bleak backdrop

Movies with bleak vibe

The Brutalist

1. The Brutalist

Drama History Historical Drama Biographical History
7.3
20243h 35min

Overview

When an innovative modern architect flees post-war Europe, he is given the opportunity to rebuild his legacy. Set during the dawn of the modern United States (in Pennsylvania), his wife joins him, and their lives are forever changed by a demanding, wealthy patron.

Themes

Displacement and belonging, Gendered power dynamics, Class aspiration and assimilation, Postwar reconstruction pressures, Trauma and memory in design, Patronage and ambition, Immigrant reinvention through architecture

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Nickel Boys

2. Nickel Boys

Drama History Historical Drama Social History
6.9
20242h 20min

Overview

Chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.

Themes

Memory and accountability, Racial segregation and abuse, Resilience through friendship, Reform school brutality, Civil rights era tensions, Systemic bias in justice and education

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Last Showgirl

3. The Last Showgirl

Drama Professional Drama
6.5
20241h 29min

Overview

When the glittering Las Vegas revue she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, a glamorous showgirl must reconcile with the decisions she’s made and the community she has built as she plans her next act.

Themes

Mother-daughter estrangement, Generational conflict on stage, Aging career decline, Art vs spectacle, Financial precarity for performers, Female camaraderie under pressure

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Kraven the Hunter

4. Kraven the Hunter

Action Adventure Thriller Superhero Action Revenge Thriller
5.5
20242h 7min

Overview

Kraven Kravinoff's complex relationship with his ruthless gangster father, Nikolai, starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.

Themes

"movie: kraven the hunter. genres: action, Adventure, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Thriller main themes: hunter, Superhero, Villain, Hunter, Superhero, Villain full keywords list: hunter, Superhero, Villain, Based on comic, Supervillain, Antihero, Intense, Admiring, Ominous. concept analysis: the film explores how cycles of violence and predation are passed down through family, Questioning whether someone shaped by brutality can ever truly escape becoming what they hate. it frames kraven’s journey as a moral struggle between justice and bloodlust, Suggesting that the identity of a “hunter” is as much psychological and ethical as it is physical or hereditary."

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Six Triple Eight

5. The Six Triple Eight

Drama War History Historical Drama World War II
6.7
20242h 10min

Overview

During World War II, the US Army's only all-Black, all-women battalion takes on an impossible mission: sorting through a three-year backlog of 17 million pieces of mail that hadn't been delivered to American soldiers and finish within six months.

Themes

Moral duty and perseverance, Women in military service, Racial discrimination in military, Logistics vs supply priorities, Collective resilience under strain

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Order

6. The Order

Crime Drama Thriller Heist Political Thriller
6.8
20241h 56min

Overview

A string of violent robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads veteran FBI agent Terry Husk into a white supremacist plot to overthrow the federal government.

Themes

Law enforcement pressure, Criminal networks and money, Extremist violence and control, Splinter movement dynamics, Legal vs illegal power, Ideology-driven recruitment

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

7. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Animation Fantasy Adventure Action Animated Fantasy Adventure
6.3
20242h 14min

Overview

A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and traitorous lord of Rohan seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg.

Themes

Loyalty under siege, Duty vs choice, Female agency in war, Betrayal and vengeance, Power struggles and intrigue, Warfare and leadership costs

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Return

8. The Return

History Drama Adventure Historical Event Historical Drama
6.3
20241h 56min

Overview

After twenty years away, Odysseus washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king has finally returned home, but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war.

Themes

Loyalty under siege, Succession pressure, Deception and recognition, Duty and marriage, Kingdom decline

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Gladiator II

9. Gladiator II

Action Adventure Drama Epic Action Adventure Epic
6.5
20242h 28min

Overview

Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Themes

Tyranny of twin emperors, Revolt to restore the republic, Legacy of a fallen hero, Loyalty and betrayal within court, Gladiator discipline and courage, Burden of rightful succession

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

A Real Pain

10. A Real Pain

Comedy Drama Buddy Comedy Family Drama
7.0
20241h 30min

Overview

Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the pair's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Intergenerational tension, Humor as coping, Family history identity, Memory tourism ethics, Heritage and memory

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.