Cynical movies and TV shows – page 3
Best films
New films
| Bupkis (2023) | 7.2 | |
| The Girls on the Bus (2024) | 6.7 | |
| Kurukkan (2023) | 5.1 | |
| Inside Man (2023) | 5.6 | |
| Code 3 (2025) | 7.2 |
List of cynical movies
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Nick Naylor is a charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator bent on ...
Style:
satirical, black comedy, entertaining, dark comedy, witty ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
marketing, advertising, business, lobbyist, satire, social satire, tobacco, reporter, lung cancer, politics, journalism, political satire ...
Time:
year 2005, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
washington d.c., vermont, usa, los angeles, japan ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: Denmark, Germany
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
A neo-nazi sentenced to community service at a church clashes with the blindly devotional priest.
Style:
dark comedy, black comedy, cynical, surreal, humorous ...
Plot:
priest, church, dark humor, religion, funeral, faith, belief, cynic, skinhead, neo nazism, neo nazi, prejudice ...
Time:
year 2005, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
europe, denmark, saudi arabia, indonesia
Is relevant?
219K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Jasmine French used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ...
Style:
depressing, psychological, realistic, cynical, philosophical ...
Plot:
depression, riches to rags, starting over, narcissism, suicide, family drama, relationships, tragedy, mental health, sisters, mission, high society ...
Time:
year 2013, 2010s, 90s, 21st century
Place:
san francisco, new york, california, usa, new jersey
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
Steve Coogan, an arrogant actor with low self-esteem and a complicated love life, is playing the eponymous role in an adaptation of "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" being filmed at a stately home. He constantly spars ...
Style:
humorous, witty, talky, cynical, parody ...
Plot:
filmmaking, satire, circumcision, adaptation, creativity, art, storytelling, dialogue, couples, artists and showbiz, showbiz, nosy ...
Time:
year 2005, 18th century, 21st century
Place:
england, london
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
Style:
black comedy, satirical, dark comedy, political, cynical ...
Plot:
politics, satire, political corruption, journalism, election, cia, conspiracy, government, political conspiracy, secret service, president, election campaign ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
washington d.c., albania, persia, usa, middle east ...
Is relevant?
34K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, France
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
Following the arrest of her mother, Ramona, young Vanessa Lutz decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride by school counselor Bob Wolverton. During the journey, Lutz begins to realize that Bob is the ...
Style:
disturbing, dark comedy, bloody, black comedy, neo noir ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
serial killer, dysfunctional family, disfigurement, road trip, murder, little red riding hood, brutality, police investigation, juvenile delinquent, strangulation, prostitution, perversion ...
Time:
20th century, 90s
Place:
los angeles, california, san diego california
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
After breaking up with his lover and boss, a smooth-talking man takes his teenaged nephew out on the town in search of sex.
Style:
cynical, clever, erotic, sex comedy, realistic ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
virginity, womanizer, nightlife, sexuality, relationships, seduction, coming of age, mentor, character study, battle of the sexes, dating, passion ...
Time:
year 2002, 20th century, 21st century
Place:
new york, ohio, usa, manhattan new york city
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France, Germany, Japan, USA
Duration: 143 min.
Story:
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the ...
Style:
political, cynical, thought provoking, intense, witty ...
Plot:
politics, scandal, satire, president, idealism, propaganda, adultery, presidential election, political satire, election, media, political corruption ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, 70s
Place:
new york, florida, washington d.c., new hampshire, miami ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
An Ivy League professor returns home, where his pot-growing twin brother has concocted a plan to take down a local drug lord.
Style:
cynical, dark comedy, black comedy, intense, stylized ...
Plot:
twins, dysfunctional family, weed, brutality, profanity, drug, marijuana, character study, road trip, twin brother, gangster, drug dealing ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
oklahoma, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
In the late 1970s, Cockney crime boss Harold Shand, a gangster trying to become a legitimate property mogul, has big plans to get the American Mafia to bankroll his transformation of a derelict area of London into the possible venue for a future ...
Style:
neo noir, cynical, harsh, atmospheric, tense ...
Audience:
manly, boys' night
Plot:
gangster, ira, organized crime, mafia, crime boss, terrorist, car bomb, danger, revenge, rivalry, criminal's revenge, murder ...
