Movies like Lal Salam (1990)
The best movies like Lal Salam (1990) are Vanya on 42nd Street (1994), Eleanor the Great (2025) and Blue Chips (1994). If Lal Salam hooked you with its drama, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedInside I'm Dancing (2004)7.4/10 from 243 votes
- NewestEleanor the Great (2025)Released 2025
- In MalayalamSindoora Sandhyakku Mounam (1982)Also in Malayalam
Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)
An uninterrupted rehearsal of Chekhov's 'Uncle Vanya' plays out by a company of actors. The setting: their run-down theater with an unusable stage and crumbling ceiling. The play is shown act by act with the briefest of breaks to move props or for refreshments. The lack of costumes, real props and scenery is soon forgotten.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEleanor the Great (2025)
94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein tries to rebuild her life after the death of her best friend. As a result, she moves back to New York City after living in Florida for decades.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBlue Chips (1994)
Pete Bell, a college basketball coach is under a lot of pressure. His team isn't winning and he cannot attract new players. The stars of the future are secretly being paid by boosters. This practice is forbidden in the college game, but Pete is desperate and has pressures from all around.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAll Together Now (2020)
An optimistic, talented teen clings to a huge secret: she's homeless and living on a school bus. When tragedy strikes, can she learn to accept a helping hand?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHere (2024)
An odyssey through time and memory, centered on a place in New Jersey where—from wilderness, and then, later, from a home—love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over generations.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLady Driver (2020)
When a rebellious teen embarks on a solo summer journey to connect with her roots, she finds herself in a new world, geared up for the ride of her life, and discovers she had the drive in her all along.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWon't Back Down (2012)
Jamie Fitzpatrick and Nona Alberts are two women from opposites sides of the social and economic track, but they have one thing in common: a mission to fix their community's broken school and ensure a bright future for their children. The two women refuse to let any obstacles stand in their way as they battle a bureaucracy that's hopelessly mired in traditional thinking, and they seek to re-energize a faculty that has lost its passion for teaching.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Quiller Memorandum (1966)
After two British Secret Intelligence Service agents are murdered at the hands of a cryptic neo-Nazi group known as Phoenix, the suave agent Quiller is sent to Berlin to investigate.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisJonathan (2018)
Jonathan is a young man with a strange condition that only his brother understands. But when he begins to yearn for a different life, their unique bond becomes increasingly tested.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisHouse of Bamboo (1955)
Eddie Kenner is given a special assignment by the Army to get the inside story on Sandy Dawson, a former GI who has formed a gang of fellow servicemen and Japanese locals.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisInside I'm Dancing (2004)
Michael is a 24-year-old who has cerebral palsy and long-term resident of the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled, run by the formidable Eileen. His life is transformed when the maverick Rory O'Shea moves in.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPoor Cow (1967)
Joy lives a life filled with bad choices. At a young age, she marries and has a child–with an abusive thief who quickly ends up incarcerated. Left alone, she takes up with the guy's mate, another thief, who seems to give her some happiness but who also ends up locked up. She then takes up with a series of seedy types who offer nothing but momentary pleasure–if that.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
A young priest, Father Chisholm is sent to China to establish a Catholic parish among the non-Christian Chinese. While his boyhood friend, also a priest, flourishes in his calling as a priest in a more Christian area of the world, Father Chisholm struggles. He encounters hostility, isolation, disease, poverty and a variety of set backs which humble him, but make him more determined than ever to succeed.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSkater Girl (2021)
Prerna, a teenager growing up in rural India, comes of age when she’s introduced to the sport of skateboarding. As a result, she has to fight the odds to follow her dreams and compete in the national championship.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSeeds of Yesterday (2015)
The Sheffield family reveal and go through some home truths as their middle child inherits the Foxworth mansion. The family's ghosts looming over, and more tragedies are in store as the curse lives on.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMatt and Mara (2024)
