Movies like Once, Then and Now
The best movies like Once, Then and Now are The Boy in the Dress (2014), The Incredible Hulk (1977) and I Believe (2019). If Once, Then and Now hooked you, these 20 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedMatilda (1996)7.2/10 from 5,031 votes
- NewestNovocaine (2025)Released 2025
The Boy in the Dress (2014)
Dennis feels different - an ordinary boy in an ordinary house in an ordinary street, playing football with his mates and living with his dad and brother, but frustrated by the boring grey world he inhabits. Life has never really been the same since his mum left. However, transformation can happen in the most unexpected places. Aided by Lisa, the coolest girl in school, Dennis creates a whole new persona and puts it to the ultimate test - but can a boy wear a dress, and what will the headmaster, his dad and his friends on the football team think if they find out?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Incredible Hulk (1977)
An accidental overdose of gamma radiation causes a mutation in scientist David Banner's DNA: now whenever he becomes angry, he metamorphoses into a seven-foot-tall, 330-pound, mindless muscular green creature.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisI Believe (2019)
A 9 year old boy experiences God's power in a supernatural way.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990)
In his final attempt to free himself from the curse of the Hulk, Dr. David Banner becomes involved in a dangerous international espionage mission that may finally lead to a cure. As forces close in and the stakes rise, Banner faces an ultimate sacrifice, bringing his tragic journey to a definitive and emotional conclusion.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like thisShadow Master (2022)
After being slain by a group of criminals, a man is reborn with animal-like superpowers and makes it his mission to right the wrongs of his city.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)
Years after the end of the original series, David Banner continues his wandering search for a cure for the condition that turns him into the Hulk. He reunites with former colleague Don Blake, unaware of his mystical connection to Thor. When a criminal organization threatens their lives, Banner is forced to unleash the Hulk once again, marking the character’s return after the series finale.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJustice League: The New Frontier (2008)
The human race is threatened by a powerful creature, and only the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and The Flash can stop it. But can they overcome their differences to thwart this enemy using the combined strength of their newly formed Justice League?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSamaritan (2022)
Thirteen year old Sam Cleary suspects that his mysteriously reclusive neighbor Mr. Smith is actually the legendary vigilante Samaritan, who was reported dead 25 years ago. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbor out of hiding to save the city from ruin.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHow to Eat Fried Worms (2006)
During the first day of his new school year, a fifth grade boy squares off against a bully and winds up accepting a dare that could change the balance of power within the class.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThunderstruck (2012)
After NBA star Kevin Durant switches talent with 16 year old Brian, the teenager becomes the star of his high school team, but Durant starts struggling and eventually learns an important lesson.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisI Am David (2003)
A 12-year-old boy manages to flee a Communist concentration camp on his own, through sheer will and determination. All he has in his possession is a loaf of bread, a letter to deliver to someone in Denmark, and a compass to help get him there.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSky High (2005)
Set in a world where superheroes are commonly known and accepted, young Will Stronghold, the son of the Commander and Jetstream, tries to find a balance between being a normal teenager and an extraordinary being.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNovocaine (2025)
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBoarding School (2018)
When troubled 12-year-old Jacob Felsen is sent away to boarding school, he enters every kid’s worst nightmare: a creepy old mansion, deserted except for six other teenage misfits and two menacing and mysterious teachers. As events become increasingly horrific, Jacob must conquer his fears to find the strength to survive.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMatilda (1996)
Matilda Wormwood is an brilliant and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, her parents, Harry and Zinnia, fail to see that fact. As time passes, she finally starts school and has a kind teacher, loyal friends, and a terrifying, sadistic headmistress. As she becomes fed up with the constant cruelty, she discovers she has a special gift that she just might be able to use to outwit the unruly adults around her.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Unsaid (2001)
A doctor dealing with the aftermath of his son's death tries to help a troubled young man.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKick-Ass (2010)
Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCadet Kelly (2002)
Hyperactive teenager Kelly is enrolled into a military school when her new stepfather becomes the Commandant. At first she has problems fitting in and taking orders until she tries out for the drill team.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDennis the Menace (1993)
Mr. Wilson's ever-present annoyance comes in the form of one mischievous kid named Dennis. But he'll need Dennis's tricks to uncover a collection of gold coins that go missing when a shady drifter named Switchblade Sam comes to town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like thisI Am Number Four (2011)
A teenage fugitive with an incredible secret races to stay one step ahead of the mysterious forces seeking destroy him. With three dead and one on the run, the race to find the elusive Number Four begins. Outwardly normal teen John Smith never gets too comfortable in the same identity, and along with his guardian, Henri, he is constantly moving from town to town. With each passing day, John gains a stronger grasp on his extraordinary new powers, and his bond to the beings that share his fantastic fate grows stronger.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Once, Then and Now?
The closest matches to Once, Then and Now are The Boy in the Dress (2014), The Incredible Hulk (1977) and I Believe (2019). Below are 17 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Once, Then and Now?
Start with The Boy in the Dress (2014), the closest match to Once, Then and Now.
What is the highest-rated movie like Once, Then and Now?
Matilda (1996), rated 7.2/10 by 5,031 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Once, Then and Now?
Novocaine (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Once, Then and Now?
Yes: The Boy in the Dress (2014), The Incredible Hulk (1977) and I Believe (2019).
How are movies similar to Once, Then and Now chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Once, Then and Now, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.