Movies like Shining Boy (1989)
The best movies like Shining Boy (1989) are The Matchmaker's Playbook (2018), Holiday Date (2019) and Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds (2006). If Shining Boy hooked you with its romance, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedGabriel's Rapture: Part I (2021)7.8/10 from 200 votes
- NewestBeautiful Sex Expert Investigator (2024)Released 2024
- In JapaneseSasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023)Also in Japanese
The Matchmaker's Playbook (2018)
After a career-ending accident, former NFL recruit Ian Hunter is back on campus, and he's putting his extensive skills with women to work as one of the masterminds behind a successful and secretive dating service. But when Blake Olson requests the services of Wingmen, Inc., Ian may have landed his most hopeless client yet. As Blake begins the transformation from hot mess to smokin' hot, Ian realizes he's in danger of breaking his cardinal rule....
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHoliday Date (2019)
When Brooke’s boyfriend, Ethan, breaks up with her just before the holidays, she agrees to go home with Joel, an actor who will pose as her boyfriend.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds (2006)
How far would you go to get the person of your dreams? With the help of Gwen and Tiffani, Kyle pretends to be heterosexual in order to land Troy, the new guy (and nude model) who's turning the heads of both men and women. He soon finds himself joining the campus ex-gay support group and nabbing a girlfriend! Kyle's ex-boyfriend Marc is horrified at the plan and decides to pursue the confused Troy with his own tactic -- being his "out" gay self. Who will win Troy first?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023)
As Sasaki prepares for his college entrance exams, Miyano tries to make the most of their limited time together while grappling with his own emotions.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMask Danshi wa Koishitakunai noni (2023)
When Saikawa rips off Keigo’s mask, he sparks unexpected feelings—and a deal: tutoring in exchange for learning to love what’s behind the mask.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisKase-san and Morning Glories (2018)
Yamada may be shy and rather clumsy, but the flower gardens at her school have always brought her happiness. Suddenly, a different sort of beauty catches her eye—the vivacious track star, Kase-san. Although the two girls don't seem to have much in common, they soon start a romance where each must learn an important lesson in tending their budding relationship. Can the two girls, so different from each other, learn how to make their first love blossom?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisX (2011)
A veteran call girl and a runaway prostitute witness a murder which sends them on an out-of-control roller coaster ride through the twilight zone of sex-for-sale.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Christmas Prince (2017)
When a reporter goes undercover as a nanny to get the inside scoop on a playboy prince, she gets tangled in some royal intrigue and ends up finding love - but will she be able to keep up her lie?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFlying Home (2014)
Colin, an ambitious young American businessman, has a deal with a potential client, a rich Arab sheikh who is a passionate pigeon fancier. The sheikh has tried several times to buy a champion pigeon, but the owner continues to stubbornly refuse his offer. In an attempt to gain the trust of the Sheikh, Colin offers him a deal: if he manages to convince the owner to sell the champion pigeon, the sheikh will agree to do business with Colin's company. But when Colin meets Jos, the grumpy owner of the pigeon, and Isabella, his granddaughter, he realizes that this mission will not be as easy as he had hoped.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
SnoozefestMovies like thisAll of My Heart: The Wedding (2018)
Brian and Jenny are planning their wedding at the Inn where they fell in love. When a distant relative arrives and stakes their claim to the Inn, Brian and Jenny must find a way to save their beloved Inn or risk having to sell.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNostalgic Christmas (2019)
When Anne helps her father close the family's toy store, what she finds will help inspire an entire town that is need of some Christmas cheer.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisChateau Christmas (2020)
Margot, a world-renowned pianist, returns to Chateau Newhaus to spend the holidays with her family and is reunited with an ex who helps her rediscover her passion for music.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Gift to Remember (2017)
After colliding with a pedestrian on her bicycle who loses his memory following the accident, Darcy Archer becomes determined to help the handsome guy figure out who he is. In the process, she finds out a lot more about who she is, what she wants from life, and how this too-good-to-be-true guy might just be the man she’s been waiting to bump into all her life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEvergreen Love (2016)
Sayaka works at a office. She's not very good at her job or with love. One night, she finds a man, Itsuki, collapsed in front of her home. She takes him inside and they begin to live together. Itsuki teaches Sayaka about cooking wild herbs and collecting wild herbs, but he has a secret.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGabriel's Rapture: Part I (2021)
In the fourth instalment of the Gabriel's Inferno series, Professor Gabriel Emerson has embarked on a passionate, yet clandestine affair with his former student Julia Mitchell, but when they return from their romantic holiday in Italy, their happiness is threatened. Will Gabriel succumb to Dante's fate?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisChristmas Next Door (2017)
Eric Randall, an author of bachelor lifestyle books, is left in charge of his young niece and nephew for the holidays. Eric turns to his neighbor April, a lover of all things Christmas, for help.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Christmas Princess (2019)
