Movies like Telling You (1998)
The best movies like Telling You (1998) are St. Elmo's Fire (1985), XX/XY (2002) and Carnal Knowledge (1971). If Telling You hooked you with its drama and comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedSLC Punk (1998)7.1/10 from 466 votes
- NewestVertiginous (2026)Released 2026
St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Reluctant to let go of college life, a close-knit team of seven friends--irresponsible saxophone player Billy, young Republican Alec, his girlfriend Leslie, struggling journalist Kevin, drama queen Jules, lovesick waiter Kirby, and Wendy, a social worker with a heart of gold--realise the party is over. And as the burdens of maturity close in on the young dreamers, the complexities of adulthood and the daily struggle of growing up put their sacred friendship to the test. But everyone knows life is not a bed of roses. It won't be easy, but when all is said and done, what will it take for St. Elmo's clique to find its place in the real world?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisXX/XY (2002)
Three friends begin a dangerous three-way relationship that spirals out of control, leading to dire consequences that haunt them ten years later.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCarnal Knowledge (1971)
Two lifelong friends navigate complex sexual encounters and emotional entanglements, wrestling with societal norms and personal desires.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThreesome (1994)
At a sizable public college, high-minded student Eddy is forced to room with the slovenly Stuart, but the pair strike up a surprising friendship. When attractive co-ed Alex is assigned to live with the two male students because of her gender-neutral name, a roundabout love triangle ensues. Eddy secretly yearns for Stuart, who wants Alex, but she prefers Eddy. The complex situation leads to sexual experimentation and strained relationships.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisStrictly Sexual (2008)
Two successful women, sick and tired of dating and relationships, decide to keep two young men in their pool house for strictly sexual purposes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Shape of Things (2003)
Quiet, unassuming Adam is changing in a major way, thanks to his new girlfriend, art student Evelyn. Adam's friends are a little freaked by the transformation.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTake Me Home Tonight (2011)
Recent MIT grad Matt Franklin should be well on his way to a successful career at a Fortune 500 company, but instead he rebels against maturity by taking a job at a video store. Matt rethinks his position when his unrequited high-school crush, Tori, walks in and invites him to an end-of-summer party. With the help of his twin sister and his best friend, Matt hatches a plan to change the course of his life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSitting in Bars with Cake (2023)
Extrovert Corinne convinces Jane, a shy, talented baker, to commit to a year of bringing cakes to bars, to help her meet people and build confidence. But when Corinne receives a life-altering diagnosis, the pair faces a challenge unlike anything they've experienced before.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both romance & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAlfie (2004)
A tale of a philosophical womanizer who is forced to question his seemingly carefree existence.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisThat Awkward Moment (2014)
Best pals Jason and Daniel indulge in casual flings and revel in their carefree, unattached lives. After learning that the marriage of their friend Mikey is over, they gladly welcome him back into their circle. The three young men make a pact to have fun and avoid commitment. However, when all three find themselves involved in serious relationships, they must keep their romances secret from one another.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLoverboy (1989)
Randy Bodek works as a pizza delivery boy at Señor Pizza to make a few extra bucks. Some customers are special, though: When the order is for a pizza with extra anchovies, it means the female customers are looking for some loving. But, as Randy soon learns, life as a professional gigolo can get pretty complicated.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCircle of Friends (1995)
Three girlhood friends now at college share first loves, first kisses and first betrayals. At the center of it all is the best-looking boy on campus. Can a self-conscious dreamer hook the biggest fish in the pond?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisVision Quest (1985)
A high school wrestler in Spokane, Washington has trouble focusing on his training regimen when a beautiful young drifter takes up temporary residence at his home.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAbout Alex (2014)
When a group of old college friends reunite over a long weekend after one of them attempts suicide, old crushes and resentments shine light on their life decisions, and ultimately push friendships and relationships to the brink.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like this10 Years (2012)
A group of friends reunite ten years after their high-school graduation.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisCan't Hardly Wait (1998)