Mara is a young creative writing professor struggling with problems in her marriage to an experimental musician. One day, she runs into Matt, a charismatic, free-spirited author from her past, when he wanders onto her university campus. Bonded by their shared interests, the two gradually become closer. When Mara’s husband unexpectedly cancels plans to drive her to an out-of-town conference, Matt accompanies Mara on the trip instead. Along the way, the tension surrounding their undefined relationship slowly grows.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBennett's War (2019)
After surviving an IED explosion in combat overseas, a young soldier with the Army Motorcycle Unit is medically discharged with a broken back and leg. Against all odds he trains to make an impossible comeback as a motocross racer in order to support his family.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWaiting for Anya (2020)
During the harrows of WWII, Jo, a young shepherd along with the help of the widow Horcada, helps to smuggle Jewish children across the border from southern France into Spain.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNational Theatre Live: Hamlet (2015)
As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father's death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSound of Christmas (2016)
Lizzie is a young piano teacher working at a music school while trying to save enough money for a Steinway piano. The school is gearing up for their major Christmas fundraiser and she has committed much of her time to plan the event. One afternoon, she meets Brad who takes an interest in her playing and asks if she will teach his uninterested teenage daughter. She begins to break through to the young girl, and sparks begin to fly with Brad, but she is shocked to find out that his interest is not solely in her playing, but in the property that houses the music school. She sets out to save the school and the event, but can she work things out with Brad?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAmruthavarshini (1997)
Grieving the death of his girlfriend, Ashok visits his pal Hemanth. But the journey of healing takes a detour when Ashok begins to fall for Hemanth's devoted wife, Veena, who reminds Ashok of his lost love. The dramatic tension soon simmers to a boil in this moving drama set in the gorgeous resort town of Kodaikanal in the state of Tamil.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam (1982)
Siblings Deepthi and Ravi are separated after their parents' divorce. After many years, Deepthi faces many challenges when she goes in search of Ravi.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Saravarsham (1982)
Sumesh is depressed due to the fact that he is impotent and cannot have children. However, he learns that he has an illegitimate half-sister and soon tries to form a bond with her and her family.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Enthino Pookunna Pookal (1982)
Embedded with charged emotion and social relevance, this family-oriented relationship drama follows the fluctuating fortunes in the life of a beautiful young woman from an impoverished family, who is forced to become a maid in a wealthy household. When the owner's son gets her pregnant, she becomes ostracised by one and all. Will someone come to her rescue? How will her future unfold?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Postmortem (1982)
Post Mortem is a 1982 Indian Malayalam film, directed by J. Sasikumar and produced by Pushparajan. The film stars Prem Nazir, Mammootty, Sukumaran and Balan K Nair in lead roles.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Ahimsa (1981)
Talks about the Hindu-Muslim politics and conflicts in Kerala which are connected to some of the feudal lords who incite the tension.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Ethirppukal (1984)
Raghu kills Barghavan as revenge for his brother's death. Kochubaby, who comes to know that he is the son of Barghavan, takes up the blame for his father's mistake.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Visa (1983)
Visa is a 1983 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Balu Kiriyath and produced by NP Abu. The film stars Mohanlal, Mammootty, T. R. Omana and Sathaar in lead roles. The film had musical score by Jithin Shyam.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Sesham Kazhchayil (1983)
Sankar Mohan (Master Sujith) is a spoilt child of a wealthy widower Mr. Varma (Ummer). Fed up about having to change schools multiple times due to his behaviour, Mr. Varma appoints a teacher Lathika (Menaka) to homeschool Sankar. The duo get along well; but eventually the child starts getting possessive about Lathika. Meanwhile Lathika starts falling for Sankar's swimming coach (Mammootty) who is a playboy much to the chagrin of Shankar.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Like Lal Salam and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Lal Salam?
The closest matches to Lal Salam are Vanya on 42nd Street (1994), Eleanor the Great (2025) and Blue Chips (1994). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Lal Salam?
Start with Vanya on 42nd Street (1994), the closest match to Lal Salam.
What is the highest-rated movie like Lal Salam?
Inside I'm Dancing (2004), rated 7.4/10 by 243 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Lal Salam?
Eleanor the Great (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Malayalam movies like Lal Salam?
Yes: Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam (1982), Saravarsham (1982) and Enthino Pookunna Pookal (1982).
How are movies similar to Lal Salam chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Lal Salam, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.