Movies like How the West Was Fun (1994)
The best movies like How the West Was Fun (1994) are Getting There (2003), Switching Goals (1999) and Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004). If How the West Was Fun hooked you with its family and western, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedPassport to Paris (1999)6.2/10 from 322 votes
- NewestAn American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success (2015)Released 2015
Getting There (2003)
Taylor and Kylie Hunter are sweet sixteen and licensed to drive. Grab a seat in their classic Mustang convertible as they set out on their very first road trip, to the Winter Games in Utah. Cute outfits, even cuter guys. And all kinds of friends along the way. But watch for Olympic-size detours. Will they ever make it to the velvet-smooth ski slopes and posh Stein Ericksen Lodge at Deer Valley and the big-air snowboarding at Park City? Will they be on time for the Winter Games? See for yourself why half the fun is getting there.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisSwitching Goals (1999)
Twin sisters Emma and Sam come up with a scheme to switch places so each can play in the soccer team they prefer.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisSamantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004)
Kindhearted Samantha Parkington's world starts to change the day Nellie O'Malley walks into her life. Nellie, her father, and her two little sisters have moved in next door to be servants for the Ryland family. Though they come from completely different backgrounds, Samantha and Nellie become fast friends. The girls turn to each other in happiness and sorrow, adventure and danger.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPassport to Paris (1999)
Sent to Paris to visit their grandfather, the twins fall in love with France, not to mention two French boys.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHorse Sense (1999)
After treating his rancher cousin shoddily in L.A. Michael Woods is sentenced by his parents to spending a month on the ranch with his cousin and aunt.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAn American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2009)
A fourth grader and her friends deal with bullying from a more popular girl in their class.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHarriet the Spy (1996)
Harriet may only be in the sixth grade, but she's already found her calling: to be a spy. In a private journal she takes everywhere, Harriet records suspicious activity and keeps a running list of observations on virtually everyone she knows. It seems harmless enough until, one day, someone finds the journal and exposes Harriet's critical thoughts about her classmates. Suddenly, even her best friends are against her, and Harriet resolves to take revenge.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRip Girls (2000)
A teen-age girl and her father come to an island on Hawaii, they find a closer relationship to each other and think about changing the island. During her adventures, Sydney finds friends, a new hobby with her fantastic photography, and the truth about her mother.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMotocrossed (2001)
Teenage Andrea Carson who loves motocross, despite her father finding her unsuited for the sport, being that she is "just a girl". When her twin brother Andrew breaks his leg just before a big race, their father is forced to go to Europe to find a replacement rider. In the meantime, Andrea secretly races in Andrew's place with her mother's help.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBuffalo Dreams (2005)
Josh Townsend finds himself living in New Mexico after his father's new job requires the family to move from their home in Utah. While acclimating to his new surroundings, Josh becomes involved with a group of teens attempting to preserve the buffalo and Navajo traditions. Along the way he makes friends and learns important lessons about life in this Disney Channel Original movie.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight (2014)
Isabelle is an inspired dancer, but when her sister and a classmate make her doubt herself, she's motivated by a ballerina to find her own way to shine.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Johnny Tsunami (1999)
A Hawaiian teenage surfer shows off his skills when he takes to the snow slopes in Vermont.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBillboard Dad (1998)
High above Hollywood Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are playing Matchmakers! One's a surfer. The other's a high diver. When these two sisters team up to find a new love for their newly single Dad, it's a fun-loving, eye-catching California adventure gone wild. Mary-Kate and Ashley star in this fabulously funny love-struck comedy filled with crazy schemes and cool surprises. Determined to find their Dad, Max, a new love, the girls paint a personal ad on a giant billboard in the heart of Hollywood. After a few disastrous dates, Max finally meets Brooke and it's love at first sight. There's just one hitch, her unruly skateboarding son is the girls' arch rival. Now, with the girls plotting every action-packed step of the way, they've got to find out if love really does conquer all. Full of outrageous events, mixed-up matches and lots of laughs, Billboard Dad tops the charts as Mary-Kate and Ashley's coolest mischief-making adventure ever!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBrink! (1998)
Andy "Brink" Brinker and his in-line skating crew--Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella--who call themselves "Soul-Skaters" (which means they skate for the fun of it, and not for the money), clash with a group of sponsored skaters, Team X-Bladz--led by Val--with whom they attend high school in southern California. When Brink discovers his family is in financial trouble, he goes against the wishes of his parents and his friends and joins Team X-Bladz. Brink tries to lead a double life but will be able to pull it off?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAn American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success (2015)
Grace is excited for the summer so she can start a business with her friends, but things take an unexpected turn when her mom announces a trip to Paris. There, Grace must learn to get along with her French cousin, Sylvie, and she finds unexpected inspiration for her business. Then, Grace finds out her grandparents bakery, that inspired her to start a business, is closing. Can she and her friends find a way to save it?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Kart Racer (2003)
