20 best movies like The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)

List of the best movies like The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002): Secrets of War, 10,000 Saints, King Jack, Nicostratos the Pelican, Totally True Love, Punch, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, White as Milk, Red as Blood, The Kirishima Thing, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Tags: movies similar to The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002) - full list

Markimdb: 7.1
Genredrama, family, military
CountryNetherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
Duration01:32

Tuur and Lambert are best friends. But the war is closing in and is about to change their lives forever. Tuurs dad joined the resistance and even his big brother seems so be part of it. Lamberts family on the other hand choose to obey the Germans. Then a new girls from the city shows up, befriending the boys but telling her secret to only one of them. A choice that separates the boys and ultimately gets her in trouble.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genrecomedy, drama, music
CountryUSA
Duration02:23

A sweeping multigenerational story set against the backdrop of the raw, roaring New York City of the late 1980s; adoption, teen pregnancy, drugs, hardcore punk rock, the unbridled optimism and reckless stupidity of the young—and old—are all major elements in this heart-aching tale of the son of diehard hippies and his strange odyssey through the extremes of late 20th century youth culture.

Markimdb: 7
Genredrama, adventure
CountryUSA

Growing up in a rural town filled with violent delinquents, Jack has learned to do what it takes to survive, despite having an oblivious mother and no father. After his aunt falls ill and a younger cousin comes to stay with him, the hardened 15-year-old discovers the importance of friendship, family, and looking for happiness even in the most desolate of circumstances.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genrecomedy, drama, family
CountryFrance, Greece
Duration01:28

After his wife died a man refuses to go out and doesn't want to talk to his only son. Life has no meaning for him. One day his son finds a baby pelican and decides to leave the bird at home. Pelican helps the boy find his father again and revive him back to life ...

Markimdb: 6.8
Genremelodrama, family, detective
CountryNorway
Duration01:23

When the new boy in class, Jørgen, moves into the haunted house down the road Anne’s world turns upside-down; she falls head over heals in love with him. All the girls in Anne’s class fall for Jørgen as well, including beautiful blonde pony-tailed Ellen. But that is of no hindrance to Anne; she is willing to go further than anyone to win him over. When done in the name of love, everything is allowed…isn’t it?

Markimdb: 7.1
Genredrama, sport
CountrySouth Korea
Duration01:50

A deadbeat teacher helps an angry, aimless teenager find direction in life during his final year of high school.

Markimdb: 4.7
Genrecomedy, melodrama, family, music
CountryGermany, USA
Duration01:29

    When the teenager Mary Elizabeth Steppe, a.k.a. Lola, moves with her mother and two younger twin sisters from New York to the suburb of Dellwood, New Jersey, she has the feeling that her cultural and entertaining world ended. While in school, the displaced Lola becomes close friend of the unpopular Ella, who is also a great fan of the her favorite rock band Sidarthur. However, the most popular girl in the school, Carla Santini, disputes the lead role in an adaptation of Pygmalion with Lola and also the leadership of their mates. When the last concert of Sidarthur is sold-out, Lola plans with Ella to travel to New York and buy the tickets from scalpers. However, the girls get into trouble while helping the lead singer and Lola's idol Stu Wolf, changing their lives forever.

    Markimdb: 6.1
    Genrecomedy, drama
    CountryItaly
    Duration01:42

    Leo falls in love with Beatrice, a slightly older high-school student who has leukemia.

    Markimdb: 7.1
    Genredrama
    CountryJapan

    A story about the disappearance of Kirishima, a star athlete of the volleyball club, and how his disappearance affects every person in school.

    Markimdb: 7.7
    Genrecomedy, drama
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:30

    Greg is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But both his anonymity and friendship threaten to unravel when his mother forces him to befriend a classmate with leukemia.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genrecomedy, drama, family
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:40

    When the secret notebook of a young girl who fancies herself a spy is found by her friends, her speculations make her very unpopular! Can she win her friends back?

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genrefantasy, drama, adventure, family
    CountryLuxembourg, United Kingdom, Germany
    Duration01:38

    A tale about two young boys, Prosper and Bo, who flee to Venice after being orphaned and dumped in the care of a cruel auntie. Hiding in the canals and alleyways of the city, the boys are befriended by a gang of young urchins and their enigmatic leader, the Thief Lord. From their home base of an old cinema theater, the children steal from the rich to support themselves and soon capture the interest of a bumbling detective. However, a greater threat to the children is something from a forgotten past - a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself

    Markimdb: 7.4
    Genredrama, crime
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:11

    Two boys find a fugitive hiding out on an island in the Mississippi River and form a pact to help him reunite with his lover and escape.

