Movies like Guatemala 1982 (2018)
The best movies like Guatemala 1982 (2018) are Embattled (2020), Hands of Stone (2016) and I Am Elizabeth Smart (2017). If Guatemala 1982 hooked you with its drama, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe Enforcer (2022)7.0/10 from 533 votes
- NewestMexicali (2026)Released 2026
Embattled (2020)
The eldest son of a ruthlessly tough MMA champion must fight his way out of the abusive cycle his father has continued.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHands of Stone (2016)
The legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel change each other's lives.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisI Am Elizabeth Smart (2017)
The story of Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping and captivity, as told from her perspective.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMexicali (2026)
A former special forces contractor is forced out of retirement as an avocado farmer in Mexico when local gangsters try to force him and his family off their farm.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Dry White Season (1989)
During the 1976 Soweto uprising, a white school teacher's life and values are threatened when he asks questions about the death of a young black boy who died in police custody.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Padre (2018)
American retired Judge Randall Nemes and his hired gun, Gaspar, track down a con man posing as a priest in a small Colombian town only to be thrown off-course by a scrappy 16-year-old girl intent on reuniting with her sister in the United States.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisOutlaws - For Greater Glory (2012)
A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government's attempt to secularize the country.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Truth About Emanuel (2013)
A troubled young woman becomes obsessed with her mysterious new neighbor, who bears a striking resemblance to the girl's dead mother.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBastard Out of Carolina (1996)
A poor, struggling South Carolinian mother and daughter face painful choices with their resolve and pride. Bone, the eldest daughter, and Anney her tired mother, grow both closer and farther apart: Anney sees Glen as her last chance.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Visit (1964)
Carla Zachanassian had a child by Serge Miller as a teenager. When Serge refused to marry her, she was driven out of town. By her own wit and cunning, she has returned as a multi-millionaire for a visit. The town lays out the red carpet expecting big things from Carla, only to learn that her sole purpose is to see Serge Miller killed...
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like this40 Acres (2025)
Hailey Freeman and her family are the last descendants of African American farmers who settled in rural Canada after the Civil War. In a famine-decimated near future, they now struggle to safeguard their farm, as they make one last stand against a vicious militia hell-bent on taking their 40 Acres.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMan with No Past (2025)
Waking up in an unfamiliar city, a man with no memory must confront the mysteries of his own identity. However, his desperate search to uncover the past pits him against a powerful enemy, leading to a showdown that ultimately reveals the truth.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Young One (1960)
A jazz musician seeks refuge from a lynch mob on a remote island, where he meets a hostile game warden and the young object of his attentions.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Enforcer (2022)
A noir thriller set in Miami, the film follows an enforcer who discovers his femme fatale boss has branched out into cyber sex trafficking, putting a young runaway he’s befriended at risk. He sacrifices everything to save the young girl from the deadly organization he’s spent his life building.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Good Neighbor (2022)
A nightmarish evening unfolds for neighbors David and Robert when they accidentally hit a woman on her bike and flee the scene. While David is increasingly plagued by feelings of guilt, Robert shows no remorse and becomes overbearing and possessive.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSeeking Justice (2011)
After his wife is assaulted, a husband enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisLuce (2019)
A star athlete and top student, Luce's idealized image is challenged by one of his teachers when his unsettling views on political violence come to light, putting a strain on family bonds while igniting intense debates on race and identity.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSalvador (1986)
In 1980, an American journalist covering the Salvadoran Civil War becomes entangled with both the leftist guerrilla groups and the right-wing military dictatorship while trying to rescue his girlfriend and her children.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Trials of Cate McCall (2013)
In order to be reinstated to the bar and recover custody of her daughter, a hotshot lawyer, now in recovery and on probation, must take on the appeal of a woman wrongfully convicted of murder.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRoad to Paloma (2014)
While Native American Wolf is being pursued by the FBI for having taken the law into his own hands, when his mother was raped and killed on their reservation he crosses paths with Cash, a down and out musician who is coping with the end of his marriage. An unlikely friendship develops, as they ride together towards the Teton mountain range, where Wolf will spread his mothers ashes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both drama
SnoozefestMovies like thisWhat We Don't Heal (2022)
Trapped in a toxic relationship, Marcos discovers the effort it takes to heal and move forward.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
El Norte (1983)
Brother and sister Enrique and Rosa flee persecution at home in Guatemala and journey north, through Mexico and on to the United States, with the dream of starting a new life.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFinding Together (2021)
Eddie and Byron began their relationship just before COVID-19, but quarantine forces them to face distance, work stress, and the big question: will living together work? A tender and honest LGBTQ+ story, perfect for those who believe in love... even in the toughest times.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Let It Flow (2022)
After their father's death, Nelson and Andrés reunite at the family beach house to resolve legal matters. Amid arguments and awkward silences, an unexpected gay secret will force them to confront their own prejudices.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Silence of the Paab’ank (2024)
In a small town in Guatemala, Ana, a young deaf woman, leads a monotonous life. However, folk dance offers her a unique form of expression. While caring for her ailing grandmother, Ana searches for a deeper connection with herself and her surroundings.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Under the September Sun (2025)
Abel takes his girlfriend Meryem to Quetzaltenango to meet his conservative family during the Guatemalan Independence Day celebrations. While Abel struggles to live up to family expectations, Meryem ventures into the city in search of her idol. With secrets and misunderstandings, the couple faces comical and heartwarming challenges during a night of parades and revelations.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Without Direction (2012)
Teo, a gay Guatemalan musician, flees a brutal homophobic attack. Ray, an American doctor, escapes his past after a fatal mistake. When their paths cross, they discover that redemption can come from where they least expect it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Adventure Girl (1934)
Faux documentary told in first-person narration, about an "adventuress" who sets sail to Guatemala with her father and two male crewmen, rescues them when their fresh-water supply is compromised, finds a treasure map, and attempts to steal a fabulous emerald from a ruined temple, much to the aggrevation of a worshipful native princess and her subjects.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Earthquake in Guatemala (1978)
A newlywed couple finds their lives thrown into chaos amid the destruction of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Guatemala.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
Gabriela (2023)
It's the summer after high school graduation and Gabriela, a young undocumented Guatemalan woman, pursues her dream of swimming for an illustrious Country Club swim team. Despite her single-minded determination, Gabriela is continually confronted with her overprotective mother’s ears, limitations on her economic and legal status, and self-judgment. As she questions her self-worth against the structures of contemporary American Southern life, Gabriela embarks on a quest towards personal freedom and self-acceptance.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both drama
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Guatemala 1982?
The closest matches to Guatemala 1982 are Embattled (2020), Hands of Stone (2016) and I Am Elizabeth Smart (2017). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Guatemala 1982?
Start with Embattled (2020), the closest match to Guatemala 1982.
What is the highest-rated movie like Guatemala 1982?
The Enforcer (2022), rated 7.0/10 by 533 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Guatemala 1982?
Mexicali (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Guatemala 1982?
Yes: Embattled (2020), Hands of Stone (2016) and I Am Elizabeth Smart (2017).
How are movies similar to Guatemala 1982 chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Guatemala 1982, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.