Movies like Imperial Dreams

If you like "Imperial Dreams" you are looking for uplifting, touching and rough movies about / with going straight, life is a bitch, street kid, family relations, parents and children, society and hopes 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.
Imperial Dreams (2014)
 6.7
 5K
Imperial Dreams (2014)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min.
Story: A 21-year-old reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future is put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles.
Style: uplifting, touching, rough, serious, hood, inspirational, feel good, social, crime drama, realistic ...
Plot: going straight, life is a bitch, street kid, family relations, parents and children, society, hopes, urban ghetto life, black lives matter, gang, urban, black, blaxploitation, prison, mafia, ghetto, racism, african american, homeless, poverty, coming of age, criminal justice, black history, gangster, single parent ...
Time: 21st century, contemporary
Place: los angeles, indiana, usa
Keyword: gangsters

Movie in categories

Most similar movies to Imperial Dreams

The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, serious, hood and independent film films with plots about life is a bitch, society, urban, urban ghetto life, youth, family relations and african american mostly in Drama, Crime and Comedy genres. Some movies like Imperial Dreams: South Central (1992), All Day and a Night (2020), Chop Shop (2007), First Time Felon (1997), Always Outnumbered (1998). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie
South Central (1992)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story: A man is put to prison for 10 years. Coming out of prison he wants to live a normal life and stop with crime but his son has yet followed the criminal path of his father.
Style: hood, captivating, sexual, crime drama, social ...
Plot: urban ghetto life, gang, ghetto, urban, black, african american, hip hop, criminal gang, drug dealing, blaxploitation, organized crime, black history ...
Time: 90s, year 1992, 80s
Place: los angeles, california, usa, south central los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
All Day and a Night (2020)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min.
Story: While serving life in prison, a young man looks back at the people, the circumstances and the system that set him on the path toward his crime.
Style: hood, serious, tense, realistic, rough
Plot: gang, prison, rivalry, crime boss, criminal's revenge, gang leader, danger, dishonor among criminals, evidence, merciless, police, corpse ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
 7.2
 5K
Chop Shop (2007)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min.
Story: Alejandro, a tough and ambitious Latino street orphan on the verge of adolescence, lives and works in an auto-body repair shop in a sprawling junkyard on the outskirts of Queens, New York. In this chaotic world of adults, young Alejandro struggles ...
Style: bleak, touching, realistic, serious, sincere ...
Plot: street kid, coming of age, brother sister relationship, siblings relations, working class, pitbull, urban ghetto life, teenage life, kids in trouble, family relations, youth, orphan ...
Time: year 2007, 90s, 21st century
Place: usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
First Time Felon (1997)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story: Inspired by the true story of Greg Yance. In the film, Yance (Epps) is a hood who goes to jail for possession of drugs. He is given a choice: 5 years in jail or a couple of months in boot camp. He chooses boot camp and finds out it is tougher than ...
Style: hood, inspirational, tense, serious, realistic ...
Plot: black, urban, boot camp, ghetto, thug life, prison, black man, black history, blaxploitation, thug, drug dealing, drug dealer ...
Time: 90s
⇓ similarity ⇓
27%
Movie in collections
Always Outnumbered (1998)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story: An ex-con moves to L.A. to find work and creates a disturbance by fighting for a position. More importantly he touches the lives of many of his neighbors including an older man dying of cancer, a young married couple whose husband is too proud to ...
Style: hood, crime drama, realistic, serious, rough
Plot: black, ex convict, cancer, gang, blaxploitation, ghetto, retirement home, terminal illness, family relations, family problems, couples, friends ...
Time: 90s
Place: los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
Thicker Than Water (1999)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: In Los Angeles, two rival gang leaders are also trying to be music producers. When DJ's equipment shorts out and Lonzo is cut out of the action by a record producer, the two join forces, which also requires a tentative peace between gangs. With ...
Style: hood, independent film, realistic, serious, cynical ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: hip hop, urban, ghetto, rapper, discrimination, hip hop culture, black, drug dealing, gang, partner, gangster, rise and fall ...
