Movies like National Velvet (1945)
The best movies like National Velvet (1945) are International Velvet (1978), Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991) and Black Beauty (1971). If National Velvet hooked you with its drama and family, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedWindstorm 2 (2015)7.3/10 from 227 votes
- NewestWindstorm 4 (2019)Released 2019
International Velvet (1978)
Sarah Brown is sent to England after her parents die in a car crash. There, she lives with her aunt Velvet who introduces Sarah to the world of equestrian competition and gives her the last foal of her own prize horse, The Pie. Under the watchful eye of her aunt and horse trainer Capt. Johnson, Sarah develops into a talented rider who might have a shot at the Olympics.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991)
A runaway orphan, young Sonora, persists in a menial job mucking stables in Doc Carver's travelling stunt show. Her great wish is to become a death-defying "diving girl," but Doc refuses her pleas. Undaunted, Sonora's gutsy resolve finally convinces him to give her a break. On the brink of stardom, however, a cruel twist of fate threatens to destroy her dream.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBlack Beauty (1971)
Told from the POV of Black Beauty himself, his birth and perception of humans are explored, but his first owner, a boy named Joe, is his most memorable.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)
Horse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece, Margaret, come to America to escape the memory of an accident involving Margaret's brother, Danny. Working with thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Shawn takes a liking to a yearling named Seabiscuit, and fights to convince the horse's owner that the tiny horse with big knees will become a top-notch racehorse. Meanwhile, Margaret begins a tentative relationship with jockey Ted Knowles, but is haunted by her brother's death in a steeplechase spill. Written by Ray Hamel
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
The Yearling (1946)
Jody convinces his parents to allow him to adopt a young deer, but what will happen if the deer misbehaves?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Black Stallion (1979)
While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion that is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a deserted island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once successful trainer. Together they begin training the horse to race against the fastest ones in the world.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisYoung Black Stallion (2003)
When courageous young Neera becomes separated from her family in the desert, she chances upon a wild colt. Together they find friendship, trust, and their way back home only to discover her family is about to lose everything!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCasey's Shadow (1978)
Young Casey comes from a family of racehorse trainers, and his best friend, a foal called Casey's Shadow, may just be a champion.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Miracle of the White Stallions (1963)
In WWII Austria, Col. Alois Podhajsky must protect his beloved Lipizzaner stallions and make sure that they are surrendered into the right hands. But Patton's something of a horse fancier and can help...if he sees the stallions perform.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Flicka (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: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWindstorm 2 (2015)
Summer vacation. Mika is overjoyed to see Windstorm again. But then she discovers strange wounds on the belly of Windstorm, for which no one has an explanation. Yet this is Kaltenbach verge of bankruptcy! With a heavy heart Mika decides to participate in a variety tournament in which beckons a high prize money. But during training affects Windstorm distracted, often he runs away easily. Mika pursued the black stallion until deep into the forest and is quite surprised: From the thicket a seemingly magical gray mare appears and the two horses dance around lovingly. Suddenly, a strange boy named Milan appears, who says the mare had escaped him. He claimed that he could Help Mika to win the tournament. But is there still time to save Kaltenbach?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLassie Come Home (1943)
Hard times come for the Carraclough family and they are forced to sell their dog, Lassie, to the rich Duke of Rudling. Lassie, however, is unwilling to remain apart from young Carraclough son Joe and sets out on a long and dangerous journey to rejoin him.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPhar Lap (1983)
Phar Lap, the big bold chestnut reigned as the king of the turf in the depression that gripped Australia of the 1930s. From his humble beginnings the New Zealand bred horse raced on to become the hero of a nation.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Black Beauty (1994)
The fates of horses, and the people who own and command them, are revealed as Black Beauty narrates the circle of his life.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Littlest Outlaw (1955)
Little Pablito is the ten year old son of a cruel horse trainer. The trainer is responsible for training a Mexican General's horse to jump for the grand race. The trainer's methods cause the horse to become afraid of jumping and the general orders the animal's death. Pablito runs away with the horse, becoming a fugitive. He travels throughout Mexico encountering several fugitives and a priest who tries to help.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story (2005)
Ben Crane believes that a severely injured racehorse deserves another chance. He and his daughter Cale adopt the mare and save it from being sacrificed by the owner.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWindstorm 4 (2019)
Grandmother Maria, Sam and the riding instructor Kaan are trying together to keep Gut Kaltenbach running, which is in financial difficulties. The ambitious Isabell supports her, although she secretly pursues her own goals. The impulsive Ari comes to riding training in Kaltenbach, where she develops a special relationship with Windstorm, the eponymous horse of the film series, and she also makes friends with Mika. Mika and Ari try to save the estate and protect Windstorm from reckless horse trainer Thordur Thorvaldson.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMy Friend Flicka (1943)
