Character study movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant character study movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out realistic, interesting, serious, talky, thought provoking and melancholic films and TV shows about / with storytelling, character study, dialogue, mentor, loneliness, drinking alcohol, runaway, drinking, psychology and mental disorder plots mostly in Drama, Thriller and Comedy genres shot in USA, France, UK and other countries.
6406
TOP 10 movies tagged as character study: Drive (2011), Falling Down (1993), There Will Be Blood (2007), Nightcrawler (2014), The Conversation (1974), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Taxi Driver (1976), Black Swan (2010), Amadeus (1984), Tender Mercies (1983).
Best films
New films
| The Gardener (2025) | 6.3 | |
| Salvador (2026) | 6.1 | |
| Madhuram Jeevamruthabindu (2025) | 7.4 | |
| Duse (2025) | 6.0 | |
| Putin (2025) | 3.1 |
List of character study movies
756K
Genre: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman for criminals discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.
Style:
neo noir, atmospheric, tense, serious, ambiguous ending ...
Audience:
boys' night, date night, adult
Plot:
car chase, revenge, mechanic, loner, heist, danger, lone wolves, organized crime, tough heroes, robbery, chases and races, neighbor ...
Time:
2010s, year 2011, 21st century
Place:
los angeles, california, iran, usa
Is relevant?
224K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France, USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
On the day of his daughter's birthday, William "D-Fens" Foster is trying to get to the home of his estranged ex-wife to see his daughter. His car breaks down, so he leaves his car in a traffic jam in Los Angeles and decides to walk. ...
Style:
cult classic, psychological, rough, black comedy, philosophical ...
Audience:
date night, manly
Plot:
rage, vigilante, anger, midlife crisis, alienation, violence, character study, social commentary, urban decay, losing-it hero, traffic jam, road rage ...
Time:
90s, 80s, 20th century
Place:
los angeles, california, persia, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 158 min.
Story:
Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview moves to oil-rich California. Using his adopted son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. ...
Style:
serious, cerebral, epic, visually stunning, gloomy ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
oil, character study, greed, money, capitalism, rise to the top, ambition, rivalry, father son relationship, abusive father, impostor, mission ...
Time:
1900s, 20th century, turn of the century, middle ages, 19th century ...
Place:
california, texas, pacific ocean, los angeles, america ...
Is relevant?
661K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
When Lou Bloom, desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran.
Style:
neo noir, psychological, disturbing, suspense, atmospheric ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
character study, sociopath, journalism, obsession, cynicism, psychopath, manipulation, morality, journalist, violence, deception, ethics ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, near future, 21st century
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, venice beach california, america ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Surveillance expert Harry Caul is hired by a mysterious client's brusque aide to tail a young couple. Tracking the pair through San Francisco's Union Square, Caul and his associate Stan manage to record a cryptic conversation between them. ...
Style:
neo noir, psychological thriller, psychological, cerebral, political thriller ...
Plot:
surveillance, paranoia, character study, spy, conspiracy, loner, losing-it hero, loneliness, obsession, wiretap, murder, hotel ...
Time:
20th century, year 1974, 70s
Place:
bay area, usa, san francisco
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.
Style:
melancholic, depressing, touching, sad, emotional ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
dysfunctional family, disability, small town, mentally challenged, mental illness, self discovery, responsibility, brothers, character study, coming of age, life philosophy, life & death ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1993, 70s, 60s
Place:
iowa, texas, southern usa, usa
Is relevant?
1.0M
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
A mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge for violent action, attempting to save a preadolescent prostitute in the process.
Style:
psychological, neo noir, bleak, atmospheric, cult classic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
loner, vigilante, character study, alienation, vigilantism, violence, obsession, loneliness, psychology, lone wolves, taxi, social decay ...
Time:
70s, year 1976, 20th century, year 1975
Place:
new york, manhattan new york city, usa, america, harlem ...
Is relevant?
882K
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.
Style:
psychological, cerebral, atmospheric, suspense, twist ending ...
Audience:
chick flick, adult
Plot:
ballet, mental illness, obsession, psychology, character study, dancing, insanity, hallucination, mother daughter relationship, ballerina, surrealism, schizophrenia ...
Time:
year 2010, 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
bolivia, usa, new york, manhattan new york city
Is relevant?
464K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, France
Duration: 160 min.
Story:
The incredible story of genius musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told in flashback by his peer and secret rival Antonio Salieri – now confined to an insane asylum.
Style:
clever, costume drama, period piece, atmospheric, historical drama ...
Audience:
date night, adult
Plot:
classical music, music, composer, genius, mozart, musician, envy, opera, character study, musician's life, mentor, prodigy ...
Time:
18th century, 1790s, 1820s, 1800s, 1780s ...
