10 Movies and Shows Similar to Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

Description: 'The Ice Storm' resembles 'Six Degrees of Separation' in its portrayal of suburban ennui and the hidden tensions beneath surface relationships. Both films explore themes of alienation and the search for connection, with a keen eye for social detail.

Fact: The film is based on Rick Moody's novel. It features a young Tobey Maguire and Elijah Wood. Director Ang Lee won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Brokeback Mountain', but 'The Ice Storm' is often cited as one of his most underrated works.

Description: Like 'Six Degrees of Separation', 'Magnolia' explores interconnected lives and chance encounters, weaving multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative. Both films delve into themes of human connection, fate, and redemption, with a strong ensemble cast that brings depth to each character's journey.

Fact: The film features an ensemble cast including Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Director Paul Thomas Anderson wrote the script in a burst of inspiration after the death of his father. The film's famous frog rain scene was inspired by a real-life phenomenon mentioned in the Bible and other historical texts.

Description: Similar to 'Six Degrees of Separation', 'Traffic' employs a multi-strand narrative to explore complex social issues—in this case, the drug trade. Both films use their structure to provide a panoramic view of society, showing how different lives intersect in unexpected ways.

Fact: The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Director for Steven Soderbergh. It features an ensemble cast including Michael Douglas, Benicio del Toro, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Soderbergh shot each storyline with a different color palette to distinguish them visually.

Description: Like 'Six Degrees of Separation', 'Amores Perros' is a multi-narrative film that explores the interconnectedness of lives in a sprawling urban setting. Both films delve into themes of love, betrayal, and the randomness of fate, with a gritty, realistic aesthetic.

Fact: This was Alejandro González Iñárritu's feature film debut. The film's title translates to 'Love's a Bitch' in English. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Description: 'The Hours' shares with 'Six Degrees of Separation' a focus on the inner lives of its characters and how their stories intersect across time. Both films explore themes of identity, art, and the search for meaning, with a strong emphasis on emotional depth.

Fact: The film is based on Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. It stars Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Julianne Moore. Nicole Kidman won an Oscar for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf.

Description: 'The Rules of Attraction' shares with 'Six Degrees of Separation' a focus on the chaotic and often superficial connections between people. Both films use a fragmented narrative style to depict the lives of their characters, with a darkly comedic tone.

Fact: The film is based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel. It features an early performance by James Van Der Beek, diverging from his 'Dawson's Creek' persona. The director, Roger Avary, co-wrote 'Pulp Fiction' with Quentin Tarantino.

Description: '21 Grams' mirrors 'Six Degrees of Separation' in its exploration of how disparate lives can become tragically intertwined. Both films use non-linear storytelling to reveal the connections between characters, emphasizing themes of loss, guilt, and redemption.

Fact: The title refers to the weight some believe the soul loses at the moment of death. Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, and Benicio del Toro deliver powerful performances. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu is known for his complex, multi-narrative films.

Description: 'Syriana' parallels 'Six Degrees of Separation' in its use of a multi-threaded narrative to explore complex global issues. Both films reveal how individual lives are interconnected on a larger scale, with a focus on power, corruption, and the human cost of systemic issues.

Fact: The film is loosely based on former CIA officer Robert Baer's memoirs. George Clooney won an Academy Award for his supporting role. The title 'Syriana' refers to a hypothetical realignment of the Middle East.

Description: 'Babel' shares with 'Six Degrees of Separation' the theme of interconnectedness across different cultures and societies. Both films use a multi-narrative structure to show how small actions can have far-reaching consequences, highlighting the fragility and complexity of human relationships.

Fact: The film is part of Alejandro González Iñárritu's 'Death Trilogy', which also includes 'Amores Perros' and '21 Grams'. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett star in one of the film's intertwining storylines. The film's title refers to the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, symbolizing miscommunication and division.

Description: 'Cloud Atlas' extends the theme of interconnectedness seen in 'Six Degrees of Separation' across time and space. Both films use multiple narratives to explore how actions and relationships ripple through lives, emphasizing themes of destiny and human connection.

Fact: The film is based on David Mitchell's novel of the same name. The same actors play multiple roles across different storylines. It was one of the most expensive independent films ever made at the time of its release.