| Tony (2009) | 6.2 | |
| Our Friends in the North (1996) | 8.6 | |
| How Soon Is Now? (2007) | 8.1 | |
| Shoplifters (2018) | 7.9 | |
| Madham (2026) | 9.9 |
Social realism movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant social realism movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out realistic, serious, independent film, thought provoking, inspirational and bleak films and TV shows about / with social realism, friendship, working class, society, life is a bitch, teenager, poverty, youth, coming of age and psychological drama plots mostly in Drama, Crime and Romance genres shot in France, UK, USA and other countries.
1996
TOP 10 movies tagged as social realism: Paterson (2016), Godless (2016), Shoplifters (2018), Tony (2009), Mr. Sunshine (2018), Night Train (2007), A Taste of Honey (1961), Little Fish (2005), Sorry We Missed You (2019), EastEnders (1985).
Best films
New films
| Soothravakyam (2025) | 7.4 | |
| Defying Destiny (2026) | 8.1 | |
| Kudumbasthan (2025) | 7.3 | |
| Madham (2026) | 9.9 | |
| Central (2025) | 6.4 |
List of social realism movies
95K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: France, Germany, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
A week in the life of a bus driver and poet named Paterson, and his supportive wife Laura.
Style:
philosophical, melancholic, inspirational, existential, art house ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
poetry, bus driver, everyday life, poet, poem, husband wife relationship, notebook, social realism, writers, bus, beer, bulldog ...
Time:
2010s, year 2016, 90s, 21st century
Place:
new jersey, usa
Is relevant?
750
Genre: Drama
Country: Bulgaria, Denmark, France
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
A nurse traffics the ID cards of demented patients on the black market of identity theft. Driven by easy cash, and an addiction to morphine, she struggles to keep tabs on her emotional void, and a growing fear of punishment.
Style:
psychological, touching, unusual plot structure, thought provoking, sincere ...
Plot:
social realism, drug addict, intergenerational friendship, working class, depression, accidental killing, female protagonist, murder, nurse, drug addiction, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, mother daughter relationship ...
Place:
europe, bulgaria, eastern europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the ...
Style:
independent film, sexy, sexual, art house, cerebral ...
Audience:
date night, teens, adult
Plot:
poverty, shoplifting, father son relationship, social realism, poor family, beach, supermarket, child abduction, shoplifter, family drama, husband wife relationship, orphan ...
Time:
near future, 2010s
Place:
tokyo, east asia, japan, sarajevo, nebraska ...
Is relevant?
4K
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 76 min.
Story:
Unemployed and unemployable, Tony is a sympathetic recluse with severe social problems, an addiction to VHS action films and a horrible moustache. Occasionally he snaps and murder is the result…
Style:
disturbing, serious, suspenseful, realistic, bloody ...
Plot:
serial killer, murder, violence, isolation, loneliness, psychopath, murderer, mental disorder, social realism, crime investigation, mental illness, brutality ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
london, britain, europe
Is relevant?
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Genre: Action, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 80 min.
TV show
Story:
Based in Shinmiyangyo, or the U.S. expedition to Korea in the late 19th century, Mr. Sunshine tells the story of a Korean boy born into a family of a house servant running away to board an American warship, later to return to his homeland as a U.S. ...
Style:
dorama, sad, factual, epic, romantic ...
Plot:
japanese occupation of korea, destiny, patriotism, love triangle, wartime, korean history, social realism, tragic event, historical event, aristocracy, friendship, survival ...
Time:
19th century, edwardian era, 20th century, 1900s
Place:
korea, east asia, thailand
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: China, France
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
Wu Hongyan is a female bailiff in a regional court in West China dealing with women awaiting execution—more often than not, sentenced for crimes of passion. Every weekend, without much luck, she looks for love at the Good Luck Matchmaking dance, ...
Style:
neo noir, suspenseful, thrilling, psychological, captivating ...