Place:
vienna, austria, eastern europe, italy, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Alchoholic former country singer Mac Sledge makes friends with a young widow and her son. The friendship enables him to find inspiration to resume his career.
Style:
sentimental, touching, atmospheric, sincere, serious ...
Audience:
date night, family outing
Plot:
character study, country music, music, self discovery, small town, comeback, drinking, starting over, musician's life, divorce, love and romance, mother son relationship ...
Time:
20th century, 80s, year 1983
Place:
texas, austin texas, midwest, usa, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
On the brink of separation, Ethan and Sophie escape to a beautiful vacation house for a weekend getaway in an attempt to save their marriage. What begins as a romantic and fun retreat soon becomes surreal, when an unexpected discovery forces the two ...
Style:
surreal, emotional, tricky, cerebral, suspenseful ...
Plot:
marriage, couples, twists and turns, character study, family problems, doppelganger, infidelity, swimming pool, husband wife relationship, therapist, relationships, moral dilemma ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa, california
Is relevant?
339K
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.
Style:
neo noir, suspense, psychological, atmospheric, psychological thriller ...
Plot:
small town, murder, police investigation, psychopath, investigation, investigator, character study, police corruption, murder mystery, insomnia, death, guilt ...
Time:
year 2002, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
alaska, persia, usa, north america, los angeles
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
Style:
romantic, touching, romantic comedy, inspirational, sentimental ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, girls' night, teens, adult
Plot:
mental illness, love, family drama, bipolar disorder, depression, adaptation, character study, social misfits, supportive parent, father son relationship, male female friendship, mental patient ...
Time:
2010s, year 2012, 21st century
Place:
philadelphia, peru, usa, pennsylvania, america ...
Is relevant?
407K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
When Jake LaMotta steps into a boxing ring and obliterates his opponent, he's a prizefighter. But when he treats his family and friends the same way, he's a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Though LaMotta wants his ...
Style:
bloody, breathtaking, depressing, harsh, cerebral ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
boxing, character study, redemption, rise and fall, boxer, violent, bad temper, brutality, mafia, jealousy, dysfunctional family, rage ...
Time:
1950s, 20th century, 1940s, year 1980, 60s ...
Place:
new york, bronx new york city, chicago, italy, florida ...
Is relevant?
115K
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.
Style:
psychological, dark, ambiguous ending, suspense, disturbing ...
Plot:
mental illness, nightmare, schizophrenia, obsession, insanity, paranoia, nervous breakdown, dream, delusion, character study, premonition, couple relations ...
Time:
2010s, year 2011, year 1986, 21st century
Place:
ohio, columbus ohio, peru, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.
Style:
melancholic, atmospheric, cerebral, intellectual, sexy ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night, family friendly, chick flick
Plot:
loneliness, midlife crisis, older man younger woman relationship, age difference, friendship, character study, alienation, fish out of water, melancholy, unlikely couple, actor, hotel room ...
Time:
2000s, year 2003, 21st century
Place:
japan, tokyo, asia, yale university, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.
Style:
melancholic, thought provoking, sexual, dark comedy, sexy ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, kids, girls' night, teen drama ...
Plot:
midlife crisis, dysfunctional family, existentialism, age difference, obsession, loneliness, coming of age, older man younger woman relationship, dysfunctional marriage, youth, adultery, suburbs ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1999, year 2013
Place:
usa, america, los angeles, iran
Is relevant?
63K
Genre: Drama
Country: Poland, Denmark, France, UK
Duration: 82 min.
Story:
Anna, a young novitiate in 1960s Poland, is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a family secret dating back to the years of the German occupation.
Style:
art house, emotional, visually stunning, cerebral, melancholic ...
Plot:
nun, family secret, faith, world war two, anti semitism, judaism, holocaust, religion, suicide, character study, confronting the past, orphan ...
Time:
60s, post world war two, 2010s, year 2016, 90s ...
Place:
poland, eastern europe, israel, europe, denmark
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
395K
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, United Arab Emirates
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker has a problem with drugs and alcohol, though so far he's managed to complete his flights safely. His luck runs out when a disastrous mechanical malfunction sends his plane hurtling toward the ground. Whip ...
Style:
psychological, tense, inspirational, emotional, heroic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
airplane, addiction, air disaster, aviation, courage, pilot, character study, airplane crash, stewardess, morality, airport, danger ...
Time:
year 2012, 2010s, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
usa, orlando florida, atlanta georgia, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
A man robs a bank to pay for his lover's operation; it turns into a hostage situation and a media circus.
Style:
cerebral, tense, dark comedy, suspenseful, clever ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
bank robbery, hostage, bank, heist, lgbtq, hostage situation, bank robber, character study, heat wave, fbi agent, true crime, gay ...
