After watchingA Real Pain, now streaming on Hulu, there are a lot of similar movies to enjoy.
The story delves into themes of family, identity, and societal roles.
Similar toA Real Pain,When You Finish Saving the Worlddeals with strained family dynamics.
When You Finish Saving the Worldwas a promising debut that introduced the now-Oscar-nominated filmmaking voice behindA Real Pain.
Eisenbergs first movie established his penchant for character-driven storytelling.
Wes AndersonsThe Darjeeling Limitedhas a remarkably similar story toA Real Pain.
Anderson captures the beauty of India just as effectively as Eisenberg does with Poland.
The film explores themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, and the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.
The lifelong bonds shine through, with all the familiar foibles and relatable resentments.
When You Finish Saving the World is a drama film directed by Jesse Eisenberg and stars Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard. Set in modern-day America, the film explores the strained relationship between a mother who runs a shelter for victims of domestic abuse and her teenage son, who is struggling to find his place in the world through his music and online presence. The story delves into themes of family, identity, and societal roles.
Although she never actually appears on-screen,one of the most important characters inA Real Painis Grandma Dory.
Baumbach has clearly had an influence on Eisenberg as a director.
The actors own filmmaking shares Baumbachs signature combination of acerbic wit, sobering melancholy, and brutal honesty.
As they explore vineyards and reflect on their lives, both men confront personal and professional challenges.
The film blends humor and drama, providing an in-depth look at friendship and life’s mid-course corrections.
Alexander Payne told a similar story inSideways.
Thomas Haden Church plays groom-to-be Jack and Paul Giamatti plays his best man, Miles.
For an unconventional bachelor party, they spend a few days driving through Californias wine country.
It has car crashes, downed spit buckets, and beatings by angry husbands.
The Darjeeling Limited (2007), directed by Wes Anderson, follows three estranged brothers who embark on a journey across India by train to reconnect with one another. Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, the film blends drama and comedy as the siblings navigate personal grief and family tensions in the backdrop of India’s vibrant landscape.
But its also every bit the emotional male-bonding drama thatA Real Painis.
He is young and obsessed with death.
She is old and in love with life.
Harold makes Maude laugh with tales of his failed suicides and she teaches the young man some life lessons.
Little by little, they change each other’s lives.
Hal Ashby explored similar themes and dynamics in hismorbid romantic comedyHarold and Maude.
The film explores their interactions and insights into Wallace’s life during this pivotal moment in his career.
A Real Painisnt the first two-hander to star Eisenberg as the foil opposite an eccentric scene partner.
With its focus on conversation and human connection,The End of the Tourplays like a two-man play.
Much likeA Real Pain,The End of the Tourisa bromantic road movie.
John Candy also stars alongside Martin as Del.
Neal, like Dave, is uptight, neurotic, unsociable, and easily irritated.
His Three Daughters is a 2023 drama film directed by Azazel Jacobs. The story centers on three sisters, portrayed by Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne, who reunite in their childhood home to care for their terminally ill father. As they navigate the emotional complexities of their father’s final days, the sisters confront unresolved issues and deep-seated family tensions. The film explores themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, and the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.
Del, like Benji, is easygoing, outspoken, and quickly makes friends with everyone he meets.
The most endearing thing aboutA Real Painis its bittersweet tone.
A Real Painhas a 96% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
By the end of their journey, everyone in the family is vicariously living through Olive.
Their own dreams have all been squandered, but they can still make hers come true.
A Real Pain explores themes of identity and loss as two estranged families confront their shared and tumultuous pasts.
The Farewell was written and directed by Lulu Wang and stars Awkwafina and Tzi Ma. The 2019 release sees a family that discovers their loved one is dying and plans to hold a family gathering without telling her she is passing.
The Squid and the Whale, directed by Noah Baumbach, explores the impact of divorce on two young brothers in 1980s Brooklyn. The film draws from Baumbach’s own childhood experiences, capturing the challenges and emotional complexities faced by the boys amid their parents' separation.
Sideways is a 2004 film directed by Alexander Payne, chronicling the road trip of two friends—struggling writer Miles Raymond (Paul Giamatti) and actor Jack Cole (Thomas Haden Church)—through California’s wine country. As they explore vineyards and reflect on their lives, both men confront personal and professional challenges. The film blends humor and drama, providing an in-depth look at friendship and life’s mid-course corrections.
Harold and Maude are a strange couple. He is young and obsessed with death. She is old and in love with life. Harold makes Maude laugh with tales of his failed suicides and she teaches the young man some life lessons. Little by little, they change each other’s lives.
The End of the Tour chronicles a five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace following the 1996 publication of Wallace’s novel Infinite Jest. The film explores their interactions and insights into Wallace’s life during this pivotal moment in his career.
Directed by John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles stars Steve Martin as Neal Page, a busy advertising executive who finds himself the unwilling traveling companion of salesman Del Griffith as the two attempt to return to Chicago for the Thanksgiving holiday. Beset by bad weather and a continuing comedy of errors in attempting to make travel plans, Neal and Del must work together, however unwillingly, to accomplish their shared goal. John Candy also stars alongside Martin as Del.
Little Olive’s dream is to take part in the Little Miss Sunshine contest. To do so, she embarks on a funny and moving journey with her father, uncle, grandfather, brother and mother. The family has to race against time to ensure that Olive arrives on time and is able to give the performance created by her grandfather.
