Movies Like Playing Pretend

If you liked Playing Pretend (2004), a movie directed by Shinichiro Noda, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki (2017)
★ 7.4/10
A look at legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki following his retirement in 2013.
2
Maria by Callas (2017)
★ 7.4/10
Told through performances, TV interviews, home movies, family photographs, private letters and unpublished memoirs, the film reveals the essence of an extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York…
3
Pompo the Cinephile (2021)
★ 7.2/10
Operating out of the movie capital "Nyallywood," Pompo has been shooting one B-grade entertainment flick after another that anyone would enjoy. One day, Pompo's "movie buff" assistant Gene spots a new script written by…
4
Beau Hunks (1931)
★ 6.8/10
Stan and Ollie join the French Foreign Legion after Ollie's sweetheart rejects him.
5
Tokyo Decadence (1992)
★ 6/10
A submissive hooker goes about her trade, suffering abuse at the hands of Japanese salarymen and Yakuza types. She's unhappy about her work, and is apparently trying to find some sort of appeasement for the fact that…
6
Altered Carbon: Resleeved (2020)
★ 6.6/10
On the planet Latimer, Takeshi Kovacs must protect a tattooist while investigating the death of a yakuza boss alongside a no-nonsense CTAC.
7
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)
★ 7.6/10
Follows the behind-the-scenes work of Studio Ghibli, focusing on the notable figures Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki.
8
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? (2021)
★ 6.9/10
Lupita Nyong'o narrates a documentary about Peanuts and its creator, Charles M. Schulz. Famous fans—including Drew Barrymore, Kevin Smith, and Al Roker—share its influence on them, and a new animated story finds…
9
Female Yakuza Tale (1973)
★ 6.1/10
Ocho is accidentally captured by a drug trafficking cartel who use Chinese women to smuggle drugs into Japan by hiding it in their vaginas. She is tortured, and manages to escape, fighting both the male yakuzas and a…
10
Our Wife (1931)
★ 7.1/10
Oliver is making plans to marry his sweetheart Dulcy with Stan as his best man, but the plans are thwarted when Dulcy's father sees a picture of Ollie and forbids the marriage. The couple plan to elope, and run away to…
11
Perfect Day (1929)
★ 7/10
Two families embark on a pleasant Sunday picnic but manage to run into a variety of issues with their temperamental automobile. Each incident requires repeated exits and reboardings by Laurel, Hardy, their wives and…
12
Naruto OVA 9: Chunin Exam on Fire! and Naruto vs. Konohamaru! (2011)
★ 7.3/10
Naruto faces off against his old pupil Konohamaru in a tournament during the chuunin entrance exams.
13
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)
★ 8.4/10
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year…
14
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2023)
★ 6.3/10
Follow the production of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as the cast and crew take on the incredible challenge of remembering T’Challa with a chapter befitting the late king. Through intimate behind-the-scenes footage…
15
Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King (2014)
★ 6.8/10
A documentary filmmaker interviews the now-famous Trevor Slattery from behind bars.
16
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye (2022)
★ 7.2/10
Join the likes of Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Florence Pugh, and Vincent D’Onofrio as they reveal how Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” was conceived and created. Witness firsthand what it took to pull off the show’s…
17
Love & Pop (1998)
★ 7.7/10
Tokyo schoolgirl Hiromi and her friends engage in a practice known as enjo kosai, or "compensated dating", where older men pay young girls for dates. Hiromi plunges deeper into this world to raise money for an…
18
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home (2022)
★ 6.8/10
JB Smoove and Martin Starr host a celebration of 20 years of "Spider-Man" movies, from the Sam Raimi trilogy to Marc Webb's movies and the trio from Jon Watts.
19
Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013)
★ 7.3/10
In Japan, gonzo filmmakers hatch a three-pronged plan to save an actress's career, end a yakuza war and make a hit movie.
20
The House (2022)
★ 7/10
Across different eras, a poor family, an anxious developer and a fed-up landlady become tied to the same mysterious house in this animated dark comedy.