Movies like Thanasis the Optimist (1989)
The best movies like Thanasis the Optimist (1989) are John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018), Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time (2019) and Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (2023). If Thanasis the Optimist hooked you with its comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedJohn Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)7.9/10 from 259 votes
- NewestRicky Gervais: Mortality (2025)Released 2025
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)
John Mulaney relays stories from his childhood and "SNL," eviscerates the value of college and laments getting older in this electric comedy special.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisJim Gaffigan: Quality Time (2019)
Comedian Jim Gaffigan performs live at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, MN.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (2023)
In a rowdy stand-up set, Shane Gillis riffs on his girlfriend's Navy SEAL ex, touring George Washington's house and being bullied by an Australian Goth.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLouis C.K.: Hilarious (2010)
In this unique and dynamic live concert experience, Louis C.K.'s exploration of life after 40 destroys politically correct images of modern life with thoughts we have all had...but would rarely admit to.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHow to Irritate People (1969)
A pre-Monty Python mockumentary, written by and presented by John Cleese, that provides tips on learning how to irritate people.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGabriel Iglesias: I'm Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry (2016)
Hawaiian-shirt enthusiast Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias finds the laughs in racist gift baskets, Prius-driving cops and all-female taco trucks.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRicky Gervais: Mortality (2025)
Ricky Gervais tackles life, death and the state of the world in a brutally honest special that spares no topic, even his own mortality.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisI Love My Dad (2022)
A hopelessly estranged father catfishes his son in an attempt to reconnect.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisDave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000)
Dave Chappelle returns for a stand-up to D.C. and riffs on politics, police, race relations, drugs, Sesame Street and more.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisDave Chappelle: The Closer (2021)
As he closes out his slate of comedy specials, Dave takes the stage to try and set the record straight — and get a few things off his chest.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLouis C.K.: Oh My God (2013)
Filmed at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ on February 15th and 16th, 2013, Oh My God is Louis C.K.'s fifth stand-up special, his first for HBO since 2007's Shameless, and his first since winning a Emmy Award for writing on his acclaimed show on FX, Louie. Performed in the round in front of a live audience, he discusses such topics as the food chain, animals, divorce, strange anecdotes, broken morality, murder and mortality.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (2019)
Dave Chappelle takes on gun culture, the opioid crisis and the tidal wave of celebrity scandals in this defiant stand-up special.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisIliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills (2016)
The standup sensation tackle's TV's "Shark Tank," what it means to be a woman and how to deal with the lawless party goblin that lives in us all.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time (1998)
Taped for HBO in August 1998, on the final date of Jerry Seinfeld's tour appearances at New York City's Broadhurst Theater, I'm Telling You for the Last Time presents the standup comedian's so-called "final" standup, or at least his final tour with the standup material that made him famous.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAli Wong: Single Lady (2024)
After a whirlwind couple of years, Ali Wong returns to the stage to dish on the highs, lows and surprises of dating post-divorce.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChris Rock: Kill the Messenger (2008)
An HBO special edited from three performances from Chris Rock's 2008 comedy tour: London (dark suit, dark shirt), Johannesburg (black suit, white shirt) and New York (shiny jacket). Topics include the ongoing presidential campaign, the possibility of a black president, George W. Bush, gas prices, low-paid jobs, ringtones and bottled water, sex, relationships and the correct use of the n-word
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSarah Silverman: We Are Miracles (2013)
In her first-ever HBO solo special, Sarah Silverman takes the stage for an evening of adults-only stand-up comedy. Taped live in front of an intimate audience of 39 fans at Largo, a music and comedy club in Los Angeles, Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles features Silverman taking aim at such subjects as cell-phone porn, crazy religions, specialty deodorants, terrible roommates, eyebrow waxing, her 19-year-old dog, Obama and Republicans, having babies, Pixar movies, the miracle of existence, and more.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisClear History (2013)
Nathan Flomm, in order to avoid the humiliation of having missed out on a hugely successful business, assumes a new identity on Martha's Vineyard. He plots revenge when his former business partner moves to the same town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill (2020)
Jerry Seinfeld takes the stage in New York and tackles talking vs. texting, bad buffets vs. so-called "great" restaurants and the magic of Pop Tarts.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEddie Murphy Raw (1987)
Eddie Murphy delights, shocks and entertains with dead-on celebrity impersonations, observations on '80s love, sex and marriage, a remembrance of Mom's hamburgers and much more.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHere And Now Cucumbers!!! How Much Did You Eat Today? (1982)
To have a clear picture of the Greek public opinion after the recent victory of the current government, the editor-in-chief of a famous newspaper organisation enlists the help of two of his best reporters. What will the survey show?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Of the Poor Woman (1987)
Complications in life are common. But when they occur in different eras, the situation spirals out of control. A subversive comedy, with songs by Lefteris Pantazis and Stelios Rokos.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
And the First Matakias (1982)
An unruly voyeurism, Simos, works in a hotel as a bourgeois. A gang of burglars has put in the eye of the hotel's safe. The members of the gang - five in number and very pretty women - are staying at the hotel, waiting for the proper opportunity for the burglary. Meanwhile, the hotel's daughter, Myrto, seeing that the hotel is not doing well, and believing that some people sabotage the business, represents the receptionist, in order to learn from the inside exactly what is happening. The passion of Simos makes him a companion of the five women's gang's plans, both to frustrate the burglary and to win the hand of Myrto, who has fallen in love with him.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
The Papakavala (1987)
Father Antonis tries to bring people to church in order to raise money for his unfortunate parishioners. But no one attends his church. So, in order to achieve his goal, he is forced to find ways that go beyond the established perception of priests, resulting in him getting involved in unpredictable situations.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
I hira me ta kokkina (1988)
After the death of her 80-year-old husband, his young and beautiful widow, Gina, tries to get her hands on his vast fortune, but modern-day vultures won't leave her alone, as they are interested in the repose of the deceased's soul...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
I syzigos, o Pontios erastis kai to video (1985)
The familiar theme of the husband, wife, and lover, who is Pontian and, in fact, from Kalamata. The husband's obsession is video, and his love for the star of "Dynasty," Jane...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Anarchist nuns (1986)
The daughters of a big shipowner, bored by the boredom of wealth, enter a convent as novices. Spontaneous, cheerful and irrepressible as they are, they almost turn it into a disco.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Come to Your Place (1988)
Due to a mistake by the Ministry and the Archdiocese, a male abbot is appointed to a women's monastery. When the abbot arrives at the monastery, the fun begins. And as if that weren't enough, the Minister decides to take the monastery's property, but the nuns decide to make him change his mind...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Ap' ta thrania sta bouzoukia (1989)
Sofia is hired as a teacher at a private school, while Fanis, despite being a graduate, is hired as a janitor. Sofia is heavily in debt and in danger of losing her home. So she decides, with Fanis' help, to appear at Miltos' nightclub as "Lolita"...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Thanasis the Optimist?
The closest matches to Thanasis the Optimist are John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018), Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time (2019) and Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (2023). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Thanasis the Optimist?
Start with John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018), the closest match to Thanasis the Optimist.
What is the highest-rated movie like Thanasis the Optimist?
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018), rated 7.9/10 by 259 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Thanasis the Optimist?
Ricky Gervais: Mortality (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to Thanasis the Optimist chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Thanasis the Optimist, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.