Movies like Philomena

If you like "Philomena" you are looking for touching, sentimental and captivating movies about / with adoption, convent, catholic church, journalist, catholic, journalism and self discovery themes of Biography, Comedy and Drama genre shot in UK or France.
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.
Philomena (2013)
 7.6
 104K
Philomena (2013)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story: A woman searches for her adult son, who was taken away from her decades ago when she was forced to live in a convent.
Style: touching, sentimental, captivating, realistic, sad, compassionate, cerebral, road movie, intense, heartbreaking ...
Plot: adoption, convent, catholic church, journalist, catholic, journalism, self discovery, religious intolerance, faith, nun, elderly, illegitimate son, writers, reporter, secret, redemption, hidden truth, haunted by the past, forceful separation, religion, forgiveness, life is a bitch, atheist, mother son relationship, lgbtq ...
Time: year 2013, 2010s, 1950s, 50s, 20th century, 2000s, year 1952 ...
Place: ireland, england, washington d.c., britain, usa, oxford university
Keyword: irish, feminist film, doctors

Movie in categories

Most similar movies to Philomena

The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out touching, realistic, emotional and serious films with plots about biopic, flashback, cigarette smoking, husband wife relationship, society, friendship and hopes mostly in Drama, Biography and Comedy genres. Some movies like Philomena: Lion (2016), Antwone Fisher (2002), Saint Ralph (2004), 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Water Diviner (2014). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
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 8.0
 250K
Lion (2016)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Australia, UK, USA, India
Duration: 118 min.
Story: A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.
Style: emotional, touching, motivational, inspirational, sentimental ...
Audience: family outing, date night, family friendly, chick flick, kids
Plot: adoption, poverty, survival, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, loneliness, childhood, mother son reunion, foster home, train, brother brother relationship, courage, missing child ...
Time: 2010s, year 1986, year 2016, year 2012, year 2010 ...
Place: india, australia, tasmania, kolkata, melbourne
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
 7.3
 38K
Antwone Fisher (2002)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story: A sailor prone to violent outbursts is sent to a naval psychiatrist for help. Refusing at first to open up, the young man eventually breaks down and reveals a horrific childhood. Through the guidance of his doctor, he confronts his painful past and ...
Style: inspirational, touching, sincere, emotional, thought provoking ...
Plot: psychiatrist, redemption, african american, child abuse, family reunited, u.s. navy, human spirit, honest, black, justice, survival, transformation ...
Time: year 2002, 2000s, 20th century, 21st century
Place: usa, mexico, san diego california, cleveland ohio
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
 7.3
 6K
Saint Ralph (2004)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: Canada
Duration: 98 min.
Story: This Canadian made comedy/drama, set in Hamilton, Ontario in 1954, is a sweet and - at times - goofy story that becomes increasingly poignant as the minutes tick by. It's the fictional tale of a wayward 9th grader, Ralph (Adam Butcher), who is ...
Style: emotional, sincere, sentimental, realistic, feel good ...
Audience: family outing
Plot: friendship, coming of age, adolescence, religion, fighting the system, running, human spirit, ambition, goodhearted, teachers and students, underdog, youth ...
Time: 50s, 1950s, year 2004, 20th century, year 1954
Place: ontario canada, ireland, europe, boston
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story: In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In ...
Style: motivational, heartbreaking, disturbing, harsh, bleak ...
Audience: teens
Plot: slavery, racism, survival, civil rights, torture, african american, freedom, american history, life is a bitch, black history, interracial relations, kidnapping ...
Time: 19th century, year 2013, 2010s, victorian era, ancient times ...
Place: louisiana, new orleans, america, africa, usa ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Movie in collections
The Water Diviner (2014)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story: In 1919, Australian farmer Joshua Connor travels to Turkey to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. Holding on to hope, Joshua must travel across the war-torn landscape to find the truth and his own peace.
Style: touching, reflective, emotional, dramatic, compassionate ...
Plot: world war one, war, redemption, missing person, courage, family drama, great war, parents and children, family relations, escapades, military, wartime ...
Time: 1910s, year 1919, year 2014, 2010s, 1920s ...
Place: australia, gallipoli, turkey, istanbul turkey, ottoman empire
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
 7.6
 132K
The Two Popes (2019)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, Italy, USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story: Explores the relationship and opposing visions between two of the most powerful leaders in the Catholic Church, both of whom must address their own pasts and the demands of the modern world in order to move the church forward.
