Movies like The Big Show
If you like "The Big Show" you are looking for bleak, melancholic and period piece movies about / with circus, greed, traveling circus, family drama, exploitation, betrayal and jealousy 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.
The Big Show (1961)
181
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
A European circus family is torn apart by greed and jealousy.
Style:
bleak, melancholic, period piece, tragic
Plot:
circus, greed, traveling circus, family drama, exploitation, betrayal, jealousy, dysfunctional family, showbiz, power struggle, european, corruption, family secret, ambition, sibling rivalry, moral ambiguity, loss of innocence, financial ruin, bear, snow, skiing, chimpanzee, brother sister relationship, father son relationship, tightrope walker ...
Place:
germany
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to The Big Show
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out tense, bleak, melancholic and period piece films with plots about betrayal, family drama, moral ambiguity, revenge, corruption, family secret and small town mostly in Drama genres. Some movies like The Big Show: The Family (1974), Forced Orphans (2018), Looping (1981), The Winter of Our Discontent (1983), The Guardian Angel (1990). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 211 min.
Story:
Adaptation of the novel by Toyoko Yamasaki.
Style:
tense, period piece, tragic
Audience:
adult
Plot:
business rivalry, dynasty, power struggle, father son conflict, family drama, wealth, banking, legacy, greed, ambition, industrialization, family honor ...
Time:
60s
Similarity:
95%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 68 min.
Story:
Parents Divorced. Children suffer.
Style:
heartbreaking, bleak, tense, disturbing, intense ...
Plot:
dysfunctional family, family drama, divorce, psychological trauma, house, abusive relationship, emotional abuse, domestic violence, social issues, intimate, family secret, loss of innocence ...
Similarity:
86%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Three brothers reunite at a remote cabin in the woods, when beckoned by their father. The brothers are left to deal with the dark secrets and demons that have haunted them their whole lives. The resulting truths they must face, end in an explosive ...
Style:
tragic ending, intense, tense, psychological horror, suspense ...
Plot:
trauma, family secret, dysfunctional family, dark past, brothers, sibling rivalry, guilt, family drama, grief, moral ambiguity, betrayal, haunting ...
Similarity:
74%
121
Genre: Drama
Country: West Germany
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
A small carnival is in dire financial straits. Their show is attracting fewer and fewer paying customers, as their "attractions" are ageing, out of shape and beset by internal feuds and bickering. One day a beautiful young woman shows up ...
Style:
sensual, tension, period piece
Plot:
femme fatale, carnival, striptease, manipulation, sexuality, seduction, scheming, showbiz, attraction, circus, sexploitation, deception ...
Similarity:
68%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
This story tells those self-denials of an honest man what necessary to reach his object of life.
Style:
bleak, melancholic, period piece
Plot:
morality, character study, small town, conscience, literary, ethical dilemma, thoughtful, ambition, corruption, greed, midlife crisis, redemption ...
Place:
new england
Similarity:
57%
Genre: Drama
Country: Sweden
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
It is the turn of the century in Russia, and the revolution (at this time not yet a communist one) has sentenced government minister Joel Birkman (Etienne Glaser) to be assassinated for his role in quelling a student rebellion. To that end, they ...
Style:
political thriller, tense, suspenseful, bleak, dark ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
bodyguard, ethical dilemma, assassination, power struggle, intrigue, moral ambiguity, civil unrest, oppression, revolution, fictional country, deception, conspiracy ...
Place:
eastern europe
Similarity:
57%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Since self-made immigrant Nico Podaras's death, widow Elenie runs his lucrative garage, with an illegal side business, generously using the profits to keep control of their three sons' lives. Simpleton Dan is happy to sire the crucial heir ...
Style:
intense, bleak, grim, depressing
Plot:
serial killer, family drama, emotional manipulation, dysfunctional family, control, matriarchy, domestic abuse, coercion, resentment, moral dilemma, power struggle, cover up ...
Similarity:
57%
176
Genre: Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Set in a modern-day London of economic and political uncertainty, the story follows the intersecting themes of familial honor, moral duty and dynastic corruption.
Style:
tense, melancholic
Audience:
adult
Plot:
shakespeare, hamlet, revenge, political intrigue, urban, betrayal, moral ambiguity, power struggle, corruption, existentialism, family honor, moral dilemma ...
Similarity:
56%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 146 min.
Story:
Chided by his family for being the absolute miser, wealthy industrialist Dhaniram (Kader Khan) loves his money as a mother loves a child. This does not auger well with his two sons, Ajay and Vijay (Shashi Kiran and Raj Kiran respectively). The two ...
