measured backdrop

Movies with measured vibe

Nickel Boys

1. 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 Six Triple Eight

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

That Christmas

6. That Christmas

Animation Comedy Family Fantasy Adventure
6.8
20241h 31min

Overview

It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.

Themes

Appearance vs reality, Duplicity via identical spaces, Fragile trust under pressure, Deception through alibis, Past crime haunting present, Unreliable testimony dynamics

Available on

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

Maria

7. Maria

History Drama Music Biographical History Historical Drama
6.4
20242h 4min

Overview

Maria Callas, the world's greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity and life.

Themes

Paris memory, Opera singer pressure, Period drama tension, Female protagonist conflict, Surrealism disorientation, Historical scrutiny

Available on

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

Queer

8. Queer

Drama Romance Historical Drama Passionate Romance
6.4
20242h 18min

Overview

In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee, an American ex-pat in his late forties, leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival in town of Eugene Allerton, a young student, stirs William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.

Themes

Loneliness and connection, Desire versus distance, Surreal perception and telepathy, Addiction and dependence, Identity and embodiment, Boundaries of intimacy

Available on

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

A Real Pain

9. 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.

Small Things Like These

10. Small Things Like These

Drama History Historical Drama Social History
6.7
20241h 39min

Overview

In 1985, while working as a coal merchant to support his family, Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers truths of his own; forcing him to confront his past and the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church.

Themes

Convent influence and complicity, Coal driven family economy, Barbershop community ties, Catholicism institutional control, Small town secrecy pressure

Available on

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