Style: humorous, psychological, philosophical, motivational, controversial ...
Audience: teens
Plot: religion, vatican, catholic church, catholic, catholic priest, pope, priest, confession, dark humor, religious, biopic, guilt ...
Time: year 2019, 2010s, 21st century
Place: rome italy, italy, buenos aires argentina, argentina
⇓ similarity ⇓
32%
Victoria & Abdul (2017)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA, China
Duration: 111 min.
Story: Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.
Style: costume drama, period piece, atmospheric, stylized, touching ...
Audience: family friendly
Plot: servant, british history, queen of england, queen victoria, royalty, muslim, biopic, british empire, friendship, hindu, royal court, british monarchy ...
Time: 19th century, victorian era, ancient times, year 2017, 2010s ...
Place: britain, america, buckingham palace, florence, india ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
 7.0
 19K
Iris (2001)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: True story of the lifelong romance between novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley, from their student days through her battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Style: depressing, touching, melancholic, sentimental, compassionate ...
Plot: alzheimer's disease, aging, writers, writer's life, biopic, mental illness, love, female pubic hair, women, life & death, terminal illness, loneliness ...
Time: year 2001, 50s, 20th century, 90s
Place: england, europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
Movie in collections
nun movies
nun
1159
captivating movies
34092
 6.9
 42K
Boy Erased (2018)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Australia, USA, China
Duration: 115 min.
Story: The son of a Baptist preacher is forced to participate in a church supported gay conversion program.
Style: thought provoking, psychological, sentimental, captivating, teen ...
Audience: teens, teen drama
Plot: lgbt, gay, religion, lgbtq, conversion therapy, gay teenager, gay interest, father son relationship, homosexual, coming of age, church, lgbt teen ...
Time: 90s, 2000s, 2010s
Place: new york, southern usa, arkansas
⇓ similarity ⇓
28%
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: France, USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story: The true story of Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who, in 1995 at the age of 43, suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except his left eye. Using that eye to blink out his memoir, Bauby eloquently described the aspects of his ...
Style: touching, inspirational, emotional, depressing, psychological ...
Plot: disability, hospital, human spirit, nurse, paralysis, courage, coma, patient, life turned upside down, writers, bittersweet, mute or deaf ...
Time: 20th century, 90s, 2000s, year 2007, y2k
Place: france, paris france, europe, hong kong, nepal ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
27%
 7.3
 23K
Angela's Ashes (1999)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, UK, Ireland
Duration: 145 min.
Story: Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expat Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film ...
Style: touching, depressing, sad, compassionate, serious ...
Audience: toddlers, teen drama
Plot: poverty, life is a bitch, ira, injustice, family relations, youth, parents and children, depression, children, society, human nature, childhood ...
Time: 1940s, 1930s, 90s, year 1999, 20th century ...
Place: ireland, new york, brooklyn new york city, usa, europe ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
27%
Gods and Monsters (1998)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 105 min.
Story: It's 1957, and Whale's heyday as the director of "Frankenstein," "Bride of Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man" is long behind him. Retired and a semi-recluse, he lives his days accompanied only by images ...
Style: enigmatic, melancholic, captivating, sentimental, cult classic ...
Plot: homosexuality, life & death, gay interest, gay, friendship, filmmaking, homosexual, biopic, depression, loneliness, adaptation, gardener ...
Time: year 1998, 1950s, 50s, 20th century
Place: los angeles, usa, california, pacific ocean
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
Prayers for Bobby (2009)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story: True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.
Style: touching, sentimental, sad, emotional, depressing ...
Audience: teens, chick flick, teen drama
Plot: lgbt, gay, gay teenager, homosexuality, suicide, life is a bitch, homosexual, gay relationship, gay love, male homosexuality, gay slur, gay rights ...
Time: 2000s, year 1984, year 1979, 21st century
Place: usa, ethiopia, san francisco, california, portland oregon
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
The Naked Civil Servant (1975)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 77 min.
Story: Story of the life of Quentin Crisp, an Englishman who was brave enough to live his life according to his own style even in the hostile days of WW2.
Style: period piece, controversial, serious, realistic, emotional ...
Audience: chick flick, date night
Plot: lgbt, gay, lgbtq, biopic, subculture, revolt, publisher, lgbtqi, world war two, gay slur, gay subtext, bittersweet ...
Time: 1930s, 1940s, 20th century
Place: europe, england
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
 8.1
 499K
Spotlight (2015)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story: In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter "Robby" Robinson, reporters ...