    Markimdb: 6.5
    Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, musical, short
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:24

    A coming-of-age movie that tells a story unfolding in every high school around the country -- a story of kids hiding their true identities in plain sight, even as they feverishly pursue their hearts' desires.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genrecomedy, drama, family
    CountryUSA

    The tale of a ten-year-old boy in a Catholic school who, following the death of his beloved grandfather, embarks on a quest to discover the meaning of life.

    Markimdb: 7.7
    Genrecomedy, drama, family, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:41

    Dave, nineteen, has just graduated high school, with his 3 friends, The comical Cyril, the warm hearted but short-tempered Moocher, and the athletic, spiteful but good-hearted Mike. Now, Dave enjoys racing bikes and hopes to race the Italians one day, and even takes up the Italian culture, much to his friends and parents annoyance.

    Markimdb: 6.9
    Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:40

    A socially inept fourteen year old experiences heartbreak for the first time when his two best friends -- Cappie, an older-brother figure, and Maggie, the new girl with whom he is in love -- fall for each other.

    Markimdb: 7.5
    Genremelodrama
    CountrySouth Korea
    Duration02:21

    Three teenage boys who were once close friends grow apart when they reach high school: Yong-ju lives hiding his true sexual identity, Gi-woong becomes the leader of the school gang, and Gi-taek an obsessive manga fan. Tired of the constant malicious bullying by Gi-woong’s gang, Gi-taek betrays them by disclosing that Yong-ju has loved Gi-woong for years. Surrounded by an insecure boundary of the school and wounded by betrayals, the boys are driven into catastrophe.

    Markimdb: 7.1
    Genremelodrama, drama
    CountryBelgium
    Duration01:38

    Pim lives in a run-down house in a dead-end street somewhere on the Flanders coast, together with his mother Yvette Bulteel. Life here smells of cold French fries, cheap cigarettes, vermouth and stale beer. Mother Yvette uses her friend Etienne, with his lousy grey Fiat, as a driver for the nights she has to “perform”. As a kid Pim dreams of a better life, imagining princesses and beauty queens. But when Pim turns 16 he dreams of Gino, the handsome boy next door, instead. Ever since they were children there has been this tension between them. Now Gino is Pim’s motorcycling hero. Cold mockery, little humiliations and tiny bits of hope make up Pim’s life. No wonder he sometimes flees to his dream world.

    Markimdb: 7.1
    Genredrama
    CountryRussia, Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Belarus
    Duration01:45

    Anya, a young academic raised in an orphanage, is on the cusp of success when she’s accused of drug possession. While in limbo hiding from the police, she hits the road with Kristina, another orphan several years Anya’s junior, in search of her possibly mythical grandmother.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genremelodrama, drama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:31

    Two New York City girls make a pact to lose their virginity during their first summer out of high school. When they both fall for the same street artist, the friends find their connection tested for the first time.

    Markimdb: 6.4
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:35

    A vivid, dynamic Southern coming-of-age drama, takes place in the transitional space between high school and college, when life seems to be all questions and no answers, and the future is scarily wide open. Set in and around a Charleston, SC Baptist church, weaving through this ensemble piece are three main characters - Brea, an introspective pastor's daughter experiencing debilitating doubt, the hyperactive Laura, Brea's best friend and a devout believer, and Tim, the open-hearted son of a single father, confronting his homosexuality for the first time. Tensions and buried feelings abound, as colleges are chosen and adults behave badly, as Brea, Laura and Tim attempt to hang onto what they have, all the while yearning to break free.

    Markimdb: 6
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:52

    Set in suburban New Jersey in the 1960s, a group of friends form a rock band and try to make it big.

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genrefantasy, comedy, melodrama
    CountryUSA

    The film tells the story of quick-witted teen Mark, contentedly living the same day in an endless loop whose world is turned upside-down when he meets mysterious Margaret also stuck in the time loop. Mark and Margaret form a magnetic partnership, setting out to find all the tiny things that make that one day perfect. What follows is a love story with a fantastical twist, as the two struggle to figure out how -- and whether -- to escape their never-ending day.