A struggling chef living in a trendy New York borough, Jessica took over a small restaurant where she used to work as a waitress, but it’s growing tough to make ends meet. Prince Jack, who’s in the city for his family’s annual Christmas charity dinner, finds himself in need of a last-minute chef for the royal event when he meets Jessica. As their relationship evolves and a romance blooms, so do the obstacles. But as the event arrives, she decides to go through with the dinner, and may just get the best Christmas present of all… love.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Glenbrooke Christmas (2020)
As Christmas nears, heiress Jessica Morgan seizes what seems like her last chance to experience a relaxed Christmas and heads off to the small town of Glenbrooke, where she meets a handsome fireman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSharing Christmas (2017)
A real estate developer is given the opportunity of his career to transform an old shopping complex into a prime location. Unfortunately, there is one tenant who is holding out—the Christmas shop owner he met by happenstance just days ago.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTwinkle All the Way (2019)
To pull off a spectacular Christmas-themed wedding, a wedding planner joins forces with the co-owner of a family-run Christmas decoration and house-lighting company.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Pubs (2021)
Eun-ah (Yoon-yul) and Hee-jeong (Ji-hee) are working together at an izakaya bar. The owner of the izakaya has a crush on Eun-ah, her charming girl, and makes her secret proposal, and Hee-jeong, who reveals her man too much, has a crush on George, a frequent foreign guest… Will these two be able to continue their business smoothly?!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
SM Couple's Swapping Clinic (2021)
An erotic film about a husband and a wife who end up swapping partners because of their respective sexual desires.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
Her Prosperous Island (2023)
Ji-hee and Tae-oh run away after killing her husband, the boss, in Saipan. In order to survive, the two head to Gwang-tae, the boss of an organization in Pattaya, with whom they have always been hostile. Gwang-tae seems to accept and protect the couple, but Tae-oh decides to evacuate Ji-hee again out of the sight of Gwang-tae, who is like a time bomb. Tae-oh, who promised to run away at night, did not appear, and instead Rachel appeared in front of Ji-hee.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
Youngest Sister-in-law (2019)
Min-hwan, who lives with his brother, was lovers with his youngest sister-in-law. The sex continued even after she married his brother. Eun-hye, who is seeing elder men behind her boyfriend’s back, goes to Min-hwan’s house one day, and is surprised to see Min-hwan’s brother. The elder man she’s meeting in Min-hwan’s brother.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
My Wife's Part Time Job (2019)
Seon-yeong's husband suddenly loses his job, so a friend introduces her to a sexy substitute driving gig. She hesitates, but decides to do it when she hears it makes more money than an average sub-driver. Then one day, Seon-yeong meets Dong-hoon, the guy next door, while on the job and they have an affair.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
Bad Detective: Reload (2019)
The first story of a former detective and current private inspector. Hye-sook and Yoo-jin are a lesbian couple that love each other. One day, Hye-sook finds out Yoo-jin is seeing another man and warns the man to stay away.However, the man ends up threatening her for her life. Hye-sook wants Yoo-jin back so she seeks a private eye, but a few days later, she goes off grid. The private suspects she’s been kidnapped and finds Yoo-jin to find out the whereabouts of Hye-sook.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
Beautiful Sex Expert Investigator (2024)
In the early future, the government created a secret intelligence agency using psychics. Team 5 leader Lee-hwa is dispatched to an undercover office, not the headquarters, and is monitoring the hostile forces alone. One day, a new psychic, Seung-tae, comes to her undercover office, and she starts working undercover with him. However, the new recruit was sent by the director to monitor Lee-hwa and report her every move.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
First Experience of Passionate Extrovert Woman (2024)
Yeon-joo, a fitness trainer-turned-sexy adult actress who has been strengthened by exercise! Her straightforward, bold story and secret sex life, where men are constantly attracted, begin!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
My Classmate's Goal (2018)
Sung-chan and Soo-jin used to date. Soo-jin was expecting quality time together until he comes home drunk. A few years later, they break up and Soo-jin appears in front of Sung-chan who is about to marry Yoo-ri. Sung-chan and Soo-jin still like each other and they both desire each other. Will Sung-chan be happily married?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
Delicious Body Girl Misaki (2020)
Kenichi dies in an accident just as he is about to be offered a position at a prestigious Western-style restaurant. In order to carry on Kenichi's legacy, his wife Misaki tries to learn the recipe for the "ultimate braised hamburger steak" that Kenichi pursued until the end. Misaki is surrounded by men who are attracted to her passion and beauty...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance
Like Shining Boy and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Shining Boy?
The closest matches to Shining Boy are The Matchmaker's Playbook (2018), Holiday Date (2019) and Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds (2006). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Shining Boy?
Start with The Matchmaker's Playbook (2018), the closest match to Shining Boy.
What is the highest-rated movie like Shining Boy?
Gabriel's Rapture: Part I (2021), rated 7.8/10 by 200 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Shining Boy?
Beautiful Sex Expert Investigator (2024) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like Shining Boy?
Yes: Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023), Mask Danshi wa Koishitakunai noni (2023) and Kase-san and Morning Glories (2018).
How are movies similar to Shining Boy chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Shining Boy, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.