Style: factual, suspense, psychological, tense, talky ...
Audience: chick flick, adult
Plot: journalism, investigation, lawyer, investigative journalism, conspiracy, sexual abuse, newspaper, journalist, catholic church, pedophilia, catholicism, child abuse ...
Time: year 2001, year 2015, 2010s, year 2016, 70s ...
Place: boston, massachusetts, new england, nova scotia, florida
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
 7.6
 358K
The Blind Side (2009)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story: Oversized African-American, Michael Oher, the teen from across the tracks and a broken home, has nowhere to sleep at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL.
Style: inspirational, touching, emotional, sentimental, motivational ...
Audience: family outing, chick flick, teens, kids, family friendly ...
Plot: american football, adoption, life, african american, human spirit, family drama, christian, interracial relations, football, rising to stardom, racism, interracial adoption ...
Time: year 2009, 20th century, 2000s, 21st century
Place: usa, tennessee, america, boston, mississippi ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
 7.8
 79K
My Left Foot (1989)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Ireland, UK
Duration: 103 min.
Story: In this true story told through flashbacks, Christy Brown is born with crippling cerebral palsy into a poor, working-class Irish family. Able only to control movement in his left foot and to speak in guttural sounds, he is mistakenly believed to be ...
Style: touching, inspirational, sincere, unusual plot structure, dramatic ...
Plot: disability, cerebral palsy, biopic, artist, working class, writers, handicapped, paralysis, medical, painter, art, poet ...
Time: 20th century, year 1989, 80s
Place: ireland, england, dublin ireland, europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
The Case for Christ (2017)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story: Based on the true story of an award-winning investigative journalist -- and avowed atheist -- who applies his well-honed journalistic and legal skills to disprove the newfound Christian faith of his wife... with unexpected, life-altering results.
Style: christian film, biblical, disturbing, thought provoking, captivating ...
Plot: christianity, christian, atheist, investigation, journalist, religion, faith, reporter, court case, trial, religious, interview ...
Time: year 2017, year 1980, year 1987
Place: indiana, jerusalem, california, wisconsin, los angeles ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
Movie in collections
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story: Loosely based on the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof, a drug-taking, women-loving, homophobic man who in 1986 was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live.
Style: psychological, heartbreaking, compassionate, depressing, dramatic ...
Audience: chick flick, teens, adult
Plot: aids, transsexual, fighting the system, hiv, transgender, human spirit, life is a bitch, drug, casual sex, treatment, gay slur, hiv positive ...
Time: year 2013, 80s, 2010s, 2000s, 20th century ...
Place: texas, usa, america, midwest, nebraska ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
50%
The Magdalene Sisters (2002)
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, Ireland
Duration: 114 min.
Story: Four women are given into the custody of the Magdalene sisterhood asylum to correct their sinful behavior: Crispina and Rose have given birth to a premarital child, Margaret got raped by her cousin and the orphan Bernadette had been repeatedly ...
Style: bleak, disturbing, brutal, controversial, harsh ...
Audience: teens
Plot: nun, convent, life is a bitch, human spirit, corporal punishment, mistreatment, catholic church, evil nun, religion, sexual harassment, humiliation, catholic ...
Time: 60s, 20th century, year 1964, year 2002
Place: ireland, europe, dublin ireland
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
Breakfast on Pluto (2005)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Ireland, UK
Duration: 128 min.
Story: In the 1970s, a foundling lad, Patrick "Kitten" Braden, comes of age by leaving his Irish town for London, in part to look for his mother and in part because his trans-gender nature is beyond the town's understanding.
Style: surreal, touching, sentimental, compassionate, sincere ...
Audience: chick flick
Plot: transvestism, transgender, gay slur, gay, transsexual, gender, adoption, coming of age, gender bending, lgbt, priest, ira ...
Time: 70s, year 2005, 20th century, 60s
Place: ireland, england, europe, big ben london, london
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! (2006)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 79 min.
Story: Kenneth Williams was the star of the Carry Ons and Round the Horne. Despite his fame, he led a life full of mental torture as he tried to overcome his homosexuality in 1950s Britain. This film follows his life and eventual death based on the many ...
Style: serious, realistic, touching, emotional, period drama
Plot: performer's life, celebrity, under the surface, private vs public, artists and showbiz, life is a bitch, hidden truth, depression, gay, biopic, diary, lgbt ...
Time: 50s, 60s, 70s, 20th century
Place: england
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
 7.2
 95K
Beginners (2010)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story: A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.
