Movies Like 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' To Watch Next
Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'
Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures ReleasingOnce Upon a Time ... in Hollywood is a comedy-drama film released in 2019. The film was directed by Quentin Tarantino, who is known for films that portray unusual and unpredictable scenes, stylized violence, and dark humor. Those interested in films with references to pop culture and alternate history will find Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood to be an entertaining classic.
The film takes place in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and is about a former 1950s Western TV star, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), who finds his career at a stall due to his alcoholism. Dalton looks to Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), a longtime friend, stunt double, and war veteran who lives in a trailer for advice as he struggles to find meaningful work. Coincidentally, a fictional version of real-life filmmaker Roman Polanski (Rafał Zawierucha) and actor Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) move next door to Dalton on Cielo Drive. Dalton takes the opportunity to network in hopes of reviving his once-promising acting career. The story takes a sharp turn when a violent confrontation occurs with the family.
If you're a fan of star-studded casts, this film will not disappoint. And if you've already watched this award-winning movie and are looking for something similar, here are 10 movies like Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood to watch next, ranked by Metascore.
The Wild Bunch
Metascore: 97
Best for: Action seekers, Western movie fans
Where to watch:
Runtime: 135 minutes
The Wild Bunch takes place in the late 1960s in the American West. An aging outlaw gang on the Mexico-U.S. border looks to one last robbery to try to adapt to the changing world of 1913. Pike Bishop (William Holden) plans to retire after this final robbery. His gang joins him and later Pike discovers the robbery is orchestrated by his old partner, Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan).
"A towering achievement that grows more riveting and resonant with the years." — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Pulp Fiction
Metascore: 94
Best for: Drama lovers, crime seekers, Tarantino fans
Where to watch:
Runtime: 154 minutes
Considered a classic must-watch movie by many, Pulp Fiction has a star-studded cast, including John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman. The story unfolds in chronological order of events, but in segmented narratives, where it first shows a love triangle between a hitman and his boss' wife. In the second story, Willis is ordered to a job, but he changes plans after seeing that more money is involved in doing the opposite. The final chapter of the story follows two lovers who prepare to hold up a diner.
"Pulp Fiction is at least three movies rolled into one, and they're all scintillating." — Rich Groen, The Globe and Mail
Uncut Gems
Metascore: 91
Best for: Adventurers, thrill junkies
Where to watch:
Runtime: 135 minutes
Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner, a charismatic New Yorker and jewelry store owner. Howard is always looking out for the next big thing and gets caught in a series of risky bets that can either make or break his lifelong goals, dreams, and relationships. In order to win the bets, Howard must perform a high-wire act while being able to balance his other responsibilities such as business, family, and handling his adversaries.
"A film that is impossible to sit back and watch passively — a clenched-muscle collision of overstimulation." — Wendy Ide, Observer
American Hustle
Metascore: 90
Best for: Fans of Bonnie and Clyde-esque movies
Where to watch:
Runtime: 138 minutes
American Hustle stars some of the most famous actors in Hollywood: Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, and Amy Adams. This dramatization of real events from director David O. Russell takes place in the late 1770s and tells the story of con artist, Irving Rosenfeld (Bale), and his partner, Sydney Prosser (Adams). Both are caught after dabbling in forgery and loan-sharking and forced to work for FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Cooper), who pushes them into a mafia to take down New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner).
"High-energy comedy comes naturally to the filmmaker. He exults in free association, emotional riffs, in the craziness that underlies ostensibly rational behavior." — Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Metascore: 88
Best for: Comedy lovers, feel-good movie fans
Where to watch:
Runtime: 100 minutes
The Grand Budapest Hotel takes place in the 1930s. The hotel is a popular European ski resort, handled by M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) who is the hotel's concierge. The story starts with Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes Gustave's most trusted friend but centers on a missing, priceless Renaissance painting and the characters' attempts to recover the painting and protect an enormous family fortune. Throughout the movie, countless events occur that involve the death of multiple people, robberies, and dramatic twists.
"The perception of Fiennes and Gustave is central to the whole enterprise. Without it, the movie just breaks off and flies away. But with it, The Grand Budapest Hotel becomes something wonderful." — Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Widows
Metascore: 84
Best for: Suspense seekers, fans of strong female leads
Where to watch:
Runtime: 129 minutes
Widows takes place in contemporary Chicago, during a time of turmoil. When a police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an attempted robbery, the thieves' wives have to come together to settle their debts. Veronica (Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), Belle (Cynthia Erivo), and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) decide to take things into their own hands, with the hope of forging their own future. Veronica is the leader, rallying the other women together as she takes over the heist that her husband originally planned.
"A heist movie with serious bite, Widows is both brilliantly tense and strikingly relevant." — Kate Stables, Total Film
Knives Out
Metascore: 82
Best for: Fans of one-liner humor and "whodunnit" mysteries
Where to watch:
Runtime: 131 minutes
Knives Out is a dramatic mystery movie that involves the unexpected and unknown death of Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a successful crime novelist with a large amount of wealth. Harlan is found dead immediately after his 85th birthday at his estate. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is sent to investigate Harlan's death and must trace the steps leading to his death by investigating Harlan's complex and dysfunctional family and staff. The detective sifts through various stories and lies to uncover the details of Harlan's untimely death.
"An entertainment that's as smart, witty, stylish, and exhilarating as any movie lover could wish for." — Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
The Big Short
Metascore: 81
Best for: Star-studded cast, money drama lovers
Where to watch:
Runtime: 130 minutes
The Big Short takes place in 2008 when a professional from Wall Street, Michael Burry (Bale), realizes that a number of home loans are at risk of defaulting. He then throws more than $1 billion of his investors' money into credit default swaps in an attempt to bet against the housing market. Another banker, hedge-fund specialist, and others saw an opportunity after seeing what the big banks, media, and government denied. They decide to come together to take full advantage of the collapsing economy and their investment leads them into dark secrets within banking and finance. Pitt, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell also star.
"The Big Short manages to entertain you while making you really, really mad." — Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
The Wolf of Wall Street
Metascore: 75
Best for: DiCaprio fans, Martin Scorsese fans, crime-comedy watchers
Where to watch:
Runtime: 180 minutes
The Wolf of Wall Street takes place in 1987, with DiCaprio playing the role of Jordan Belfort. The story is a memoir that tells the events of Jordan's rise to Wall Street and his ultimate fall from being one of the most successful stockbrokers. Jordan starts by taking an entry-level job at a brokerage firm on Wall Street. He then founded his own firm with his trusted friend, played by Jonah Hill, and a number of other brokers. He makes a huge fortune by defrauding wealthy investors out of millions, but he then gets into partying and addiction until he is caught by the SEC and the FBI.
"A very fast three hours, Wolf is a fascinating, revolting, outlandish, uproarious, exhilarating, and exhausting master work on immortality." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
Casino
Metascore: 73
Best for: De Niro fans, Scorsese fans, mafia movie lovers
Where to watch:
Runtime: 178 minutes
Casino stars Joe Pesci, De Niro, and Sharon Stone. The story takes a deeper look into the operations of a Las Vegas casino in the 1970s. Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), is forced to lead the Tangiers Casino. He is successful at first, but over the years faces problems with people from his past, including his ex-wife, her con-artist ex, corrupt politicians, and others.
"Eye-popping, exhilarating and occassionally a bit stomach-churning." — Sean Means, Film.com