10 Movies & Shows Like Manglehorn (2015)

Description: A slow-paced, meditative journey of an elderly man confronting his past and seeking reconciliation, emphasizing patience, resilience, and the beauty of simple acts.

Fact: The film is based on the true story of Alvin Straight, who drove a lawnmower across Iowa and Wisconsin to visit his ailing brother. It was Disney's first G-rated film in years.

Description: A nuanced portrayal of sibling relationships, personal struggles, and the search for stability, blending humor and heartbreak in equal measure.

Fact: Mark Ruffalo's performance in this film marked his breakthrough role. The screenplay was workshopped at the Sundance Institute before production.

Description: A poignant exploration of isolation, fleeting connections, and the quiet moments that define human relationships, set against the backdrop of a foreign city.

Fact: Many of the film's scenes were improvised, adding to its naturalistic feel. Bill Murray's character was originally written for a much younger actor.

Description: A tender, understated story about an outsider finding unexpected companionship, highlighting themes of loneliness, friendship, and the small joys of life.

Fact: The film was shot in just 20 days on a modest budget. It marked the breakthrough role for Peter Dinklage, who had previously struggled to find substantial roles.

Description: A darkly comic yet deeply moving story about siblings grappling with their father's decline, exploring themes of family dysfunction, responsibility, and mortality.

Fact: The film was inspired by the director's own experiences with her aging father. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman's chemistry was praised as one of the film's highlights.

Description: A heartfelt story about a man reassessing his life and relationships in the face of loss, set against the lush backdrop of Hawaii, contrasting beauty with emotional turmoil.

Fact: George Clooney learned to surf for his role, though most of those scenes were cut. The film was adapted from a novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, who has a cameo in the movie.

Description: A deeply introspective character study of a man grappling with his past, loneliness, and the fading glory of his career, mirroring themes of personal struggle and redemption.

Fact: Mickey Rourke's performance was so transformative that many critics hailed it as the comeback of his career. The film's raw, documentary-like style adds to its emotional authenticity.

Description: Explores themes of loneliness, human connection, and the search for meaning in an increasingly disconnected world, with a melancholic yet hopeful tone.

Fact: The futuristic Los Angeles setting was filmed in Shanghai to create a unique, otherworldly aesthetic. The film's soundtrack, composed by Arcade Fire, won a Grammy.

Description: A bittersweet tale of family, aging, and unfulfilled dreams, told with a mix of humor and pathos, and shot in stark black-and-white to underscore its themes.

Fact: Bruce Dern's performance was so convincing that locals in the small towns where they filmed often mistook him for a real-life resident. The film was shot on a shoestring budget.

Description: A quiet, contemplative film about an ordinary man finding beauty in the mundane, reflecting themes of solitude, creativity, and the subtle poetry of everyday life.

Fact: The film is structured around the protagonist's daily routine, with each day of the week serving as a chapter. It was shot in Paterson, New Jersey, the same city where the poet William Carlos Williams lived.