10 Movies and Shows Similar to Before Midnight (2013)

Description: The first installment in the 'Before' trilogy, 'Before Sunrise' shares the same director (Richard Linklater) and stars (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) as 'Before Midnight'. Like its sequels, it focuses on deep, meandering conversations between two characters exploring love, life, and human connection in real-time. The film's naturalistic dialogue and long takes create an intimate, authentic feel similar to 'Before Midnight'.

Fact: The entire script was written in just 11 days. Many scenes were improvised based on outlines. The famous listening booth scene was completely unscripted.

Description: This film shares 'Before Midnight's' focus on fleeting connections and meaningful conversations between two people in a foreign setting. Both explore themes of loneliness, cultural displacement, and the search for authentic connection. The quiet, contemplative tone and emphasis on unspoken emotions create a similarly poignant atmosphere.

Fact: Bill Murray didn't see the script until arriving in Tokyo. Many scenes were improvised, including the famous whisper at the end. Sofia Coppola based parts on her own experiences in Tokyo.

Description: While more surreal than 'Before Midnight', this film similarly explores the complexities of long-term relationships through innovative storytelling. Both films examine how love evolves over time, the pain of separation, and whether relationships are worth their difficulties. The raw emotional honesty and unconventional narrative structure create a similarly profound viewing experience.

Fact: Jim Carrey's most dramatic role at the time. The nonlinear structure was inspired by Freud's theory of memory. Kate Winslet dyed her hair frequently during filming to mark different timeline segments.

Description: The second film in the trilogy continues Jesse and Celine's story nine years later, maintaining the same walking-and-talking format and deepening their complex relationship. Like 'Before Midnight', it explores how time and maturity affect love and connection, with even more sophisticated dialogue and emotional depth. The real-time structure and Paris setting create a similarly immersive romantic atmosphere.

Fact: Filmed in just 15 days to accommodate the actors' schedules. The ending was deliberately ambiguous to allow for a third film. Julie Delpy contributed significantly to the script and even wrote one of the songs.

Description: This indie romance shares 'Before Midnight's' real-time walking-and-talking format and focus on two strangers connecting through conversation. Both films explore love, loneliness, and chance encounters in urban settings. The black-and-white cinematography and naturalistic performances create a similarly intimate, authentic feel.

Fact: Shot for just $15,

Description: This brutally honest portrayal of a relationship's rise and fall shares 'Before Midnight's' unflinching look at love's complexities. Both films use nonlinear storytelling to contrast romantic beginnings with painful present realities. The naturalistic performances and intimate cinematography create a similarly raw, emotionally immersive experience.

Fact: Received an NC-17 rating initially for its realistic sex scenes. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling lived together for a month to build chemistry. Many scenes were improvised within loose guidelines.

Description: While about young love, this film shares 'Before Midnight's' honest exploration of relationships and personal growth. Both feature walking-and-talking sequences that reveal character depth through conversation. The naturalistic performances and bittersweet tone create a similarly authentic emotional experience.

Fact: Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley didn't meet before filming their first scene. Based on a young adult novel but made more mature. The screenplay was workshopped at Sundance Labs.

Description: This intimate romance shares 'Before Midnight's' realistic portrayal of long-distance relationships and the challenges of maintaining love over time. Both films use naturalistic dialogue and improvisational acting to create authentic emotional moments. The focus on how small moments build or break relationships is particularly similar.

Fact: The leads were kept apart for weeks to build longing. Much of the dialogue was improvised. Won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

Description: Like 'Before Midnight', 'Her' explores intimate human connection through extended conversations, though with a sci-fi twist. Both films examine how relationships evolve and what it means to truly know another person. The melancholic yet hopeful tone and focus on emotional authenticity are strikingly similar, despite the futuristic setting.

Fact: Scarlett Johansson never appeared on set - all her lines were recorded later. The OS's voice was originally Samantha Morton's before being recast. Spike Jonze wrote the screenplay after his own divorce.

Description: This unconventional romance shares 'Before Midnight's' focus on a couple's relationship through extended conversations in different timelines. Both films use nonlinear storytelling to explore how love changes over time. The witty, philosophical dialogue and dreamlike atmosphere create a similarly unique romantic experience.

Fact: Filmed in just 18 days. Justin Long called it the most challenging role of his career. The director was inspired by 'Before Sunrise' and 'Eternal Sunshine'.