Movies Like Variety Lights

If you liked Variety Lights (1950), a drama and comedy movie directed by Alberto Lattuada and Federico Fellini, 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
Ugly, Dirty and Bad (1976)
★ 7.5/10Also comedy and drama
Giacinto lives with his wife, their ten children and various other family members in a shack on the hills of Rome. Some time ago he has lost his left eye while at work, and got a consistent sum of money from the…
2
We All Loved Each Other So Much (1974)
★ 8.3/10Also drama and comedy
Three partisans bound by a strong friendship return home after the war, but the clash with everyday reality puts a strain on their bond.
3
100 Sundays (2023)
★ 6.7/10Also drama
Antonio, a former shipyard worker, leads a mild and peaceful life: he plays bowls with friends, takes care of his elderly mother, has an ex-wife with whom he is on excellent terms and Emilia, his only and beloved…
4
Much Ado About Nothing (2013)
★ 6.8/10Also comedy
A modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words.
5
My Own Love Song (2010)
★ 6.2/10Also comedy and drama
A wheelchair-bound singer and her best friend embark on a roadtrip to Memphis.
6
Let's Hope It's a Girl (1986)
★ 6.9/10Also comedy and drama
A multifaceted exploration of the pointlessness of sexual stereotypes. Liv Ullmann is a countess who, after her divorce, takes over the family farm. Realizing that she can't rely on the patriarchal society structure…
7
Nostalgia (2022)
★ 6.8/10Also drama
Felice returns to his native Rione Sanità in Naples to look after his dying mother, having lived abroad for the last forty years. Here he discovers that his old friend Oreste has become a notorious crimeboss.
8
Fast Girls (2012)
★ 6/10Also drama
A street smart runner develops an intense rivalry with an equally ambitious wealthy young athlete.
9
Ginger and Fred (1986)
★ 6.9/10Also comedy and drama
Amelia and Pippo are reunited after several decades to perform their old music-hall act, imitating Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, on a TV variety show.
10
God Forgives Everyone (2026)
★ 6.2/10Also comedy and drama
Arturo is a lonely, gluttonous, and disillusioned Sicilian real estate agent. His mundane life finally finds its spark through his one true passion: Sicilian pastries. It’s over a tray of cannoli that he meets his…
11
Ho visto le stelle (2003)
★ 5.9/10Also comedy
The young Antonio wants to participate in a reality show and leaves Naples for Milan with his best friend Eugenio.
12
Feel the Beat (2020)
★ 7.5/10Also comedy and drama
After failing to make it on Broadway, April returns to her hometown and reluctantly begins training a misfit group of young dancers for a competition.
13
A Daughter (2025)
★ 6.4/10Also drama
A middle-aged man, Pietro, becomes a widower and must take care of his daughter. He will never have the time to delve into his own pain, committing himself to raising his daughter with love and dedication, in an…
14
Moon Landing (2020)
★ 6.7/10Also comedy and drama
At six, Dario watched the first Moon landing on TV, sparking a lifelong dream to reach the stars. For the rest of his life, the ingenious curmudgeon built a homemade space rocket on his farm using scraps from the local…
15
What Time Is It? (1989)
★ 7.4/10Also comedy and drama
A father and son who lived separate for some time meet one day to try to reconcile and understand their diametrical differences.
16
Basilicata Coast To Coast (2010)
★ 6.3/10Also comedy and drama
A musical comedy, a journey filled with unexpected twists and unexpected encounters, leading a group of musicians to set out to the rhythm of their musical verses to participate in the Scanzano Jonico Song-Theatre…
17
It Runs in the Family (2003)
★ 6/10Also comedy and drama
This is the story of a dysfunctional New York family, and their attempts to reconcile
18
Savage House (2026)
★ 7/10Also comedy and drama
Against the backdrop of 18th century England, a massive pox outbreak, and Jacobite uprising – Sir Chauncey Savage and Lady Savage blindly pursue a better life. It's not without a tinge of irony that their family name…
19
Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)
★ 6.6/10Also comedy
When an upwardly mobile couple find themselves unemployed and in debt, they turn to armed robbery in desperation.
20
Sometimes Always Never (2019)
★ 6.4/10Also drama and comedy
Alan is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. He has spent years searching tirelessly for his missing son Michael who stormed out over a game of Scrabble. With a body to identify and his family torn apart…