Movies like I Am Sam
If you like "I Am Sam" you are looking for touching, inspirational and sad movies about / with lawyer, mentally challenged, father daughter relationship, single father, child custody, social services and custody themes of Drama genre shot in USA.
Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps:
1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
2. Look for them in the presented list.
I Am Sam (2001)
161K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Sam has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. He has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam shames high-priced lawyer Rita into taking his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
Style:
touching, inspirational, sad, emotional, sentimental, sincere, serious, sweet, heartbreaking, tear jerker ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night, adult
Plot:
lawyer, mentally challenged, father daughter relationship, single father, child custody, social services, custody, custody battle, disability, parents and children, foster child, love, parenthood, justice, foster parent, courtroom, against the odds, fighting the system, human spirit, child, mental health, mental retardation, children, depression, the beatles ...
Time:
year 2001, 21st century, contemporary
Place:
california, los angeles, usa
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to I Am Sam
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, touching, emotional and serious films with plots about mentor, catastrophe, destiny, storytelling, runaway, justice and family relations mostly in Drama, Biography and Romance genres. Some movies like I Am Sam: Gifted (2017), North Country (2005), Rain Man (1988), Forrest Gump (1994), Still Alice (2014). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
157K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Frank, a single man raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother.
Style:
inspirational, touching, emotional, sweet, light ...
Audience:
kids, teens, chick flick, family friendly, girls' night
Plot:
mathematics, genius, child prodigy, childhood, friendship, trial, school, child custody, happiness, children, teacher, father daughter relationship ...
Time:
year 2017, 2010s, year 1998
Place:
persia, boston, florida, california
Similarity:
87%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States -- Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit.
Style:
inspirational, sincere, emotional, factual, disturbing ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
courtroom drama, feminism, sexual harassment, small town, lawsuit, rape, feminist, court, lawyer, labor union, courtroom, sexism ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 70s, 80s
Place:
minnesota, usa
Similarity:
100%
580K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 133 min.
Story:
Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.
Style:
road movie, inspirational, sincere, uplifting, touching ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
autism, road trip, redemption, disability, mentally challenged, brother brother relationship, siblings relations, runaway, self discovery, mathematics, psychiatry, life changing ...
Time:
20th century, year 1988, 80s
Place:
las vegas, california, ohio, cincinnati ohio, columbus ohio ...
Similarity:
82%
2.5M
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min.
Story:
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events - in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. Yet, despite all the things he has attained, his one true love eludes ...
Style:
inspirational, touching, feel good, sentimental, uplifting ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night, chick flick, kids, teens ...
Plot:
life philosophy, philosophy, life, mentally challenged, destiny, storytelling, love, rise to the top, human spirit, selflessness, vietnam war, life & death ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, 50s, 60s, 1950s ...
Place:
china, alabama, vietnam, america, savannah georgia ...
Similarity:
73%
Movie in collections
150K
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested.
Style:
touching, heartbreaking, sad, depressing, tear jerker ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
alzheimer's disease, memory loss, illness, supportive spouse, mother daughter relationship, columbia university, family bonds, terminal illness, family drama, relationships, psychology, memory lapse ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, year 2015, future, 21st century
Place:
new york, usa, manhattan new york city
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.
Style:
intense, disturbing, touching, serious, realistic ...
Audience:
girls' night, teens, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
coming of age, mother daughter relationship, foster child, women's prison, manipulation, bad mother, murder, teenage life, mother daughter estrangement, borderline personality disorder, mental illness, adoption ...
Time:
year 2002, 21st century
Place:
california, usa, los angeles, nova scotia, mexico
Similarity:
80%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Set in South Carolina in 1964, this is the tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only ...
Style:
touching, sincere, sentimental, sweet, inspirational ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, girls' night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
civil rights, racism, african american, friendship, coming of age, teenage life, racial segregation, children, american south, abuse, interracial relations, haunted by the past ...
Time:
year 2008, 20th century, year 1964, 60s
Place:
indiana, africa, usa, south carolina
Similarity:
75%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Style:
inspirational, emotional, sentimental, uplifting, motivational ...
Audience:
family outing, chick flick, teens, family friendly
Plot:
homeless, life, human spirit, rags to riches, life philosophy, success, single father, poverty, rise to the top, family drama, life is a bitch, biopic ...
Time:
80s, year 2006, 2010s, 20th century
Place:
usa, california, bay area, san francisco, america
Similarity:
67%
Movie in collections
110K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
A chronicle of three weeks in the lives of several high school teachers, administrators and students through the eyes of substitute teacher, Henry Barthes. Henry roams from school to school, imparting modes of knowledge, but never staying long ...
