cynical backdrop

Movies with cynical vibe

That Christmas

1. 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.

Our Little Secret

2. Our Little Secret

Romance Comedy Drama Romantic Comedy Family Drama
5.7
20241h 41min

Overview

After discovering their significant others are siblings, two resentful exes must spend Christmas under one roof — while hiding their romantic history.

Themes

Deception under social pressure, Romance under family scrutiny, Intergenerational expectations, Shared history and loyalties, Public versus private personas, Holiday setting complicates bonds

Available on

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

Meet Me Next Christmas

3. Meet Me Next Christmas

Romance Comedy Romantic Comedy Ensemble Comedy
5.5
20241h 45min

Overview

On a quest to reconnect with the man of her dreams, Layla races across New York City to find a ticket to a sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert.

Themes

Romantic pressure under scrutiny, Celebratory authenticity in love, Economic bargaining for access, Loving amid deception, Hopeless romantic longing, Performative attraction through gesture

Available on

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

Venom: The Last Dance

4. Venom: The Last Dance

Action Science Fiction Adventure Superhero Action Adventure Epic
6.0
20241h 49min

Overview

Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance.

Themes

Sequel pressure, Outsider alliance, Alien life-form bond, Public suspicion, Dual-world chase, Secrecy as protection

Available on

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

Family Pack

5. Family Pack

Adventure Comedy Fantasy Action Family
5.5
20241h 35min

Overview

When an old card game comes to life, a family jumps back in time to a medieval village where they must unmask werewolves to secure their return home.

Themes

Memory and aging, Deception through performance, Hidden identities and transformation, Collective danger and unity, Family roles from play, Time travel via game

Available on

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

The Apprentice

6. The Apprentice

History Drama Biographical History Psychological Drama
7.1
20242h 2min

Overview

A young Donald Trump, eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn, the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

Themes

Real estate ambition, Power through mentor protégé relationship, Blackmail and bribery, Tax abatement politics, Discrimination and exploitation, Surveillance via wiretapping

Available on

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

Terrifier 3

7. Terrifier 3

Horror Thriller Slasher Horror Kidnapping & Captivity Thriller
6.3
20242h 5min

Overview

Five years after surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre, Sienna and Jonathan are still struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. But just when they think they're safe, Art returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe.

Themes

Survivor guilt and ptsd, Family peril after massacre, Holiday horror and danger, Gory violence and spectacle, Mall santa terror, Media voyeurism and sensationalism

Available on

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

Killer Heat

8. Killer Heat

Crime Drama Romance Detective Mystery Crime Relationship Drama
5.6
20241h 37min

Overview

An expat PI is hired to investigate a suspicious death in Crete, Greece, where jealousies run deep amongst the victim's powerful family.

Themes

Romantic entanglements, Deception and impersonation, Sibling rivalry, Wealthy family control, Police manipulation, Stock-market pressure

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Wolfs

9. Wolfs

Crime Comedy Parody Con Artist Crime
6.5
20241h 48min

Overview

Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart.

Themes

Deception and cover-up, Moral code under pressure, Crime networks and power, Professional ethics under strain, Collaboration under conflict, Loyalty under risk

Available on

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

My Old Ass

10. My Old Ass

Comedy Drama High-Concept Comedy Coming-of-Age Drama
6.9
20241h 29min

Overview

An 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self. But when Elliott’s "old ass" starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn't do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what's becoming a transformative summer.

Themes

Sexual identity exploration, Time pressure adolescence, Family pressure vs independence, Self-acceptance under external expectations, Queer visibility and belonging, Romance boundaries and choice

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.