cynical backdrop

Movies with cynical vibe

Sightseers

431. Sightseers

Comedy Crime Romance Dark Comedy Romantic Comedy
6.5

20121h 28min

United Kingdom

Director: Ben Wheatley

Overview

Chris wants to show girlfriend Tina his world, but events soon conspire against the couple and their dream caravan holiday takes a very wrong turn.

Themes

Manipulation and control, Jealousy and rivalry, Complicit crime partnership, Satire of leisure culture, Violence as travel pastime, Disruption of domestic bliss

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Playing for Keeps

432. Playing for Keeps

Comedy Romance Romantic Comedy Buddy Comedy
5.7

20121h 46min

United States

Director: Gabriele Muccino

Overview

A former sports star who's fallen on hard times starts coaching his son's soccer team in an attempt to get his life together.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Parental responsibility vs career, Blended family tensions, Temptation vs integrity, Fame vs family balance, Father son bonding

Available on

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

Neighboring Sounds

433. Neighboring Sounds

Thriller Drama Crime Domestic Thriller Psychological Drama
7.1

20122h 11min

Brazil

Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Overview

An independent private security firm arrives at a middle-class neighborhood in Recife, Brazil.

Themes

Class differences, Racial tension, Surveillance presence, Neighborhood trust erosion, Security industry ethics, Wealth and protection

Available on

Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Silver Linings Playbook

434. Silver Linings Playbook

Drama Comedy Romance Relationship Drama Bittersweet Romance
7.7

20122h 2min

United States

Director: David O. Russell

Overview

After losing his job and wife, and spending time in an institution, a former teacher winds up living with his parents. He wants to rebuild his life and reconcile with his wife, but his father would be happy if he shared his obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles. Things get complicated when he meets Tiffany Maxwell who offers to help him reconnect with his wife if he will do something very important for her in exchange.

Themes

Deception in relationships, Stigma around mental illness, Family pressure and obsession, Recovery through performance, Hope amid turmoil, Bonding through shared experiences

Available on

Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Bullet to the Head

435. Bullet to the Head

Action Crime Thriller Buddy Action Organized Crime
5.7

20121h 32min

India, Switzerland

Director: Walter Hill

Overview

After watching their respective partners die, a cop and a hitman form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy.

Themes

Shootout consequences, Ex-con complicity, Bomb as leverage, Detective mercenary alliance, Lawyer influence, Corruption under pressure

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Fun Size

436. Fun Size

Comedy Buddy Comedy
5.4

20121h 27min

United States

Director: Josh Schwartz

Overview

Wren's Halloween plans go awry when she's made to babysit her brother, who disappears into a sea of trick-or-treaters. Accompanied by her best friend and two nerdy classmates, Wren needs to find her brother before her mom finds out.

Themes

Peer influence and loyalty, Family responsibility under pressure, Trust and parental boundaries, Safety risk and improvisation, Youth independence vs supervision, Mystery and disappearance

Available on

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

Seven Psychopaths

437. Seven Psychopaths

Comedy Crime Dark Comedy Organized Crime
7.1

20121h 50min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Martin McDonagh

Overview

In a town where every psycho wants their story on the big screen, a blocked, alcoholic writer accidentally steals a crime boss’s beloved dog and turns his screenplay into a hit list. Now he dives into a desert of lunatics, killers, and con men, and his script starts writing itself in blood.

Themes

Deception and performance, Betrayal within alliances, Creative pressure under chaos, Violence as narrative device, Power and credit dynamics, Duty versus self-interest

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Butter

438. Butter

Comedy Satire
6.2

20121h 30min

United States

Director: Jim Field Smith

Overview

An adopted girl discovers her talent for butter carving and finds herself pitted against an ambitious local woman in their Iowa town's annual contest.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Adoption and belonging, Social climbing pressures, Public competition and status, Resilience under sabotage, Artistic merit vs sabotage

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Pitch Perfect

439. Pitch Perfect

Comedy Music Romance Narrative Musical Romantic Comedy
7.1

20121h 52min

United States

Director: Jason Moore

Overview

College student Beca knows she does not want to be part of a clique, but that's exactly where she finds herself after arriving at her new school. Thrust in among mean gals, nice gals and just plain weird gals, Beca finds that the only thing they have in common is how well they sing together. She takes the women of the group out of their comfort zone of traditional arrangements and into a world of amazing harmonic combinations in a fight to the top of college music competitions.

Themes

Peer group dynamics, Competition pressure, Creative disruption, Dorm room friction, Leadership conflict

Available on

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

Arbitrage

440. Arbitrage

Drama Thriller Professional Drama Cover-Up Thriller
6.6

20121h 40min

United States

Director: Nicholas Jarecki

Overview

A troubled hedge fund magnate, desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire, makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help.

Themes

Deception under pressure, Secrecy and exposure, Financial manipulation, Hedge fund ethics, Personal betrayal, Risk and consequences

Available on

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