Movies Like Being There (1979)

Being There is a 1979 comedy, drama film from Hal Ashby with a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Forrest Gump and The Martian.

Comedy Drama

Forrest Gump

1994

A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.

8.5

MagicScore

The Martian

2015

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

7.7

MagicScore

Advise & Consent

1962

Proposed by the President of the United States to fill the post of Secretary of State, Robert Leffingwell appears before a Senate committee, chaired by the idealistic Senator Brig Anderson, which must decide whether he is the right person for the job.

7.2

MagicScore

Wag the Dog

1997

During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.

6.9

MagicScore

State of the Union

1948

An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.

6.6

MagicScore

Nixon

1995

A look at President Richard M. Nixon—a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.

6.9

MagicScore

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

1991

Bumbling lieutenant Frank Drebin is out to foil the big boys in the energy industry, who intend to suppress technology that will put them out of business.

6.8

MagicScore

The Contender

2000

The vice president is dead, and as the president makes his choice for a replacement, a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival. When Senator Laine Hanson is nominated as the first woman in history to hold the office, hidden agendas explode into a battle for power.

6.7

MagicScore

Absolute Power

1997

A master thief coincidentally is robbing a house where a murder—in which the President of the United States is involved—occurs in front of his eyes. He is forced to run, while holding evidence that could convict the President.

6.7

MagicScore

#10

Get Smart

2008

When members of the nefarious crime syndicate KAOS attack the U.S. spy agency Control and the identities of secret agents are compromised, the Chief has to promote hapless but eager analyst Maxwell Smart to field agent. He is partnered with veteran and capable Agent 99, the only spy whose cover remains intact. Can they work together to thwart the evil world-domination plans of KAOS and its crafty operative?

6.2

MagicScore

#11

Murder at 1600

1997

A secretary is found dead in a White House bathroom during an international crisis, and Detective Harlan Regis is in charge of the investigation. Despite resistance from the Secret Service, Regis partners with agent Nina Chance. As political tensions rise, they learn that the crime could be part of an elaborate cover-up. Framed as traitors, the pair, plus Regis' partner, break into the White House in order to expose the true culprit.

6.1

MagicScore

#12

Dick

1999

Two high school girls wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Richard Nixon. They become the official dog walkers for Nixon's dog Checkers, and become his secret advisors during the Watergate scandal.

5.9

MagicScore

#13

Pixels

2015

Video game experts are recruited by the military to fight 1980s-era video game characters who've attacked New York.

5.8

MagicScore

#14

Air Force One

1997

When Russian neo-nationalists hijack Air Force One, the world's most secure and extraordinary aircraft, the President is faced with a nearly impossible decision to give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country's dignity, but the lives of his wife and daughter.

6.5

MagicScore

#15

Olympus Has Fallen

2013

When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger disaster.

6.4

MagicScore

#16

The Sentinel

2006

Veteran Secret Service agent Pete Garrison investigates a colleague's murder and is subsequently framed as a mole in an assassination attempt on the President due to the machinations of a blackmailer who knows the secret he is hiding. Disgraced, dismissed, and now a fugitive with two relentless federal investigators hot on his heels, Garrison must both clear his name and save the president from assassination.

6.1

MagicScore

#17

xXx: State of the Union

2005

Darius Stone's criminal record and extreme sports obsession make him the perfect candidate to be the newest XXX agent. He must save the U.S. government from a deadly conspiracy led by five-star general and Secretary of Defense George Deckert.

5.1

MagicScore

#18

The Werewolf of Washington

1973

After being unknowingly inflicted with the bite of a werewolf while on a visit to Europe, White House press secretary Jack Whittier begins to turn into a deadly beast by night, terrorizing Washington D.C. and presenting a very deadly threat to the President.

3.7

MagicScore

#19

Swung

2015

David’s life is on the slide: he’s broke, in the middle of a divorce and ‘can’t get it up’. His girlfriend, Alice, is his rock, but the magazine she writes for is going down and the pressure is on to find a story. While job hunting online, David stumbles across the perfect antidote to his boredom: a ‘Swingers’ site. The resulting inbox of lewd invitations on the home-laptop justifiably upsets Alice, until she realises this could be just the ‘story’ she needs. The idea of uncovering the swinging scene causes quite a stir in Alice’s office and, much to David’s chagrin, she is urged to pursue the story. Their first reluctant foray is an hysterically low-rent initiation, however, an unexpected upturn for David’s manhood is all the extra encouragement they need. As events accelerate beyond their control the once adoring couple become lost and fundamental questions are asked of their relationship.

5.4

MagicScore

#20

The Last Detail

1973

Two Navy men are ordered to bring a young offender to prison, but decide to show him one last good time along the way.

7.0

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Being There?

The top films similar to Being There by MovieMagicScore are Forrest Gump (8.5), The Martian (7.7), Advise & Consent (7.2). Each shares comedy/drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Being There worth watching?

Being There holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10 from 1,060 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Being There?

Being There (1979) is a comedy, drama film directed by Hal Ashby, starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas.

Where can I find more recommendations like Being There?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more comedy recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Forrest Gump Movies like The Martian Movies like Advise & Consent Movies like Wag the Dog Movies like State of the Union Movies like Nixon

About movies like Being There

This ranked list pairs Being There (1979), a comedy and drama film from Hal Ashby, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Peter Sellers take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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