Style: touching, sad, sentimental, sincere, heartbreaking ...
Audience: date night
Plot: gay, grief, homosexuality, gay father, father son relationship, relationships, cancer, self discovery, lgbt, dog, bittersweet, lgbtq ...
Time: year 2011, 2010s, 1950s, year 1978, 2000s ...
Place: los angeles, california, usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
Movie in collections
writers movies
5824
reporter movies
1839
secret movies
4481
sad movies
sad
2538
 7.5
 62K
Chaplin (1992)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France, Italy, Japan, USA
Duration: 143 min.
Story: With the use of flashback, an elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, who urges him to be more vulnerable and emotionally honest with his memoirs while journeying through his poverty-stricken childhood, closest ...
Style: inspirational, sentimental, factual, light, intense ...
Audience: chick flick
Plot: biopic, rising to stardom, hollywood, childhood, actor's life, filmmaking, success, mccarthyism, comedian, unlikely friendships, depression, honest ...
Time: 1940s, 70s, edwardian era, 1950s, 1920s ...
Place: london, los angeles, england, california, switzerland
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
 7.3
 116K
The Queen (2006)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA, France, Italy
Duration: 103 min.
Story: The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal ...
Style: factual, political, emotional, compassionate, thought provoking ...
Plot: british royal family, royal family, queen, historical character, head of state, monarchy, queen of england, british, politics, queen elizabeth ii, biopic, etiquette ...
Time: 90s, year 2006, 20th century, year 1997
Place: england, buckingham palace, britain, london, united kingdom ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
 7.8
 61K
Pride (2014)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story: Based on a true story, the film is set in the summer of 1984 – when Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise ...
Style: touching, political, witty, feel good, sincere ...
Audience: teens, chick flick
Plot: gay, lgbt, working class, protest, culture clash, homosexuality, friendship, prejudice, gay relationship, mining town, lesbian, lgbtq ...
Time: year 1985, 20th century, year 1984, year 2014, 80s ...
Place: england, wales, united kingdom, britain, europe ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
 7.3
 24K
Lorenzo's Oil (1992)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 129 min.
Story: Lorenzo Odone was a normal child until the age of 7. After then, strange things began to happen to him: he would have blackouts, memory lapses, and other strange mental phemonenons. He is eventually diagnosed as suffering from ALD: an extremely rare ...
Style: touching, emotional, sincere, inspirational, melancholic ...
Audience: family outing
Plot: terminal illness, human spirit, against the odds, family relations, medical, life is a bitch, disability, courage, cure, family drama, boy, hopes ...
Time: 20th century, 90s, year 1984, year 1983, year 1986 ...
Place: washington d.c., pittsburgh, italy, rome italy, boston ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
 7.8
 183K
Ed Wood (1994)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story: The mostly true story of the legendary "worst director of all time", who, with the help of his strange friends, filmed countless B-movies without ever becoming famous or successful.
Style: black and white, dark comedy, humorous, black comedy, atmospheric ...
Plot: hollywood, showbiz, misfit, biopic, drug addiction, friendship, director, addiction, character study, actress, lgbtq, transvestism ...
Time: 20th century, 1950s, 90s, year 1994, 50s
Place: los angeles, california, america, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
The Look of Love (2013)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story: Paul Raymond builds a porn, entertainment and real estate empire that makes him the wealthiest man in Britain, but drugs doom his beloved daughter, Debbie.
Style: captivating, realistic, sexy, stylized, sexual ...
Audience: teens
Plot: strip club, showbiz, nudity, lifestyle, ambition, rise to the top, family problems, starlet, dancer, stripper, divorce, couples ...
Time: 70s, 60s, 20th century, 50s, 80s ...
Place: somalia, london, england, britain, united kingdom
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
 8.0
 85K
The Sea Inside (2004)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Spain, France, Italy
Duration: 126 min.
Story: The Sea Inside is about Spaniard Ramón Sampedro, who fought a 30-year campaign to win the right to end his life with dignity. It is the story of Ramón’s relationships with two women: Julia a lawyer who supports his cause, and Rosa, a local woman ...
Style: sad, thought provoking, emotional, philosophical, touching ...
Plot: disability, euthanasia, biopic, human spirit, death, existentialism, suicide, handicapped, lawyer, depression, character study, life & death ...
Time: year 2004, y2k, 90s, 60s, 20th century
Place: spain, barcelona, europe, galicia, catalonia
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
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