Realism movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant realism movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out serious, realistic, gloomy, sincere, bleak and emotional films and TV shows about / with realism, society, life is a bitch, family relations, friendship, youth, loneliness, profanity, family problems and coming of age plots mostly in Drama, Crime and Comedy genres shot in France, USA, UK and other countries.
2539
TOP 10 movies tagged as realism: Fish Tank (2009), The Kid with a Bike (2011), 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007), It's a Free World... (2007), The Knick (2014), Critical (2015), The Long Way Home (2014), Rosetta (1999), Hate (1995), Warfare (2025).
Best films
New films
| Anything Goes (2025) | 5.1 | |
| Northward (2025) | 7.9 | |
| Unmasked (2025) | 7.1 | |
| Mercato (2025) | 5.8 | |
| Takita Tadimi Tandana (2025) | 8.0 |
List of realism movies
68K
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, Netherlands
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
Everything changes for 15 year old Mia when her mum brings home a new boyfriend.
Style:
sexy, emotional, sincere, bleak, gloomy ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, pre-teens, teen drama
Plot:
adolescence, age difference, coming of age, teenage girl, rebelliousness, mother's boyfriend, hopes, dancing, youth, sexual content, older man younger woman relationship, fall in love ...
Time:
year 2009, near future, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
europe, england, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Belgium, France, Italy
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
Abandoned by his father, a young boy is left in the hands of an unqualified childcare provider.
Style:
emotional, atmospheric, disturbing, realistic, independent film ...
Plot:
childhood, kids in trouble, youth, boy, realism, adoption, social problems, life is a bitch, street kid, society, parents and children, coming of age ...
Time:
year 2012, year 2011, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
france, belgium
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Romania, Netherlands
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Gabita is pregnant, abortion is strictly forbidden in Romania during the communist regime. Despite this it is common practice and Gabita wants an abortion. The movie follows her and her friend Otilia during the day she has made the appointment with ...
Style:
disturbing, bleak, sexy, tense, melancholic ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
abortion, friendship, sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancy, rape, communism, communist, realism, doctor, brutality, female pubic hair, female nudity ...
Time:
80s, year 2007, 2000s, year 1987, 20th century
Place:
romania, eastern europe, transylvania, europe, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, France
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
The film focuses on Angie (Kierston Wareing), a working class woman who, after being fired by the agency that she works for, decides to set up a recruitment agency of her own, running it from her kitchen with her friend Rose (Juliet Ellis). Taking ...
Style:
disturbing, realistic, serious, social, epic ...
Plot:
realism, immigrant, working class, injustice, society, employment agency, politics, fighting the system, workplace, legal, life is a bitch, workplace situations ...
Time:
year 2007
Place:
britain, england, europe
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
56K
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 58 min.
TV show
Story:
Set in downtown New York in 1900, 'The Knick' is centered on the Knickerbocker Hospital and the groundbreaking surgeons, nurses and staff who work there, pushing the bounds of medicine in a time of astonishingly high mortality rates and ...
Style:
psychological, bleak, atmospheric, serious, costume drama ...
Plot:
medicine, hospital, doctor, addiction, workplace situations, surgeon, doctors and patients, life is a bitch, nun, medical, realism, society ...
Time:
1900s, edwardian era, year 2014, 19th century, victorian era ...
Place:
usa, new york, america
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The Major Trauma Centre is a state-of-the-art unit which treats only the most gravely ill or seriously injured. Whether that patient lives or dies is determined by knife-edge decisions and procedures, but can the diverse team of medical ...
Style:
medical drama, realistic, tense, captivating, serious ...
Plot:
hospital, doctor, realism, doctors and patients, emergency, nurse, power relations, workplace, emergency room, reanimation, intensive care, teamwork ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
england
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
One morning Joel finds his wife's dog Elvis half dead. This forces him out of home, something he has avoided for a long time. After forgetting his keys inside, he'll spend the day desperately trying to get back into his flat, his shelter.
Style:
emotional, disturbing, sincere, realistic, controversial ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
mourning, realism, dog, nothing goes right, human nature, society, social misfits, disorder, misfit, pets, dealing with death, loss ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
spain
Is relevant?
17K
Genre: Drama
Country: France, Belgium
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Young and impulsive Rosetta lives with her alcoholic mother and, moved by despair, she will do anything to maintain a job.
Style:
bleak, serious, art house, contemplative, realistic ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
unemployment, fishing, mother daughter conflict, snitch, realism, loneliness, pride, mother daughter relationship, coming of age, family problems, down on your luck, loser ...
Time:
year 1999, 90s, 20th century
Place:
belgium, france, europe, california
Is relevant?
223K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Aimlessly whiling away their days in the concrete environs of their dead-end suburbia, Vinz, Hubert, and Said -- a Jew, African, and an Arab -- give human faces to France's immigrant populations, their bristling resentment at their social ...
Style:
bleak, art house, disturbing, cult classic, thought provoking ...