Fourteen-year-old Watts Davies is estranged from his dad, a former International Karting Federation (IKF) champion. Watts's resolve to race in the upcoming IKF Regional Championships rekindles their relationship as they pursue the dream together.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Double Teamed! (2002)
Heather and Heidi play volleyball for their school team, when their family decides that they need to go to a bigger school so that they will have a better chance for scholarships. But at the new school, the twins are discovered by the basketball coach. Inspired by the true story of Heather and Heidi Burge.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLove Finds A Home (2009)
In this sequel, Lillian has been adopted and it's several years later. Annie, married and pregnant, visits her fellow doctor friend, Dr. Owen. Dr Owen desperately wants a baby, but seems unable to become pregnant. Lillian finds a love interest, an assistant to her adoptive dad, the latter has become quite overprotective.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & western
The Challenge (2003)
Estranged twins Lizzie and Shane are chosen for a Survivor-like popular game show with college scholarships as the prize.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)
The Great Depression hits home for nine year old Kit Kittredge when her dad loses his business and leaves to find work. Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin stars as Kit, leading a splendid cast in the first ever "American Girl" theatrical movie. In order to keep their home, Kit and her mother must take in boarders - paying house - guests who turn out to be full of fascinating stories. When mother's lockbox containing all their money is stolen, Kit's new hobo friend Will is the prime suspect. Kit refuses to believe that Will would steal, and her efforts to sniff out the real story get her and friends into big trouble. The police say the robbery was an inside job, committed by someone they know. So if it wasn't Will, then who did it.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAn American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars (2012)
A young girl struggles to maintain her school grades while competing as a gymnast.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHarriet the Spy: Blog Wars (2010)
Young spy Harriet Welsch crosses paths with popular student Marion Hawthorne as the two girls vie to become the official blogger of their high school class.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisGoing to the Mat (2004)
Jace Newfield has a problem. Besides being blind and being the new kid at school, his problem is that the kids at his new school thinks he's a jerk. Jace has to find a way to be accepted into his new school. Joining the wrestling team just might work.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMail to the Chief (2000)
A humorous and inspiring adventure about an ordinary middle school student who strikes up an online friendship with someone bearing the screen name Average Joe, only to discover that he's been corresponding with and giving political advice to the President of the United States.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Winning London (2001)
When Chloe and Riley Lawrence are invited to London to participate in the international Model U.N. competition, they enjoy seeing the sights and head over heals romance with cute british boys of course.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSkylark (1993)
Jacob's farm is in trouble from a severe drought. Jacob and Sarah begin to wonder if Sarah can stay, and what will happen to Jacob if she and the children have to leave the farm.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
The Ride (1997)
A has-been cowboy is given a second chance at the hands of an unexpected teacher.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & family
Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (1983)
Albert Quinn Ingalls wants to be a doctor. But soon he discovers that he is fatally ill. He decides to spend the rest of his life in Walnut Grove. Meanwhile children from school are preparing for their traditional climbing of the mountain.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both western & drama
The Call of the Wild (1972)
John Thornton, is a fearless man who's after more than gold; he wants to do what's right. Thornton works for the U.S. mail and is the only person daring and smart enough to figure out how to travel the deadly 600 miles from Skagway to Dawson, Alaska in the icy winter. His incredibly dog Buck is by his side and part of how he survives.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure (1995)
A young boy draws on the inspiration of legendary western characters to find the strength to fight an evil land baron in the old west who wants to steal his family's farm and destroy their idyllic community. When Daniel Hackett sees his father Jonas gravely wounded by the villainous Stiles, his first urge is for his family to flee the danger, and give up their life on a farm which Daniel has come to despise anyway. Going alone to a lake to try to decide what to do, he falls asleep on a boat and wakes to find himself in the wild west, in the company of such "tall tale" legends as Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, John Henry and Calamity Jane. Together, they battle the same villains Daniel is facing in his "real" world, ending with a heroic confrontation in which the boy stands up to Stiles and his henchmen, and rallies his neighbors to fight back against land grabbers who want to destroy their town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & western
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like How the West Was Fun?
The closest matches to How the West Was Fun are Getting There (2003), Switching Goals (1999) and Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after How the West Was Fun?
People who watched How the West Was Fun most often go on to Getting There (2003), Switching Goals (1999) and Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004).
What is the highest-rated movie like How the West Was Fun?
Passport to Paris (1999), rated 6.2/10 by 322 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like How the West Was Fun?
An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success (2015) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like How the West Was Fun?
Yes: Getting There (2003), Switching Goals (1999) and Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004).
How are movies similar to How the West Was Fun chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside How the West Was Fun, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.