million estate? Meanwhile, Werner must contend with his nutty supervisor, who insists that he only care for patients with full insurance. Can Werner sidestep the hospital's legal team and do what's best for the patient?.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: black comedy, humorous, cynical, dark comedy, independent film, clever, realistic, witty, semi serious, biting
Similar in 89%
Harry's War (1981)
Plot Summary:
After his aunt dies of a heart attack while fighting the IRS, Harry Johnson decides to take up the cause.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 365
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: independent film, thought provoking, humorous, captivating, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 82%
First Monday in October (1981)
Plot Summary:
For the first time in history a woman is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she becomes a friendly rival to a liberal associate.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: light, entertaining, melancholic, realistic, humorous, semi serious, witty, funny, romantic, thought provoking
Similar in 87%
Damaged Care (2002)
Plot Summary:
Anesthesist Doug Peeno hopes to pay for the legal costs of preventing his son Bryan being left in his first wife's bad custody with he proceeds of his present wife Linda's new job. She's the first graduate in her family and eagerly accepted a posting as medical officer in a coldly-greedy medical insurance company. Bening confronted with the medically unacceptable consequences of technically denied treatments, she rebels and finds even payments she approved were often withheld anyway.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 294
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 89%
The Exonerated (2005)
Plot Summary:
Six people tell their stories on a single subject - how they got wrongfully convicted to death penalty, but later got exonerated.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 463
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, disturbing, suspenseful, mockumentary
Similar in 77%
Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story (2002)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of Clarence Brandley, a black man wrongly accused in 1980 of the murder of a 16-year-old white high school girl named Cheryl Ferguson. Brandley worked at Conroe High School, where Ferguson was visiting as a member of the Belleville High School volleyball team. Three days after her body was discovered, Brandley was arrested as the murderer. Jew Don Boney, a popular activist and Houston city council member, leads the fight to uncover the truth about the Ferguson murder. Mike DeGeurin, a Texas attorney, is brought in to act as the head defense attorney for Brandley, and is joined by a former minister, Jim McCloskey. The lawyers discover that not only is there a complete lack of evidence against Brandley, but the District Attorney, James Keeshan, has been strategizing with the presiding judge. After nine years in prison, three trials and a stay of execution that saved Brandley's life, justice finally prevails as Brandley is granted his freedom.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 165
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: disturbing, emotional, realistic, suspenseful, tense, serious
Similar in 85%
Shrink (2009)
Plot Summary:
Unable to cope with a recent personal tragedy, LA's top celebrity shrink turns into a pothead with no concern for his appearance and a creeping sense of his inability to help his patients.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: realistic, psychological, depressing, emotional, sentimental, serious, sincere, touching, dark comedy, philosophical
Similar in 80%
Shirley Adams (2009)
Plot Summary:
Shirley Adams spends her days caring for her disabled son, Donovan - he was shot in the back of the neck on his way home from school one afternoon over a year ago. Since then the Adams family has lost all their worldly possessions to medical bills. Shirley has no money, no job and no husband - he left. The shooter is one of Donovan's childhood friends. Her reaction to the betrayal is so overwhelming that she chooses not to tell Donovan in fear of further damaging his already unstable emotional state. Determined to make a change in their lives, Shirley actively decides to embrace their new circumstances, hoping that Donovan will follow her example.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 124
Genere: Drama
Country: South Africa, USA, UK
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: sincere, uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 87%
Duet for One (1986)
Plot Summary:
When Stephanie, a famous violinist, contracts multiple sclerosis her life begins to fall apart. Her career ends, her husband leaves her for another woman and her favorite pupil leave the country. Unable to bear all this loss, Stephanie attempts suicide.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 998
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, touching, emotional, realistic, depressing, independent film
Similar in 75%
Good Luck (1996)
Plot Summary:
Bernard "Bern" Lemly (Gregory Hines) is fed up with being in a wheelchair and wants more out of life. Meanwhile, former football player Tony "Ole" Olezniak (Vincent D'Onofrio) is stewing after recently losing his sight. The men soon realize they can put their frustrated energy to good use by competing in a whitewater rafting race on Oregon's Rouge River. In the process, they discover their disabilities don't have to destroy their dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 549
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, feel good, humorous, captivating, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 80%