Time: 90s
Place: los angeles, new orleans, california, usa, south central los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story: Coming of age story about two inner city youths, who are left to fend for themselves over the summer after their mothers are taken away by the authorities.
Style: touching, serious, realistic, emotional, hood ...
Audience: teens, teen drama
Plot: urban ghetto life, homeless, coming of age, youth, life is a bitch, friendship, teenage life, lifestyle, working class, hopes, forceful separation, redemption ...
Time: 21st century
Place: brooklyn new york city, usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
 5.5
 569
Five Star (2014)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min.
Story: After John’s absent father is struck by a stray bullet, Primo takes it upon himself to verse the young boy in the code of the streets—one founded on respect and upheld by fear. A member of the Bloods since the age of twelve—both in the film ...
Style: realistic, serious, captivating, psychological, sexy ...
Plot: gang, juvenile delinquency, haunted by the past, urban ghetto life, teaching the ways of the world, adolescence vs adulthood, coming of age, society, ghetto, gangster, violent content, drug dealing ...
Time: 21st century
Place: new york, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
Movie in collections
hood movies
927
gang movies
4547
urban movies
3076
Through the Valley (2008)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story: An innocent man framed for murder, and the system that just wants another minority conviction.
Style: serious, realistic, suspenseful, rough, crime drama ...
Plot: murder, racism, redemption, fighting the system, protagonist as suspect, going straight, injustice, frame up, legal, society, life is a bitch, dishonesty ...
Time: 21st century
Place: texas, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
 6.1
 1K
Gang Tapes (2001)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: When a brutal carjacking yields a videocamera, a teenage boy decides to document his life and the lives of his fellow gangbangers.
Style: serious, rough, hood, suspense, tense ...
Plot: gang, found footage, ghetto, urban, social decay, tough heroes, life is a bitch, juvenile delinquency, drug dealing, teenage life, kids in trouble, going straight ...
Place: los angeles, california, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
 7.0
 214
White Water (2015)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min.
Story: White Water is the story of a 7 year-old black kid in segregated 1963 Opelika, Alabama who becomes obsessed with the desire to taste the water from the "white's only" drinking fountain and sets out on a quest to do the unthinkable: ...
Style: touching, suspenseful, sentimental, serious, realistic
Plot: missing child, young heroes, danger, youth, racism, society, family problems, parents and children, discrimination, interracial relations, family relations, life is a bitch ...
Time: 20th century, 60s
Place: alabama, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
 6.5
 3K
Bullet Boy (2004)
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 89 min.
Story: Ricky is just out of a young offenders institute, heading home to Hackney and determined to go straight. Instead, he heads straight for trouble when he becomes involved in a street confrontation, siding with his best friend Wisdom against a local ...
Style: realistic, psychological, serious, rough, hood ...
Plot: urban ghetto life, gang, youth, juvenile delinquency, urban, life is a bitch, going straight, kids in trouble, social decay, friendship, orphan, society ...
Place: england, africa, london, europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
21%
The River Niger (1976)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story: An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. But times are tough and the poverty-troubled streets are even ...
Style: crime drama, independent film, serious, realistic, touching ...
Plot: black, blaxploitation, african, swing, racial issues, african american, performer's life, family relations, urban ghetto, couple relations, human spirit, love and romance ...
Time: year 1976, 70s
⇓ similarity ⇓
21%
 7.0
 2K
Slam (1998)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story: Slam tells the story of Ray Joshua, an original, gifted young MC trapped in a war-zone housing project known as Dodge City. Unable to find a job, Ray copes with the despair and poverty of his neighborhood by using his wits and verbal talent. Written ...
Style: independent film, hood, talky, psychological, uplifting ...
Plot: prison, hip hop, gang, art, urban, bittersweet, profanity, ghetto, african american, coming of age, hip hop culture, blaxploitation ...