Style:
psychological, depressing, bleak, thought provoking, independent film ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
teacher, depression, suicide, teachers and students, dedicated educator, school, unhappy, social problems, high school life, teen angst, human relationship, social decay ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
usa
Similarity:
80%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, ...
Style:
sexy, emotional, heartbreaking, touching, thought provoking ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
adoption, custody battle, courtroom drama, racist, custody, justice, single parent, parents and children, family problems, legal action, family relations, life is a bitch ...
Time:
20th century, 90s
Place:
cuba
Similarity:
100%
175K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, ...
Style:
inspirational, sentimental, cerebral, psychological, touching ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
hospital, mental illness, mental institution, illness, doctors and patients, medical, fighting illness, doctor, medicine, catatonia, disability, patient ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 1930s, 60s, year 1969
Place:
bronx new york city, new york, america, usa
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
A leukemia patient attempts to end a 20-year feud with her sister to get her bone marrow.
Style:
emotional, touching, sentimental, realistic, semi serious ...
Audience:
girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
terminal illness, dysfunctional family, estrangement, leukemia, family drama, father daughter relationship, family problems, single parent, siblings relations, sibling relationship, unfulfillment, life is a bitch ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 1996
Place:
florida, usa, ohio, orlando florida
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl's life. The ...
Style:
touching, sad, sentimental, heartbreaking, tear jerker ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night, teens, teen drama
Plot:
cancer, terminal illness, family drama, sisters, parenthood, lawyer, relationships, mother daughter relationship, sick child, life is a bitch, hospital, leukemia ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
rhode island, usa, los angeles, montana
Similarity:
75%
Genre: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Ben Crane believes that a severely injured racehorse deserves another chance. He and his daughter Cale adopt the horse (in fact is a mare)and save it of being sacrificed by the owner.
Style:
touching, sentimental, inspirational, feel good, serious ...
Audience:
family outing, family friendly, teens, kids, girls' night ...
Plot:
horse, horse race, racehorse, honest, life philosophy, redemption, animal, hopes, horse riding, animal training, children, secrets ...
Time:
year 2005, 21st century
Place:
kentucky, usa
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Michelle Pfeiffer is ferocious in the role of a desperate mother whose 3-year-old son disappears during her high school reunion. Nine years later, by chance, he turns up in the town in which the family has just relocated. Based on Jacquelyn ...
Style:
touching, sentimental, melancholic, serious, realistic ...
Audience:
family outing, girls' night, teens, chick flick
Plot:
kidnapping, missing child, missing person, family drama, children, family relations, kidnapped, family life, parents and children, family problems, police detective, hostage ...
Time:
90s, year 1999
Place:
usa, chicago
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
Ted Kramer is a career man for whom his work comes before his family. His wife Joanna cannot take this anymore, so she decides to leave him. Ted is now faced with the tasks of housekeeping and taking care of himself and their young son Billy.
Style:
touching, sentimental, sad, clever, realistic ...
Audience:
family outing, teens
Plot:
courtroom, divorce, lawyer, marriage, custody battle, father son relationship, single father, family drama, courtroom drama, legal, family relations, court ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, year 1979, 80s
Place:
new york, california, usa, persia, new york state ...
Similarity:
67%
272K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
No one would take his case until one man was willing to take on the system. Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops their courage overcomes the prejudice and ...
Style:
touching, thought provoking, emotional, sad, tear jerker ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
aids, courtroom drama, hiv, lawyer, gay, lgbt, lgbtq, discrimination, gay interest, homosexual, lawsuit, medical ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 1993, 80s
Place:
pennsylvania, usa, philadelphia
Similarity:
75%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.
Style:
melancholic, depressing, touching, sad, emotional ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
dysfunctional family, disability, small town, mentally challenged, mental illness, self discovery, responsibility, brothers, character study, coming of age, life philosophy, life & death ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1993, 70s, 60s
Place:
iowa, texas, southern usa, usa
Similarity:
55%
Movie in collections
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
A twice-divorced mother of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins -- with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records describing illnesses clustered in one nearby town. ...
Style:
inspirational, touching, feel good, uplifting, factual ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
environmental, justice, court, lawyer, contamination, small town, single mother, investigation, corporate crime, business, lawsuit, legal ...
Time:
year 1993, 90s, y2k, year 2000, 2000s ...
Place:
california, los angeles, usa, new jersey
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
"Front of the Class" is based on the true story of Brad Cohen -- played in the movie by Jimmy Wolk -- who, "after being challenged by Tourette's syndrome from a very young age, defies all odds to become a gifted teacher
Style:
touching, inspirational, sentimental, emotional, sweet ...