Time:
20th century, year 1975, year 1972, 70s
Place:
new york, brooklyn new york city, persia, usa, north america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
During a dinner, a group of friends decide to share whatever text message or phone call they will receive during the evening - and all hell breaks loose.
Style:
psychological, surprise ending, thought provoking, captivating, minimal cast ...
Plot:
psychology, game, dialogue, friendship, dinner party, secrets, life philosophy, infidelity, family problems, twists and turns, existentialism, character study ...
Time:
2010s, year 2016, 70s, 21st century
Place:
italy, europe, rome italy, new jersey
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
A drop-out from upper-class America picks up work along the way on oil-rigs when his life isn't spent in a squalid succession of bars, motels, and other points of interest.
Style:
road movie, serious, realistic, thought provoking, captivating ...
Plot:
road trip, on the road, character study, alienation, dysfunctional family, drifter, piano, pianist, father son relationship, hitchhiker, oil field, diner ...
Time:
20th century, 70s, year 1970
Place:
california, usa, washington state, oregon, northern california ...
Is relevant?
48K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
Johnny flees Manchester for London, to avoid a beating from the family of a girl he has raped. There he finds an old girlfriend, and spends some time homeless, spending much of his time ranting at strangers, and meeting characters in plights very ...
Style:
disturbing, talky, philosophical, black comedy, compassionate ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
existentialism, sexual abuse, nihilism, humiliation, voyeurism, alienation, drifter, character study, sex scene, rape, cruelty, rapist ...
Time:
90s, year 1993
Place:
london, england, united kingdom, manchester, europe
Is relevant?
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Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
When reporter Jean Craddock interviews Bad Blake -- an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend -- they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son. But can he leave behind an ...
Style:
touching, emotional, sincere, romantic, depressing ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
musician, country music, loneliness, character study, music, happy ending, addiction, redemption, country singer, love and romance, alcoholism, alcohol abuse ...
Time:
year 2009, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
new mexico, texas, austin texas, usa, nashville tennessee ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Terrence McDonagh, a New Orleans Police sergeant, who starts out as a good cop, receiving a medal and a promotion to lieutenant for heroism during Hurricane Katrina. During his heroic act, McDonagh injures his back and later becomes addicted to ...
Style:
surreal, stylized, neo noir, dark comedy, harsh ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
police corruption, character study, drug lord, organized crime, drug abuse, corruption, drug, brutality, redemption, hot and sexy, dark humor, hallucination ...
Time:
year 2009, 20th century, 21st century
Place:
new orleans, louisiana, usa, texas
Is relevant?
405K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 170 min.
Story:
A biopic depicting the life of filmmaker and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes from 1927 to 1947, during which time he became a successful film producer and an aviation magnate, while simultaneously growing more unstable due to severe ...
Style:
epic, inspirational, realistic, period piece, visually stunning ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
mental illness, success, aviation, entrepreneurship, businessman, test pilot, entrepreneur, biopic, business, filmmaking, obsessive compulsive disorder, corruption ...
Time:
1930s, year 2004, 1920s, 1900s, 20th century ...
Place:
los angeles, california, connecticut, new york, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Extremely shy Lars finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother and sister-in-law worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size ...
Style:
touching, humorous, depressing, sweet, melancholic ...
Audience:
date night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
loneliness, mental illness, sex doll, shyness, doll, delusion, bittersweet, young man, introvert, small town, forbidden love, character study ...
Time:
year 2007, 2000s, future, 21st century
Place:
usa, wisconsin, new jersey
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
Middle-aged Gerald Kingsland advertises in a London paper for a female companion to spend a year with him on a desert island. The young Lucy Irving takes a chance on contacting him and after a couple of meetings they decide to go ahead. Once on the ...
Style:
sexy, scenic, realistic, retro, grindhouse ...
Audience:
manly, kids, girls' night
Plot:
island, desert island, beautiful scenery, friendship, survival, sexy woman, character study, erotica, stranded, sailing, jungle girl, cannon ...
Time:
80s, 70s
Place:
fictional island, london, europe, england, antarctica ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Sy "the photo guy" Parrish has lovingly developed photos for the Yorkin family since their son was a baby. But as the Yorkins' lives become fuller, Sy's only seems lonelier, until he eventually believes he's part of their ...
Style:
psychological, creepy, scary, suspenseful, tense ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
obsession, photography, loneliness, loner, voyeurism, insanity, psychopath as protagonist, adultery, character study, female pubic hair, voyeur, photograph ...
Time:
year 2002, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
america, usa, los angeles
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the ...
Style:
road movie, homoerotic, art house, erotic, touching ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
gay, homosexuality, male prostitute, friendship, homosexual, coming of age, unrequited love, male prostitution, male friendship, lgbt, homoerotic friendship, friendship between men ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 1991
Place:
idaho, portland oregon, oregon, italy, rome italy ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
