10 Best Movies Like Joaquin Phoenix’s C’mon C’mon

Joaquin Phoenix’s latest movie C’mon C’mon is arguably one of the best dramas of 2021. Written and directed by Mike Mills, the movie traces the journey of a radio journalist and his young nephew. While both deal with their own emotional tussles, the duo starts bonding in unexpected ways.

Movies falling in the slice-of-life and coming-of-age genre would impress audiences who liked C’mon C’mon. The A24 release subverts the tropes of such genres while retaining the melancholic brilliance of Phoenix’s acting and the heartwarming innocence of Mills’ filmography.

Her (2013)

Stream On Kanopy

Spike Jonze’s Her is the perfect romantic drama for today’s technology-driven society. As a melancholic man gets over a recent breakup, he falls in love with an Artificial Intelligence system called Samantha. What starts off as a cute romance turns into a tumultuous relationship with its highs and lows.

The film sees Joaquin Phoenix play one of his best characters, one who is quite comparable to his role in C’mon C’mon. Both men are going through a lot and are introverted in general. In Her, Phoenix’s character tries to get out of his slump through an unconventional romantic interest while C’mon C’mon‘s Phoenix matures and gets over his issues ever since he becomes his nephew’s guardian.

The Outside Story (2021)

Stream On Hulu

Perfectly suited for times of social isolation, The Outside Story revolves around a documentary film editor and his introverted nature. After going through a messy breakup, he decides to stay cooped up in his apartment until he accidentally locks himself out of the building. What follows is a wholesome journey of getting reacquainted with the outside world and the amusing people he encounters.

This feel-good comedy-drama makes for a good companion watch along with C’mon C’mon. Both movies end up celebrating hope in times of distress, with the lead characters finding solace in outdoor activities and unexpected friendships.

The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)

Stream On Starz

Based on the inspiring true story of entrepreneur Chris Gardener, The Pursuit of Happyness revolves around his struggles to rise out of poverty. In the face of growing bills and job rejections, he must also take care of his son Chris Jr. What follows is a teary tale of fatherhood and perseverance.

Real-life father-son duo Will Smith and Jaden Smith’s on-screen chemistry is as impactful and emotional as Joaquin Phoenix and newcomer Woody Norman in C’mon C’mon. For those who enjoyed the A24 film, they must definitely check out this classic Will Smith movie that continues to inspire viewers.

20th Century Women (2016)

Stream On Showtime

Drawing inspiration from writer-director Mike Mill’s childhood, 20th Century Women takes a look at a teenage boy’s upbringing as he grows in the midst of women from different age groups. While the women navigate through their own ambitions and views on life, the mild-mannered boy finds inspiration in their stories and hones his own personality.

Mills has a way of taking a nostalgic look at childhood and blending this approach with mature themes. Both 20th Century Women and C’mon C’mon bear testimony to his craft of telling everyday human stories in a unique manner.

Roma (2018)

Stream On Netflix

Regarded as one of Alfonso Cuarón’s best movies, Roma is inspired by his own upbringing. It follows the life of Cleo, a domestic worker tasked with taking care of a family in 1970s-era Mexico. As the shy and soft-spoken protagonist deals with personal struggles of her own, she finds a new longing for the children she looks after. The result is a heartwarming human drama.

Roma is far away from C’mon C’mon in terms of the themes. But what would impress fans of the latter movie is Cuarón’s emotive black-and-white cinematography in Roma. While a monochrome color palette can end up making a movie too artificial at times, movies like C’mon C’mon and Roma are modern movies that do justice to the format with sharp details and naturalistic lighting.

Uncle Frank (2020)

Stream On Amazon Prime

After his father’s death, a gay English professor must go back to his small town for the funeral and confront some ugly truths in this process. Set in the 1970s, Uncle Frank addresses homophobia and the struggles of being “closeted” in front of one’s own family. Despite its heavy subject matter, the movie takes the approach of a light-hearted road movie as the titular protagonist’s niece accompanies him on the way back home.

When it comes to good-natured cinematic “uncles,” Paul Bettany’s Frank is as iconic as Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny in C’mon C’mon. Like the latter and his nephew journey across the US to interview children for a documentary, C’mon C’mon also plays out as an unconventional road drama.

Eighth Grade (2018)

Stream On Hulu

As the title suggests, the movie deals with an eighth-grader who must navigate her way through the final week of school. Instead of recycling familiar cliches from ’80s high-school comedies, Eighth Grade feels more timely in the sense that it addresses the protagonist Kayla’s struggles with social anxiety in an Internet-addicted generation.

A24’s teen dramas seem to have an unbeaten track record and Eighth Grade is no exception. Much like some of the best A24 movies The Florida Project, mid-90s, and C’mon C’mon, Bo Burnham’s directorial debut touches upon deep concepts like love and happiness from an adolescent perspective. The naivety of its central character is what drives the narrative forward.

While We’re Young (2015)

Stream On Showtime, Kanopy, & Hoopla

The legendary Ben Stiller stars in this comedy movie as a washed-out documentary filmmaker who desperately searches for creative inspiration in the face of a mid-life crisis. When he befriends a younger man in the same line of work, he seems to find a new purpose in life albeit with some third-act twists.

While We’re Young isn’t as emotional and intense as C’mon C’mon but the two movies offer an interesting perspective on the lives of documentary makers. Stiller’s character shoots movies while Phoenix’s character records interviews for the radio but their approach to work is similar. Add in a dose of middle-aged angst and the two make for perfect parallel character studies.

Boyhood (2014)

Stream On AMC+ & The Criterion Channel

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood has emerged as one of the best coming-of-age movies in recent years. Shot in the course of 12 years, the movie documents the transition from childhood to teenage with a series of seemingly mundane events. This includes a day out with the family, a high-school party, pursuing a new hobby, and so on.

One major similarity between Boyhood and C’mon C’mon is that both movies tend to find beauty in everyday things. The protagonist and his father share their highs and lows in normal experiences like car rides, the same way C’mon C’mon‘s Johnny and Jesse share introspective outdoor walks.

Somewhere (2010)

Rent On Apple TV

As a down-on-luck Hollywood star struggles with solitude and fame, a visit from his estranged 11-year-old niece turns his life upside down. Sofia Coppola’s movie succeeds at showing how even the most loathsome of adults can have a change of heart when faced with responsibility. While parenting can be a Herculean task in itself, it can also be a rewarding experience if done right.

Somewhere and C’mon C’mon both take place in the duration of a few days. This short time is enough for the lonely adult figures in each story to gain a new perspective on life as they themselves undergo a second “coming-of-age” with the children they look after.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(736 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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