Plot:
affair, social realism, female protagonist, revenge, loneliness, love affair, life is a bitch, social problems, relationship problems, secret, male female relationship, death sentence ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Focuses on a working class girl who is struggling to create a life for herself with her gay co-worker after becoming pregnant from a one-night stand with a black sailor.
Style:
independent film, sexual, black and white, depressing, talky ...
Plot:
coming of age, working class, kitchen sink realism, social realism, interracial relations, friendship, pregnant teenager, single mother, dysfunctional family, single parent, family relations, forbidden love ...
Time:
year 1961, 60s
Place:
england, britain, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Australia
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Set in the Little Saigon district outside of Sydney, a woman trying to escape her past becomes embroiled in a drug deal.
Style:
tense, realistic, serious, rough, contemplative ...
Plot:
oral sex, hopes, heroin, support group, life is a bitch, starting over, addiction, friendship, juvenile delinquency, drug dealer, tragedy, ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship ...
Time:
year 2005, 21st century
Place:
australia, oceania, vietnam, sydney australia, new zealand
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, France, Belgium
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
A story exploring the issue of hardship in modern-day Britain through a young couple scraping to get by in a casual jobs market. A hard-up delivery driver and his carer wife are pushed to breaking point as they struggle to keep their family afloat ...
Style:
social, political, disturbing, realistic, psychological ...
Plot:
working class, poverty, social realism, father daughter relationship, delivery man, teenage boy, father son relationship, job interview, husband wife relationship, couples, adaptation, life is a bitch ...
Time:
year 1984, year 1996, year 2008, 2010s
Place:
united kingdom
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story:
The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.
Style:
soap opera, captivating, realistic, serious, crime drama ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
working class, workplace intrigue, small community, parent grown child relationship, social relations, family business, family in crisis, neighbor neighbor relationship, husband wife relationship, jealousy, social realism, small town ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, 2000s, 2010s, 90s ...
Place:
england, london, europe, east end london
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Denmark, Sweden
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
Kaj is a stubborn man with a great deal of pride. The former chef lives in a council flat. He has wasted his life and is now on a council job training scheme for the long-term unemployed, where he refuses to let the foreman of the activation project ...
Style:
sincere, realistic, serious, inspirational, bleak ...
Plot:
alcohol abuse, working class, father daughter relationship, social realism, starting over, parents and children, alienation, elderly, life is a bitch, family problems, family reunited, alcoholism ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
denmark, scandinavia, europe, copenhagen
Is relevant?
43K
Genre: Drama
Country: Turkey, France, Germany, Qatar
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
In a Turkish village, five orphaned sisters live under strict rule while members of their family prepare their arranged marriages.
Style:
sad, realistic, heartbreaking, art house, social ...
Audience:
teens, pre-teens, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
sisters, teenage girl, coming of age, sexism, running away from home, sister sister relationship, virginity, teen suicide, islam, women's rights, women, arranged marriage ...
Time:
year 2015, 2010s, near future, 80s
Place:
turkey, istanbul turkey, middle east, maghreb, israel ...
Is relevant?
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Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
Sidney Lumet's adaptation of the acclaimed Mary McCarthy novel. It's 1933, and eight young women are friends and members of the upper- class group at a private girl's school, about to graduate and start their own lives. The film ...
Style:
realistic, emotional, thought provoking, semi serious, sexual ...
Plot:
female friendship, college, ambition, social realism, family relations, friendship, graduation, self discovery, best friend, gender, life is a bitch, society ...
Time:
1930s, year 1966
Place:
new york, usa, europe, greenwich village manhattan new york city, manhattan new york city
Is relevant?
40K
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
The story of a young ex-con Jack, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a murder he committed as a child.
Style:
psychological, touching, suspense, heartbreaking, compassionate ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
redemption, juvenile delinquency, childhood, haunted by the past, going straight, bullying, melancholy, released from prison, teen angst, rehabilitation, violent, starting over ...