Audience:
teens, pre-teens
Plot:
racism, rebel, poverty, skinhead, youth, ghetto, brutality, police brutality, friendship, rebellion, urban ghetto life, misfit ...
Time:
20th century, year 1995, 90s
Place:
paris france, france, middle east, europe
Is relevant?
104K
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
A platoon of Navy SEALs embarks on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
Style:
tension, independent film, suspense, period piece, epic war ...
Plot:
iraq war, survival, based on real people, sniper, chaos, war zone, blood, war violence, brutality, realism, military, soldier ...
Time:
2000s, year 2006, 21st century
Place:
iraq
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
After his older brother passes away, Lee Chandler is forced to return home to care for his 16-year-old nephew. There he is compelled to deal with a tragic past that separated him from his family and the community where he was born and raised.
Style:
depressing, sad, heartbreaking, touching, independent film ...
Audience:
teens, family friendly, adult
Plot:
sadness, family drama, loneliness, suicide attempt, depression, loss, death, uncle nephew relationship, dysfunctional family, guardian, nephew, grief ...
Time:
2010s, year 2016
Place:
massachusetts, boston, nebraska, new england
Is relevant?
101
Genre: Drama
Country: Philippines
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
Adela, (Philippines' screen legend Anita Linda) a former radio personality, celebrates her 80th birthday. Alone, and without support, she longs for the family and stability of years gone by. Mundane events take on heightened meaning as Adela ...
Style:
realistic, serious, sincere, touching, contemplative ...
Plot:
realism, human spirit, elderly, life is a bitch, aging, society, parents and children, family life, loneliness, slum, girl, cemetery ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
the philippines, asia
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
198
Genre: Action, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Rob, an ambitious photographer trying to boost his career, hooks up with a gang in an attempt to document life in the hood. He, however, realizes he is in too deep as bodies start to drop.
Style:
serious, realistic, captivating, crime drama
Plot:
gang, juvenile delinquency, urban ghetto life, society, friendship, realism, starting over, life is a bitch, youth, urban, black, murder ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
los angeles
Is relevant?
480
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Mexico, Germany
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Lidia is a responsible and dedicated maid for a hugely wealthy, elderly Tijuana matron who loves only her pet whippet. Rafael is a quiet and dignified janitor who buys a new pair of shoes to celebrate his imminent retirement from the large corporate ...
Style:
serious, realistic, atmospheric, sincere, existential ...
Plot:
society, working class, realism, boss and employee, workplace situations, obnoxious boss, hopes, elderly, life is a bitch, workplace, family problems, crumbling marriage ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
mexico
Is relevant?
692K
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 148 min.
Story:
The true story of top student and athlete, Christopher McCandless, who after graduating from Emory University in 1992, abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness.
Style:
road movie, philosophical, melancholic, inspirational, reflective ...
Audience:
teens, date night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
wilderness, self discovery, survival, road trip, freedom, isolation, solitude, journey, life philosophy, lifestyle change, beautiful scenery, nature ...
Time:
2000s, year 2007, 20th century, year 1990, year 1992 ...
Place:
alaska, los angeles, north america, northern california, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 55 min.
TV show
Story:
Following on from This Is England ’86 and ‘88, this much-anticipated final chapter finds the gang embracing the rave scene of a new decade. But the utter hilarity and unadulterated joy of the second ‘summer of love’ soon gives way to a war ...
Style:
realistic, serious, emotional, touching, retro ...
Plot:
hippie, friendship, rave, racism, life is a bitch, love and romance, realism, society, misfit, drug, pop culture, angry ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
manchester, yorkshire, england
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Cuba, Spain, Venezuela
Duration: 65 min.
Story:
During summer in La Habana, four adolescents with physical problems, while in vacation from school, spend a day in a swimming pool with their apathetic instructor.
Style:
touching, atmospheric, sincere, serious, realistic
Plot:
swimming, teenage life, mentally challenged, realism, youth, disability, teachers and students, loneliness, swimmer, misfit, power relations, disabled ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
cuba, latin america
Is relevant?
165
Genre: Drama
Country: France
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
The life of a small French town is rocked by a bizarre incident.
Style:
contemplative, serious, sincere, stylized, realistic ...
Plot:
friendship, workplace, youth, teenage life, workplace situations, realism, small town, social relations, restaurant, male nudity, small town life, friends ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
france
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: Finland, Sweden, Denmark
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
A 14-year-old boy in a stifling Helsinki slum takes some unwise life lessons from his soon-to-be-incarcerated older brother, in Finnish master Pirjo Honkasalo’s gorgeously stylized and emotionally devastating work about what we pass on to younger ...
Style:
realistic, bleak, stylized, serious, atmospheric ...
Plot:
coming of age, naked man, brother brother relationship, male nudity, siblings relations, realism, family problems, dysfunctional family, life is a bitch, urban ghetto, family relations, protecting from truth ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
europe, helsinki finland, finland
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Philippines, France, South Korea, Hong Kong
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
A struggling family (Gina Pareño, Jaclyn Jose, Coco Martin) owns a Filipino porn theater where prostitutes conduct their business.
