Movies like Ottakolam (2016)
The best movies like Ottakolam (2016) are The Last Bus (2021), Eleanor the Great (2025) and Hungry Hearts (2015). If Ottakolam hooked you with its drama, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedBlack or White (2015)6.8/10 from 368 votes
- NewestEleanor the Great (2025)Released 2025
- In MalayalamKaviyude Osyath (2017)Also in Malayalam
The Last Bus (2021)
Widower Tom, on the recent passing of his wife Mary, uses his free bus pass to travel the length of Britain from John O'Groats in Caithness to Land's End in Cornwall, their shared birthplace, using only local buses. It's an incident-fuelled nostalgia trip and his encounters with local people make him a media phenomenon. Tom is totally unaware and to his surprise on arrival at Land’s End he’s greeted as a celebrity.
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 thisHungry Hearts (2015)
The relationship of a couple who meet by chance in New York City is put to the test when they encounter a life or death circumstance.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWhere the Red Fern Grows (1974)
Billy Coleman works hard and saves his earnings for two years to achieve his dream of buying two red-bone coonhound pups. He develops a new trust in life as he faces overwhelming challenges in adventure and tragedy roaming the river bottoms of Cherokee country with his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBlack or White (2015)
A grieving widower is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter, whom he helped raise her entire life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBrand Upon the Brain! (2007)
After returning home to his long-estranged mother upon a request from her deathbed, a man raised by his parents in an orphanage has to confront the childhood memories that have long haunted him.
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 thisWhile the City Sleeps (1956)
Newspaper men compete against each other to find a serial killer dubbed "The Lipstick Killer".
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJimmy P. (2013)
At the end of WWII, Jimmy Picard, a Native American Blackfoot who fought in France, suffers from unexplainable symptoms and is admitted to a military hospital. When doctors suspect schizophrenia, an eccentric psychoanalyst takes up the case and starts a conversation with the veteran.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHurry Sundown (1967)
A ruthless Southern opportunist tries to buy his cousin's land, and when thwarted, brings several tragedies to the lives of his loved ones.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisExecutive Suite (1954)
When the head of a large manufacturing firm dies suddenly from a stroke, his vice-presidents vie to see who will replace him.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisExtraordinary Measures (2010)
Working-class father John Crowley is finally on the fast track to corporate success when his two young children are diagnosed with Pompe disease—a condition that prevents the body from breaking down sugar. With the support of his wife, John ditches his career and teams with unconventional specialist, Dr. Robert Stonehill to found a bio-tech company and develop a cure in time to save the lives of his children. As Dr. Stonehill works tirelessly to prove the theories that made him the black sheep of the medical community, a powerful bond is forged between the two unlikely allies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004)
The story of golf icon and legend, Bobby Jones, who retired from competition at the tender age of 28.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Girl (2012)
Director Alfred Hitchcock is revered as one of the greatest creative minds in the history of cinema. Known for his psychological thrillers, Hitchcock’s leading ladies were cool, beautiful and preferably blonde. One such actress was Tippi Hedren, an unknown fashion model given her big break when Hitchcock’s wife saw her on a TV commercial. Brought to Universal Studios, Hedren was shocked when the director, at the peak of his career, quickly cast her to star in his next feature, 1963’s The Birds. Little did Hedren know that as ambitious and terrifying as the production would be to shoot, the most daunting aspect of the film ended up coming from behind the camera.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHide Your Smiling Faces (2014)
Tommy and his older brother Eric live in the midst of vast remote forests. The death of their friend pushes them close to the edge. Eric doesn’t know how to channel his energy. All at once, nature’s vastness feels stifling.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Christmas Shoes (2002)
Two separate stories mesh - in the first, a young music teacher, Maggie Andrews, begins dying of a heart condition and her son Nathan tries to get a pair of Christmas shoes for her before she dies. In the second, lawyer Robert Layton and his wife Kate are slowly drifting apart and the matter comes to a head during Christmas when Kate takes over for Maggie for the school choir.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Proud Rebel (1958)
Searching for a doctor who can help him get his son to speak again--the boy hadn't uttered a word since he saw his mother die in the fire that burned down the family home--a Confederate veteran finds himself facing a 30-day jail sentence when he's unfairly accused of starting a brawl in a small town. A local woman pays his fine, providing that he works it off on her ranch. He soon finds himself involved in the woman's struggle to keep her ranch from a local landowner who wants it--and whose sons were responsible for the man being framed for the fight.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJesus (1999)
Jesus, a carpenter living a simple life, discovers his destiny as the biblical Messiah.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWWE Crown Jewel 2021 (2021)
The 2021 Crown Jewel was a professional wrestling event produced by WWE. It was the third Crown Jewel and took place on October 21, 2021, at Mohammed Abdu Arena on The Boulevard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season. The event aired via pay-per-view and livestreaming, marking the first Crown Jewel to air on Peacock in the United States.
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 thisKaviyude Osyath (2017)
A retired forest officer's sons Abhijith, Abhilash aka Appu along with their mother Padma live happily. One day, they find that their family friend poet Sidharthan has bequeathed his properties to Abhijith aka Allu, the younger boy in the family, in his osyath (will). Suspicion raises in the mind of Appu, who thinks that Allu is the son of the late poet. His doubts create problems in the family and he has to leave the house for certain reasons.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
London Bridge (2014)
Vijay's marriage is fixed to Pavitra, the daughter of a wealthy man. Things take a turn when Vijay accidentally meets Merin and falls in love with her.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Rakshadhikari Baiju (Oppu) (2017)
A kind-hearted government employee in his forties, who spends most of his time with youngsters, selflessly intervenes in the problems of his near and dear ones.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
I am Steve Lopez (2014)
A college student witnesses a gang attack and as his curiosity behind the encounter tries to get the better of him, he realizes that his dad and the police are involved.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Njaan (2014)
Ravi, a critic, comes across the writings of K T N Kottoor. Highly inspired by what he reads, he travels to a village in Kerala in search of the author.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018)
Set in Chellanam, Kochi, the story revolves around the death of Vavachan Mesthiri in a coastal village. It showcases the events that unfold between two evenings and looks at death from different perspectives.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThis Way, Students (1972)
Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile is a 1972 Indian Malayalam film, directed by John Abraham and produced by Minnal. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Adoor Bhasi and Paul Vengola in lead roles. The film had musical score by MB Sreenivasan.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Rappakal (2005)
Saraswathiyamma is the head of a noble family that treats her servant Krishnan as one of her own sons. When her relatives conspire to sell her house, she and Krishnan set out to save it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback (1983)
Lekha is an aspiring actress who becomes successful and very popular. One day, she commits suicide! Why?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Padayottam (1982)
Inspired by 'The Count of Monte Cristo', Padayottam was the first Indian movie to be shot in 70mm format. Prince Udayan (Nazir) is the successor to the Kolathiri kingdom. He is betrayed by his cousin Devan (Madhu) which forces him to go into exile. Years later Udayan returns to Kolathiri to take his revenge.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Like Ottakolam and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Ottakolam?
The closest matches to Ottakolam are The Last Bus (2021), Eleanor the Great (2025) and Hungry Hearts (2015). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Ottakolam?
Start with The Last Bus (2021), the closest match to Ottakolam.
What is the highest-rated movie like Ottakolam?
Black or White (2015), rated 6.8/10 by 368 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Ottakolam?
Eleanor the Great (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Malayalam movies like Ottakolam?
Yes: Kaviyude Osyath (2017), London Bridge (2014) and Rakshadhikari Baiju (Oppu) (2017).
How are movies similar to Ottakolam chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Ottakolam, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.