Movies like River (2023)
The best movies like River (2023) are Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes (2015), Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum (2013) and Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020). If River hooked you with its comedy and science fiction, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedBack to the Future (1985)8.3/10 from 22,730 votes
- NewestNirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2026)Released 2026
- In JapaneseDoraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes (2015)Also in Japanese
Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes (2015)
Nobita and friends decide to make a movie inspired by the space adventures of their heroes, but their fiction turns into a reality.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDoraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum (2013)
Doraemon and his friends travel to the 22nd century to look for his golden bell, which was stolen by a notorious thief called Kaito DX.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBeyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020)
A cafe owner discovers that the TV in his cafe suddenly shows images from the future, but only two minutes into the future.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCosmic Princess Kaguya! (2026)
Iroha's life gets knocked off its orbit when Kaguya, a carefree runaway from the Moon, moves in and convinces her to perform in a virtual world together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & science fiction
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisRegular Show: The Movie (2015)
After a high school lab experiment goes horribly wrong, Mordecai and Rigby must go back in time to battle an evil volleyball coach in order to save the universe — and their friendship.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisInuyashiki (2018)
A middle-aged office worker encounters aliens and is gifted with alien technology and limitless powers.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAngel's Egg (1985)
In the ruins of a strange city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in her arms. She bonds with a boy who is searching for a bird he saw in a dream.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2022)
When Brian Conway, a successful businessman whose family relationships have suffered, gets in a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to redo the day and repair the relationships in his life, including with his daughter Michelle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYo-kai Watch: The Movie (2014)
When the evil Yo-Kai Kin, Gin and Bronzlow makes the Yo-Kai Watch disappear from time so they can help Dame Dedtime prevent humans and Yo-Kai from being friends, Nate Adams finds help in the Yo-Kai Hovernyan, who takes Nate, Whisper and Jibanyan 60 years to the past, when the Yo-Kai Watch was first invented by Nate's grandfather, Nathaniel Adams, while he was a boy. Together, the 2 boys fight Dame Dedtime and her evil Wicked Yo-Kai minions to save the world from her evil plans.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Adam Project (2022)
After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self on a mission to save the future.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)
As her friends prep for a Life Day holiday celebration, Rey journeys with BB-8 on a quest to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force at a mysterious Jedi Temple. There, she embarks on a cross-timeline adventure through beloved moments in Star Wars history, coming into contact with iconic heroes and villains from all eras of the saga. But will she make it back in time for the Life Day feast?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLove, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take On Me (2018)
Yuuta and Rikka are in their third year of high school. One day in Spring, Touka declares that she will take Rikka to Italy with her, as her job has stabilized there and thinks they should migrate together as a family. Touka is also worried about Rikka not being competent enough to advance to universities in Japan. The gangs from the club suggested Yuuta, who doesn't want to be separated, to elope with Rikka!! A runaway drama throughout Japan begins.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMondays (2022)
Akemi Yoshikawa discovers that her whole office is stuck in a time loop, repeating the same stressful work week over and over. Together with her colleagues she has to find out how to break the loop.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisScooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword (2009)
The Mystery Inc. gang takes a trip to Japan and finds themselves circling Asia and the Pacific in a treasure hunt, racing against the vengeful Black Samurai and his Ninja warriors to find the legendary Sword of Fate, an ancientblade fabled to possess extraordinary supernaturalpowers.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2026)
When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody (2006)
In Karakura Town, unidentifiable spirits begin appearing en mases. While attempting to deal with these strange souls, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki meet Senna, a mysterious shinigami who wipes out most of them. Senna refuses to answer any questions, so Ichigo is forced to follow her while Rukia tries to find out what's going on.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMinutemen (2008)
When three high-school friends invent a time-machine, they decide to use it to go back in time and prevent other youngsters from making humiliating mistakes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisBack to the Future (1985)
Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & science fiction
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisFire and Ice (1983)
The villainous Nekron and his mother, Queen Juliana, plot against the human race from their frigid fortress. Creating mass destruction with huge glaciers, mother and son incur the wrath of Larn, a warrior whose entire village was destroyed by ice. When Nekron's underlings kidnap the beautiful Princess Teegra, Larn sets out to rescue her, assisted by the fierce and enigmatic Darkwolf.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like this10 Lives (2024)
A pampered cat takes for granted the lucky hand he has been dealt after he is rescued and loved by Rose, a kind-hearted and passionate student. When he loses his ninth life, fate steps in to set him on a transformative journey.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHouse (1977)
Hoping to find a sense of connection to her late mother, Gorgeous takes a trip with her friends to visit her aunt's ancestral house in the countryside. The girls soon discover that there is more to the old house than meets the eye.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisShorts (2009)
A young boy's discovery of a colorful, wish-granting rock causes chaos in the suburban town of Black Falls when jealous kids and scheming adults alike set out to get their hands on it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisSonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Powered with incredible speed, Sonic The Hedgehog embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until Sonic sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s unique power for world domination.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
A young man, Aren, is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisUnder a Melted Sky (2026)
Trapped in a Florida time-loop, Rory relives the same day every day, with a twist, an elusive artist drops new music daily. Follow Rory's journey to find the mysterious musician, and maybe save the world.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy & science fiction
Third Floor (2019)
A fantasy-suspense that asks us if we live a routine or an eternal déjà-vu?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
The Blob (1958)
A drive-in favorite, this sci-fi classic follows teenagers Steve and his best girl, Jane, as they try to protect their hometown from a gelatinous alien life form that engulfs everything it touches. The first to discover the substance and live to tell about it, Steve and Jane witness the blob destroying an elderly man, then it growing to a terrifying size. But no one else has seen the goo, and policeman Dave refuses to believe the kids without proof.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLove Bites (2025)
Just out of their teens, young men Liam and Anatole were in the throes of an exciting relationship- until they had fight, and Anatole disappeared. Liam can’t accept breakup. And, since his boyfriend doesn’t reply to his calls and text messages, Liam decides to follow him to a Halloween organized by one of Anatole’s friends to try find him. The wild night that ensues will test boys’ true feelings for each other, as well as force them to confront some hard inner truths once and for all.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
¡Three Amigos! (1986)
A trio of unemployed silent film actors are mistaken for real heroes by a small Mexican village in search of someone to stop a malevolent bandit.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisALL YOU NEED IS KILL (2026)
When a massive alien flower known as "Darol" unexpectedly erupts in a deadly event, unleashing monstrous creatures that decimate the population of Japan, Rita is caught in the destruction—and killed. But then she wakes up again. And again. Caught in an endless time loop, Rita must navigate the trauma and repetition of death until she crosses paths with Keiji, a shy young man trapped in the same cycle. Together, they fight to break free from the loop and find meaning in the chaos around them.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like River?
The closest matches to River are Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes (2015), Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum (2013) and Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after River?
Start with Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes (2015), the closest match to River.
What is the highest-rated movie like River?
Back to the Future (1985), rated 8.3/10 by 22,730 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like River?
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like River?
Yes: Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes (2015), Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum (2013) and Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020).
How are movies similar to River chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside River, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.