Movies like Drive-In Madness! (1987)
The best movies like Drive-In Madness! (1987) are Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019), Doc of the Dead (2014) and Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021). If Drive-In Madness! hooked you with its documentary and horror, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedWhite Dog (1982)6.6/10 from 320 votes
- NewestA Toxic Love Story (2026)Released 2026
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, this is the untold history of black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the horror genre.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDoc of the Dead (2014)
The definitive zombie culture documentary, brought to the screen by the makers of THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021)
Thirty-plus years after its release, the popular two-part miniseries "It" and its infamous villain Pennywise live on in the minds of horror fans around the world. This documentary captures not only the buzz the "It" saga generated in 1990 but also the lasting impact it has had on an entire generation and the horror genre at large. Several years in the making, the film features exclusive interviews with many of the cult classic's key players, from cast members Richard Thomas, Seth Green, and Tim Curry, who portrayed the notorious monster clown Pennywise, to director Tommy Lee Wallace and special effects makeup artist Bart Mixon. The documentary also boasts a wealth of archival material and never-before-seen footage.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (2008)
A chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu mythos.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLiving with Chucky (2022)
A filmmaker who grew up alongside Chucky the killer doll seeks out the other families surrounding the Child's Play films as they recount their experiences working on the ongoing franchise and what it means to be a part of the, "Chucky" family.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLeap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, the last film of Alexandre O. Philippe explores the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGoing to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)
This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment on the films' making and success. During the Reagan years, the films get gorier, budgets get smaller, and their appeal wanes. Then, Nightmare on Elm Street revives the genre. Jump to the late 90s, when Scream brings humor and TV stars into the mix.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisUnknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021)
A deep dive into the making of the Paranormal Activity films with first time ever interviews with cast and crew, never-before-seen footage from the movies, and a preview of the seventh installment in the franchise.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009)
An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKiller Legends (2014)
Delving into our collective nightmares, this horror-documentary investigates the origins of our most terrifying urban legends and the true stories that may have inspired them.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisTerror in the Aisles (1984)
A non-stop roller coaster ride through the scariest moments of the greatest terror films of all time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror & documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHalloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006)
Follow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why the films are so popular and revisits many of the original locations used in the films - seeing the effects on the local community. For the first time, cast, crew, critics and fans join together in the ultimate 'Halloween' retrospective.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAs I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
A compilation of over 30 years of private home movie footage shot by Lithuanian-American avant-garde director Jonas Mekas, assembled by Mekas "purely by chance", without concern for chronological order.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Toxic Love Story (2026)
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMy Mom Jayne (2025)
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisJoker: Put on a Happy Face (2020)
Featuring interviews with filmmakers and industry legends, discover the origins and evolution of The Joker, and learn why The Clown Prince of Crime is universally hailed as the greatest comic-book supervillain of all time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisHeart of a Dog (2015)
Musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother and her beloved dog.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPublic Speaking (2011)
Martin Scorsese’s portrait of writer and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, celebrated for her sharp wit and observations on modern life. Filmed at New York’s Waverly Inn and intercut with archival footage and interviews, the documentary captures Lebowitz’s distinctive worldview through her spontaneous monologues and public appearances.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAvatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022)
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998)
A musical study of Los Angeles in the late 90s, where homeless teens roam the streets and profess to live a punk lifestyle of music, drugs, and flouting authority.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWhite Dog (1982)
Samuel Fuller’s throat-grabbing exposé on American racism was misunderstood and withheld from release when it was made in the early eighties.Today, the notorious film is lauded for its daring metaphor and gripping pulp filmmaking. Kristy McNichol stars as a young actress who adopts a lost German shepherd, only to discover through a series of horrifying incidents that the dog has been trained to attack black people, and Paul Winfield plays the animal trainer who tries to cure him. A snarling, uncompromising vision, White Dog is a tragic portrait of the evil done by that most corruptible of all animals; the human being.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBlood Valley: Seed's Revenge (2014)
Coming back from her bachelor party in Las Vegas, Christine and her friends are driving through the hot desert of Nevada. But they are not alone - serial killer Max Seed is back and he brought the whole family.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisInfection (2022)
A group of friends decide to stay overnight in an abandoned theatre... only to find it overrun with zombies!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
No One Lives (2013)
A gang of ruthless highway killers kidnap a wealthy couple traveling cross country only to shockingly discover that things are not what they seem.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRootwood (2019)
Rootwood follows two students who host ‘The Spooky Hour’, a podcast about paranormal phenomena and urban legends. When they are hired by a Hollywood film producer to shoot a horror documentary about the curse of The Wooden Devil, they smell their chance to become famous. Together, with their friend, they enter Rootwood Forest and investigate the area to find out the truth about The Wooden Devil and his victims.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Parachutes (TBA)
After losing her sister in a tragic accident, Korean teen, Youngwon Park (17), is admitted into a foreign exchange student program by her parents with hopes of reforming her into an ideal daughter. Landing in a small, Midwestern U.S. town, Youngwon finds herself at a trailer park living under the roof of her heavy-handed host mom named George. George requires Youngwon to abide by stringent rules and a never-ending list of grueling chores. No white picket fence. No television. No Statue of Liberty. No land of the free. Cut off from the rest of the world, Youngwon bonds with Keiko - a Japanese exchange student also living in this mobile hell home. Together, they must learn to communicate in order to protect each other from George's wrath. This is a story of survival. While under George's delusion of the perfect family, how much can these girls endure in order to achieve their American Dreams?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Leatherface (2017)
A young nurse is kidnapped by a group of violent teens who escape from a mental hospital and take her on the road trip from hell. Pursued by an equally deranged lawman out for revenge, one of the teens is destined for tragedy and horrors that will destroy his mind, moulding him into a monster named Leatherface.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisEarthen (TBA)
After a personal tragedy, a young woman seeks solace in nature. The comfort this first grants her takes a terrible turn as she realises there's something else in the woods.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
A Key of Ice in a Field of Lilacs (2012)
Trailer for the lost giallo from director Diego Larràz. A wide variety of people are involved in an impenetrable web of murder, seduction, blackmail, alcoholism, etc. etc.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Ingest (TBA)
Whilst clearing through his dead dad's apartment, David discovers an unmarked videotape. Which, upon playing, draws him to a sinister self-reflection.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Drive-In Madness!?
The closest matches to Drive-In Madness! are Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019), Doc of the Dead (2014) and Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Drive-In Madness!?
Start with Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019), the closest match to Drive-In Madness!.
What is the highest-rated movie like Drive-In Madness!?
White Dog (1982), rated 6.6/10 by 320 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Drive-In Madness!?
A Toxic Love Story (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Drive-In Madness!?
Yes: Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019), Doc of the Dead (2014) and Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021).
How are movies similar to Drive-In Madness! chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Drive-In Madness!, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.