Movies like Pénélope (2012)
The best movies like Pénélope (2012) are My Mom Jayne (2025), As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000) and Come See Me in the Good Light (2025). If Pénélope hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Pénélope
Quick picks
- Highest ratedKaty Perry: Part of Me (2012)7.1/10 from 294 votes
- NewestCome See Me in the Good Light (2025)Released 2025
- In FrenchDaguerréotypes (1978)Also in French
My Mom Jayne (2025)
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisAs I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
A compilation of over 30 years of private home movie footage shot by Lithuanian-American avant-garde director Jonas Mekas, assembled by Mekas "purely by chance", without concern for chronological order.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCome See Me in the Good Light (2025)
In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Curious Birth of Benjamin Button (2009)
A documentary about the making of David Fincher's 2008 film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Virtually every element in the evolution of the Fincher's film is documented here, from the project's attachment to numerous other directors during the 1990s, to its shoot in 2006 and 2007 in New Orleans, to its complex, CGI-intensive postproduction process.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDaguerréotypes (1978)
An intimate portrait of the small shops and shopkeepers of the Rue Daguerre in Paris, a picturesque street that has been the filmmaker’s home for more than 50 years.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHeart of a Dog (2015)
Musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother and her beloved dog.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like this180° South (2010)
The film follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNaqoyqatsi (2002)
A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThey'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018)
As his life comes to its end, famous Hollywood director Orson Welles puts it all on the line at the chance for renewed success with the film The Other Side of the Wind.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAnna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me (2023)
From the heights of her modeling fame to her tragic death, this documentary reveals Anna Nicole Smith through the eyes of the people closest to her.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTo Kill a Tiger (2023)
Ranjit, a farmer in India, takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the victim of a brutal gang rape. His decision to support his daughter is virtually unheard of, and his journey unprecedented.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAvatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022)
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (2016)
An intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty featuring Debbie Reynolds, Todd Fisher, and Carrie Fisher.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDirected by John Ford (1971)
A documentary about the life and films of director John Ford.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGirl Model (2011)
A documentary on the modeling industry's 'supply chain' between Siberia, Japan, and the U.S., told through the experiences of the scouts, agencies, and a 13-year-old model.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKaty Perry: Part of Me (2012)
Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, Katy Perry: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Katy and her friends, and all-access footage of rehearsals, choreography, Katy’s signature style and more, Katy Perry: Part of Me reveals the singer’s unwavering belief that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEx Libris: The New York Public Library (2017)
A documentary about how a dominant cultural and demographic institution both sustains their traditional activities and adapts to the digital revolution.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBeing James Bond (2021)
Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
With this inventive portrait, director Kirsten Johnson seeks a way to keep her 86-year-old father alive forever. Utilizing moviemaking magic and her family’s dark humor, she celebrates Dr. Dick Johnson’s last years by staging fantasies of death and beyond. Together, dad and daughter confront the great inevitability awaiting us all.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEmbrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022)
A feature length documentary about the all-women team at the helm of Pixar's original feature, Turning Red. With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Director Domee Shi and her core leadership crew, this story shines a light on the powerful professional and personal journeys that brought this incredibly comical, utterly relatable, and deeply heartfelt story to the screen.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJim Dandy to the Rescue: A Film by Joey Skidmore (2018)
A documentary about Jim "Dandy" Mangrum and his band Black Oak Arkansas.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Mamma Mia: The Story of the World's Favourite Musical (2018)
Examining the enduring appeal and remarkable success of the story of `Mamma Mia!', not only a hit stage musical based on the songs of ABBA, but the Greek island-set romantic comedy also found success on the big screen.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Siren Lullabies (2023)
Documentary covering the first four months of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
8 Billions: We are all responsible (2023)
Ailton Krenak, indigenous leader and thinker, talks about the pain of the Watú (or Rio Doce in the Krenak language). Sick with the biggest environmental disaster in Brazilian history, the Mariana Dam disaster, the river asks for help. From the impacts on his village on the banks of the river, he makes an overview of the current Anthropocene period and invites all human beings to a journey of reflection and self-criticism, aiming at urgent but necessary paradigm shifts.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Comunicado de junio '90 (1990)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
The Madness of Sherlock Holmes: Conan Doyle and the Realm of the Faeries (2007)
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes have been seen and read about in countless mediums. And yet, there is a mysterious side to this fictional character that has eluded us for decades. From secret societies to the occult, the film sets out to uncover dark secrets of Holmes' creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and will finally explain what influences helped to forge not just Holmes, but also fellow characters Moriarty and Watson.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
The Real Bloodline of Jesus Christ: The Sacred Teachings of Tim Wallace-Murphy (2007)
Tim Wallace-Murphy is an international best selling author known throughout the world for his deep knowledge of Rosslyn, the Knights Templar, Sacred Geometry and Rex Deus - the real bloodline of Jesus Christ. He has been an expert consultant to many scholars and authors most notably Dan Brown. Tim Wallace-Murphy talks about the true bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Tradition is a Temple: The Modern Masters of New Orleans (2013)
Tradition is a Temple explores New Orleans' unique musical culture and the fragility of tradition in the modern world.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
JFK Assassination: The Definitive Guide (2013)
September 11th... Pearl Harbor... the assassination of JFK. Days that forever changed America. But the Kennedy assassination is different: 50 years after it happened, most Americans think we don't know who did it. Now History has conducted the largest nationwide survey ever attempted on the topic to learn exactly what the country believes. Who do Americans suspect was really responsible for JFK's death?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (2009)
Commemorating the centennial of Mercer's birth, this documentary is part biography, part archive, and part recontextualization, taking Mercer's tunes and putting them in the hands of modern singers like Jamie Cullum and Dr. John to show they are still relevant today. Host Clint Eastwood also interviews artists who collaborated with Mercer or performed his songs, including composer John Williams, Blake Edwards, Andre Previn, Tony Bennett, and Julie Andrews.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Pénélope?
The closest matches to Pénélope are My Mom Jayne (2025), As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000) and Come See Me in the Good Light (2025). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Pénélope?
Start with My Mom Jayne (2025), the closest match to Pénélope.
What is the highest-rated movie like Pénélope?
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012), rated 7.1/10 by 294 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Pénélope?
Come See Me in the Good Light (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there French movies like Pénélope?
Yes: Daguerréotypes (1978).
How are movies similar to Pénélope chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Pénélope, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.