Films like Silver Linings Playbook
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Silver Linings Playbook, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Moving and inventive: a contained romantic comedy, grounded rather than fantastical. Best if you like surprises over comfort. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of personal growth, self-destruction and unlikely connections, plus tags such as ex-wife, letter and dancing.
Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Silver Linings Playbook (2012).
- 1
Love & Other Drugs (2010)
Film7.0
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional, with themes of love against the odds. Common ground: letter.
- 2
Blue Valentine (2010)
Film6.9
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of personal growth and love against the odds. Common ground: dancing, depression.
- 3
About a Boy (2002)
Film6.7
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and glossy, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds. Common ground: friendship.
- 4
Friends with Benefits (2011)
Film6.7Lighter option
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional, with themes of self-destruction and unlikely connections. Common ground: friendship.
- 5
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Film6.7
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of personal growth and unlikely connections. Common ground: friendship.
- 6
High Fidelity (2000)
Film7.2
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and glossy, with themes of love against the odds and an all-consuming quest.
- 7
Film7.8
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds.
- 8
Welcome to the Sticks (2008)
Film6.7
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional, with themes of self-destruction and love against the odds.
- 9
The Terminal (2004)
Film7.3
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and glossy, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds. Common ground: friendship.
- 10
Begin Again (2013)
Film7.2Warmer in tone
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and glossy, with themes of love against the odds and an all-consuming quest.
- 11
Frances Ha (2013)
Film7.4
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and intimate, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds. Common ground: friendship.
- 12
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Film7.4Darker
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds. Common ground: friendship.
- 13
Paterson (2016)
Film7.1
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and glossy, with themes of love against the odds.
- 14
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Film7.1
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional, with themes of love against the odds.
- 15
Love, Rosie (2014)
Film7.8Lighter option
Why it's like Silver Linings Playbook: Also emotional and glossy, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds. Common ground: friendship.
Boxlist compares Silver Linings Playbook with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Silver Linings Playbook?
- Picks with a similar feel include Love & Other Drugs, Blue Valentine, About a Boy and Friends with Benefits. Each shares part of Silver Linings Playbook's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
- How are these films like Silver Linings Playbook chosen?
- Boxlist compares Silver Linings Playbook with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter film like Silver Linings Playbook?
- Friends with Benefits has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.