Movies like Akeelah and the Bee
If you like "Akeelah and the Bee" you are looking for touching, uplifting and emotional movies about / with african american, self esteem, coming of age, child prodigy, hopes, teacher and prodigy themes of Drama and Family genre shot in USA.
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1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
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Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
22K
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She's smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor named Dr. Larabee for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of -- but only if she can overcome her insecurities and her distracting home life. She also must get past Dr. Larabee's demons, and a field of more experienced and privileged fellow spellers.
Style:
touching, uplifting, emotional, sentimental, realistic, sweet, serious, inspirational, feel good, sincere ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, family friendly, toddlers, teens, chick flick, girls' night ...
Plot:
african american, self esteem, coming of age, child prodigy, hopes, teacher, prodigy, teachers and students, elementary school, mentor, black, prejudice, culture clash, unlikely friendships, family relations, rivalry, education, human spirit, human nature, self discovery, single parent, contests and competitions, dedicated educator, segregation, competition ...
Time:
year 2006, 21st century, contemporary
Place:
los angeles, washington d.c., america, usa, africa, california
Keyword:
sport, gangsters, educational film, preschoolers, american, dictionary
Most similar movies to Akeelah and the Bee
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, touching, serious and uplifting films with plots about youth, hopes, coming of age, family relations, teacher, school and power relations mostly in Drama, Family and Biography genres. Some movies like Akeelah and the Bee: Pay It Forward (2000), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Gifted (2017), October Sky (1999), Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
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Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded.
Style:
touching, inspirational, emotional, motivational, sentimental ...
Audience:
chick flick, kids, teens, teen drama
Plot:
teacher, childhood, single parent, teachers and students, alcoholic, life philosophy, good deed, disfigurement, death, boy, alcoholism, addiction ...
Time:
year 2000, 90s, 20th century
Place:
tibet, nevada, usa, las vegas
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
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:
sincere, touching, sentimental, emotional, sweet ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, girls' night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
racism, civil rights, african american, teenage life, friendship, coming of age, children, interracial relations, haunted by the past, family relations, black, teenager ...
Time:
year 2008, 60s, 20th century, year 1964
Place:
south carolina, indiana, africa, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
129K
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, chick flick, teens, family friendly
Plot:
mathematics, genius, child prodigy, childhood, school, friendship, happiness, teacher, girl, children, child custody, uncle niece relationship ...
Time:
year 2017, 2010s, year 1998
Place:
persia, boston, florida
⇓ similarity ⇓
90%
Genre: Biography, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
Based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.
Style:
inspirational, touching, realistic, feel good, sentimental ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, date night, teen drama
Plot:
small town, teacher, follow your dream, teenage life, against the odds, friendship, biopic, generation gap, mathematics, mining, space program, scientist ...
Time:
50s, 1950s, year 1999, 90s, 20th century ...
Place:
west virginia, virginia, usa, appalachia, indianapolis indiana
⇓ similarity ⇓
88%
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
A prepubescent chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.
Style:
inspirational, uplifting, touching, feel good, intelligent ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, teen drama
Plot:
chess, child prodigy, prodigy, mentor, genius, tournament, children, teacher, competition, coming of age, childhood, obsession ...
Time:
year 1993, 90s, 20th century
Place:
usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Also search:
Movies similar to Bridge to Terabithia
177K
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA, Hong Kong, Canada
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
The story of August Pullman – a boy with facial differences – who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
Style:
inspirational, uplifting, touching, sincere, thought provoking ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, teens, family friendly
Plot:
bullying, child, school, middle school, friendship, happy ending, father son relationship, deformity, family relations, fight, hospital, science teacher ...
Time:
2010s, year 2017, 21st century
Place:
coney island brooklyn new york city, new york, manhattan new york city, pennsylvania
⇓ similarity ⇓
75%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: India
Duration: 162 min.
Story:
Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate. Colours, fish, dogs, and kites don't seem important to the adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, marks, and ...
Style:
motivational, touching, inspirational, captivating, educational ...
Audience:
family outing, kids
Plot:
dyslexia, teachers and students, teacher, teaching the ways of the world, childhood, self discovery, dedicated educator, young heroes, coming of age, shyness, school, learning disability ...
Time:
future, year 2007, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
india, middle east, asia, mumbai india
⇓ similarity ⇓
75%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Matthew Perry is real-life inspiration Ron Clark, a passionate and innovative teacher who leaves his small hometown to teach in one of Harlem's toughest schools. But to break through to this students, Clark must use unconventional methods, ...
Style:
uplifting, serious, realistic, emotional, inspirational ...
Audience:
family outing, teens, teen drama
Plot:
teacher, dedicated educator, teachers and students, human spirit, new job, changing lives, teacher student relationship, education, hardcase students, obstacle, hopes, bad attitude ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 1994, year 1998
Place:
harlem, usa, north carolina, new york, manhattan new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA, China
Duration: 140 min.