    Markimdb: 7.7
    Genremelodrama, drama
    CountryFrance
    Duration02:42

    Algeria, the 1930s. Younes is nine years old when he is put in his uncle's care in Oran. Rebaptized Jonas, he grows up among the Rio Salado youths, with whom he becomes friends. Emilie is one of the gang; everyone is in love with her. A great love story develops between Jonas and Emilie, which is soon unsettled by the conflicts troubling the country.

    Markimdb: 6.3
    Genredrama
    CountryUnited Kingdom
    Duration01:30

    Beth, a bookish teenager, befriends Emilia, an aspiring novelist who has just arrived in town. Emilia soon begins an affair with Beth's father that threatens to have devastating consequences.

    Markimdb: 6.5
    Genrecomedy, drama
    CountryUSA

    Terri, a pajama-clad, disaffected high school student learns how to engage the world with the help of Mr. Fitzgerald, his assistant principal.

    Markimdb: 6.9
    Genredrama, adventure, short, sport
    CountryNorway, Denmark
    Duration00:15

    Agnes and Ragnar, a couple in their late 20s, are planning to climb a mountain in Northern Norway. In this potentially deadly situation where trust is an absolute necessity, the relationship is put to the test as Agnes reveals Ragnars disturbing secret.

    Markimdb: 7.5
    Genredrama
    CountryUSA

    Coming of age story about two inner city youths, who are left to fend for themselves over the summer after their mothers are taken away by the authorities.

    Markimdb: 6.5
    Genrecomedy, melodrama
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:38

      Bianca's universe turns upside down when she learns that her high school refers to her as a ‘DUFF' (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). Hoping to erase that label, she enlists the help of a charming jock and her favorite teacher. Together they'll face the school's mean girl and remind everyone that we are all someone's DUFF… and that's totally fine.

      Markimdb: 6.7
      Genrecomedy
      CountryNorway
      Duration01:30

      Thirteen year old Jo is a smart thinker of a guy, and has a very vivid imagination, but is bothered by his fellow classmates, and is a rather hopeless soccer goalie. Still he tries to cope with this difficult time in life. He's doing the homework of the "bad guy" in his class, son of a rich salesman of caravans. Jo's mother is seeing dangers all around, being overprotective, and trying to hide her affair with the psychologist neighbor. Every kid in the street is trying to get hold of a football-card with the goalie of Liverpool. This is to kill for...

      Markimdb: 7
      Genrecomedy, melodrama
      CountryUSA, South Korea, China

      In the 1980s a group of foreign-born Korean teenagers who meet at a Seoul summer camp to learn what it means to be Korean. The three boys, from the U.S., Mexico, and Germany, then meet three girls who rock their world.

      Markimdb: 5
      Genreaction, family
      CountryCanada, USA
      Duration01:35

      Steve Austin is Dan Barnes, a former heavyweight boxer who hangs up his gloves to escape his violent lifestyle. Dans life is quickly turned upside down when the resident boxing champion makes his presence felt by dominating all opponents who stand in his way. In order to put the title holder in his place, Dan prepares an unseasoned newcomer for the biggest challenge of his life.

      Markimdb: 6.2
      Genrecomedy, drama, adventure
      CountryUSA

      David Portnoy, a 15-year-old birding fanatic, thinks that he's made the discovery of a lifetime. So, on the eve of his father's remarriage, he escapes on an epic road trip with his best friends to solidify their place in birding history.

      Markimdb: 5.9
      Genredrama
      CountryCanada

      Celebrated European actor Sophie Bernard is in Montreal shooting a movie, and she's taking the opportunity to visit her gay son Thomas in the hope of bridging the rift that's grown between them. But Thomas has his own agenda for their time together; he intends to finally get some answers as to the identity of his father. Meanwhile, at Ville-Marie Hospital, paramedic Pierre struggles with PTSD, and though he has support in Marie, a nurse who keeps the overflowing emergency room running, it's uncertain whether he'll remain able to cope with the high intensity of his work. Each of these four characters is dealing with emotional damage — and on one dark Montreal night, their lives will all intersect in a fateful occurrence at Ville-Marie.

      Markimdb: 4.6
      Genremelodrama, drama
      CountryFrance, USA

      Maurice, a reticent young homeless man, somehow manages to get by in Brooklyn; he spends his nights in parked cars until he finds himself at Bizarre, an underground club renowned for its burlesque shows. Maurice is fascinated by the club’s playful revues celebrating self-determined sexuality and creative otherness, and the two female club owners both adore him. He soon becomes a part of their self-selected family, and begins to bond with introverted Luka. But Maurice turns his back on Luka’s growing affection. Running away from his true emotions he drifts aimlessly through the city. He tries to find his feet at a boxing club, where he meets Charlie. Unable to withstand the pressure of his repressed feelings, Maurice unleashes a mounting foment of emotions, pervaded by tenderness and menace.

