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Movies like Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower (2016)

The best movies like Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower (2016) are Looking for Richard (1996), Heart of a Dog (2015) and Deliver Us from Evil (2006). If Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Looking for Richard (1996)

    Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III."

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  2. Heart of a Dog (2015)

    Musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother and her beloved dog.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  3. Deliver Us from Evil (2006)

    Documentary filmmaker Amy Berg investigates the life of 30-year pedophile Father Oliver O'Grady and exposes the corruption inside the Catholic Church that allowed him to abuse countless children. Victims' stories and a disturbing interview with O'Grady offer a view into the troubled mind of the spiritual leader who moved from parish to parish gaining trust ... all the while betraying so many.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  4. More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011)

    Retrospective documentary about the making of the horror cult classic "The Return of the Living Dead."

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  5. Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022)

    A feature length documentary about the all-women team at the helm of Pixar's original feature, Turning Red. With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Director Domee Shi and her core leadership crew, this story shines a light on the powerful professional and personal journeys that brought this incredibly comical, utterly relatable, and deeply heartfelt story to the screen.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  6. Capital 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

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  7. The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story (2019)

    A documentary chronicling Queen and Lambert's incredible journey since they first shared the stage together on "American Idol" in 2009.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  8. Babies (2010)

    A non-narrated documentary following the lovesome lives of four infants from birth to their first birthday. The babies featured are two from rural areas: Ponijao from Opuwo, Namibia, and Bayar from Bayanchandmani, Mongolia, as well as two from urban areas: Mari from Tokyo, Japan, and Hattie from San Francisco, USA.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  9. Naqoyqatsi (2002)

    A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  10. Comandante (2003)

    Oliver Stone spends three days filming with Fidel Castro in Cuba, discussing an array of subjects with the president such as his rise to power, fellow revolutionary Che Guevara, the Cuban Missile crisis, and the present state of the country.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  11. Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

    In 1974, Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky embarked on the quixotic project of adapting Frank Herbert's influential novel Dune (1969) for the big screen. After investing two years, and millions of dollars, the gigantic project ended in failure; but the artists Jodorowsky brought together to carry it out continued to work together, and ended up laying the foundations for modern science fiction cinema.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  12. Daguerréotypes (1978)

    An intimate portrait of the small shops and shopkeepers of the Rue Daguerre in Paris, a picturesque street that has been the filmmaker’s home for more than 50 years.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  13. Downloaded (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

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  14. The 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 this
  15. I Am Heath Ledger (2017)

    The life and career of an actor, artist, and icon. His own journey through his own camera.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. The 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

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  17. The September Issue (2009)

    A documentary chronicling Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's preparations for the 2007 fall-fashion issue.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  18. The 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 this
  19. 180° South (2010)

    The film follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  20. Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art (2020)

    A woman walks into a New York gallery with a cache of unknown masterworks. Thus begins a story of art world greed, willfulness and a high-stakes con.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  21. Meerdolen (2006)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  22. Life in Progress (2015)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  23. Lucie et Maintenant (2007)

    In May of 1982 Julio Cortázar, the Argentinean writer and his companion in life, Carol Dunlop set out in their VW bus on a journey along the highway from Paris to Marseille that, for each of them, was to be their final one. Twenty-five years later, Océane Madelaine and Jocelyn Bonnerave set out to undertake the journey again.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  24. Into Great Silence (2005)

    An intimate portrayal of the everyday lives of Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse, high in the French Alps (Chartreuse Mountains). The idea for the film was proposed to the monks in 1984, but the Carthusians said they wanted time to think about it. The Carthusians finally contacted Gröning 16 years later to say they were now willing to permit Gröning to shoot the movie, if he was still interested.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  25. Rolling (1997)

    The hills of Lausanne, Switzerland, have become a Mecca for roller-skaters and Ivano has become a prince among them. Ivano rises above the ordinary and often dead-end choices that most young people face today.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  26. Bear-Like (2019)

    At the far end of the Alaskan peninsula, for filmmaker Roman Droux a childhood dream comes true. He discovers together with the bear researcher David Bittner the universe of wild grizzlies. The two adventurists face bears at smelling-distance, experience the struggle for survival of a bear family and witness dramatic fighting scenes. Driven by a desire to explore the unknown the film tells a personal story of wilderness, framed in breathtaking pictures of unique creatures.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  27. Arada (2021)

    The story of three Turkish men. They all grew up in Switzerland and all got deported after various criminal offenses.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  28. Zwischenwelten - Unterschiedliche Wege des Heilens (2020)

    A documentary about healers from the Swiss canton of Appenzell.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  29. Dimitri - Clown (2004)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  30. The Shelter (2014)

    It is winter at an emergency shelter for the homeless in Lausanne. Every night at the door of this little-known basement facility the same entry ritual takes place, resulting in confrontations which can sometimes turn violent. Those on duty at the shelter have the difficult task of “triaging the poor”: the women and children first, then the men. Although the total capacity at the shelter is 100, only 50 “chosen ones” will be admitted inside and granted a warm meal and a bed. The others know it will be a long night.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower?

The closest matches to Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower are Looking for Richard (1996), Heart of a Dog (2015) and Deliver Us from Evil (2006). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower?

Start with Looking for Richard (1996), the closest match to Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower.

What is the highest-rated movie like Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower?

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013), rated 7.8/10 by 789 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower?

Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there French movies like Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower?

Yes: Babies (2010), Daguerréotypes (1978) and Lucie et Maintenant (2007).

How are movies similar to Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Jean Ziegler: The Optimism of Willpower, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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