Style:
emotional, suspenseful, comedy drama
Plot:
miser, greed, sibling rivalry, family drama, revenge, family values, attempted murder, betrayal, deception, superhero, corrupt official, blackmail ...
Similarity:
53%
279
Genre: Drama
Country: Mexico
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
A poor Mexican diver finds a priceless pearl that will change his impoverished family's future -- if he can fend off his own greed and the people trying to take advantage of him.
Style:
tragic ending, thrilling, captivating, psychological, melancholic ...
Plot:
poverty, greed, diver, tragedy, diving, changing lives, lifestyle change, adaptation, moral dilemma, symbolism, temptation, jealousy ...
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
An heir goes for the property of his family in his predecessor and search of the gold
Style:
suspense, tense, dark, twisted, emotional ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
heir, inheritance, family drama, legacy, treasure hunt, family secret, greed, betrayal, estate, buried treasure, obsession, investigation ...
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Drama
Country: Brazil
Duration: 83 min.
Story:
To satisfy her costumers, an owner of a luxurious bordello does whatever it takes. but the place’s efficiency is threatened when the most desirable of its ladies decides to quit. The owner set a diabolical plot to keep the girl working.
Style:
erotic drama, dark, crime thriller, period piece, art house ...
Plot:
brothel, prostitution, female protagonist, female exploitation, exploitation, sex work, manipulation, lesbian sex, erotica, survival, mother daughter relationship, corruption ...
Similarity:
48%
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
An adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play about restless young warehouse worker and would-be poet, Tom Wingfield, his fragile, reclusive sister, Laura, and his colorful but overbearing mother, Amanda, all living together in a shabby apartment ...
Style:
melancholic, southern gothic, tense, period piece
Plot:
sibling relationship, memory, family drama, illusion, frustration, southern belle, disabled character, symbolism, ambition, intimate, adaptation, urban ...
Similarity:
47%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A hopeful young actress is lured to Hollywood by the seduction of fame and fortune. A friend she lives with while in Hollywood becomes her lover, and they both soon come to realize that the seedy Hollywood lifestyle is not for them.
Style:
romantic drama, melancholic, period piece, erotic, independent film
Plot:
hollywood, female protagonist, young woman, showbiz, frustration, aspiring actress, ambition, coming of age, young adult, backstage, bittersweet, character study ...
Time:
70s
Similarity:
46%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Trying to get his dying father out of prison with a compassionate release, Max Dagan needs the help of the daughter of the man his father killed.
Style:
emotional, heartfelt, bleak, melancholic, tension
Plot:
redemption, forgiveness, father son relationship, family drama, prison, guilt, moral dilemma, second chance, dying man, reconciliation, grief, family secret ...
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
Emily appears to have the perfect life with a daughter, a successful PR firm, a family inheritance, and a strong marriage with Kyle. But everything falls apart when Lily arrives claiming to be her half-sister, causing chaos in her world. (from IMDB)
Style:
captivating, dramatic, suspenseful, serious, psychological thriller ...
Plot:
betrayal, trust, half sister, sister, betrayal of trust, family drama, family secret, female protagonist, sibling rivalry, sibling relationship, mother and daughter, marriage ...
Similarity:
44%
87
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min.
Story:
Based on true events, 44 is the story of Migs, an 18 year old high school student trapped between the two opposing forces of his father, a drug dealer and convicted felon, and his mother, an NYPD cop.
Style:
dramatic, crime drama, realistic, emotional, tense ...
Plot:
father son relationship, family drama, family conflict, double life, coming of age, identity crisis, moral ambiguity, drug trade, moral dilemma, mother son relationship, betrayal, ambition ...
Place:
new york
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
70's drama about a cock fighter and his son and the goings on of the cockfighting industry.
Style:
cynical, period piece, independent film
Audience:
adult
Plot:
cockfight, father son relationship, gambling, character study, coming of age, family drama, male bonding, frustration, moral ambiguity, violence, bird, exploitation ...
Time:
year 1970
Similarity:
42%
Movie in collections
189
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
A young man, short of money, is persuaided into looking after the business of a local drug dealer for a week or two. Up until then, the guy had been an honest and clean of drugs, but when he spends his days surrounded by riches and drugs, he cannot ...
Style:
crime drama, bleak, realistic, crime thriller, tense ...
Plot:
addiction, drug traffic, temptation, drug dealer, drug use, loss of innocence, family tragedy, urban, cautionary tale, moral ambiguity, desperation, character study ...
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 239 min.
Story:
Richard Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, will stop at nothing to get the crown. He first convinces the ailing King that the Duke of Clarence, his elder brother, is a threat to the lives of Edward's two young sons. Edward ...
