Movies like Shakes the Clown (1991)
The best movies like Shakes the Clown (1991) are RATS! (2025), Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989) and Serial Mom (1994). If Shakes the Clown hooked you with its comedy and crime, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe King of Comedy (1982)7.8/10 from 2,720 votes
- Newest72 HOURS (2026)Released 2026
RATS! (2025)
In a surreal small‑town version of 2007 Texas, a young graffiti artist lands in jail and is coerced into spying on his cousin—suspected by an unhinged cop of dealing nuclear weapons. What follows is a frenetic, gross‑humored ride through conspiracy, over-the-top characters, and chaotic counterculture.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989)
A wealthy Beverly Hills resident who has just become a widow, Clare Lipkin temporarily takes on her friend Lisabeth as a house guest. As the two women deal with their upper-class woes, Clare's driver, Frank, and Lisabeth's servant, Juan, make a wager to see who can be the first to seduce the other's boss.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Serial Mom (1994)
Beverly is the perfect happy homemaker, along with her doting husband and two children, but this nuclear family just might explode when her fascination with serial killers collides with her ever-so-proper code of ethics.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Cable Guy (1996)
When recently single Steven moves into his new apartment, cable guy Chip comes to hook him up—and doesn't let go. Initially, Chip is just overzealous in his desire to be Steven's pal, but when Steven tries to end the 'friendship', Chip shows his dark side. He begins stalking Steven, who's left to fend for himself because no one else can believe Chip's capable of such behaviour.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCB4 (1993)
A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't appear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star...
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSaving Silverman (2001)
A pair of buddies conspire to save their best friend from marrying the wrong woman, a cold-hearted beauty who snatches him from them and breaks up their Neil Diamond cover band.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
SnoozefestMovies like thisBorn to Win (1971)
A smart-mouthed junkie and a former hairdresser spends his days looking for just "one more fix".
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
SnoozefestMovies like thisStealing Harvard (2002)
John and his girlfriend have vowed to marry once they save $30,000 for their dream house. But the minute they achieve their financial goal, John finds out his niece has been accepted at Harvard, and he's reminded of his promise to pay for her tuition (nearly $30,000). John's friend Duff convinces him to turn to petty crime to make the payment … but Duff's hare-brained schemes spin quickly out of control.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both crime & comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisFunny People (2009)
Famous and wealthy funnyman George Simmons doesn't give much thought to how he treats people until a doctor delivers stunning health news, forcing George to reevaluate his priorities with a little help from aspiring stand-up comic Ira.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Jerk (1979)
After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
To the Los Angeles elite, Ford Fairlane is known as "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll Detective." This loudmouthed ladies' man serves an exclusive rock star clientele, who depend on his keen eye and smug discretion. So when a heavy-metal musician dies mid-concert, Fairlane is on the case before the lights come up. But things turn shocking when radio personality Johnny Crunch hires Fairlane to find a missing groupie mere hours before he is electrocuted live on air.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDumb and Dumber (1994)
Lloyd and Harry are two men whose stupidity is really indescribable. When Mary, a beautiful woman, loses an important suitcase with money before she leaves for Aspen, the two friends (who have found the suitcase) decide to return it to her. After some "adventures" they finally get to Aspen where, using the lost money they live it up and fight for Mary's heart.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisClass Act (1992)
Duncan is a genius straight A student, Blade is ajuvenile delinquent. But because of a mix up with their school records, everyone thinks each is the other one. Now, Duncan kind of likes the attention from being thought of as a real bad dude, if only the school bully would stop trying to rough him up. And Blade definitely likes being thought of as important instead of as trouble.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisArthur (1981)
Arthur is a 30-year-old child who will inherit $750 million if he complies with his family's demands and marries the woman of their choosing.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThere Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
A dying prisoner whispers the location of his loot to the facility's psychologist, who heads to the New Jersey suburbs to find it. Two prisoners overhear the plan and escape to get the millions for themselves. Who will get the money?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
Brewster's Millions (1985)
