10 Movies and Shows Similar to Streetwise (1984)

Description: Like 'Streetwise,' 'Salesman' is a groundbreaking documentary that delves into the lives of its subjects with unflinching honesty. Both films explore themes of economic hardship and the American Dream, using a fly-on-the-wall approach to storytelling that feels both intimate and universal.

Fact: Directed by Albert and David Maysles, pioneers of direct cinema. The film follows four Bible salesmen as they travel across New England. It is considered one of the greatest documentaries ever made.

Description: Both 'The Thin Blue Line' and 'Streetwise' employ a documentary style that blends investigative journalism with personal storytelling. While 'Streetwise' focuses on homeless youth, 'The Thin Blue Line' examines a wrongful conviction, but both films highlight systemic failures and the human cost of societal neglect.

Fact: The film's investigation led to the exoneration of Randall Dale Adams. Director Errol Morris used reenactments, a controversial technique at the time. It is often credited with pioneering the true-crime documentary genre.

Description: 'The War Room' shares with 'Streetwise' a vérité approach to documentary filmmaking, offering an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at its subjects—in this case, political strategists during a presidential campaign. Both films excel in capturing the energy, chaos, and human elements of their respective environments, making the audience feel like insiders.

Fact: The film focuses on Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Directors D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus had unprecedented access to the campaign's inner workings.

Description: 'Crumb' and 'Streetwise' both explore the lives of unconventional, often marginalized individuals with a mix of empathy and unflinching honesty. Each film delves into the psychological and social factors that shape its subjects, offering a complex portrait of human existence.

Fact: The film profiles underground cartoonist Robert Crumb and his eccentric family. It took director Terry Zwigoff nine years to complete. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Description: Similar to 'Streetwise' (1984), 'Hoop Dreams' is a deeply immersive documentary that follows the lives of its subjects over an extended period, capturing raw and unfiltered human experiences. Both films focus on marginalized individuals striving for a better life, highlighting systemic issues and personal struggles. The observational style and emotional depth in both films create a powerful connection with the audience.

Fact: 'Hoop Dreams' was originally intended to be a 30-minute short film but evolved into a nearly three-hour epic. The film took five years to complete. Despite its critical acclaim, it was surprisingly snubbed for an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary.

Description: Like 'Streetwise,' 'American Movie' is a documentary that captures the struggles and dreams of its subjects with humor and pathos. Both films highlight the resilience of individuals pursuing their passions against all odds, creating a deeply human and engaging narrative.

Fact: The film follows aspiring filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he attempts to make a low-budget horror movie. It won the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. The film's title is a play on words, referencing both American cinema and Borchardt's unfinished film, 'Northwestern.'

Description: 'Dark Days' resonates with 'Streetwise' in its portrayal of homelessness and survival in urban environments. Both films offer a poignant, humanistic look at individuals living on the fringes of society, capturing their resilience and dignity amidst adversity.

Fact: The film was shot entirely in black and white. Many of the homeless individuals featured in the film helped build the sets. It won multiple awards, including the Sundance Film Festival's Audience Award and Freedom of Expression Award.

Description: 'Grizzly Man' and 'Streetwise' both explore the lives of individuals who exist on the margins of society, using a mix of archival footage and interviews to create a deeply personal and emotional narrative. Both films raise questions about human nature, survival, and the limits of empathy.

Fact: The film chronicles the life and death of bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell. Director Werner Herzog narrates the film and provides his own philosophical commentary. The film includes some of the last footage Treadwell recorded before his death.

Description: Like 'Streetwise,' 'The Cove' is a documentary that shines a light on a hidden, often ignored aspect of society—in this case, the dolphin hunting industry in Japan. Both films use a combination of investigative journalism and personal storytelling to advocate for social change.

Fact: The film was shot covertly using hidden cameras. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film's director, Louie Psihoyos, is a former National Geographic photographer.

Description: Both 'The Act of Killing' and 'Streetwise' confront difficult, often painful truths about society. While 'Streetwise' focuses on homeless youth in Seattle, 'The Act of Killing' examines the perpetrators of the Indonesian genocide, using innovative documentary techniques to explore themes of guilt, memory, and complicity.

Fact: The film features former death squad leaders reenacting their crimes in various cinematic genres. It was executive produced by Werner Herzog and Errol Morris. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.