communal backdrop

Movies with communal vibe

Barbershop: The Next Cut

1. Barbershop: The Next Cut

Comedy Drama Workplace Comedy Family Drama
5.9
20161h 52min

Overview

To survive harsh economic times, Calvin and Angie have merged the barbershop and beauty salon into one business. The days of male bonding are gone as Eddie and the crew must now contend with sassy female co-workers and spirited clientele. As the battle of the sexes rages on, a different kind of conflict has taken over Chicago. Crime and gangs are on the rise, leaving Calvin worried about the fate of his son. Together, the friends come up with a bold plan to take back their beloved neighborhood.

Themes

Neighborhood resilience, Community violence response, Youth gang influence, Community dialogue and ceasefire, Economic survival pressures, Gender dynamics in workplace

Available on

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

A Man Called Ove

2. A Man Called Ove

Comedy Drama Dark Comedy Family Drama
7.7
20151h 56min

Overview

Despite being deposed as president of his condominium association, grumpy 59-year-old Ove continues to watch over his neighbourhood with an iron fist. When pregnant Parvaneh and her family move into the terraced house opposite Ove and she accidentally back into Ove’s mailbox, it sets off a series of unexpected changes in his life.

Themes

Resistant aging and new bonds, Neighborhood solidarity under pressure, Belonging beyond rigid rules, Care through acts of generosity, Tension between tradition and change, Inclusion of marginal voices

Available on

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

McFarland, USA

3. McFarland, USA

Drama Family Sports Competition
7.4
20152h 8min

Overview

A track coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.

Themes

Community support, Educational ascent, California opportunity, Team growth, Small town pressure, Family sacrifice

Available on

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

Larry Crowne

4. Larry Crowne

Comedy Romance Drama Romantic Comedy Workplace Comedy
6.1
20111h 38min

Overview

When he suddenly finds himself without his long-standing blue-collar job, Larry Crowne enrolls at his local college to start over. There, he becomes part of an eclectic community of students and develops a crush on his teacher.

Themes

Loss of job reinvention, Local college immersion, Scooter riders club, Economics class insights, Diner job transition

Available on

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

Lars and the Real Girl

5. Lars and the Real Girl

Comedy Drama Romance Romantic Comedy Relationship Drama
7.3
20071h 47min

Overview

Lars finally finds a ‘girlfriend’ who makes him feel safe, seen, and alive—only she’s a life-size plastic doll. His family and town play along to protect his fragile heart. But when real connections start knocking, will Lars cling to the love that saved him or risk shattering his illusion to truly live?

Themes

Loneliness under community gaze, Stigma around mental illness, Delusion as coping mechanism, Doll as social catalyst, Rituals of social inclusion, Family distance and care

Available on

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

Friday Night Lights

6. Friday Night Lights

Drama Sports Competition
7.2
20041h 58min

Overview

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines to instill in the other team members -- and, by proxy, the town itself -- a sense of self-respect and honor.

Themes

Community obsession with football, Race and merit in sport, Pressure on youth athletes, Leadership under public scrutiny, Injury and resilience under pressure, Identity through competition

Available on

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

Where the Heart Is

7. Where the Heart Is

Comedy Drama Romance Coming-of-Age Drama Romantic Comedy
6.7
20002h

Overview

Novalee Nation is a 17-year-old Tennessee transient who has to grow up in a hurry when she's left pregnant and abandoned by her boyfriend on a roadside, and takes refuge in the friendly aisles of Wal-Mart. Eventually, some eccentric but kindly strangers 'adopt' Novalee and her infant daughter, helping them buck the odds and build a new life.

Themes

Teenage pregnancy stigma, Resilience through strangers, Mentorship through craft, Unreliable family ties, Inheritance and new beginnings, Community shelter and care

Available on

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

Brassed Off

8. Brassed Off

Comedy Romance Drama Bittersweet Romance Professional Drama
7.2
19961h 47min

Overview

A Yorkshire coal mine is threatened with closure and the only hope is for the men to enter their Grimley Colliery Brass Band into a national competition. They believe they have no hope until Gloria appears carrying her Flugelhorn. At first mocked for being a woman, she soon becomes the only chance for the band to win.

Themes

Economic precarity, Labor solidarity, Gender barriers, Closure politics, Deception in the workplace, Working-class pride

Available on

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