20 best movies like The Color Purple (1985)

List of the best movies like The Color Purple (1985): A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Marvin's Room, Dad, Everlasting Moments, The Doctor, My Life, Shadrach, Thelma & Louise, Angela, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

Tags: movies similar to The Color Purple (1985) - full list

Markimdb: 8
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryUSA
Duration02:09

In Brooklyn circa 1900, the Nolans manage to enjoy life on pennies despite great poverty and Papa's alcoholism. We come to know these people well through big and little troubles: Aunt Sissy's scandalous succession of "husbands"; the removal of the one tree visible from their tenement; and young Francie's desire to transfer to a better school...if irresponsible Papa can get his act together.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration01:38

A leukemia patient attempts to end a 20-year feud with her sister to get her bone marrow.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genrecomedy, drama, family
CountryUSA
Duration01:57

A busy executive learns during a meeting that his mother may be dying and rushes home to her side. He ends up being his father's caretaker and becomes closer to him than ever before. Estranged from his own son, the executive comes to realize what has been missing in his own life.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genredrama, history
CountrySweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany
Duration02:11

In a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty, a young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. The decision to keep it alters her whole life.

Markimdb: 7
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration02:02

Jack McKee is a doctor with it all: he's successful, he's rich, and he has no problems.... until he is diagnosed with throat cancer. Now that he has seen medicine, hospitals, and doctors from a patient's perspective, he realises that there is more to being a doctor than surgery and prescriptions.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration01:57

It seems that Bob Jones has everything a man could want, namely a fulfilling job and a beautiful, pregnant wife, Gail. But Bob's life is turned upside-down when he is diagnosed with cancer and given four months to live -- not even enough time to see his first child's birth. To cleanse himself of demons in his remaining days, Bob makes a video diary, hoping to pass along some wisdom to his future child. Along the way, he discovers a lot about himself.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration01:29

In 1935, 99-year-old former slave Shadrach asks to be buried on the soil where he was born to slavery, and that land is owned by the large Dabney family, consisting of Vernon, Trixie and their seven children, and to bury a black man on that land is a violation of strict Virginia law.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrecomedy, drama, crime
CountryUSA, United Kingdom, France
Duration02:10

Whilst on a short weekend getaway, Louise shoots a man who had tried to rape Thelma. Due to the incriminating circumstances, they make a run for it and thus a cross country chase ensues for the two fugitives. Along the way, both women rediscover the strength of their friendship and surprising aspects of their personalities and self-strengths in the trying times.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration01:39

A ten year old girl named Angela leads her six year old sister, Ellie, through various regimens of 'purification' in an attempt to rid themselves of their evil, which she believes to be the cause of their mother's mental illness. Precocious, to say the least, Angela has visions of Lucifer coming to take her and her sister away, and one of her remedies for this is for them to remain within a circle of their dolls and toys until they see a vision of the virgin Mary come to them. But such thinking can only lead to an ending befitting of her own mental state.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryUSA
Duration01:52

After her husband dies, Alice and her son, Tommy, leave their small New Mexico town for California, where Alice hopes to make a new life for herself as a singer. Money problems force them to settle in Arizona instead, where Alice takes a job as waitress in a small diner.

Markimdb: 7
Genredrama, biography, sport
CountryAustralia, USA
Duration01:54

A young man aspiring for recognition of his talents battles against his estranged father's sentiment towards him as the father deals with his own demons.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genredrama, music, biography
CountryUSA
Duration01:54

A young girl who has been abandoned by her former-groupie mother informs a fading rock star that she is his daughter.