Time:
70s, year 1980, 80s, 20th century
Place:
england, ireland, london, britain, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
Style:
neo noir, tense, suspense, captivating, atmospheric ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
corruption, police corruption, organized crime, police, murder, police detective, twists and turns, murder mystery, police brutality, justice, shootout, gunfight ...
Time:
1950s, 50s, year 1997, 90s, 20th century ...
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, arizona, persia ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
Margot and her son Claude decide to visit her sister Pauline after she announces that she is getting married to less-than-impressive Malcolm. In short order, the storm the sisters create leaves behind a mess of thrashed relationships and exposed ...
Style:
cynical, talky, depressing, melancholic, stylized ...
Plot:
dysfunctional family, wedding, nudity, complex characters, family relations, jealousy, greed, secrets, character study, confession, family problems, family gatherings ...
Time:
year 2007, 70s, 21st century
Place:
usa, long island, vermont, harvard university
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
An unattractive 7th grader struggles to cope with suburban life as the middle child with un-attentive parents and bullies at school.
Style:
disturbing, cult classic, black comedy, teen, cynical ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
coming of age, misfit, dysfunctional family, bullying, childhood, humiliation, social outcast, female protagonist, school, youth, public humiliation, high school life ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, near future, year 1995
Place:
new jersey, seattle, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, Germany, USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph, the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy, a puffy fuscia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ...
Style:
dark comedy, black comedy, humorous, cynical, funny ...
Plot:
satire, children, vengeance, revenge, television, naivete, depression, showbiz, performer's life, artists and showbiz, rivalry, success ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Place:
usa, coney island brooklyn new york city, new york, manhattan new york city, brooklyn new york city ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Germany, Canada, USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Semi-true story of the Hollywood murder that occurred at a star-studded gathering aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924.
Style:
stylized, cynical, witty, period piece, tense ...
Plot:
hollywood, murder, yacht, infidelity, satire, adultery, secrets, police investigation, gossip, mistress, crimes of passion, artists and showbiz ...
Time:
1920s, year 2001, 20th century
Place:
california, greece, los angeles, usa, san diego california
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.
Style:
black comedy, sexy, bleak, dark comedy, controversial ...
Plot:
high school, dark humor, high school student, high school football, satire, homosexual, american football, celebrity, maid, writers, filmmaking, family problems ...
Time:
year 2001, 21st century
Place:
new jersey, new york, usa, colombia, israel
Is relevant?
30K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one ...
Style:
satirical, witty, black and white, cynical, stylized ...
Plot:
satire, greed, writers, loneliness, justice, dark hero, desire for fame, artists and showbiz, ambition, lifestyle, showbiz, celebrity culture ...
Time:
20th century, year 1998, 90s
Place:
new york, usa, atlantic city new jersey, brooklyn new york city, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
A cameraman is knocked over during a football game. His brother in law as the king of the ambulance chasing lawyers starts a suit while he's still knocked out. The cameraman is against it until he hears that his ex-wife will be coming to see ...
Style:
humorous, witty, talky, cynical, black and white ...
Plot:
american football, lawyer, surveillance, insurance fraud, crooked lawyer, lawsuit, insurance, friendship, hospital, cons and scams, odd couple, workplace ...
Time:
20th century, 60s, year 1966
Place:
cleveland ohio, usa, new jersey
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, France
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
An embittered husband, paralyzed and in a wheelchair, buttonholes a complete stranger and begins to tell him the story of his marriage. The stranger would like to escape, but cannot. For one thing he grows fascinated by the story. For another he is ...
Style:
erotic, sexy, psychological, sexual, sensual ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
obsession, femme fatale, infidelity, sexual perversion, writers, husband wife relationship, male nudity, fatal attraction, destructive relationship, couples, passionate interest, bdsm ...
Time:
year 1992, 90s
Place:
eastern europe, europe, france, paris france
Is relevant?
167K
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss discovers the plot.
Style:
black comedy, funny, dark comedy, sexy, cynical ...
Audience:
girls' night, kids, adult
Plot:
dark humor, christmas, profanity, christmas eve, bully, alcohol abuse, bullying, casual sex, misfit, anti hero, christmas season, cons and scams ...