Style:
historical drama, period piece, dark, bleak, grim ...
Plot:
shakespeare, royal family, royalty, murder, ambition, betrayal, political intrigue, power struggle, manipulation, tragedy, conspiracy, adaptation ...
Time:
15th century
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama
Country: Poland
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
The main character in this effective, convincing drama is Witold (Tadeusz Bradecki) who is high in what later would be termed the "emotional quotient" or the ability to bounce back from adverse, tragic circumstances. Witold has been ...
Style:
existential, melancholic, bleak, intellectual, tragic
Plot:
corruption, grief, character study, moral dilemma, family drama, existential crisis, bureaucracy, frustration, social realism, betrayal, class struggle, anti hero ...
Time:
year 1980
Place:
eastern europe, poland, himalaya
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama
Country: Russia
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
When Vlad was five his mother was killed. And the only person whom Vlad blames for her death is his father . On the 20th anniversary of the tragedy the young man decides to gather all his relatives together to dot all the i's and cross all the ...
Style:
psychological, suspense, tense, disturbing, captivating ...
Plot:
family secret, father son relationship, guilt, family drama, uncover truth, murder mystery, changing lives, family relations, character change, family problems, family tragedy, murder ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
eastern europe, russia
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they struggle and learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.
Style:
melancholic, independent film
Plot:
father son relationship, forgiveness, family drama, reconciliation, bittersweet, estranged parent, social realism, parenthood, moral ambiguity, african american
Similarity:
42%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Led to believe his abusive grandfather is responsible for his sister's recent death, Gabriel returns to his humble home in rural New Mexico. Yearning to protect his family, he swears to secretly kill his grandfather, yet at the critical moment, ...
Style:
realistic, disturbing, suspenseful, sincere, serious ...
Plot:
dysfunctional family, vietnam veteran, uncover truth, grief, veteran, trauma, family drama, family conflict, family secret, getting home, death of sister, abuse ...
Place:
new mexico
Similarity:
41%
728
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 145 min.
Story:
In a village named Ilavattam there lives a man by the name of Gopalakrishna Pillai. He is a man with diverse qualities. Basically he is a moneylender, but not the avaricious kind. He lends money at very low interest-rates but makes it a point to get ...
Style:
suspense
Plot:
sibling relationship, family conflict, family drama, rivalry, feud, loan shark, power struggle, family business, betrayal, revenge, male protagonist, vendetta ...
Time:
year 2008
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
Looking for Angelina is based on one of the most important murder trials in Canada. Angelina Napolitano murdered her husband with an axe and was sentenced to be executed...
Style:
bleak, historical drama, period piece, emotional, melancholic ...
Plot:
courtroom drama, domestic violence, murder trial, marital abuse, true crime, death sentence, biopic, family drama, empathy, social realism, moral ambiguity, poverty ...
Place:
canada, ontario canada
Similarity:
40%
107
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 145 min.
Story:
A 2012 Kannada film
Style:
suspense, suspenseful, captivating, psychological thriller, intense ...
Plot:
revenge, father son relationship, identity crisis, father figure, family drama, father and son, mother and daughter, family problems, dysfunctional family, brother brother relationship, guilt, family relations ...
Similarity:
40%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
Three beautiful aspiring actresses embark on a mission to break into the competitive Los Angeles acting scene only to discover the road leading to stardom comes at a price.
Style:
psychological, captivating, sincere, touching, emotional ...
Plot:
longing, hollywood, ambition, showbiz, price of fame, actress, female friendship, down on your luck, rising to stardom, glory, life is a bitch, mishap ...
Time:
2010s
Place:
los angeles
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min.
Story:
A former European actor Don Martin has retired with his disjointed "family" to his own private island, "The Paradise." After a few years, the entire group has disintegrated into shameless, selfish & dishonest ...
Style:
erotic, dark, tense, bleak, dark comedy ...
Plot:
island, isolation, sex scene, selfishness, character study, deception, betrayal, moral ambiguity, intimate, greed, isolated community, claustrophobia ...
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 73 min.
Story:
A mother travels to New York to see her daughter who is awaiting trial for murder. The mother is totally convinced of her daughter's innocence and does all she can to help her. As the trial progresses however, the mother begins to have doubts.
Style:
dramatic, suspense, bleak, suspenseful, realistic ...
Plot:
murder trial, mother and daughter, courtroom drama, false accusation, female protagonist, moral ambiguity, moral dilemma, family secret, interrogation, defense attorney, investigation, evidence ...
Time:
70s
Place:
new york
Similarity:
37%
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