Time: year 1998, 90s, 20th century
Place: washington d.c., usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
21%
 2.3
 4K
Anne B. Real (2003)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: ANNE B. REAL is the coming of age story of a young female rapper, who finds her inspiration by reading the Diary of Anne Frank.
Style: sincere, serious, realistic, touching, contemplative
Plot: hip hop, lifestyle, introspection, teenage life, youth, life is a bitch, juvenile delinquency, urban ghetto, siblings relations, family life, urban ghetto life, coming of age ...
Time: 21st century
Place: new york, usa, manhattan new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
21%
God's Army 2: States of Grace (2005)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story: A drive-by shooting in Venice, California, changes the lives of five people forever. States of Grace tells the story of a homeless street preacher, Louis, a gang banger, Carl, an aspiring actress, Holly, and two young missionaries, Lozano and ...
Style: christian film, uplifting, touching, disturbing, independent film ...
Plot: faith, redemption, mormon, missionary, human spirit, going straight, culture clash, religions or cults, church, society, gang, youth ...
Place: europe, italy, venice, california, utah ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
 7.3
 4K
My Family (1995)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story: Traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Maria and Jose, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930's. They establish their family in ...
Style: touching, sad, thought provoking, independent film, captivating ...
Plot: immigrant, chicano, family relations, father son relationship, prison, high school, gang, mafia, culture, transformation, urban, marriage ...
Time: 1920s, 20th century, 50s, 1950s
Place: los angeles, california, usa, mexico
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
 6.5
 448
Waterproof (2000)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story: Single mother Tyree Battle struggles to keep her young son Thaniel away from the gang-plagued city streets that he is mixed up in. Under severe gang pressure, Thaniel accidentally shoots Jewish shopkeeper Eli Zeal in a botched robbery attempt. ...
Style: realistic, touching, serious, emotional, independent film ...
Plot: family relations, gang, homecoming, family problems, self discovery, aging, redemption, youth, single parent, going straight, heist, family life ...
Time: 90s
Place: usa, louisiana
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
Movie in collections
black movies
2085
prison movies
3922
mafia movies
2354
 5.9
 2K
LUV (2012)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story: Over the course of one day, a shy 13-year-old forms a bond with his troubled uncle.
Style: serious, captivating, touching, realistic, rough ...
Plot: family relations, boy, odd couple, friendship, dysfunctional family, black, life is a bitch, danger, orphan, african american, hip hop culture, hip hop ...
Time: 21st century
Place: maryland, baltimore, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
 6.8
 304
Our America (2002)
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story: The true story of two African-American teen radio reporters and their documentary investigation of a notorious child murder.
Style: serious, realistic, rough, emotional, controversial ...
Plot: journalism, murder, uncover truth, juvenile delinquency, social decay, teenage life, human spirit, society, life is a bitch, youth, hopes, idealism ...
Place: chicago, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
 6.7
 692
On the Outs (2004)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min.
Story: Follows the choices made by three young women - one a drug dealer, one an addict, one a pregnant teen - in Jersey City.
Style: serious, emotional, rough, touching, anthology ...
Plot: asthma, teenage pregnancy, drug dealer, single mother, juvenile delinquency, life is a bitch, lifestyle, teenage life, kids in trouble, social misfits, drug dealing, gang ...
Time: 21st century
Place: new jersey, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
American Violet (2008)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story: A young single mother of four living in a small Texas town. Arrested during a drug raid and accused of a crime she didn't commit, Dee goes against the wishes of her mother, Alma, and rejects the plea-bargain that would free her from jail, but ...
Style: serious, rough, sentimental, realistic, sincere ...
Audience: girls' night
Plot: african american, false accusation, racism, injustice, testimony, courtroom drama, black, urban ghetto, dedicated lawyer, life is a bitch, legal, fighting the system ...
Time: year 2008, 21st century
Place: texas, austin texas, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
 3.6
 7K
How She Move (2007)
Genre: Drama
Country: France, Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story: After the death of Raya Green's(Rutina Wesley) sister, she gets out from her classes at school, and sees a stomp crew practicing. She meets Bishop(Dwain Murphy) which is the dance crew leader. She then meets Michelle and does a stomp battle ...