Time:
year 2007, 21st century
Place:
nebraska, britain, united kingdom, england, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Sweden, Norway, Finland
Duration: 360 min.
TV show
Story:
How Soon Is Now? is a 2007 Swedish drama television serial directed by Mikael Marcimain. The narrative portrays four people who grow up Gothenburg between 1966 and 1976. The serial was produced for Sveriges Television, from a screenplay by Peter ...
Style:
psychological, thrilling, captivating
Plot:
youth, social realism, grownups, youth culture, friendship, social problems, friends, life is a bitch, political unrest, politics, young love, sexuality ...
Time:
60s, 70s
Is relevant?
350K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.
Style:
sexy, inspirational, lgbt cinema, visually stunning, art house ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, date night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
forgiveness, drug dealer, lgbtq, coming of age, lgbt, african american, homosexuality, gay, gay interest, dysfunctional family, drug addict, closeted homosexual ...
Time:
year 2016, 2000s, 2010s
Place:
florida, atlanta georgia, indiana, idaho, miami
Is relevant?
122K
Genre: Drama
Country: Lebanon, USA, France, Cyprus, Qatar, UK
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Zain, a 12-year-old boy scrambling to survive on the streets of Beirut, sues his parents for having brought him into such an unjust world, where being a refugee with no documents means that your rights can easily be denied.
Style:
sad, social, depressing, rough, cynical ...
Audience:
toddlers
Plot:
poverty, refugee, traumatic childhood, slum, misery, neglected child, child abuse, low lives, child neglect, child protagonist, starving child, child labor ...
Time:
future, 2010s
Place:
lebanon, beirut lebanon, middle east, nebraska, sarajevo ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Iceland, Denmark, Germany, France
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A widowed farmer begins a new life on her own terms by fighting against corruption and injustice in her community.
Style:
emotional, tense, social, comedy drama, suspenseful ...
Plot:
social realism, corruption, widow, determination, female protagonist, moral dilemma, slow burn, justice, resistance, bittersweet, isolation, survival ...
Time:
2010s
Place:
iceland
Is relevant?
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Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Kazakhstan, Mongolia
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
A universal story about the freedom of the human spirit and the struggle against slavery and despotism, about love, loss and betrayal. It is seen through the eyes of simple Kazakh kids and teenagers.
Style:
factual, captivating, serious, rough, realistic
Plot:
destiny, propaganda, courage, friendship, patriotism, culture clash, heroism, battles, tragic event, soldier, historical event, warrior ...
Time:
18th century
Place:
kazakhstan, mongolia
Is relevant?
330K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA, France
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with ...
Style:
depressing, emotional, sexy, sincere, serious ...
Audience:
manly, adult
Plot:
wrestling, loneliness, redemption, father daughter relationship, fame, aging, self destructing, professional wrestling, fighter, midlife crisis, life is a bitch, stripper ...
Time:
year 2008, 2000s, 2010s, 80s, 21st century
Place:
new jersey, bolivia, iran, usa, north america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 76 min.
Story:
Trevor sometimes-violent skinhead with no regard for authority, and would rather spend his time stealing cars than sitting in the detention centre to which he is sent. His social worker, Harry Parker, tries to do his best, but Trevor is only ...
Style:
disturbing, tense, controversial, powerful, terrifying ...
Plot:
skinhead, juvenile delinquency, racism, urban ghetto life, hooligan, neo nazi, warning, social realism, subculture, punk, neo nazism, social worker ...
Time:
year 1982, 80s
Place:
europe, england, britain
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, Germany, Spain
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
In South Yorkshire, a small group of railway maintenance men discover that because of privatization, their lives will never be the same. When the trusty British Rail sign is replaced by one reading East Midland Infrastructure, it is clear that there ...
Style:
serious, sincere, realistic, social, bleak ...
Plot:
working class, unemployment, friendship, society, human spirit, workplace intrigue, workplace, fighting the system, life is a bitch, corporate crime, injustice, small town ...