Style:
sexy, controversial, serious, atmospheric, emotional ...
Plot:
gay, erection, unwanted pregnancy, sexual relations, extramarital affair, family relations, unsimulated sex, family business, estrangement, realism, couples, family problems ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Place:
asia, the philippines
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Ireland
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
An intimate portrait of a resilient and spirited young girl and her proud and dignified family, who are part of Ireland's "traveller" community.
Style:
touching, serious, sincere, emotional, realistic
Plot:
life is a bitch, family relations, realism, misfit, youth, social misfits, parents and children, culture clash, society, resilience, single mother, discrimination ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
ireland, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Gifted 18-year-old Meg has been abandoned by her father and neglected by her hardworking mother. Left to care for her emotionally disturbed younger sister, her world begins to unravel. She finds an outlet in writing poetry and support from her ...
Style:
disturbing, poignant, depressing, heartbreaking, contemplative ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, chick flick
Plot:
teenage girl, power relations, cheerleading, teachers and students, teacher student relationship, dysfunctional family, depression, innocence lost, family in crisis, character study, complex characters, bittersweet ...
Time:
year 2002
Place:
ohio, florida
Is relevant?
145K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Italy
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
The real-life struggle of an honest New York City cop against a corrupt system.
Style:
suspense, neo noir, political, clever, grim ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
police corruption, police, fighting the system, corruption, whistleblower, undercover cop, police investigation, corrupt cop, hippie, female nudity, cop, mafia ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, year 1973, 60s
Place:
new york, bronx new york city, usa, greenwich village manhattan new york city, manhattan new york city
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: Iran, France
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
The struggle to survive, for a generation, torn between wanting to leave its country, yet bound by blood to home.
Style:
serious, sincere, touching, atmospheric, contemplative ...
Plot:
winter, society, unemployment, working class, love affair, social issues, marriage crisis, realism, life is a bitch, human nature, survival, family life ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
iran, middle east
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Egypt, United Arab Emirates
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
A powerful account of life in contemporary Cairo, this raw drama about a pair of star-crossed lovers shines a powerful spotlight upon the social and cultural taboos that riddle the city's diverse population. Heralding a bold new shift for ...
Style:
serious, realistic, rough, stylized, bleak
Plot:
unfulfilled love, dysfunctional family, social decay, social differences, family problems, family relations, realism, single parent, love and romance, life is a bitch, society, working class ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
egypt, africa, middle east, cairo egypt
Is relevant?
205
Genre: Drama, Horror
Country: Egypt, France
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
“Lust” takes us into the lives of the inhabitants of a marginalised street in Alexandria, Egypt, before the revolution. Each character is isolated in their fierce, yet fragile dreams, including Umm Shooq, who has deserted her wealthy family to ...
Style:
serious, realistic, emotional, rough, bleak
Plot:
social decay, family relations, life is a bitch, society, urban ghetto life, family in crisis, low lives, family problems, realism, dealing with death, death in the family, child illness ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
egypt, middle east
Is relevant?
351
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story:
K Street is a 2003 HBO television series about lobbyists and politicians in Washington, D.C. It was named for a street that is home to many lobbying and legal firms.
Style:
clever, political, realistic, serious, cynical ...
Plot:
politics, lobbyist, american politics, political satire, state affairs, ambition, dishonesty, rivalry, workplace, realism, campaign, workplace intrigue ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
washington d.c., usa
Is relevant?
9K
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, France, Italy
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
NEDs (Non Educated Delinquents) is the story of a young man’s journey from prize-winning schoolboy to knife-carrying teenager. Struggling against the low expectations of those around him, John McGill changes from victim to avenger, scholar to NED, ...
Style:
rough, serious, realistic, disturbing, bleak ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
juvenile delinquency, gang, street kid, bullying, coming of age, youth, gang war, social decay, teenage life, society, social problems, realism ...
Time:
year 2010, 70s, 20th century
Place:
scotland, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
When Frank, Angela, and their two children are evicted from their New York City apartment, they have no choice but to move into a homeless shelter. After a few difficult months, good news comes their way on Christmas Eve: a nearby housing project ...
Style:
serious, realistic, sincere, touching, sad ...
Plot:
coping, christmas, life is a bitch, eviction, homeless, survival, realism, family problems, race against time, ex athlete, parents and children, down on your luck ...
Time:
year 2007, 21st century
Place:
usa, new york
Is relevant?
7K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Israel, Germany, UK
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
Ajami is an area of Tel Aviv in Israel where Arabs, Palestinians, Jews and Christians live together in a tense atmosphere. Omar, an Israeli Arab, struggles to save his family from a gang of extortionists. He also courts a beautiful Christian girl: ...
Style:
sincere, serious, rough, emotional, bleak ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
missing person, israeli, forbidden love, society, family in danger, family feud, life turned upside down, police brutality, realism, family problems, rivalry, vengeance ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
middle east, israel, palestine, jerusalem, nebraska ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