It's graduation day at Huntington Hills High, and you know what that means - time to party. And not just any party, either. This one will be a night to remember, as the nerds become studs, the jocks are humiliated, and freshman crushes blossom into grown-up romance.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEmergency (2022)
Ready for a night of legendary partying, three college students must weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an unexpected situation.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSLC Punk (1998)
Two former geeks become 1980s punks, then party and go to concerts while deciding what to do with their lives.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBye Bye Love (1995)
With varying degrees of success, recently divorced friends Dave, Vic and Donny are trying to move on with their lives. Vic feels vilified by his ex-wife's parents, while Donny has a shaky bond with his teen daughter, Emma. Dave, meanwhile, has an enviable problem -- he has more dates than he can handle. As they confront their post-marital challenges, the men take solace in one another's plights.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAlmost Friends (2017)
A man in his mid-20s, still living at home with his mother and stepfather, puts all his eggs in one basket: the girl who works at his local coffee shop. The problem is, she has a serious boyfriend. As they become closer, the line between friendship and intimacy is blurred, and the situation forces both to examine where they are in their lives.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYouth (2015)
Two lifelong friends bond whilst vacationing in a luxury Swiss Alps lodge as they ponder retirement. While Fred has no plans to resume his musical career despite the urging of his loving daughter Lena, Mick is intent on finishing the screenplay for what may be his last important film for his muse Brenda. And where will inspiration lead their younger friend Jimmy, an actor grasping to make sense of his next performance?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2023)
Two teenage Mexican-American loners in 1987 El Paso explore a new, unusual friendship and the difficult road to self-discovery.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLike a Brother (2005)
Sebastien is a small town boy who moves to Paris and begins to explore the gay night life there. When a friend from back home calls to announce he's coming to Paris, Sebastien confronts some unrequited feelings.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama & romance
The Devil's Deal (2023)
Hae-woong an assembly member candidate, is taken out of the running because he became a thorn in the side of a local bigwig, Soon-tae. Hounded by loan sharks, due to defaulting a campaign loan, he decides to get his hands dirty.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
The Shooting (1966)
Two miners agree to guide a mysterious woman, who has appeared in their camp from nowhere, to a nearby town; but soon, because of her erratic behavior, they begin to suspect that her true purpose is quite different.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSailor Victory (1995)
In the future, five female high school students form Sailor Victory to command three giant ninja robots: Gion, Momoyama and Sagano, so that they can fight against evil in the virtual-future of Mikado City. In these two episodes, a disgraced and disgruntled city employee aims to humiliate the Sailor Victory crew by joining up with the evil Margarita. Little does he know that she is bent on destroying the city...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Lonely are the Brave (1962)
A fiercely independent cowboy arranges to have himself locked up in jail in order to then escape with an old friend who has been sentenced to the penitentiary.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisVertiginous (2026)
Jacques goes to his friend Bruno's house to tell him some big news: the entire human race is living in a simulation...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThink Tank (2006)
Bumbling, twenty-something slackers use their self-proclaimed "genius" to save a small town from the evil clutches of Lord Billiards, a land-grabbing pool celebrity.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
The Night of the Duck (2021)
One summer night in 1995, Juli and her friends meet for dinner in a cabin away from the city. In the middle of the night, a killer duck bursts into the place and begins to kill everyone one by one, but the young woman will do her best to survive.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Like Telling You and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Telling You?
The closest matches to Telling You are St. Elmo's Fire (1985), XX/XY (2002) and Carnal Knowledge (1971). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Telling You?
Start with St. Elmo's Fire (1985), the closest match to Telling You.
What is the highest-rated movie like Telling You?
SLC Punk (1998), rated 7.1/10 by 466 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Telling You?
Vertiginous (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Telling You?
Yes: St. Elmo's Fire (1985), XX/XY (2002) and Carnal Knowledge (1971).
How are movies similar to Telling You chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Telling You, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.