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Movies like Riders of the Purple Sage (1996)

The best movies like Riders of the Purple Sage (1996) are Purgatory (1999), Bonanza: The Return (1993) and The Jack Bull (1999). If Riders of the Purple Sage hooked you with its tv movie and western, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Purgatory (1999)

    An outlaw band flees a posse and rides into Refuge, a small town where no one carries a gun, drinks, or swears. The town is actually Purgatory, and the peaceful inhabitants are all famous dead outlaws and criminals such as Doc Holiday and Wild Bill Hickok who must redeem themselves before gaining admittance to Heaven... or screw up and go to Hell.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  2. Bonanza: The Return (1993)

    A man with a grudge against the late Little Joe seeks revenge on the Cartwrights and attempts to take over the Ponderosa.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  3. The Jack Bull (1999)

    When the law fails to punish a fellow rancher that has abused his horses, a Wyoming horse trader sacrifices it all in a quest for justice.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  4. The Shadow Riders (1982)

    After starring in "The Sacketts", Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott team up again but this time as Mac and Dal Traven, in a movie based on a classic Louis L'Amour novel. They are brothers, who meet up at the end of the Civil War fighting on opposite sides. They go home only to find their family in dire need and their sisters and brother kidnapped by ruthless raiders. They set out to rescue their family.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  5. Angel and the Badman (1947)

    A wounded outlaw finds unexpected mercy in the care of a rancher's daughter. The hope of love pulls him toward a different life until the law, and his violent past, close in on his new home. Now he must choose the kind of man he'll become.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western & romance

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  6. Secret Millionaire (2018)

    When a bored millionaire (Steve Lund) is mistaken for a parking attendant by a beautiful girl (Siobhan Williams) who is protesting against his family’s intention of closing a local park, he uses the misunderstanding to get to know her better.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  7. Virginia City (1940)

    Union officer Kerry Bradford escapes from a Confederate prison and races to intercept $5 million in gold destined for Confederate coffers. A Confederate sympathizer and a Mexican bandit, each with their own stake in the loot, stand in his way.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western & romance

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  8. Grounded for Christmas (2019)

    When a winter storm hits Cleveland and grounds flights, the nearby hotels quickly fill up with stranded travelers. Nina, a pilot, reluctantly agrees to let her arrogant but charming fellow pilot, Brady, stay at her nearby parents' home. But when they discover her family is hosting a tree trimming party that night and that her ex will be there, Brady pretends to be her boyfriend to help her out.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  9. A Royal Christmas (2014)

    A young working girl with a blue-collar background is surprised when her new fiancé announces he is actually a prince of a small sovereign country in Europe. After the couple quickly takes off to spend the holidays at his family’s sprawling, royal castle, she must work hard to win over her disapproving and unaccepting future mother-in-law—the Queen—and find out if love truly can conquer all.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  10. Love at First Bark (2017)

    Portland interior designer Julia Galvins (Jana Kramer) adopts a dog and seeks the help of expert and handsome dog trainer Owen Michaels (Kevin McGarry). When she is hired to design a nursery and a “puppery,” as well as plan a puppy shower fund-raiser for a pregnant client and her pregnant dog, Julia asks Owen’s advice, and their friendship just might turn into something more.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  11. Bad Date Chronicles (2017)

    Leigh runs the website "Bad Date Chronicles," which allows people to anonymously post horrible date experiences. When rival blogger Conner becomes the subject of one of her posts, they agree to date each other to see which one is the "bad dater."

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  12. All of My Heart: Inn Love (2017)

    Brian and Jenny are preparing for the grand opening of their bed and breakfast, Emily's Country Inn, when a big storm hits Buck County. Brian agrees to go back to Wall Street to boost their funds, while Jenny scrambles to keep the opening on track.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  13. Poinsettias for Christmas (2018)

    It’s just weeks before Christmas when Ellie gets a call to return home to help her father on the family’s poinsettia farm. The family business is on the line to deliver tens of thousands of plants for the town’s annual parade. The problem is — the poinsettias have yet to turn red! As Ellie searches for the solution, she is reminded of where her heart truly lies as she falls in love with both her roots and a local botanist.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  14. Wedding Bells (2016)

    Nick and Molly, commitment-phobic and busy professionals with little in common, are asked to be the best man and maid of honor at the wedding of their mutual friends, Amy and Jamie.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  15. Return to Christmas Creek (2018)

    As Christmas approaches, Amelia Hughes, a career-focused Chicago app developer lacking in holiday spirit, returns to her small hometown of Christmas Creek to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. There, she reunites with her childhood best friend Mike and her estranged uncle Harry, whose mysterious rift with Amelia’s father divided her family during the holiday season when she was a child.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  16. A Godwink Christmas: Meant For Love (2019)

    Multiple coincidences and a chance meeting bring together Alice and Jack, two strangers from very different family backgrounds, for an unexpected Christmastime courtship filled with personal revelations, misread signals, and a very real health scare that will either destroy or strengthen the budding romance.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  17. Mr. 365 (2018)

    When workaholic reality TV producer Sophie starts working on a holiday-season show about Will, a wildly sexy guy who celebrates Christmas every day of the year, she finds herself falling for her mysterious, unlikely new star, renewing her long-lost faith in Xmas in the process.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  18. A Winter Princess (2019)

    When Carly, secretly a princess, plans Snowden Peak’s Snow Ball with Jesse, their attraction is undeniable. In planning the event, the two make the gala a fundraiser to help infuse much needed resources into the resort. But without a celebrity draw, investors aren’t interested, and Snowden Peak is put up for sale. Will Carly allow her royal identity to be exposed to save the resort?

