50 Movies Like Being John Malkovich (1999) You Need to Watch Next
Updated August 2026
View Being John Malkovich details →Spike Jonze's 1999 debut is one of those premises that sounds like a dare and somehow becomes a fully realized film. A struggling puppeteer named Craig discovers a hidden portal that drops whoever enters into the mind of actor John Malkovich for fifteen minutes. From that absurd hook, the story spirals into questions about identity, desire and the hunger to be someone else. It's a comedy that keeps tilting toward melancholy, playful on the surface and genuinely unsettling underneath. Viewers who prize originality and don't need tidy explanations will find plenty to chew on. Those who want their stories logical and grounded may find its dream-logic too slippery to embrace.
If you loved Being John Malkovich (1999) by Spike Jonze, here are 50 movies that share its content DNA. iRankMovies measures real similarity using cosine similarity across eight weighted dimensions — genre (50%), tone (12%), pace (10%), structure (8%), era (7%), theme (6%), audience (4%) and narrative perspective (3%) — not just the rating. The closest matches according to our analysis are Cats, Haunted Mansion, Big. Every title is ranked by how closely it matches and backed by the iRank Score, a composite of IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and TMDb across 12,000+ analysed titles.
The Best Movies Similar to Being John Malkovich
Selected for their real similarity in content, these are the movies that share the most with Being John Malkovich in terms of theme, narrative tone, and cinematic style. Every recommendation goes beyond genre — we evaluate the type of conflict, pacing, dramatic context, and the experience they create for viewers.
Cats
2019 · Tom Hooper
A tribe of cats called the Jellicles must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new Jellicle life.
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
Haunted Mansion
2023 · Justin Simien
A woman and her son enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
Big
1988 · Penny Marshall
When a young boy makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big—he wakes up the following morning to find that it has been granted and his body has grown older overnight. But he is still the same 13-yea
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
2013 · Ben Stiller
A timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing.
In common: Comedy · Drama
A Dog's Purpose
2017 · Lasse Hallström
A dog goes on quest to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes with multiple owners.
In common: Comedy · Drama
Just My Luck
2006 · Donald Petrie
Manhattanite Ashley is known to many as the luckiest woman around. After a chance encounter with a down-and-out young man, however, she realizes that she's swapped her fortune for his.
In common: Comedy · Drama
Luca
2021 · Enrico Casarosa
Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below t
In common: Comedy · Drama
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989 · Don Bluth
When a casino-owning dog named Charlie is murdered by his rival Carface, he finds himself in Heaven. Wanting to get back at his killer, he cons his way back to the living with the warning that doing s
In common: Comedy · Drama
Shallow Hal
2001 · Peter Farrelly
After taking his dying father's advice, Hal dates only the embodiments of female physical perfection. But that all changes after Hal has an unexpected run-in with self-help guru Tony Robbins. Intrigue
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
Ruby Sparks
2012 · Jonathan Dayton
Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a cha
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
A Dog's Will
2000 · Guel Arraes
The lively João Grilo and the sly Chicó are poor guys living in the hinterland who cheat a bunch of people in a small town in Northeastern Brazil. When they die, they have to be judged by Christ, the
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
The Family Man
2000 · Brett Ratner
Jack's lavish, fast-paced lifestyle changes one Christmas night when he stumbles into a grocery store holdup and disarms the gunman. The next morning he wakes up in bed lying next to Kate, his college
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
Click
2006 · Frank Coraci
A married workaholic, Michael Newman doesn't have time for his wife and children, not if he's to impress his ungrateful boss and earn a well-deserved promotion. So when he meets Morty, a loopy sales c
In common: Comedy · Drama · Fantasy
Meet the Spartans
2008 · Jason Friedberg
The heroic Leonidas, armed with nothing but leather underwear and a cape, leads a ragtag group of thirteen Spartans to defend their homeland against the invading Persians (whose ranks include Ghost Ri
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Charlotte's Web
2006 · Gary Winick
Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
2022 · Matthew Warchus
An extraordinary young girl discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny. Standing u
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Doctor Dolittle
1998 · Betty Thomas
A successful physician and devoted family man, John Dolittle seems to have the world by the tail, until a long suppressed talent he possessed as a child, the ability to communicate with animals is sud
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Tooth Fairy
2010 · Michael Lembeck
When minor-league hockey player Derek Thompson -- who has a penchant for knocking out his opponents' teeth every time he plays -- disillusions a fan, he is sentenced to a stint for one week as a bona
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Family Switch
2023 · McG
When the Walker family members switch bodies with each other during a rare planetary alignment, their hilarious journey to find their way back to normal will bring them closer together than they ever
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Ted 2
2015 · Seth MacFarlane
Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Freakier Friday
2025 · Nisha Ganatra
Years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess a
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Ted
2012 · Seth MacFarlane
John Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear or his girlfriend, Lori.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Wonka
2023 · Paul King
