15 Movies Like A Man There Was

Loved A Man There Was? Based on its unique Cinema DNA—including its pacing, themes, and emotional tone—we've curated the ultimate list of what you should watch next.

All Things Fair
#1

All Things Fair

In 1943 Malmö, 15-year-old Stig is attracted to his teacher Viola, 22 years his senior, who, drawn to his youth and innocence, believes the lad is a God-sent relief from her miserable marriage to a drunken, unfaithful lout.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

Pleasure
#2

Pleasure

19 year old Linnéa leaves her small town in Sweden and heads for Los Angeles with the aim of becoming the world's next big porn star, but the road to her goal turns out to be bumpier than she imagined.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

It's a Wonderful Life
#3

It's a Wonderful Life

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked A Man There Was.

The Count of Monte Cristo
#4

The Count of Monte Cristo

Young sailor Edmond Dantès is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes, finds treasure, and reinvents himself as the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo to exact revenge on those who betrayed him.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked A Man There Was.

The Shack
#5

The Shack

A grieving man receives a mysterious, personal invitation to meet with God at a place called 'The Shack'.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked A Man There Was.

The Impossible
#6

The Impossible

In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked A Man There Was.

The Seventh Seal
#7

The Seventh Seal

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

Je m'appelle Agneta
#8

Je m'appelle Agneta

Craving a fresh start, recently unemployed Agneta accepts an au pair gig in Provence that turns into an indulgent escape — and an unexpected awakening.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

In the Heart of the Sea
#9

In the Heart of the Sea

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex is assaulted by something no one could believe—a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked A Man There Was.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
#10

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson's novel about a male journalist and a young female hacker. In the opening of the movie, Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged publisher for the magazine Millennium, loses a libel case brought by corrupt Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. Nevertheless, he is hired by Henrik Vanger in order to solve a cold case, the disappearance of Vanger's niece

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

Persona
#11

Persona

A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

Lilya 4-ever
#12

Lilya 4-ever

In a struggling post-Soviet community, Lilya a teenage girl is abandoned when her mother moves to the United States with her boyfriend. Facing neglect and poverty, she meets Andrei, who offers her a job in Sweden, giving her hope for a better life — and a journey that will change everything.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

Wild Strawberries
#13

Wild Strawberries

Crotchety retired doctor Isak Borg travels from Stockholm to Lund, Sweden, with his pregnant and unhappy daughter-in-law, Marianne, in order to receive an honorary degree from his alma mater. Along the way, they encounter a series of hitchhikers, each of whom causes the elderly doctor to muse upon the pleasures and failures of his own life. These include the vivacious young Sara, a dead ringer for the doctor's own first love.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

Anita, Swedish Nymphet
#14

Anita, Swedish Nymphet

Anita, a young woman with a troubled childhood and a hunger for love, finds a soul mate in Erik, a kindly college student.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.

The Swedish Connection
#15

The Swedish Connection

Swedish Foreign Ministry bureaucrat Gösta Engzell, overlooked during WWII, rescued thousands while turning supposedly neutral Sweden into a moral force. His efforts challenged the status quo and left a lasting humanitarian legacy.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to A Man There Was.