Character study movies and TV shows – page 6
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| Train Dreams (2025) | 7.5 | |
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| Envy (2025) | 6.6 | |
| Duse (2025) | 6.0 |
List of character study movies
46K
Genre: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 79 min.
Story:
Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, ...
Style:
mockumentary, surreal, black and white, parody, humorous ...
Plot:
satire, celebrity, disappearance, missing person, character study, justice, artists and showbiz, therapy, celebrity culture, found footage, loneliness, philosophy ...
Time:
1920s, 1930s, 20th century, year 1983, 70s ...
Place:
new york, germany, bronx new york city, paris france, new jersey
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Germany
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
A young prosecutor in postwar West Germany investigates a massive conspiracy to cover up the Nazi pasts of prominent public figures.
Style:
disturbing, serious, realistic, captivating, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
holocaust, lawyer, nazi, prosecutor, post war germany, ex nazi, nazi war criminal, idealism, world war two, genocide, holocaust survivor, investigation ...
Time:
post world war two, 20th century, 1950s, year 1958, year 1963 ...
Place:
germany, frankfurt germany, west germany, berlin germany
Is relevant?
40K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide.
Style:
depressing, heartbreaking, sentimental, psychological, touching ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
loneliness, sex, drug addiction, obsession, depression, mental health, suicide, friendship, mental disorder, dead child, loss of wife, suicide attempt ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa, los angeles, california, mexico, tijuana mexico
Is relevant?
34K
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Indonesia
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
A futuristic love story set in a world where emotions have been eradicated.
Style:
futuristic, intense, harsh, suspense, emotional ...
Plot:
utopia, relationships, dystopic future, post apocalypse, forbidden sex, depression, sexual attraction, secret relationship, love story, love, suicide, forbidden love ...
Time:
future, near future
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
132K
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK, Italy, Mexico, USA
Duration: 161 min.
Story:
Two Jesuit priests travel to seventeenth century Japan which has, under the Tokugawa shogunate, banned Catholicism and almost all foreign contact.
Style:
philosophical, cerebral, visually stunning, suspense, melancholic ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
missionary, religion, christianity, religious persecution, culture clash, crisis of faith, christian, torture, faith, doubt, martyr, clergy ...
Time:
17th century, year 2016, year 2015, 2010s
Place:
japan, portugal, asia, tokyo
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 163 min.
Story:
A teenage girl with nothing to lose joins a traveling magazine sales crew, and gets caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying, law bending and young love as she criss-crosses the Midwest with a band of misfits.
Style:
road movie, disturbing, talky, stylized, melancholic ...
Audience:
teens, date night, teen drama
Plot:
road trip, teenage girl, first love, misfit, teenage boy, supermarket, van, sex scene, on the road, adolescence, naked in public, motel ...
Time:
year 2016, 2010s, year 2017, 90s
Place:
oklahoma city, kansas city, america, oklahoma, nebraska ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
A year in the life of Alice Klieg, a woman with Borderline Personality Disorder who wins Mega-millions, quits her meds and buys her own talk show.
Style:
black comedy, humorous, disturbing, talky, surreal ...
Audience:
date night, teens
Plot:
mental illness, depression, satire, obsession, mental disorder, mental health, food, character study, storytelling, life turned upside down, media, nervous breakdown ...
Time:
year 1989, year 1971, year 1996, year 1991, 21st century
Place:
usa, palm springs california, california, new jersey
Is relevant?
11K
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
Claire is under the grip of a mysterious new cult called Faults. Desperate to be reunited with their daughter, Claire's parents recruit one of the world's foremost experts on mind control, Ansel Roth.
Style:
creepy, tense, psychological, cerebral, disturbing ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night
Plot:
kidnapping, mind control, manipulation, brainwashing, redemption, religions or cults, sexual innuendo, desire, death, cult leader, character study, life is a bitch ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
This film is based on the actual events that took place in 1971 when Stanford professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo created what became one of the most shocking and famous social experiments of all time.
Style:
disturbing, thought provoking, psychological, serious, realistic ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
psychology, prison, social experiment, human experiment, human nature, university, prison life, experiment, teachers and students, prison escape, character study, student ...
Time:
20th century, 70s, 2010s
Place:
usa, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, 'Infinite Jest.'
Style:
philosophical, meditative, psychological, serious, sincere ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
loneliness, journalism, writers, book, friendship, existentialism, writer's block, dog, poet, biopic, novelist, depression ...
Time:
90s, 2010s, year 2015, 20th century, year 1996 ...
Place:
minneapolis minnesota, illinois, nebraska, new york, usa ...
Is relevant?
54K
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
10 years after a global economic collapse, a hardened loner pursues the men who stole his car through the lawless wasteland of the Australian outback, aided by the brother of one of the thieves.