Ken McLaughlin is a precocious 10-year-old who lives with his family on a remote Wyoming ranch. When Ken returns home from school with failing grades, his father, Rob, blames the boy's lack of personal responsibility. At the suggestion of his wife, Nell, Rob allows Ken to choose a single colt from the herd to raise as his own. Much to his father's dismay, Ken chooses a fiery mustang filly -- but the two soon become fast friends.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Green Grass of Wyoming (1948)
The romance of a rancher's niece and a rival rancher's son parallels that of a stallion and a mare.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Misty (1961)
Every year the Chincoteague fire department rounds up the wild ponies of Assateague Island and holds an auction to thin out the herd. The young children set out to raise enough money in hopes that the Phantom will be caught in this years round up. They soon realize they will get more than they bargained for when the Phantom has a surprise for everyone: a foal named Misty.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Amazing Racer (2009)
After the sudden death of her father leaves a teenage girl without a family, she becomes lost in her own anger and sadness. Her family doctor informs her that her father had a secret, that the mother she never knew was alive and well. When she travels to meet her, she befriends a horse trainer and discovers that in caring for the horse, she is able to overcome her hardships and emotional trauma. Together they begin to win many races and upset the favorites, owned by an egocentric mogul . Through the victories and new friendships she forms, she learns to find her way back to happiness.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Seabiscuit (2003)
True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOur Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)
Welcome to Fuller Junction, Wisconsin, a friendly small town settled by Norwegian farmers. Here we see the exploits of two young cousins, Selma and Arnold, who learn about their world and experience the ups and downs of life as the season pass.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
Billy Coleman works hard and saves his earnings for two years to achieve his dream of buying two red-bone coonhound pups. He develops a new trust in life as he faces overwhelming challenges in adventure and tragedy roaming the river bottoms of Cherokee country with his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGreyfriars Bobby (1961)
In Scotland 1865, An old shepherd and his little Skye terrier go to Edinburgh. But when the shepherd dies of pneumonia, the dog remains faithful to his master, refuses to be adopted by anyone, and takes to sleeping on his master's grave in the Greyfriars kirkyard, despite a caretaker with a "no dogs" rule. And when Bobby is taken up for being unlicensed, it's up to the children of Edinburgh and the Lord Provost to decide what's to be done.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHome in Indiana (1944)
'Sparke' Thorton, a lad with a penchant for trouble, is sent to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bolt in Indiana after his Aunt Henrietta Bolt dies. Though he's not happy about the arrangement at first, his love of horses and his affection for a young filly that he plans to race make life bearable. He also finds romance with tomboyish 'Char' Bruce who shares his love for horses.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
A Tiger Walks (1964)
A tiger escapes from a circus truck as it passes by a small town, and hides itself in the surrounding woods. This throws the town into a panic and everyone wants the animal killed immediately, except for the daughter of the sheriff. She wants to capture the tiger and put it in a zoo, thereby saving the tiger's life. Her determination starts a nationwide campaign among children to raise the money to buy the tiger from the circus, but first, she, her father and an Indian tiger trainer must find the tiger before the National Guard do, who have orders to kill it on sight.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
The Human Comedy (1943)
Teenager Homer Macauley stays at home in the small town of Ithaca, California to support his family while his older brother Marcus prepares to go to war.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
I Remember Mama (1948)
Norwegian immigrant Marta Hanson keeps a firm but loving hand on her household of four children, a devoted husband and a highly-educated lodger who reads great literature to the family every evening. Through financial crises, illnesses and the small triumphs of everyday life, Marta maintains her optimism and sense of humor, traits she passes on to her aspiring-author daughter, Katrin.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Journey of Natty Gann (1985)
America is in the depths of the Great Depression. Families drift apart when faraway jobs beckon. A courageous young girl confronts overwhelming odds when she embarks on a cross-country search for her father. During her odyssey, she forms a close bond with two diverse traveling companions: a magnificent, protective wolf, and a hardened drifter.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like National Velvet?
The closest matches to National Velvet are International Velvet (1978), Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991) and Black Beauty (1971). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after National Velvet?
People who watched National Velvet most often go on to International Velvet (1978), Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991) and Black Beauty (1971).
What is the highest-rated movie like National Velvet?
Windstorm 2 (2015), rated 7.3/10 by 227 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like National Velvet?
Windstorm 4 (2019) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like National Velvet?
Yes: International Velvet (1978), Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991) and Black Beauty (1971).
How are movies similar to National Velvet chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside National Velvet, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.