Movies like Boys Like Us (1956)
The best movies like Boys Like Us (1956) are Jessica Darling's It List (2016), Cadet Kelly (2002) and Flicka (2006). If Boys Like Us hooked you with its family, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedWonder (2017)8.1/10 from 8,466 votes
- NewestSaurus City (2025)Released 2025
Jessica Darling's It List (2016)
Jessica Darling – a smart, witty, opinionated girl heading into 7th grade – was never too concerned about where she'd fit in the middle school hierarchy. But before her first day of school, her older sister — the super popular Bethany, now in college—decides to help out by giving her the “It List”—a cheat sheet on how to navigate the middle school maze and rise to the top of the popularity chain. The instructions appear simple enough to follow, but, like life, nothing is as easy as it seems.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisCadet Kelly (2002)
Hyperactive teenager Kelly is enrolled into a military school when her new stepfather becomes the Commandant. At first she has problems fitting in and taking orders until she tries out for the drill team.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFlicka (2006)
Katy McLaughlin desires to work on her family's mountainside horse ranch, although her father insists she finish boarding school. Katy finds a mustang in the hills near her ranch. The headstrong 16 year old then sets her mind to tame a mustang and prove to her father she can run the ranch. But when tragedy happens, it will take all the love and strength the family can muster to restore hope.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWonder (2017)
The story of August Pullman – a boy with facial differences – who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisSlumberland (2022)
A young girl discovers a secret map to the dreamworld of Slumberland, and with the help of an eccentric outlaw, she traverses dreams and flees nightmares, with the hope that she will be able to see her late father again.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTeen Beach 2 (2015)
When characters from the movie musical “Wet Side Story” get stuck in the real world, teens Brady and Mack must find a way to return them home.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLittle Lord Fauntleroy (1980)
Young Cedric Errol and his widowed mother live in genteel poverty in 1880s Brooklyn after the death of his father. Cedric's grandfather, the Earl of Dorincourt, has long ago disowned his son for marrying an American. But after the death of the Earl's remaining son, he decides to accept Cedric as his heir.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThunderstruck (2012)
After NBA star Kevin Durant switches talent with 16 year old Brian, the teenager becomes the star of his high school team, but Durant starts struggling and eventually learns an important lesson.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSarafina! (1992)
A Soweto schoolgirl named Sarafina is galvanized to protest apartheid after her teacher is arrested for her activism, leading her to join the student resistance movement.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHow to Eat Fried Worms (2006)
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.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Clique (2008)
A young girl tries to fit in with a clique of popular middle school girls after moving into the guest house of one of their homes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Boy in the Dress (2014)
Dennis feels different - an ordinary boy in an ordinary house in an ordinary street, playing football with his mates and living with his dad and brother, but frustrated by the boring grey world he inhabits. Life has never really been the same since his mum left. However, transformation can happen in the most unexpected places. Aided by Lisa, the coolest girl in school, Dennis creates a whole new persona and puts it to the ultimate test - but can a boy wear a dress, and what will the headmaster, his dad and his friends on the football team think if they find out?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Boy with Green Hair (1948)
Peter, an orphaned boy, is adopted by Gramp Frye after his parents are killed in Europe while doing war relief work. The boy feels safe with his new caretaker, but when he is taunted for being an orphan, he gets demoralized. The next day Peter wakes up with green hair. Embarrassed and further ridiculed, Peter seeks solace in a nearby forest. To his surprise, he finds other orphans in the woods, who encourage him to spread news of the injustices of war.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue (2020)
A royal relative steals a gem with the power to make things fly, the Paw Patrol takes to the skies to stop him and save Barkingburg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisChang Can Dunk (2023)
Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American, bets the high school basketball star that he can dunk by Homecoming. The bet leads 5' 8" Chang on a quest to learn to dunk—not only to impress his crush, Kristy, but to gain the respect of his high school peers too. But before he can rise up and truly throw one down, he'll have to reexamine everything he knows about himself, his friendships and his family.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLove Don't Co$t a Thing (2003)
A high school outcast pays a cheerleader to pose as his girlfriend so he can be considered cool.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRocko's Modern Life: Static Cling (2019)
