Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Like A Man Called Otto on Netflix? Then watch these 3 movies that are just like it

In a time when adult dramas struggle to make a profit, A Man Called Otto became one of the sleeper hits of 2023. In the film directed by Marc Forster, Tom Hanks stars as Otto Anderson, a grumpy widower struggling to cope after losing his wife six months prior. Having lost his will to live, Otto plans to kill himself. However, Otto is interrupted by his clever new neighbor, Marisol (Mariana Treviño). The two form an unlikely friendship, with Otto gaining a new lease on life.

Based on the 2012 novel by Fredrik Backman and the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, the Americanized A Man Called Otto won audiences over earlier this year, grossing an impressive $112 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. The film has only increased in popularity since its Netflix debut on May 6, as A Man Called Otto has remained in the top 10 for three weeks and counting. If you’re looking for more films about unexpected friendships that tug on the heartstrings, then watch these three movies.

Recommended Videos

Scent of a Woman (1992)

A blind man sits next to a teenager at a table in Scent of a Woman.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy might be Al Pacino’s greatest performance, but the role that gave him his only Oscar was Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman. Frank is a loud, crotchety, and blind Vietnam War veteran. Charlie Simms (Chris O’Donnell) is a New England prep school student who dreams of attending Harvard. Frank’s niece hires Charlie to watch him over the Thanksgiving weekend. In return, Charlie will be paid enough money to buy a plane ticket home to the West Coast for Christmas.

Charlie, who does not come from wealth, willingly accepts. Frank brings Charlie to New York City, as the Colonel plans to have one final weekend of fun before committing suicide. Charlie starts to sympathize with Frank, while the Colonel admires the young man’s loyalty and moral compass. Come for an unlikely bond, stay for Pacino’s boisterous performance. Hoo-ah!

Watch Scent of a Woman on Starz.

About Schmidt (2002)

Three people sit down next to each other at the airport.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Any movie starring Jack Nicholson from 1969-2006 is worth your time, so 2002’s About Schmidt comes toward the tail end of his run. In his 12th and final Oscar-nominated role, Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt, a recent retiree at a crossroads in his life. Schmidt worked as an actuary for a life insurance company, a job he perceived as important. Yet, the company pushes him to the side upon his retirement. To make matters worse, Helen (June Squibb), his wife of 42 years, tragically dies shortly after Schmidt purchases a Winnebago Adventurer motor home.

Desperate for purpose, Schmidt finds it in his daughter, Jeannie (Hope Davis), as he attempts to dissolve her impending nuptials to an idiot named Randall (Dermot Mulroney). Directed by Alexander Payne, About Schmidt follows the exploits of a man suffering from an existential crisis as he tries to find value in his life again.

Rent About Schmidt on YouTube, Apple, or Amazon Prime Video.

The Intern (2015)

Anne Hathaway sits next to Robert De Niro on a plane.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Robert De Niro stars alongside Anne Hathaway in 2015’s The Intern, the warm dramedy from rom-com aficionado Nancy Meyers. De Niro plays Ben, a 70-year-old retiree and widower who applies for a senior internship at a fashion startup in Brooklyn. Ben wins the job and is assigned to work for the company’s workaholic CEO, Jules (Anne Hathaway).

Unlike A Man Called Otto, the roles are reversed, as the old widower breathes life into his younger counterpart, a stressed working professional with a struggling marriage. Ben becomes an informal father figure to Jules as he wins her over with his charm, compassion, and friendship. Although the happy ending is expected, the feel-good premise and innate chemistry between Hathaway and De Niro make The Intern a delightful viewing experience.

Watch The Intern on Hulu.

Dan Girolamo
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
Like the hit movie Trap? Then watch these 3 great movies right now
Josh Hartnett awkwardly smiles and stares.

While he went through a pretty down moment in terms of his reputation, film director M. Night Shyamalan has revitalized himself and reminded many people what they liked about his movies to begin with. Movies like Old and Knock at the Cabin weren't universally beloved, but they proved that Shyamalan still had plenty of skill, and he could showcase it on a much smaller scale.

Now, he's back with Trap, which tells the story of a serial killer who has to fight his way out of a heavily policed concert. If you caught Trap in theaters and liked what you saw, these are three movies you should definitely check out.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Knock at the Cabin - Official Trailer

Read more
Stop! And watch these 3 great movies leaving Netflix by August 1
A msn with plugs on his head stares while someone behind him in glasses puts head above his shoulder.

Have you watched Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F? The latest installment in Eddie Murphy's action comedy franchise premiered earlier this month on Netflix to surprisingly positive reviews. Murphy can still flex those movie star muscles when given the right role, and Axel is right up his alley. Other movies on Netflix in July include Spider-Man 2, Bad Boys II, Zombieland, and Vanished into the Night.

Unfortunately, not every movie can stay on Netflix forever. There is a crop of entertaining movies leaving Netflix in July 2024. With under a week left in the month, stop what you are doing and watch these three movies before August 1. Our selections include an iconic psychological thriller, a landmark sci-fi action staple, and an underrated thriller from a Netflix star.
Fatal Attraction (1987)

Read more
Like MaXXXine? Then watch these 3 great horror movies right now
Mia Goth smiles on a red carpet in MaXXXine.

Since he started his very own horror trilogy with X, Ti West has been making expert pastiches, each of which centers on characters played by Mia Goth. MaXXXine is the third installment in that trilogy, and follows Maxine, the aspiring actress from the first film, as she makes her way to Hollywood and tries to prove that she is a star.

As she finds herself being hunted by a serial killer, though, Maxine's past threatens to come spilling out toward her present. If you saw MaXXXine and were into the '80s horror pastiche that film is going for, then you might be looking for other horror movies that feel like they're in a similar vein. We've gathered three such horror movies that will make for the perfect follow up to West's latest effort.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Official Trailer - Wes Craven, Johnny Depp Horror Movie HD

Read more