Markimdb: 7
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryUSA
Duration01:49

Focuses on the lives of residents in the fictional London suburb of Charnham.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration02:00

About existence from the perspective of 20 nameless black females. Each of the women portray one of the characters represented in the collection of twenty poems, revealing different issues that impact women in general and women of color in particular.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration02:19

A woman must fly back to her hometown when her Alzheimer's-stricken mother wanders into a blizzard. The return home forces her to confront her past.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryRepublic of Ireland, United Kingdom
Duration02:08

In the 1970s, a foundling lad, Patrick "Kitten" Braden, comes of age by leaving his Irish town for London, in part to look for his mother and in part because his trans-gender nature is beyond the town's understanding.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genredrama
CountryUSA

Quickie-mart employee Melissa and paraplegic Richie are very much in love. Supported only by Melissa’s small hourly wage, they are nevertheless thrilled to learn that Melissa is pregnant. Then their situation deteriorates, and their tenuous financial situation threatens to bring their happy life crashing down.

Markimdb: 5.1
Genredrama
CountryUSA
Duration02:03

When their drug abusing mother is released from prison determined to rebuild their family, Rey kidnaps his younger brother Oliver and escapes their desert home for the California coast.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryUSA
Duration01:46

Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband, is 35 years old and still trying to find a purpose for his life. He and his wife are barely getting by financially and Aidan passes his time by fantasizing about being the great futuristic Space-Knight he'd always dreamed he'd be as a little kid. When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.

Markimdb: 6.5
Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
CountryUSA, Germany, United Kingdom
Duration02:10

Irresponsible party girl Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is kicked out of her father's (Ken Howard) and stepmother's (Candice Azzara) home, where she lives for free, and is taken in by her hard-working sister, Philadelphia lawyer Rose (Toni Collette). After Maggie's disruptive ways ruin her sister's love life, Rose turns her out as well. But when their grandmother, who they never knew existed, comes into their lives, the sisters face some complicated truths about themselves and their family.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryUSA

The story of Nathan, a young teenager who tries to flourish in a romantic relationship with neighbour Roy. The two young men will have to face the brutal reality of the rural south of the United States in the late 1970s.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genredrama
CountryFrance, Belgium
Duration02:03

Claire is a midwife and has devoted her life to others. At a moment when she is preoccupied by the imminent closure of the maternity clinic where she works, her life is further turned upside down when BĂ©atrice, her father's former mistress, turns up on the scene. BĂ©atrice is a capricious and selfish woman, Claire's exact opposite.

Markimdb: 6.2
Genredrama
CountryUSA

Vera Farmiga's directorial debut, HIGHER GROUND, depicts the landscape of a tight-knit spiritual community thrown off-kilter when one of their own begins to question her faith. Inspired by screenwriter Carolyn S. Briggs' memoir This Dark World, the film tells the story of a thoughtful woman's struggles with belief, love, and trust - in human relationships as well as in God.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genredrama
CountryUSA

Danny, dying of Aids, returns home for his last months. Always close to his mother, they share moments of openness that tend to shut out Danny's father and his sister.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryUSA
Duration02:35

A young autistic woman runs away from her caregiver in order to boldly go and deliver her 500-page Star Trek script to a writing competition in Hollywood. On an adventure full of laughter and tears, Wendy follows the guiding spirit of Mr. Spock on her journey into the unknown.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryUSA
Duration02:12

A troubled man talks to his suicidal sister's psychiatrist about their family history and falls in love with her in the process.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genredrama, documentary
CountryUSA, India

Nine filmmakers each profile a young girl from a different part of the world to weave a global tapestry of youth in the 21st century.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genredrama, biography, sport
CountryUSA
Duration02:09

    Oversized African-American, Michael Oher, the teen from across the tracks and a broken home, has nowhere to sleep at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL.

    Markimdb: 7.4
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:39

    The story of an old Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her black chauffeur, Hoke. From an initial mere work relationship grew in 25 years a strong friendship between the two very different characters in a time when those types of relationships where shunned.

    Markimdb: 7.3
    Genredrama, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:43

    Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top algebra and calculus students.

    Markimdb: 7.3
    Genredrama, biography
    CountryUSA, Republic of Ireland
    Duration02:14

    Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expat Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family in Brooklyn, but following the death of one of Frankie's siblings, they return home, only to find the situation there even worse. Prejudice against Frankie's Northern Irish father makes his search for employment in the Republic difficult despite his having fought for the IRA, and when he does find money, he spends the money on drink.

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genredrama, music, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:07

    In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham, realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez, who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.