After 20 years in space, Rocko returns to a technologically advanced O-Town and makes it his mission to get his favorite show back on the air.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMonster High: Welcome to Monster High (2016)
Monsters once lived in hiding—even from each other—because they were afraid they would be in danger if humans knew they existed. But Draculaura, the daughter of Dracula, along with her best ghoulfriends, dreamt of a school where everyone was welcome and accepted for who they are. Determined to make their dream come true, the ghouls travel the world on an epic adventure to recruit new students. But even in this amazing place, there's drama: a villainess zombie is spreading trouble rather than friendship, and every student must live with the fear that their secret will be revealed. Now the ghouls must save their school so that every monster has a place where they belong and their uniqueness is celebrated!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
Poor Charlie Brown. He can't fly a kite, and he always loses in baseball. Having his faults projected onto a screen by Lucy doesn't help him much either. Against the sage advice and taunting of the girls in his class, he volunteers for the class spelling bee.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMiddle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016)
A quiet teenage artist Rafe Katchadorian has a wild imagination and is sick of middle school and the rules that have been put before him. Rafe and his best friend Leo have come up with a plan: break every rule in the school hand book and as you expect trouble follows.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPica-Pica Fiesta Party (2019)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world's most unusual candy maker.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSaurus City (2025)
In a fantastical world where dinosaurs roam alongside humans, a grizzled retired knight is pulled back into action to help a young woman in distress, only to uncover a threat to the entire kingdom. Hunted by the vengeful Shrouded Knight and his monstrous creations, the aging warrior must risk everything to deliver the one thing that can save them all—a baby.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Festigal-Themed Festigal (2022)
After the legendary Festigal director Hanoch Rozen is offered the opportunity to direct the Milan Music Awards, the veteran Festigal actress Eliana Tidhar is burdened to assume his role. However, she is unable to present an original story to the cranky CEO, as all of her concepts are too similar to previous shows. Trying to get inspiration, Eliana and the rest of the cast accidentally get teleported into the Kingdom of Fantasia from Festigal 2006. They discover many things have changed over the years, including that a new Ice Queen has risen, forcing her daughter to marry a buffoon prince. Meanwhile, Zina (from Anachnu BaMapa) is plotting to assume the new director position and harm the show, as revenge for not getting accepted as a Festigal child for the 2006 show.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Blackbird (1988)
A story about friendship between two boys coming from different social backgrounds, but with the equally bitter family experiences.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases (2000)
A compilation of 14 Tom and Jerry original classic shorts: Yankee Doodle Mouse; Salt Water Tabby; Tee For Two; Mice Follies; The Cat Concerto; Solid Serenade; Zoot Cat; Johann Mouse; Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Mouse; Mouse in Manhattan; Jerry and the Lion; The Little Orphan; Kitty Foiled; Jerry's Diary
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Mensch Mutter (2003)
The likeable editor Vreni has only just got over the separation from her husband when her mother Hilde suffers a stroke - and now has to move in with her daughter until further notice. From then on, the elderly lady interferes in all areas of her daughter's life without being asked. From work to love: Hilde has an opinion on everything. It doesn't take long for tensions to arise between the melancholy Vreni and her domineering mother.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Invizimals: A Tale of Two Dimensions (2013)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Willy McBean & His Magic Machine (1965)
Little Willy McBean joins up with a Mexican monkey named Pablo to travel back in time and stop the evil Prof. von Rotten from changing history.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Dot and the Koala (1985)
Dot comes to the aid of her native animal friends when Bruce the koala informs her of plans to build a massive dam that will destroy their environment. But the local farm animals believe that the dam will catapult their small country town into the 21st century. With both sides fighting for what they believe is right, Dot’s plans to wipe out the dam are jeopardised by local detectives Sherlock Bones and his offsider Watson the cat!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Like Boys Like Us and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Boys Like Us?
The closest matches to Boys Like Us are Jessica Darling's It List (2016), Cadet Kelly (2002) and Flicka (2006). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Boys Like Us?
Start with Jessica Darling's It List (2016), the closest match to Boys Like Us.
What is the highest-rated movie like Boys Like Us?
Wonder (2017), rated 8.1/10 by 8,466 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Boys Like Us?
Saurus City (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to Boys Like Us chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Boys Like Us, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.