Movies like Rules Don't Apply (2016)
The best movies like Rules Don't Apply (2016) are Joy (2015), Café Society (2016) and Phantom Thread (2017). If Rules Don't Apply hooked you with its romance and comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedLa La Land (2016)7.9/10 from 18,718 votes
- NewestThe Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)Released 2026
Joy (2015)
A story based on the life of a struggling Long Island single mom who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCafé Society (2016)
The story of a young man who arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry, falls in love, and finds himself swept up in the vibrant café society that defined the spirit of the age.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPhantom Thread (2017)
In 1950s London, a renowned dressmaker's meticulous lifestyle begins drastically changing as his relationship with his young muse intensifies.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)
Andy Sachs returns to Runway as Miranda Priestly navigates a new media landscape and Runway's position within. The duo reconnect with former assistant Emily Charlton, now the head of a luxury brand that possesses funding which could ensure Runway's survival.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLa La Land (2016)
Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe Artist (2011)
Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBefore We Go (2014)
A chance encounter between two strangers in Grand Central Terminal sparks a life-changing, nighttime sojourn through New York City. They grow into each other's most trusted confidants when an evening of unexpected adventure forces them to confront their fears and take control of their lives.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both romance & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Royal Night Out (2015)
The re-imagining of VE Day in 1945, when Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret were allowed out from Buckingham Palace for the night to join in the celebrations, and encounter romance and danger.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMarcello Mio (2024)
Pressured from all sides by the figure of her father, Chiara Mastroianni decides to bring him back to life through her own self. She goes by the name of Marcello, dresses like him and asks to now be considered an actor, not an actress. The people around her believe this to be a temporary joke, but Chiara is determined not to give up her new identity…
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisAloha (2015)
A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisSandy Wexler (2017)
When a hapless but dedicated talent manager signs his first client who actually has talent, his career finally starts to take off.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Great Gatsby (2013)
Nick Carraway arrives in New York in 1922, an era of loose morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick encounters the mysterious millionaire Gatsby and his bewitching cousin Daisy. Soon, Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. Bearing witness to this new world, Nick pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and unforgettable tragedy -- mirroring our own times and struggles.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBoogie Nights (1997)
In 1977, an idealistic porn producer and his promising protege try to catch up with the end of an era before their never-ending party collides with cold, hard reality.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMidnight in Paris (2011)
While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDragon (2025)
Raghavan transforms from a school topper into a “bad boy” to score girls in college, but ends up a heartbroken dropout. He then cons his way into a successful finance career, but the lies keep building and maintaining the facade proves tricky.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Big Sick (2017)
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAnnie Hall (1977)
New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisQueens of Drama (2024)
Narrated by an obsessive fan in 2055, an epic, half-century tale unfolds tracking the explosive rise and tragic downfall of a pop icon bound by a mad queer love affair with a punk star.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both romance & drama
Revolutionary Road (2008)
A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAn Education (2009)
Despite her sheltered upbringing, Jenny is a teen with a bright future; she's smart, pretty, and has aspirations of attending Oxford University. When David, a charming but much older suitor, motors into her life in a shiny automobile, Jenny gets a taste of adult life that she won't soon forget.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Star Is Born (2018)
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNight Stage (2026)
An actor and a politician start a secret affair and together discover their fetish for having sex in public places. The closer they get to their dream of fame, the more they feel the urge to put themselves at risk.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & romance
Diamonds (2024)
In 1970s Rome, a filmmaker gathers actresses for a new project, which triggers memories of his past working in a Roman costume shop, run by Alberta and Gabriella, navigating personal and professional challenges while creating costumes for a major film.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEver Been to the Moon? (2015)
Giulia is 30, single and working a high-end fashion job that allows her to travel and lead a dream life in Milan and Paris. However, a chance meeting with charming, down-to-earth farmer Renzo will makes her realize she's missing the most important thing in life—true love.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Model (2016)
When emerging fashion model Emma gets a chance to pursue her dream of becoming an international top model, she leaves her everyday life in Denmark behind, and moves to Paris. At a photo shoot in her new hometown, she meets the attractive photographer Shane White and they fall in love. But their relationship soon turns into a dangerous obsession for Emma.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Greek Tycoon (1978)
A lusty Greek shipping magnate courts the widow of an assassinated U.S. president.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
Other People's Money (1991)
When a corporate raider threatens a hostile takeover of a 'mom and pop' company, the patriarch of the company enlists the help of his wife's attractive daughter—who is a lawyer—to stop the takeover. However, the raider soon becomes infatuated with her, and enjoys the legal manoeuvring as he tries to win her heart.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHe Said, She Said (1991)
Womanising, right-wing Dan Hanson and quiet, liberal Lorie Bryer work for the Baltimore Sun. Rivals for the job of new writer of a vacant column, the paper ends up instead printing their very different opinions alongside each other, which leads to a similarly combative local TV show. At the same time their initial indifference to each other looks like it may evolve into something more romantic.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisA California Christmas (2020)
With his carefree lifestyle on the line, a wealthy charmer poses as a ranch hand to get a hardworking farmer to sell her family’s land before Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMadame (2017)
Anne and Bob, a well-to-do American couple, have just moved to a beautiful manor house in romantic Paris. To impress their sophisticated friends, they decide to host a lavish dinner party, but must disguise their maid as a noblewoman to even out the number of guests. When the maid runs off with a wealthy guest, Anne must chase her around Paris to thwart the joyous and unexpected love affair.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance & comedy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Rules Don't Apply?
The closest matches to Rules Don't Apply are Joy (2015), Café Society (2016) and Phantom Thread (2017). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Rules Don't Apply?
People who watched Rules Don't Apply most often go on to Joy (2015), Café Society (2016) and Phantom Thread (2017).
What is the highest-rated movie like Rules Don't Apply?
La La Land (2016), rated 7.9/10 by 18,718 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Rules Don't Apply?
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Rules Don't Apply?
Yes: Joy (2015), Café Society (2016) and Phantom Thread (2017).
How are movies similar to Rules Don't Apply chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Rules Don't Apply, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.