Story:
12-year-old Dre Parker could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying but the cultural differences make such a friendship ...
Style:
inspirational, uplifting, feel good, sentimental, sincere ...
Audience:
teens, kids, girls' night, family friendly, chick flick ...
Plot:
teachers and students, kung fu, martial arts, human spirit, boy, bullying, contests and competitions, perseverance, coach, underdog, coming of age, teacher ...
Time:
2010s, year 2010, 21st century
Place:
china, beijing china, america, asia, michigan ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
75%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 136 min.
Story:
Gus van Sant tells the story of a young African American man named Jamal who confronts his talents while living on the streets of the Bronx. He accidentally runs into an old writer named Forrester who discovers his passion for writing. With help ...
Style:
sentimental, touching, feel good, uplifting, sincere ...
Audience:
teens, teen drama
Plot:
mentor, friendship, dedicated educator, prejudice, literature, basketball, teacher, african american, prodigy, writers, coming of age, writer's life ...
Time:
year 2000, 20th century, 90s
Place:
new york, brooklyn new york city, scotland, usa, bronx new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
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The Help related movies
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks ...
Style:
inspirational, feel good, hood, realistic, political ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
african american, high school, teacher, black, education, mentor, school, teenager, urban, teaching, teenage pregnancy, violence ...
Time:
80s, year 1989, 20th century, 60s
Place:
new jersey
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Biography, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Inspired by a true story, “Beyond the Blackboard” is about a 24-year-old first-time teacher who makes a difference in the lives of the homeless children she teaches in a shelter’s makeshift classroom. Set in 1987 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, ...
Style:
uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, inspirational ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
teacher, homeless, youth, changing lives, power relations, hopes, society, idealism, teachers and students, school, children, teaching ...
Time:
80s, year 1987
Place:
new mexico, usa, salt lake city utah
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
TV show
Story:
The true story of Ruby Bridges, an African-American girl who, in 1960 at age 6, helped to integrate the all-white schools of New Orleans. Although she was the only black girl to come to the school she was sent to, (and since all the white mothers ...
Style:
uplifting, inspirational, political, contemplative, serious ...
Audience:
family outing, kids
Plot:
racism, civil rights, african american, black, blaxploitation, art, american culture, education, black history, school, interracial relations, injustice ...
Time:
60s
Place:
america, louisiana, new orleans, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is a movie based on the life story of world-renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson from 1961 to 1987.
Style:
uplifting, sincere, inspirational, realistic, factual ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
medical, african american, against the odds, human spirit, neurosurgeon, medicine, surgeon, biopic, ambition, medical school, doctor, rise to the top ...
Time:
70s, 60s, 2010s, 20th century, 80s
Place:
cuba, usa, detroit, west germany
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: Australia, Japan
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
The film tells the story of 11-year-old Dylan (Ed Oxenbould), who is brought up by his father (Sam Worthington) in a remote town in the country of Australia. Dylan’s life is changed forever when he wins a place in the regional Paper Plane ...
Style:
sentimental, touching, serious, feel good, realistic ...
Audience:
family outing, girls' night, pre-teens
Plot:
boy, competition, contest, coming of age, ambition, family relations, contests and competitions, parents and children, championship, youth, winner, tournament ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
japan, australia, tokyo, asia
⇓ similarity ⇓
67%
Also search:
Movies similar to Wonder
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
A headstrong 16 year old Katy McLaughlin desires to work on her family's mountainside horse ranch, although her father insists she finish boarding school. Katy finds a mustang in the hills near her ranch. Katy then sets her mind to tame a ...
Style:
talky, realistic, sentimental, touching, teen ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, teens, girls' night, family friendly ...
Plot:
horse, animal, family relations, self discovery, hopes, love and romance, parents and children, family life, animal life, introspection, siblings relations, girl horse relationship ...
Time:
year 2006, 21st century
Place:
usa, wyoming
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Two determined mothers, 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, uplifting, serious, emotional ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
education, teacher, fighting the system, school, human spirit, hopes, parents and children, teachers and students, youth, society, changing lives, family relations ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
pittsburgh, pennsylvania, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
Story revolves around a young boxer, Izzy Daniels, who trains to follow in his father's footsteps by winning the Golden Glove. When his friend, Mary, however, asks him to substitute for a team member in a Double Dutch tournament, the young man ...
Style:
humorous, realistic, semi serious, feel good, teen
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, pre-teens
Plot:
human spirit, friendship, athlete's life, follow your dream, against the odds, ambition, lifestyle, teenage life, teenager, rivalry, athlete and trainer, contests and competitions ...
Place:
usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
26%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
The Morgans, a loving and strong family of Black sharecroppers in Louisiana in 1933, face a serious family crisis when the husband and father, Nathan Lee Morgan, is convicted of a petty crime and sent to a prison camp. After some weeks or months, ...