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  19. Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)

    Olivia Anderson is a successful young woman who met her childhood sweetheart during her family’s annual Christmas visit to Hawaii. After being separated by distance and years, the two reunite at the same Hawaiian resort years later, and the old chemistry between them flares up anew—but circumstances conspire to keep them apart.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  20. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)

    During the French Revolution, a mysterious English nobleman known only as The Scarlet Pimpernel (a humble wayside flower), snatches French aristos from the jaws of the guillotine, while posing as the foppish Sir Percy Blakeney in society. Percy falls for and marries the beautiful actress Marguerite St. Just, but she is involved with Chauvelin and Robespierre, and Percy's marriage to her may endanger the Pimpernel's plans to save the little Dauphin

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance

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  21. Bad Girls (1994)

    Four former harlots try to leave the wild west (Colorado, to be exact) and head north to make a better life for themselves. Unfortunately, someone from their past won't let it happen that easily.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance & western

  22. Eagle vs Shark (2007)

    Love blossoms for Lily over double Meaty Boy burgers at mid-day when uber-computer nerd Jarrod comes in and leaves with free extra large fries. After gatecrashing Jarrod's party and proving her skills on the game console, Lily goes down to Jarrod's home town with him so he can settle an old score with a past school bully.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

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  23. The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

    Summoned by his dying father, Miyagi returns to his homeland of Okinawa, with Daniel, after a 40-year exile. There he must confront Yukie, the love of his youth, and Sato, his former best friend turned vengeful rival. Sato is bent on a fight to the death, even if it means the destruction of their village. Daniel finds his own love in Yukia's niece, Kumiko, and his own enemy in Sato's nephew, the vicious Chozen. Now, far away from the tournaments, cheering crowds and safety of home, Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the cost of honor is life itself.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

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  24. Tristan & Isolde (2006)

    An affair between the second in line to Britain's throne and the princess of the feuding Irish spells doom for the young lovers.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

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  25. The Great Silence (1968)

    A mute gunslinger fights in the defense of a group of outlaws and a vengeful young widow, against a group of ruthless bounty hunters.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

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  26. My Beautiful Jinjiimaa (2003)

    My Beautiful Jinjiimaa is an emotional romantic drama in a setting few in the U.S. have ever seen. A deaf woman, Jinjiimaa, is raped by the local party Chairman, and shoots her attacker. Her lifelong friend, lame farmer Sukhee, goes to prison for six years for Jinjimaa’s crime. The film begins with his return, where Sukhee and Jinjiimaa meet—each with a secret.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

  27. Dreams Of My Father (2021)

    En route to an audition, aspiring actress Leila stops at a motel and hooks up with one of the locals. After swallowing a weed edible, she is flooded with paranoia and insecurity about her physical appearance as a transwoman. To make matters worse, everywhere she turns she sees the apparition of her biggest tormentor. Will she summon the courage to vanquish the demons of her past once and for all?

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

  28. Der Pakt – Wenn Kinder töten (1996)

    Nikolas, a boy sexually abused by his father, and Eva, a girl physically abused by her mother, make a pact to kill each other's nemesis after getting the idea from a school play [Faustus]. Nikolas must realize the seriousness of that pact soon enough

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

  29. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

    Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  30. Puffer Rhapsody (2022)

    By fabricating her biography, Luo Su, a young Chinese white-collar worker from a low-income family, hopes to wed Mr. Win, an alluring bachelor. But when her mother's shocking TV interview exposes her deceit, she loses everything and ends her own life. Left in limbo, she is mystically given one last opportunity to alter her fate within 72 hours - albeit within the body of a man.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both romance

Like Riders of the Purple Sage and something else?

Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Riders of the Purple Sage?

The closest matches to Riders of the Purple Sage are Purgatory (1999), Bonanza: The Return (1993) and The Jack Bull (1999). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Riders of the Purple Sage?

Start with Purgatory (1999), the closest match to Riders of the Purple Sage.

What is the highest-rated movie like Riders of the Purple Sage?

The Great Silence (1968), rated 7.5/10 by 493 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Riders of the Purple Sage?

Puffer Rhapsody (2022) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Riders of the Purple Sage?

Yes: Purgatory (1999), Bonanza: The Return (1993) and The Jack Bull (1999).

How are movies similar to Riders of the Purple Sage chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Riders of the Purple Sage, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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