Willy Wonka – chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time – is proof that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Matilda
1996 · Danny DeVito
Matilda Wormwood is an brilliant and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, her parents, Harry and Zinnia, fail to see that fact. As time passes, she finally starts school and has a kind teacher, loy
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
IF
2024 · John Krasinski
After discovering she can see everyone's imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten imaginary friends with their kids.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Night at the Museum
2006 · Shawn Levy
Chaos reigns at the natural history museum when night watchman Larry Daley accidentally stirs up an ancient curse, awakening Attila the Hun, an army of gladiators, a Tyrannosaurus rex and other exhibi
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Bruce Almighty
2003 · Tom Shadyac
Bruce Nolan toils as a "human interest" television reporter in Buffalo, NY, but despite his high ratings and the love of his beautiful girlfriend, Bruce remains unfulfilled. At the end of the worst da
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Casper
1995 · Brad Silberling
Casper is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Dark Shadows
2012 · Tim Burton
Vampire Barnabas Collins is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate and family have fallen
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
The Hot Chick
2002 · Tom Brady
Not only is Jessica Spencer the most popular girl in school -- she is also the meanest. But things change for the attractive teen when a freak accident involving a cursed pair of earrings and a chance
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
The Addams Family
1991 · Barry Sonnenfeld
When a man claiming to be long-lost Uncle Fester reappears after 25 years lost, the family plans a celebration to wake the dead. But the kids barely have time to warm up the electric chair before Mort
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Elf
2003 · Jon Favreau
When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shak
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Good Fortune
2025 · Aziz Ansari
A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy capitalist.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Freaky Friday
2003 · Mark Waters
Mother and daughter bicker over everything -- what Anna wears, whom she likes and what she wants to do when she's older. In turn, Anna detests Tess's fiancé. When a magical fortune cookie switches the
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Nanny McPhee
2005 · Kirk Jones
Widower Cedric Brown hires Nanny McPhee to care for his seven rambunctious children, who have chased away all previous nannies. Taunted by Simon and his siblings, Nanny McPhee uses mystical powers to
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Evan Almighty
2007 · Tom Shadyac
God contacts Junior Congressman Evan Baxter and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Mary Poppins Returns
2018 · Rob Marshall
Mary Poppins returns to the Banks family and helps them evade grave dangers by taking them on magical, musical adventures.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Hocus Pocus
1993 · Kenny Ortega
After 300 years of slumber, three sister witches are accidentally resurrected in Salem on Halloween night, and it is up to three kids and their newfound feline friend to put an end to the witches' rei
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Addams Family Values
1993 · Barry Sonnenfeld
Siblings Wednesday and Pugsley Addams will stop at nothing to get rid of Pubert, the new baby boy adored by parents Gomez and Morticia. Things go from bad to worse when the new "black widow" nanny, De
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
2010 · Susanna White
Nanny McPhee appears at the door of a harried young mother who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. But once she’s arrived, Nanny discovers that the children are fighting
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Ghostbusters
1984 · Ivan Reitman
After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Beetlejuice
1988 · Tim Burton
A newly dead New England couple seeks help from a deranged demon exorcist to scare an affluent New York family out of their home.
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000 · Ron Howard
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
In common: Comedy · Fantasy
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
1971 · Mel Stuart
When eccentric candy man Willy Wonka promises a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of his chocolate factory to five lucky kids, penniless Charlie Bucket seeks the golden ticket that will make him a
In common: Fantasy · Comedy
Dedicated to my ex
2019 · Jorge Ulloa
The film tells the story of Ariel, a 21-year-old who decides to form a rock band to compete for a prize of ten thousand dollars in a musical band contest, this as a last option when trying to get mone
In common: Comedy · Drama
The Seventh Seal
1957 · Ingmar Bergman
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
In common: Drama · Fantasy
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
1994 · Stephan Elliott
Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.
In common: Comedy · Drama
The King of Comedy
1982 · Martin Scorsese
Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.
In common: Comedy · Drama
A Real Pain
2024 · Jesse Eisenberg
Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the pair's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their
In common: Comedy · Drama
It's a Wonderful Life
1946 · Frank Capra
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 compan
In common: Drama · Fantasy
Popular Comedy series
Rick and Morty
2013 · Rob Schrab
Follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on adventures across the universe.
The Owl House
2020
Luz, a self-assured teenage human girl, accidentally stumbles upon a portal to a magical new world where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and an adorably tiny warrior, King.
Fighting Spirit
2000
Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years lik
Kamisama Kiss
2012 · Sadakazu Kikuchi
Nanami was just a normal high school girl down on her luck until a stranger’s lips marked her as the new Land God and turned her world upside down. Now, she’s figuring out the duties of a deity with t