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Movies like Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit (2017)

The best movies like Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit (2017) are The Battle of Midway (1942), Harry Potter: A History Of Magic (2017) and Redbelt (2008). If Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit hooked you, these 20 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. The Battle of Midway (1942)

    The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive, in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, in 2006.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

  2. Harry Potter: A History Of Magic (2017)

    A thrilling journey through legends, belief and folklore, this film goes behind the scenes with the British Library as they search to tell that story through objects in their collection, in an ambitious new exhibition: Harry Potter: A History Of Magic. J.K. Rowling, who is lending unseen manuscripts, drawings and drafts from her private archives (which will sit alongside treasures from the British Library, as well as original drafts and drawings from Jim Kay) talks about some of the personal items she has lent to the exhibition and gives new insight into her writing, looking at some of the objects from the exhibition that have fired her imagination.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  3. Redbelt (2008)

    Martial artist Mike Terry lives by a strict code of no competitions, for he feels that such contests weaken fighters. After saving a famous action star from a brutal attack, Mike takes a job in the film industry. He soon finds his personal beliefs and integrity on the line as circumstances force him to participate in a prize fight.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  4. Sherlock Jr. (1924)

    A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meager skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend's father's pocketwatch.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  5. More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story (2021)

    The Oscar nominated actor best known for his role of Mr. Miyagi, left behind a painfully revealing autobiographical record of his much-too-brief time here on earth. Tracing his journey from being bed bound as a boy to the bright lights and discrimination in Hollywood. Deep inside that sweet, generous, multi-talented performer seethed an army of demons, that even alcohol and drugs couldn't mask.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  6. Val (2021)

    For over 40 years Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood's most mercurial and/or misunderstood actors, has been documenting his own life and craft through film and video. He has amassed thousands of hours of footage, from 16mm home movies made with his brothers, to time spent in iconic roles for blockbuster movies like Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, and Batman Forever. This raw, wildly original and unflinching documentary reveals a life lived to extremes and a heart-filled, sometimes hilarious look at what it means to be an artist and a complex man.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  7. From Straight A's to XXX (2017)

    When a change of circumstances leaves Miriam unable to pay her college tuition, she makes a surprising decision: to start performing in adult films, using the pseudonym Belle Knox. Miriam lies to her family and her friends at school, keeping her double life a secret. But soon rumours spread and Miriam becomes the subject of vicious online attacks and unwanted attention. Miriam fights back: she talks to the media, saying her new line of work empowers her as a feminist. But her confident stand has unintended consequences. Miriam is shunned by her conservative family and her colleagues in the adult film world. One impulsive decision has quickly spiralled out of control - and Miriam's problems are just beginning.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

  8. Interstellar: Nolan's Odyssey (2014)

    A look behind the lens of Christopher Nolan's space epic.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  9. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond - Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton (2017)

    Through the lens of his stunningly immersive performance as Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey ponders the meaning of life, reality, identity and career.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  10. Spider-Man 2: Making the Amazing (2004)

    A comprehensive 12-part documentary on the making of "Spider-Man 2," covering everything from pre-production to premiere.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  11. Night of the Twisters (1996)

    A teenager boy bonds with his stepfather while battling a series of killer twisters.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  12. The Class of ‘92 (2013)

    A detailing of the rise to prominence and global sporting superstardom of six supremely talented young Manchester United football players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). The film covers the period 1992-1999, culminating in Manchester United's European Cup triumph.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  13. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 (2026)

    An inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the final installment of the Duffer Brothers' generation-defining series.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  14. Wick Is Pain (2025)

    Witness the never-before-seen footage and true story behind the John Wick phenomenon – from independent film to billion-dollar franchise.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  15. As 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

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. Stop-Loss (2008)

    A veteran soldier returns from his completed tour of duty in Iraq, only to find his life turned upside down when he is arbitrarily ordered to return to field duty by the Army.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  17. Behind the Screen (1916)

    During the troubled shooting of several movies, David, the prop man's assistant, meets an aspiring actress who tries to find work in the studio. Things get messy when the stagehands decide to go on strike.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  18. Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented (2010)

    Making of featurette for Sherlock Holmes (2009).

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  19. Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026)

    With unprecedented access to the official archives and intimate recollections from the band, both current and past, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition invites fans to experience one of the most iconic journeys in music history. Spanning five decades, this electrifying documentary charts the band’s rise from the pubs of East London to the world’s biggest stadiums. Featuring exclusive interviews with band members and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, as well as all-new animated sequences of the band's legendary mascot, Eddie, the film offers a rare and intimate look at Iron Maiden’s uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their truly global army of fans.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  20. Why We Fight: Prelude to War (1942)

    Prelude to War was the first film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, commissioned by the Pentagon and George C. Marshall. It was made to convince American troops of the necessity of combating the Axis Powers during World War II. This film examines the differences between democratic and fascist states.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit?

The closest matches to Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit are The Battle of Midway (1942), Harry Potter: A History Of Magic (2017) and Redbelt (2008). Below are 17 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit?

Start with The Battle of Midway (1942), the closest match to Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit.

What is the highest-rated movie like Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit?

Sherlock Jr. (1924), rated 8.0/10 by 1,240 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit?

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit?

Yes: The Battle of Midway (1942), Harry Potter: A History Of Magic (2017) and Redbelt (2008).

How are movies similar to Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit, 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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