Style: realistic, touching, serious, exciting, independent film
Audience: teens
Plot: dancing, dance, coming of age, youth, follow your dream, contests and competitions, teenage life, friendship, black people, ambition, hopes, lifestyle ...
Time: year 2007, 21st century
Place: usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
Movie in collections
ghetto movies
952
feel good movies
13548
racism movies
2118
The Sky Is Gray (1980)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 46 min.
Story: Drama - From Ernest J. Gaines, author of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," comes a deceptively simple, yet emotionally complex tale of a young boy's discovery of what it's like to be black in Louisiana during the ...
Style: uplifting, thought provoking, serious, realistic, sentimental ...
Plot: racism, african american, blaxploitation, youth, injustice, family relations, life is a bitch, society, parents and children, interracial relations, bittersweet, dignity ...
Time: 1940s
Place: louisiana
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
The Reading Room (2005)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story: Making good on a promise he made to his dying wife, a widower (Jones) opens a reading room, a place where people can learn to read. Despite his goodwill, problems in the neighborhood threaten his establishment.
Style: uplifting, touching, sincere, feel good, serious ...
Plot: last wish, against the odds, hopes, human spirit, teachers and students, poverty, homeless, family relations, power relations, underdog, life is a bitch, youth ...
Time: 21st century
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
Killer of Sheep (1978)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min.
Story: Stan works in drudgery at a slaughterhouse. His personal life is drab. Dissatisfaction and ennui keep him unresponsive to the needs of his adoring wife, and he must struggle against influences which would dishonor and endanger him and his family.
Style: independent film, realistic, sincere, serious, emotional ...
Plot: ghetto, friendship, black, dysfunctional family, lifestyle, human nature, parents and children, family life, couple relations, family problems, african american, blaxploitation ...
Time: 70s, 20th century, year 1978
Place: los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: A Special Jury Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival, this drama stars a then-19-year-old Matty Rich (who also wrote and directed it). Rich plays Larry, a troubled teen living in the rough Red Hook section of Brooklyn who decides he wants out ...
Style: hood, independent film, realistic, serious, bleak ...
Audience: teens
Plot: urban, gang, black, hip hop, african american, hip hop culture, downbeat ending, blaxploitation, villain, thug life, thug, gangsta ...
Time: year 1991, 90s
Place: new york, usa, brooklyn new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
Boulevard Nights (1979)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story: A focus on life in a gang, Boulevard Nights portrays the dangers of street violence. Richard Yniguez plays a young Chicano who tries to get out of the gang, but he keeps finding himself drawn back into it.
Style: hood, hispanic, crime drama, serious, realistic ...
Plot: gang, gangster, chicano, neighborhood, street kid, mafia, coming of age, teenager, exodus, thug, african american gangster, ghetto ...
Time: year 1979, 70s
Place: los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story: Dreams can make a life worth living, but they can also be dashed by bad decisions. This is the crossroads whare the Younger family find themselves when their father passes away and leaves them with $10,000 in life insurance money. Should they buy a ...
Style: sentimental, emotional, sincere, uplifting, serious ...
Plot: racism, family relations, discrimination, injustice, social differences, parents and children, rich and poor, single parent, couple relations, follow your dream, black, mother daughter relationship ...
Time: 50s
Place: usa, america, chicago
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
 7.3
 2K
Claudine (1974)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story: Diahann Carroll was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe award for her gripping portrayal as the indomitable Claudine in this heartwarming comedy. While struggling to support herself and her six children in Harlem by working as a maid for ...
Style: black comedy, grim, independent film, serious, realistic ...
Plot: african american, black, single mother, blaxploitation, black history, love, teenage pregnancy, girl, women, homeless, poverty, black girl ...
Time: 70s
Place: new york, usa, harlem, manhattan new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
19%
Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie