Movies like Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan (2006)
The best movies like Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan (2006) are Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis (2019), Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022) and Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022). If Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- NewestCome See Me in the Good Light (2025)Released 2025
Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis (2019)
Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman discuss their characters Mera and Atlanna.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 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 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 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 Irishman: In Conversation (2019)
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino in conversation about The Irishman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMarvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye (2022)
Join the likes of Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Florence Pugh, and Vincent D’Onofrio as they reveal how Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” was conceived and created. Witness firsthand what it took to pull off the show’s pulse-pounding action set pieces, and discover how iconic characters from the pages of Marvel Comics such as Kate Bishop were adapted and brought to life for the six-episode series.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Curse of the Dragon (1993)
A 1993 documentary film about Bruce Lee. The film includes interviews from some of his fellow students and opponents who worked alongside him in his movies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies 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 thisThe Godfather Family: A Look Inside (1990)
A documentary on the making of the three Godfather films, with interviews and recollections from the film makers and cast. This feature also includes the original screen tests of some of the actors for "The Godfather" film, and some candid moments on the set of "The Godfather: Part III."
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDangerous Days: Making Blade Runner (2007)
The definitive 3½-hour documentary about the troubled creation and enduring legacy of the science fiction classic 'Blade Runner', culled from 80 interviews and hours of never-before-seen outtakes and lost footage.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOne Soldier's Story: The Journey of American Sniper (2015)
Join director Clint Eastwood and his creative team, along with Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, as they overcome enormous creative and logistic obstacles to make a film that brings the truth of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's story to the screen.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
SnoozefestMovies 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 thisHalloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006)
Follow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why the films are so popular and revisits many of the original locations used in the films - seeing the effects on the local community. For the first time, cast, crew, critics and fans join together in the ultimate 'Halloween' retrospective.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Decade Under the Influence (2003)
A documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)
A documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisExtremis (2016)
A purely observational non-fiction film that takes viewers into the ethically murky world of end-of-life decision making in a public hospital.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 thisDon't F*#% With John Wick (2015)
Behind the scenes look at fight choreography and action training.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisElaine May's Mikey and Nicky (2019)
Documentary on the making of the film featuring interviews with distributor Julian Schlossberg and actor Joyce Van Patten.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Body Parts (2006)
Andrey Loshak's film from the series "Profession-reporter".
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
NARC. Mini-Doc – Outside The Mainstream: The North East’s Alternative Scene (2022)
The final episode in our Mini-Docs series comes from musician and writer Jake Anderson, who explores the niche music genres which find an increasing audience in the North East. On a mission to discover outside-the-mainstream sounds and the driving forces behind their creation, Jake chats with musicians Me Lost Me, SQUARMS and Mariam Rezaei, along with some of the major players keeping these sonically-engaging sound makers doing what they’re doing, including Simeon Soden from Kaneda Records and Lee Etherington of TUSK. This mini-documentary features reflections on some of the most unique acts in the North East, what genre boundaries actually mean and artists’ hopes for the future of the North East’s alternative scene. This is an Art Mouse film for NARC. TV, written and directed by Jake Anderson.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Well How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of Talking Heads (2017)
A brief history of Talking Heads (and how they got here!)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Straight from the Heart: A Tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman (2015)
An homage to the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Fighting Chance (2023)
Three boxing athletes and one coach open up about their journey within the demanding sport. This touches on community, role models, mental health, and the sport perception on mainstream media.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Silent Night (2024)
In the spring of 2022, an international tourist group will make a day trip to Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank to visit religious sites. But something is wrong here - the whole city is on strike. The two tour guides, one Israeli, the other Palestinian, do not want to comment on the matter. A murmur goes around about an incident the day before…
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Who Trains My Hands to War (TBA)
Founding a social Muay Thai project in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Mestre BG and his competitors face the adversities of an underfunded project and fight to win their place on the podium. The challenges intensify when one of the students, Raíssa Pacheco, secures a spot to compete in a South American championship in Uruguay.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Fallen Kingdom: The Conversation (2018)
Bryce Dallas Howard, J. A. Bayona, Colin Trevorrow, Chris Pratt, and Jeff Goldblum chat about all things Jurassic.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Tree Begins Life, Indians Still Live Here (TBA)
A display of a fallen red cedar at Olympic National Park headquarters proclaims in 1349 "Indians live here." TREE BEGINS LIFE INDIANS STILL LIVE HERE produces a meditation on the territories of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, and invites an alternative interpretation of U.S. sovereignty over these lands.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan?
The closest matches to Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan are Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis (2019), Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022) and Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan?
Start with Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis (2019), the closest match to Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan.
What is the newest movie like Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan?
Come See Me in the Good Light (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan?
Yes: Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis (2019), Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022) and Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022).
How are movies similar to Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Mommie Dearest: Life with Joan, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.