Monty Brewster, an aging minor-league baseball player, stands to inherit $300 million if he can successfully spend $30 million in 30 days without anything to show for it, and without telling anyone what he's up to... A task that's a lot harder than it sounds!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDirty Work (1998)
Unemployed and recently dumped, Mitch and his buddy Sam start a revenge-for-hire business to raise the $50,000 that Sam's father needs to get a heart transplant.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisStir Crazy (1980)
New Yorkers Skip Donahue and Harry Monroe have no jobs and no prospects, so they decide to flee the city and find work elsewhere, landing jobs wearing woodpecker costumes to promote the opening of a bank. When their feathery costumes are stolen and used in a bank robbery, they no longer have to worry about employment — they're sent to prison.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisClerks (1994)
Convenience and video store clerks Dante and Randal are sharp-witted, potty-mouthed and bored out of their minds. So in between needling customers, the counter jockeys play hockey on the roof, visit a funeral home and deal with their love lives.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFunland (1987)
When a mob family takes over an amusement park after the owner dies under mysterious circumstances, the recently-fired clown mascot seeks vengeance for the loss of his job.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & crime
The King of Comedy (1982)
Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMan on the Moon (1999)
The story of the life and career of eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPolyester (1981)
Blessed with a keen sense of smell and cursed with a philandering pornographer husband, a parasitic mother, and a pair of delinquent children, the long-suffering Francine Fishpaw turns to the bottle as her life falls apart -- until deliverance appears in the form of a hunk named Todd Tomorrow. Originally screened with "Odorama" scratch and sniff cards so the audience could (at their own risk) smell along with the film.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisParty Girl (1995)
Although Mary has little income, she still finds ways to spend her nights at clubs. After being arrested for throwing an illegal rave, she asks her aunt Judy for bail money. Judy then finds Mary a job at her library so that Mary can repay her. Initially, Mary finds the job as a clerk boring and stifling, and prefers to get to know a street food vendor whom she likes. However, Mary must refocus her life once she loses her job and apartment.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBlindspotting (2018)
Collin must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles, work as movers, and when Collin witnesses a police shooting, the two men’s friendship is tested as they grapple with identity and their changed realities in the rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood they grew up in.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & crime
Worth the HypeMovies like thisIntermission (2003)
A raucous story of the interweaving lives and loves of small-town delinquents, shady cops, pretty good girls and very bad boys. With Irish guts and grit, lives collide, preconceptions shatter and romance is tested to the extreme. An ill-timed and poorly executed couple's break-up sets off a chain of events affecting everyone in town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOne Last Thing... (2005)
Sixteen-year-old Dylan is dying of cancer. When a charitable organization offers to grant Dylan his final wish, the teen has a surprising request: to meet supermodel Nikki Sinclair. Much to his mother's dismay, Dylan, with the help of his best friends, goes to New York to fulfill his dream.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Doom Generation (1995)
Jordan White and Amy Blue, two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red. Together, the threesome embarks on a sex- and violence-filled journey through a United States of psychos and quickie marts.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisI Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)
When a depressed woman is burglarized, she finds a new sense of purpose by tracking down the thieves alongside her obnoxious neighbor. But they soon find themselves dangerously out of their depth against a pack of degenerate criminals.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like this72 HOURS (2026)
To save his career, a 40-year-old ad exec joins a crew of twentysomethings for a wild Miami bachelor party after they mistakenly add him to a group chat.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & crime
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Shakes the Clown?
The closest matches to Shakes the Clown are RATS! (2025), Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989) and Serial Mom (1994). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Shakes the Clown?
People who watched Shakes the Clown most often go on to RATS! (2025), Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989) and Serial Mom (1994).
What is the highest-rated movie like Shakes the Clown?
The King of Comedy (1982), rated 7.8/10 by 2,720 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Shakes the Clown?
72 HOURS (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Shakes the Clown?
Yes: RATS! (2025), Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989) and Serial Mom (1994).
How are movies similar to Shakes the Clown chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Shakes the Clown, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.