Style:
atmospheric, road movie, rough, serious, intense ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
wilderness, desert, post apocalypse, on the road, dystopian future, revenge, vengeance, brutality, apocalypse, lone hero, small town, tough heroes ...
Time:
future, year 2014, 2010s, near future, 21st century
Place:
australia, california
Is relevant?
84K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: Ireland, UK
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
A young wannabe musician who discovers he has bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank.
Style:
surreal, melancholic, tragicomedy, black comedy, touching ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
music, music band, musician, suicide, strange person, dark humor, creativity, identity, eccentricity, mental illness, character study, solitude ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
ireland, britain, usa, austin texas, ethiopia ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Belgium, Netherlands
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
The loss of their young daughter threatens to destroy the love and faith of two married musicians.
Style:
heartbreaking, touching, sad, sentimental, sexy ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
love story, musician, grief, terminal illness, love, depression, atheism, relationships, coping, cancer, passion, child cancer ...
Time:
year 2012, near future, 90s, 2010s, 2000s ...
Place:
belgium, scandinavia, europe, san francisco
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Coleman Silk is a worldly and admired professor who loses his job after unwittingly making a racial slur. To clear his name, Silk writes a book about the events with his friend and colleague Nathan Zuckerman, who in the process discovers a dark ...
Style:
sexy, erotic, talky, melancholic, sincere ...
Plot:
couples, writers, brutality, haunted by the past, redemption, voyeur, lost love, character study, justice, self destructing, tennis, hidden identity ...
Time:
1940s, year 1944, year 1998, 90s, 20th century ...
Place:
oxford university, new england, massachusetts, new jersey, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Nick is the director of a low-budget indie film. He tries to keep everything together as his production is plagued with an insecure actress, a megalomaniac star, a pretentious, beret-wearing director of photography and lousy catering. Divided in ...
Style:
surreal, independent film, humorous, funny, talky ...
Plot:
filmmaking, actor, nothing goes right, filmmaker, satire, character study, artists and showbiz, showbiz, friends, lifestyle, actor's life, boyfriend girlfriend relationship ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
usa, new york
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
A young boy who lives in an old folks' home strikes up a friendship with a retired magician.
Style:
touching, emotional, depressing, sentimental, realistic ...
Plot:
coming of age, friendship, youth, loneliness, character study, aging, retirement home, justice, adolescence, reconciliation, elderly, magic ...
Time:
20th century, 80s, year 2008
Place:
england, europe, ireland, california
Is relevant?
127K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 146 min.
Story:
Famous and wealthy funnyman George Simmons doesn't give much thought to how he treats people until a doctor delivers stunning health news, forcing George to reevaluate his priorities with a little help from aspiring stand-up comic Ira.
Style:
funny, humorous, black comedy, melancholic, hilarious ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
comedian, cancer, dark humor, destiny, sarcasm, hopes, profanity, bonding, character study, midlife crisis, redemption, life philosophy ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
california, usa, los angeles, san francisco
Is relevant?
24K
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Cultural critic David Kepesh finds his life -- which he indicates is a state of "emancipated manhood" -- thrown into tragic disarray by Consuela Castillo, a well-mannered student who awakens a sense of sexual possessiveness in her teacher.
Style:
sexy, sincere, suspenseful, enigmatic, erotic ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
older man younger woman relationship, age difference, obsession, teacher student sex, male teacher female student affair, couples, infidelity, love and romance, male female relationship, hospital, love story, hedonism ...
Time:
year 2008, 21st century
Place:
manhattan new york city, new york
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
19K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
While researching his book In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote develops a close relationship with convicted murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.
Style:
sincere, emotional, tense, serious, captivating ...
Plot:
gay interest, writers, journalism, gay, murder, obsession, biopic, friendship, writer's life, gossip and rumors, manipulation, character study ...
Time:
1950s, year 2006, 50s, 20th century, 60s
Place:
kansas, manhattan new york city, usa, new york, mexico ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany, Mexico
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
The life of Danny Wright, a salesman forever on the road, veers into dangerous and surreal territory when he wanders into a Mexican bar and meets a mysterious stranger, Julian, who's very likely a hit man. Their meeting sets off a chain of ...
Style:
black comedy, sexy, dark comedy, light, humorous ...
Plot:
hitman, assassin, friendship, businessman, american football, cheerleader, character study, twists and turns, plot twist, depression, dialogue, eccentricity ...
Time:
y2k, year 2005, future, 21st century
Place:
mexico, mexico city, latin america, amarillo texas, minneapolis minnesota ...
Is relevant?
51K
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Country: Denmark
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
A drug pusher grows increasingly desperate after a botched deal leaves him with a large debt to a ruthless drug lord.
Style:
brutal, cult classic, atmospheric, intense, talky ...