Phantom Pain (2009)
Plot Summary:
Marc is a passionate cyclist and urban slacker who avoids work and responsibility. Marc's life changes from one moment to the next when he suffers a life-changing accident. He can either wallow in self-pity or tackle the beast called life with the help of love and willpower.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 930
Genere: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, serious, psychological, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 86%
The End of Innocence (1990)
Plot Summary:
Seemingly autobiographical story of a woman overwhelmed with trying to please everyone except herself, and not finding any answers until she's admitted to a rehab center by her parents. Eventually here is where she finds her answers.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 233
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, psychological, serious, emotional, contemplative, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 90%
Trial and Error (1962)
Plot Summary:
After nearly 40 years of waiting for his big chance, Wilfred Morgenhall (Sellers) is given the case of defending Herbert Fowle (Attenborough) who is accused of murdering his wife (Beryl Reid). Despite Fowle's insistence of guilt, Moregenhall will not let go of the opportunity to plead his client as innocent and be a star in the courtroom.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 597
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: black comedy, black and white, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 83%
...First Do No Harm (1997)
Plot Summary:
When Lori Reimuller learns that her young son Robbie has epilepsy, she first trusts the judgment of the hospital staff in how best to bring it under control. As Robbie's health slides radically downhill, however, she becomes frustrated and desperate, and so does her own research into the existing literature on treatments. When she decides to try an alternative treatment called the Ketogenic Diet, devised long ago by a doctor from Johns Hopkins, she is met with narrow-minded resistance from Robbie's doctor, who is prepared to take legal action to prevent Lori from removing him from the hospital.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: edutainment, sentimental, sincere, uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, controversial
Similar in 89%
Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami (1988)
Plot Summary:
There is no question that the Arab terrorist portrayed by Robert Davi is guilty of killing five US citizens in Barcelona. Even his lawyers have zero respect for the rabidly sociopathic Davi. But Jewish defence attorney Ron Leibman is obsessed with the concept of Due Process, and has vowed that Davi will receive a scrupulously fair trial when the terrorist is extradited to America. The defence mounted by Leibman confounds and aggravates government prosecutor Sam Waterston--but he, like Leibman, remains a man of judiciary integrity.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 156
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 134 min
Plot tags: independent film, tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
The Beat (1988)
Plot Summary:
A new kid moves into a tough neighborhood controlled by gangs, and tries to teach them poetry.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 220
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: serious, emotional, touching, realistic, independent film, gloomy
Similar in 90%
Dad (1989)
Plot Summary:
A busy executive (Ted Danson) learns during a meeting that his mother may be dying and rushes home to her side. He ends up being his father's caretaker and becomes closer to him (Jack Lemmon) than ever before. Estranged from his own son (Ethan Hawke), the executive comes to realize what has been missing in his own life.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, feel good, uplifting, inspirational, sincere, thought provoking, poignant, comedy drama
Similar in 84%
The Doctor (1991)
Plot Summary:
Jack McKee is a doctor with it all: he's successful, he's rich, and he has no problems.... until he is diagnosed with throat cancer. Now that he has seen medicine, hospitals, and doctors from a patient's perspective, he realises that there is more to being a doctor than surgery and prescriptions.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: psychological, sentimental, touching, emotional, uplifting, scary, depressing, sincere, serious, realistic
Similar in 90%
Inside I'm Dancing (2004)
Plot Summary:
Michael is a 24-year-old who has cerebral palsy and long-term resident of the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled, run by the formidable Eileen. His life is transformed when the maverick Rory O'Shea moves in.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, Ireland, France
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, dramatic, uplifting, sad, compassionate, heartbreaking, independent film, psychological, philosophical
Similar in 90%
The Verdict (1982)
Plot Summary:
Frank Galvin is a down-on-his luck lawyer, reduced to drinking and ambulance chasing. Former associate Mickey Morrissey reminds him of his obligations in a medical malpractice suit that he himself served to Galvin on a silver platter: all parties willing to settle out of court. Blundering his way through the preliminaries, he suddenly realizes that perhaps after all the case should go to court; to punish the guilty, to get a decent settlement for his clients, and to restore his standing as a lawyer.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 45000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: suspense, tense, atmospheric, intense, sincere, thought provoking, touching, serious, suspenseful, clever