Movies like A Day in the Life (2010)
The best movies like A Day in the Life (2010) are Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (2017), Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006) and Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020). If A Day in the Life hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedVanishing on 7th Street (2010)5.3/10 from 646 votes
- NewestA Toxic Love Story (2026)Released 2026
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (2017)
A documentary about how a dominant cultural and demographic institution both sustains their traditional activities and adapts to the digital revolution.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both 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 thisShawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020)
A portrait of singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes' life, chronicling the past few years of his rise and journey.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe 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 · 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 thisOLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) (2022)
Grammy® winner singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo takes a familiar road trip from Salt Lake City, where she began writing her debut album “SOUR,” to Los Angeles. Along the way, Rodrigo recounts the memories of writing and creating her record-breaking debut album and shares her feelings as a young woman navigating a specific time in her life. Through new live arrangements of her songs, intimate interviews and never-before-seen footage from the making of the album, audiences will follow Olivia along on a cinematic journey exploring the story of “SOUR.”
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends (2019)
This documentary focuses on the actors and their journey over two summers to create the remake to the original IT, by Stephen King. The documentary originally released as bonus material, bundled with IT: Chapter Two.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAnna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me (2023)
From the heights of her modeling fame to her tragic death, this documentary reveals Anna Nicole Smith through the eyes of the people closest to her.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDavid Byrne's American Utopia (2020)
A filmed version of David Byrne's Broadway show, a unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and to the global community.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)
A documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCapital in the Twenty-First Century (2019)
Film adaptation of French economist Thomas Piketty's ground-breaking global bestseller of the same name: an eye-opening journey through wealth and power.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Crystal Calls - Making The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
Go behind the scenes with stars, puppeteers and creators as they bring Jim Henson's magical world of Thra back to life in a sweeping fantasy series.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Curious Birth of Benjamin Button (2009)
A documentary about the making of David Fincher's 2008 film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Virtually every element in the evolution of the Fincher's film is documented here, from the project's attachment to numerous other directors during the 1990s, to its shoot in 2006 and 2007 in New Orleans, to its complex, CGI-intensive postproduction process.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Godfather Family: A Look Inside (1990)
A documentary on the making of the three Godfather films, with interviews and recollections from the film makers and cast. This feature also includes the original screen tests of some of the actors for "The Godfather" film, and some candid moments on the set of "The Godfather: Part III."
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCome See Me in the Good Light (2025)
In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNaqoyqatsi (2002)
A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDownloaded (2013)
A documentary that explores the downloading revolution; the kids that created it, the bands and the businesses that were affected by it, and its impact on the world at large.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLouis Theroux: Twilight of the Porn Stars (2012)
In 1997, Louis Theroux made a documentary about the world of male porn performers in Los Angeles. 15 years later, he returns to find a business struggling with the deluge of free porn on the internet. Louis revisits some of the original programme's contributors as well as meeting the latest crop of porn performers dreaming of porn stardom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTrainwreck: The Real Project X (2025)
A night of drunken chaos rocks a quiet Dutch town in this shocking documentary about a teen's birthday invite that accidentally went viral on Facebook.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
SnoozefestMovies 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 thisLCP, 20 ans en quête d'utilité publique (2020)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Information Violence (2002)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Urbana TV - El noticiero del barrio - Padre Mugica (2015)
URBANA TeVé is a free signal which broadcasts from the neighborhood Padre Carlos Mugica, better known as Villa 31, in Buenos Aires. A community channel for cultural and social expressions from a neighborhood where the struggle for urbanization is key for all its inhabitants.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
The Valley of the Jato (2013)
In the heart of Sicily, where the Mafia still rules, one man and his family-run TV station, has become the lone voice against corruption and organized crime.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Late Show (1999)
Hannes Engel is a successful radio presenter in the countryside. By chance, he is heard by program director Conrad Scheffer one night, who immediately recognizes the potential of the cheeky presenter and wants to sign him up as the new figurehead for his late show, which is in a ratings slump. But this proves to be more difficult than planned. First of all, they have to get rid of the old show host, then Engel's wife has just been thrown out of one of the station's productions, and Engel is also being pursued by a sensationalist tabloid journalist who never misses a chance to drag Engel through the mud....
Why it matches: Similar story and style
A Girl Cut in Two (2007)
A TV weather girl is torn between an older man, a famous married author whom she loves but who won't leave his wife, and a semi-deranged young heir to an industrial fortune who loves her.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
SnoozefestMovies like thisLoafing and Camouflage (1984)
A group of Greek soldiers are assigned to run the Cinematographic Unit of the army in the midst of political unrest.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Demons of Bars and Tone (2001)
A man is tortured both mentally and physically by his television. As the man is suffering, the television plays commercials representing his life, both past and present.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Ghost Story (1985)
A young student starts working as a night watchman in the Icelandic TV-house which is supposed to be haunted. Together with a make-up girl working there, he pretends to be a red-haired ghost. But what started out as a joke, soon becomes no laughing matter.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Vanishing on 7th Street (2010)
A mysterious global blackout yields countless populations to simply vanish, leaving only their clothes and possessions behind. A small handful of survivors band together in a dimly-lit tavern on 7th Street, struggling to combat the apocalyptic horror. Realizing they may in fact be the last people on earth, a dark shadow hones in on them alone.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like A Day in the Life?
The closest matches to A Day in the Life are Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (2017), Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006) and Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after A Day in the Life?
Start with Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (2017), the closest match to A Day in the Life.
What is the highest-rated movie like A Day in the Life?
Vanishing on 7th Street (2010), rated 5.3/10 by 646 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like A Day in the Life?
A Toxic Love Story (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to A Day in the Life chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside A Day in the Life, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.