Style:
emotional, realistic, sentimental, touching, gothic ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
coming of age, dog, racism, poverty, civil rights, black, african american, youth, family relations, bittersweet, farm, prison ...
Time:
1930s, year 1972, 1900s, 20th century
Place:
louisiana, america, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
25%
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
After leading his football team to 15 winning seasons, coach Bill Yoast is demoted and replaced by Herman Boone – tough, opinionated and as different from the beloved Yoast as he could be. The two men learn to overcome their differences and turn a ...
Style:
inspirational, sentimental, touching, uplifting, emotional ...
Audience:
kids, teens, chick flick, family friendly, date night ...
Plot:
racism, african american, civil rights, american football, high school, racial tension, racial prejudice, football, against the odds, racial slur, prejudice, friendship ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, year 2000, y2k, 2000s
Place:
virginia, boston, america, africa, usa ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
Also search:
Films like Gifted
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:
inspirational, touching, realistic, sentimental, emotional ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
teacher, teachers and students, dedicated educator, tourette's syndrome, school, disability, social misfits, stuttering, honest, friendship, father son relationship, understanding ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
louisiana, usa, atlanta georgia
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
A little girl leaves home with her pet dog and rabbit to escape abuse and find the ocean in the hopes of feeling closer to her father who has passed away.
Style:
realistic, serious, touching, sincere, captivating
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
civil rights, dog, friendship, youth, hopes, pets, estrangement, family life, wilderness, child's point of view, mother, family relations ...
Time:
60s
Place:
alabama, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
A teenage girl, trying to come to grips with the death of her mother in a horse-riding accident, nurtures the foal of her mother's horse.
Style:
sentimental, touching, realistic, serious, independent film
Audience:
pre-teens, adult
Plot:
ambition, follow your dream, mischievous children, against the odds, teenage life, youth, love and romance, rehabilitation, contests and competitions, hopes, athlete and trainer, family life ...
Place:
usa, virginia
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
11-year-old Eliza is the invisible element of her family unit: her parents are both consumed with work and her brother is wrapped up in his own adolescent life. Eliza ignites not only a spark that makes her visible but one that sets into motion a ...
Style:
touching, emotional, depressing, realistic, thought provoking ...
Plot:
dysfunctional family, mental illness, religion, family drama, depression, life philosophy, judaism, family relations, family problems, coming of age, parents and children, society ...
Time:
year 2005
Place:
usa, bay area, washington d.c., sacramento california, oakland california ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
23%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top ...
Style:
inspirational, touching, sentimental, realistic, uplifting ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, teen drama
Plot:
teacher, mathematics, high school, education, school, biopic, bullying, dedicated educator, mentor, chicano, civil rights, teenager ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
los angeles, america, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
Also search:
Movies similar to Freedom Writers
7K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
In this uplifting film based on a true story, coach Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) shocks the community and changes lives when, aided by a local janitor (Bernie Mac), he sets out to form Philadelphia's first black swim team. But the odds are ...
Style:
inspirational, serious, uplifting, emotional, realistic ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
racism, swimming, life is a bitch, ambition, against the odds, teacher, african american, human spirit, athlete's life, rivalry, youth, black ...
Time:
70s, year 2007, 20th century, 60s
Place:
philadelphia, africa, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
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:
touching, uplifting, serious, rough, hood ...
Plot:
going straight, life is a bitch, family relations, street kid, hopes, parents and children, society, urban ghetto life, black lives matter, black, blaxploitation, gang ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
los angeles, indiana, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
William Hundert is a passionate and principled Classics professor who finds his tightly-controlled world shaken and inexorably altered when a new student, Sedgewick Bell, walks into his classroom. What begins as a fierce battle of wills gives way to ...
Style:
realistic, touching, inspirational, contemplative, emotional ...
Audience:
kids, teens
Plot:
teacher, coming of age, dedicated educator, boarding school life, boarding school, youth, teachers and students, hardcase students, school, friendship, mentor, education ...
Time:
20th century, year 2002, 70s, 2000s
Place:
washington d.c., pennsylvania
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
Thanks to a strict Muslim upbringing that largely shielded him from the outside world, Tariq's first year of college proves transformative. That is, until the 9/11 terrorist attacks invite growing suspicion and distrust from his angry ...
Style:
uplifting, emotional, sincere, powerful, independent film ...
Plot:
9/11, college, social differences, culture clash, racism, teachers and students, youth, social relations, college life, adolescence vs adulthood, society, lifestyle ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
666
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
SMITTY is a family film about a rescue dog. When life gets tough for Ben, a friendly paw is all it takes to pull him through. Mischievous thirteen-year-old Ben is sent to his grandfather's farm for the summer, where he crosses paths with a ...
Style:
sincere, captivating, light, feel good, touching ...
Audience:
family outing, kids
Plot:
youth, family relations, friendship, pets, coming of age, single parent, farm, dog, redemption, hopes, teaching the ways of the world, friends ...
Time:
year 2010, 21st century
Place:
iowa, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
22%
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