    Markimdb: 8.1
    Genredrama, musical
    CountryIndia
    Duration03:09

    NASA employee Mohan Bhargav comes to India to take his grandmother along with him at his home abroad. During his stay at his native place, he comes across various social issues faced by the villagers and decides to take a stand for them, to improve their quality of life.

    Markimdb: 7.7
    Genredrama, music, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:32

    Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered couping gospel and country together.

    Markimdb: 6.4
    Genrefantasy, drama, music, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:42

    The story follows 19-year-old Renee who has always loved fairy tales: the idea of a princess, a hero and a happily ever after. But Renee’s life is that of a darker tale: she’s a young woman battling addiction, depression and self-injury. In a creative blend of artistic fantasy balanced with harsh reality, the movie follows Renee on her courageous journey towards recovery.

    Markimdb: 6
    Genremelodrama, drama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:49

    In this film, we see the world through the eyes of main character Justice, a young African-American poet. A mail carrier invites a few friends along for a long overnight delivery run.

    Markimdb: 6.7
    Genrecomedy, drama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:41

    Substance-addicted Hollywood actress, Suzanne Vale is on the skids. After a spell at a detox centre her film company insists as a condition of continuing to employ her that she live with her mother, herself once a star and now a champion drinker. Such a set-up is bad news for Suzanne who has struggled for years to get out of her mother's shadow, and who still treats her like a child. Despite these and other problems, Suzanne begins to see the funny side of her situation, and also realises that not only do daughters have mothers—mothers do too.

    Markimdb: 7.5
    Genremelodrama, drama, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:06

    The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African American college students into an historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.

    Markimdb: 7.4
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:32

    Hackman plays a New York professor who wants a change in his life, and plans to get married to his girlfriend and move to California. His mother understands his need to get away, but warns him that moving so far away could be hard on his father. Just before the wedding, the mother dies. Hackman's sister (who has been disowned by their father for marrying a Jewish man) advises him to live his own life, and not let himself be controlled by their father.

    Markimdb: 8
    Genremelodrama, drama, biography, history, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:18

    The true story of boxer, Jim Braddock who, in the 1920’s after his retirement, has a surprise comeback in order to get him and his family out of a socially poor state.

    Markimdb: 7.4
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:15

    After an accident leaves her a paraplegic, a former soap opera star struggles to recover both emotionally and mentally, until she meets her newest nurse, who has struggles of her own.

    Markimdb: 7.3
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:50

      Set in Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret--she can't read.

      Markimdb: 6.6
      Genredrama
      CountryUSA, France

      A kindhearted seventeen-year-old in the American Southwest turns to prostitution to fulfill her dream of a new life in San Francisco.

      Markimdb: 7.8
      Genredrama
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:58

      Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.

      Markimdb: 6.7
      Genredrama, biography, sport
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:52

      Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genredrama, history
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:42

      Based on the Depression-era bildungsroman memoir of writer A. E. Hotchner, the film follows the story of a boy struggling to survive on his own in a hotel in St. Louis after his mother is committed to a sanatorium with tuberculosis. His father, a German immigrant and traveling salesman working for the Hamilton Watch Company, is off on long trips from which the boy cannot be certain he will return.

      Markimdb: 7.2
      Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, detective
      CountryFrance, USA
      Duration01:46

      As the devoutly single Don Johnston is dumped by his latest girlfriend, he receives an anonymous pink letter informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, biography
      CountryUnited Kingdom, USA
      Duration01:43

      This film follows the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night.

      Markimdb: 7.5
      Genredrama, music
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:45

      Henry struggles to bond with his estranged son, Gabriel, who suffers from a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories. With Gabriel unable to shed the beliefs and interests that caused their physical and emotional distance, Henry must learn to embrace his son's choices and try to connect with him through music.

      Markimdb: 7.2
      Genredrama, adventure
      CountryUSA, United Kingdom
      Duration01:33

      Based on the 2013 Academy Award® winning short film 'Curfew'. At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his eleven-year-old niece, Sophia, for a few hours.




      MoviesList