Time:
year 2003, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
usa, arizona, miami, milwaukee wisconsin, north america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Spain, USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Two married couples find only trouble and heartache as their complicated lives unfold. After 40 years of marriage, Alfie leaves his wife to pursue what he thinks is happiness with a call girl. His wife, Helena, reeling from abandonment, decides to ...
Style:
sexy, cynical, witty, romantic, melancholic ...
Audience:
date night, chick flick
Plot:
midlife crisis, destiny, unrequited love, obsession, writers, human nature, couples, crumbling relationship, lifestyle, artists and showbiz, divorce, loneliness ...
Time:
year 2010, 21st century
Place:
london, england, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst falls into the hands of Linda Litzke and Chad Feldheimer, the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of ...
Style:
dark comedy, black comedy, funny, cynical, absurd ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
stupidity, espionage, satire, paranoia, farce, divorce, gym, dark humor, infidelity, internet dating, online dating, sarcasm ...
Time:
year 2008, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
washington d.c., usa, virginia, persia, america ...
Is relevant?
47K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
TV show
Story:
Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all ...
Style:
detective, clever, captivating, cynical, serious ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
homicide detective, police detective, murder, murder investigation, police, police protagonist, riddles and clues, mind game, crime investigation, crime solving, investigation, basset hound ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 70s, 2000s, 80s
Place:
los angeles, usa, california
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
NYPD detectives Christopher Danson (Johnson) and P.K. Highsmith (Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. They don't get tattoos, other men get tattoos of them. Two desks over and one back, sit detectives Allen Gamble ...
Style:
funny, humorous, buddy comedy, absurd, parody ...
Audience:
teens, manly, kids, boys' night
Plot:
police, stupidity, buddy, car chase, dumb, misfit partners, partners against crime, buddy cop, sarcasm, hotshot, chase, farce ...
Time:
year 2010, 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
new york, usa, las vegas, new jersey, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
19K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Boss is an American political drama television serial created by Farhad Safinia. The series stars Kelsey Grammer as Tom Kane, the mayor of Chicago, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies, a degenerative neurological disorder.
Style:
political, clever, cynical, erotic, realistic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
politics, mayor, boss, political intrigue, career, mental illness, dishonesty, power struggle, ambitious, corruption, ambition, boss and employee ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
chicago, illinois, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Country: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Canada, Germany
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
As they prepare to test products for a multinational corporation, a marketing company targets a typical guy as their guinea pig.
Style:
cynical, witty, realistic, semi serious, humorous ...
Plot:
cons and scams, contests and competitions, love and romance, goofy hero, wooing, disorder, sexual content, dishonesty, marketing, everyday life, satire, social commentary ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 28 min.
TV show
Story:
An eager young rookie joins the ragtag small-town police force led by his dad as they bumble, squabble and snort their way through a big drug case.
Style:
adult animation, adult cartoon, humorous, cynical, not serious ...
Audience:
kids, adult
Plot:
dark humor, police investigation, social satire, goofy hero, cop, disorder, bad cop, small town, stupidity, absurd humor, satire, dumb ...
Time:
2010s, 2020s, 21st century
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story:
Set in the corridors of power and spin, the Minister for Social Affairs is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants.
Style:
sitcom, cynical, humorous, semi serious, mockumentary ...
Plot:
politics, political satire, satire, state affairs, stupidity, british politics, british government, workplace, workplace situations, politician, society, government official ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Place:
london, europe, england, syria
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 46 min.
TV show
Story:
Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Dominic Minghella after the character of Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 comedy film Saving Grace. The show is set in the fictional ...
Style:
witty, clever, sincere, cynical, humorous ...
Plot:
doctor, village life, hospital, treatment, loner, doctors and patients, teacher, surgery, responsibility, antisocial behavior, manners, medicine ...
Time:
2010s, 2020s, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
england, cornwall, london, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
Two criminal drifters without sympathy get more than they bargained for after kidnapping and holding for ransom the surrogate mother of a powerful and shady man.
Style:
cult classic, clever, neo noir, suspense, independent film ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
kidnapping, twists and turns, gunfight, ransom, money, violence, gangster, crime gone awry, pregnancy, hostage, criminal, car chase ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 2000s
Place:
bolivia, mexico
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