      Markimdb: 6.6
      Genredrama
      CountrySpain

      One summer, Dario flees the hellish environment of his home. Luismi, unconditional friend, a poor devil with pretensions of winning, and Antonia, an old woman who collects abandoned his motorcar furniture, become his new family. Three generations living together in a city too big to be alone.

      Markimdb: 7.1
      Genremelodrama, drama
      CountryTaiwan

      Three high school students experience the perks and pitfalls of love in director Leste Chen’s sensitive tale of friendship and yearning.

      Markimdb: 5.9
      Genredrama
      CountryFrance, USA, Iran

      A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's newfound conservatism.

      Markimdb: 7.9
      Genremelodrama, drama
      CountryBrazil
      Duration01:36

      Leonardo is a blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother while trying to live a more independent life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange program abroad. When Gabriel, a new student in town, arrives at their classroom, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans.

      Markimdb: 5.7
      Genrecomedy, drama
      CountryUSA

      During the summer of 1999, a group of teenagers, through interconnected narratives, live through their last day of high school and prepare for the future. Holly, once the new girl in school, does whatever it takes to remain popular. Dawn, who is secretly a lesbian, battles drugs. Tori is the valedictorian of her class, but, on the eve of graduation, she decides to experiment with drugs for the first time.

      Markimdb: 5.3
      Genrecomedy, family
      CountryUSA

      During the first day of his new school year, a fifth grade boy squares off against a bully and winds up accepting a dare that could change the balance of power within the class.

      Markimdb: 7.1
      Genrecomedy, drama, family
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:42

      Clifford Peach, an easygoing teenager, is finding less than easy to fit in at his new high school, where a tough-talking bully terrorizes his classmates and extorts their lunch money. Refusing to pay up, Clifford enlist the aid of an overgrown misfit whose mere presence intimidates students and teachers alike. But their "business relationship" soon turns personal as Clifford and the troubled loner forge a winning alliance against their intimidators - and a very special friendship with each other.

      Markimdb: 6
      Genreaction, comedy, drama
      CountryCanada

      Summer war games between the neighborhood kids turns deadly serious when jealousy and betrayal enter the mix, in this alternately hilarious and horrifying black comedy that mixes equal parts Lord of the Flies and Roald Dahl.

      Markimdb: 6.3
      Genredrama
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:46

      In a village in New Mexico, the life of young farm boy Antonio is dramatically changed when an old medicine woman joins his household. This affecting coming-of-age tale recounts Antonio's experiences to reveal the spiritual conflict in his community.

      Markimdb: 6.9
      Genredrama
      CountryFrance
      Duration01:53

      Oppressed by her family setting, dead-end school prospects and the boys law in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of three free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her dress code, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping that this will be a way to freedom.

      Markimdb: 5.6
      Genremelodrama, drama
      CountryDenmark
      Duration01:22

      When Laura and Christine meet Maria, their friendship takes an intense turn to vulnerability, love and sex.

      Markimdb: 7.2
      Genredrama
      CountryUSA

      Set in the landscape of a rural southern town, "George Washington" is a stunning portrait of how a group of young kids come to grips with a hard world of choices and consequences. During an innocent game in an abandoned amusement park, a member of the group dies. Narrated by one of the children, the film follows the kids as they struggle to balance their own ambitions and relationships against a tragic lie.

      Markimdb: 6.7
      Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
      CountryUSA

      Dorian realizes he is gay in his final year of high school. He meets another gay youth locally, but remains confused. He starts therapy, then resorts to confession in the Church, and finally comes out to his brother. Dorian then decides to come out to his father; he gets kicked out of the house.

      Markimdb: 5.9
      Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:34

      Naive Midwestern prep student Jonathan bonds with his more worldly roommate, Skip, who takes the small-town boy under his wing. At Skip's urging, the inexperienced Jonathan is emboldened to seek out older women in the cocktail lounges of nearby Chicago, where he meets and beds the alluring Ellen, who unfortunately turns out to be Skip's mother. The division between the friends is further deepened when a cheating scandal engulfs the school.




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