Plot:
heroin, drug dealing, gangster, drug, organized crime, crime gone awry, mafia, violent, desperation, debt, drug deal, drug addiction ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 1996, 70s
Place:
denmark, bolivia, scandinavia, copenhagen, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Behrani, an Iranian immigrant buys a California bungalow, thinking he can fix it up, sell it again, and make enough money to send his son to college. However, the house is the legal property of former drug addict Kathy. After losing the house in an ...
Style:
bad ending, depressing, atmospheric, bleak, emotional ...
Plot:
depression, tragedy, eviction, immigrant, life is a bitch, nude, american dream, justice, visceral, relationships, tragic event, real estate ...
Time:
year 2003, 70s, 20th century, 21st century
Place:
san francisco, persia, bay area, usa, california ...
Is relevant?
43K
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada, UK
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
A mentally disturbed man takes residence in a halfway house. His mind gradually slips back into the realm created by his illness, where he replays a key part of his childhood.
Style:
disturbing, psychological, surreal, cerebral, bleak ...
Plot:
schizophrenia, mental illness, childhood trauma, murder, haunted by the past, paranoia, mental patient, misfit, macabre, psychopath, twists and turns, mental health ...
Time:
2000s, 1950s, year 2002, 50s, 21st century
Place:
london, europe, england, east end london, united kingdom ...
Is relevant?
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Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
Set in the southern USA, a racist white man, Hank, falls in love with a black woman named Leticia. Ironically, Hank is a prison guard working on Death Row who executed Leticia's husband. Hank and Leticia's inter-racial affair leads to ...
Style:
sexy, depressing, realistic, erotic, compassionate ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
racism, sex scene, interracial romance, electric chair, death penalty, prison, interracial sex, prison guard, dysfunctional family, death row, sex, interracial relations ...
Time:
year 2001, 21st century
Place:
usa, louisiana, southern usa, georgia
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Argentina, Spain, Uruguay
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
Set in Argentina in 1965, the story follows the tumultuous relationship between two men who became lovers and ultimately ruthless bank robbers in a notoriously famous footnote in the annals of crime history. After a large-scale hold-up that turns ...
Style:
sexy, homoerotic, erotic, intense, serious ...
Plot:
gay, lgbt, lgbtq, gay romance, male nudity, glbt, couples, homoeroticism, sex, male pubic hair, gay relationship, gay interest ...
Time:
year 1965, 60s, 90s, 70s
Place:
uruguay, argentina, buenos aires argentina, south america, latin america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Based on the 1973 rock opera album of the same name by The Who, this is the story of 60s teenager Jimmy. At work he slaves in a dead-end job. While after, he shops for tailored suits and rides his scooter as part of the London Mod scene.
Style:
cult classic, surreal, stylized, melancholic, depressing ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
motorcycle, coming of age, music, gang, rock, pharmacy, rock and roll, dancing, teenage boy, sex scene, street fight, love interest ...
Time:
year 1965, 20th century, year 1979, 60s, 70s
Place:
england, london, britain, europe, brighton ...
Is relevant?
17K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
The film tells the story of a young man who leads a promiscuous lifestyle until several life reversals make him rethink his purposes and goals in life.
Style:
ironic, witty, sex comedy, talky, emotional ...
Plot:
womanizer, playboy, infidelity, abortion, promiscuity, character study, jazz, self discovery, lifestyle, coming of age, cupid, morality ...
Time:
60s, year 1966, 20th century
Place:
england, london, united kingdom, europe, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 147 min.
Story:
A biography of Woody Guthrie, one of America's greatest folk singers. He left his dust-devastated Texas home in the 1930s to find work, discovering the suffering and strength of America's working class.
Style:
period piece, road movie, compassionate, talky, sentimental ...
Plot:
music, biopic, great depression, character study, friendship, depression, artists and showbiz, musician's life, couple relations, love and romance, musician, labor union ...
Time:
1930s, year 1976, 20th century, 70s
Place:
texas, california, oklahoma, usa, los angeles ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, Germany, Japan, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
A film about the life and career of the eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.
Style:
inspirational, depressing, touching, humorous, tragicomedy ...
Plot:
comedian, biopic, showbiz, wrestler, female nudity, sexism, character study, prank, life philosophy, human spirit, actor's life, rising to stardom ...
Time:
90s, 80s, 20th century, year 1999, 70s ...
Place:
new york, usa, north america, manhattan new york city, lithuania ...
Is relevant?
109K
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 69 min.
Story:
A struggling, unemployed young writer takes to following strangers around the streets of London, ostensibly to find inspiration for his new novel.
Style:
neo noir, suspense, psychological, clever, black and white ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
burglar, plot twist, manipulation, voyeurism, framed for murder, character study, breaking and entering, stranger, heist, whodunit, friendship, dishonesty ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 1998
Place:
england, london, persia, europe
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