Audience:
family outing, teens, girls' night
Plot:
teacher, tourette's syndrome, dedicated educator, social misfits, teachers and students, school, disability, life philosophy, honest, friendship, father son relationship, understanding ...
Time:
80s, 21st century
Place:
louisiana, usa, atlanta georgia, england
Similarity:
83%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Two determined mothersÂ, one a teacher, look to transform their children's failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children
Style:
touching, realistic, serious, emotional, inspirational ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
teacher, fighting the system, school, human spirit, hopes, teachers and students, parents and children, youth, society, changing lives, social relations, family relations ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
pittsburgh, pennsylvania, usa
Similarity:
75%
325K
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
An IRS agent with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.
Style:
touching, sad, emotional, philosophical, sentimental ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick
Plot:
redemption, depression, life philosophy, self sacrifice, life changing experience, motivation, true love, sacrifice, existentialism, life & death, melancholy, love ...
Time:
year 2008, 21st century
Place:
usa
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity.
Style:
sad, emotional, romantic, teen, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, chick flick, date night, teen drama
Plot:
cancer, terminal illness, teenager, teenage love, dying, youth, love and romance, relationships, last wish, fighting illness, dealing with death, virginity ...
Time:
year 2012, 21st century
Place:
brighton, usa, england
Similarity:
100%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
A drama centered on a classical pianist who has been diagnosed with ALS and the brash college student who becomes her caregiver.
Style:
touching, sentimental, sweet, dramatic, sad ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night, teens
Plot:
terminal illness, friendship, quadriplegic, musician, dying, life is a bitch, marital infidelity, young woman, character study, disability, family relations, teaching the ways of the world ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa, san francisco, new jersey
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA, United Arab Emirates
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
Suffering from a severe case of depression, toy company CEO Walter Black (Mel Gibson) begins using a beaver hand puppet to help him open up to his family. With his father seemingly going insane, adolescent son Porter (Anton Yelchin) pushes for his ...
Style:
touching, depressing, emotional, sentimental, unusual plot structure ...
Plot:
depression, mental illness, happy ending, losing-it hero, midlife crisis, mental disorder, dysfunctional family, psychology, family drama, mental health, coping, cheerleader ...
Time:
2010s, year 2011, 21st century
Place:
usa, california, new jersey
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, China, USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
After spending years in California, Amir returns to his homeland in Afghanistan to help his old friend Hassan, whose son is in trouble.
Style:
emotional, disturbing, inspirational, sincere, psychological ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, adult
Plot:
friendship, childhood, redemption, islam, muslim, coming of age, mission, guilt, courage, bully, rape, haunted by the past ...
Time:
80s, 70s, year 2007, 2010s, 20th century ...
Place:
afghanistan, china, middle east, california, iraq ...
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
In the late 1970s, when a mentally handicapped teenager is abandoned, a gay couple takes him in and becomes the family he's never had. But once the unconventional living arrangement is discovered by authorities, the men must fight the legal ...
Style:
sincere, sad, uplifting, sentimental, touching ...
Plot:
gay relationship, gay adoption, gay parent, gay, gay couple, closeted homosexual, lgbtq, homosexuality, couples, lgbt, gay slur, male male relationship ...
Time:
70s, year 1979, year 2012, 20th century
Place:
california, los angeles, usa
Similarity:
67%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
In this David vs. Goliath drama based on a true story, college professor Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) goes up against the giants of the auto industry when they fail to give him credit for inventing intermittent windshield wipers. Kearns doggedly ...
Style:
inspirational, thought provoking, sentimental, sincere, serious ...
Plot:
business, underdog, inventor, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur, legal, lawsuit, marketing, courtroom, lawyer, car, justice ...
Time:
20th century, year 2008, 60s, 70s, 80s
Place:
michigan, usa, detroit, california
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to "get rid of" a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything - including his career and ...
Style:
suspense, thought provoking, suspenseful, serious, disturbing ...
Plot:
courtroom drama, lawyer, court, trial, lawsuit, legal, law firm, courtroom, investigation, toxic waste, attorney, judge ...
Time:
90s, year 1988, year 1983, year 1982, year 1987 ...
Place:
massachusetts, boston, washington d.c., new york, new jersey
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
A woman attempts to stop her daughter signing away her down syndrome grandson for adoption. Based on a true story.
Style:
heartbreaking, emotional, tear jerker, realistic, intense ...
Plot:
down syndrome, adoption, disability, family drama, family conflict, mother daughter relationship, domestic drama, custody battle, parenting, empathy, social issues, grandparents ...
Similarity:
100%
Related movie lists