Time:
year 2001
Place:
europe, england
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, France, Belgium
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
A middle aged carpenter, who requires state welfare after injuring himself, is joined by a single mother in a similar scenario.
Style:
emotional, political, disturbing, realistic, compassionate ...
Plot:
poverty, working class, carpenter, bureaucracy, homeless, single mother, friendship, heart attack, self discovery, immigrant, social services, welfare ...
Time:
2010s, year 2016, 90s
Place:
united kingdom, england, northern england, britain
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
1K
Genre: Drama
Country: Poland
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
"I am" tells the story of Kundel, a boy searching for his place in life, his identity. After running away from an orphanage where he is treated as an outcast among outcasts by both his peers and the adults in charge, and being rejected a ...
Style:
realistic, poignant, emotional, melancholic, independent film
Plot:
coming of age, children, childhood, child protagonist, youth, friendship, self discovery, orphanage, adolescence, boy, survival, intimate ...
Place:
poland
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
The story of a precocious six year-old and her ragtag group of friends whose summer break is filled with childhood wonder, possibility and a sense of adventure while the adults around them struggle with hard times.
Style:
sincere, touching, inspirational, visually stunning, aesthetic ...
Audience:
teens, date night, adult
Plot:
friendship, poverty, social services, mother daughter relationship, children, motel, single mother, little girl, childhood, swimming pool, eviction, female friendship ...
Time:
2010s, year 2017
Place:
florida, nebraska, orlando florida
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Ireland
Duration: 74 min.
Story:
After being imprisoned for dangerous driving, causing the death of a child and possession of illegal substances, Jason Buckley is finding it difficult to adjust to life outside prison.
Style:
dark, bleak, psychological, atmospheric, intense ...
Plot:
trauma, social realism, loss, grief, guilt, haunting, character study, remorse, reckless driving, accident, isolation, moral ambiguity ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Argentina, Venezuela
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
This incredibly disturbing story follows the exploitation of an apprentice butcher, Hermógenes, and his trial after he murders his boss in broad daylight. Hermógenes, a farmhand from northern Argentina, relocates to Buenos Aires in search of a ...
Style:
disturbing, captivating, tense, suspense, thrilling ...
Plot:
social realism, employer employee relationship, murder, cruelty, life is a bitch, dishonesty, society, slavery, true crime, lawyer, social commentary, immigrant ...
Place:
argentina, south america
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Colombia, France
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
Eric, a ten-year-old boy, finds himself living overnight with Gabriel, his father whom he barely knows. Seeing that the man is having a hard time building a relationship with his son and staying afloat financially, Maria Isabel, the upper-class ...
Style:
touching, sincere, serious, independent film, tense ...
Plot:
family relations, rich and poor, kids in trouble, social differences, single parent, realism, human nature, parents and children, family problems, youth, estrangement, society ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
colombia, south america, latin america
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Iceland, Sweden, Belgium
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
At the edge of Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, two women’s lives will intersect – for a brief moment – while trapped in circumstances unforeseen. Between a struggling Icelandic mother and an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau, a delicate bond ...
Style:
sexy, sincere, touching, psychological, melancholic ...
Plot:
lgbtq, lesbian, lesbian relationship, lovers, lesbian couple, refugee, social realism, lesbian interest, love and romance, society, friendship, love affair ...
Time:
future, year 2019, 21st century
Place:
iceland
Is relevant?
69
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
A car crash victim, humiliated housewife and two repressed teens are connected by their relationships with hard-working therapist Viola, who helps them battle their addictions while two disillusioned detectives struggle with the mounting war against ...
Style:
suspense, tense, psychological, independent film, tension ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
double life, strong female character, social problems, social realism, secret, doctor patient relationship, friendship between men, secret life, organized crime, drug use, car accident, anguish ...
Time:
2010s, year 2016, 21st century
Place:
usa, america, midwest, kentucky, cincinnati ohio ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
