Movies Like The United States of Leland (2003)

The United States of Leland is a 2003 crime, drama film from Matthew Ryan Hoge with a MovieMagicScore of 6.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Miss Meadows and Freeway.

Crime Drama

Miss Meadows

2014

Miss Meadows is a school teacher with impeccable manners and grace. However, underneath the candy-sweet exterior hides a ruthless gun-toting vigilante who takes it upon herself to right the wrongs in the world by whatever means necessary. For Miss Meadows, bad behavior is simply unforgivable.

5.9

MagicScore

Freeway

1996

Following the arrest of her mother, Ramona, young Vanessa Lutz decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride by school counselor Bob Wolverton. During the journey, Lutz begins to realize that Bob is the notorious I-5 Killer and manages to escape by shooting him several times. Wounded but still very much alive, Bob pursues Lutz across the state in this modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

6.5

MagicScore

The Woman in the Fifth

2011

An American writer moves to Paris to be closer to his daughter and finds himself falling immediately on hard times.

5.2

MagicScore

Tuner

2026

A gifted piano tuner's meticulous skills for tuning pianos lead him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down.

7.6

MagicScore

Half Nelson

2006

Despite his dedication to the junior-high students who fill his classroom, idealistic teacher Dan Dunne leads a secret life of addiction that the majority of his students will never know. But things change when a troubled student Drey makes a startling discovery of his secret life, causing a tenuous bond between the two that could either end disastrously or provide a catalyst of hope.

6.6

MagicScore

Chain of Fools

2001

An avid detective is assigned to investigate the heist of a batch of precious coins that end up in the hands of a suicidal barber.

5.8

MagicScore

Lila Says

2005

Based on a controversial French novel, Lila Says tells the story of a quiet young poet named Chimo who develops a crush on the pretty, blond Lila, a girl who recently moved into his Arab ghetto with her aunt. When the leader of a rival gang also falls for Lila, the ensuing love triangle initiates a journey of sexual discovery -- and sets off a chain of devastating events.

6.5

MagicScore

Pather Panchali

1955

Impoverished priest Harihar Ray leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. His wife, Sarbojaya, looks after their rebellious daughter, Durga, and young son, Apu. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life.

7.8

MagicScore

In the House

2012

A sixteen-year-old boy insinuates himself into the house of a fellow student from his literature class and writes about it in essays for his French teacher. Faced with this gifted and unusual pupil, the teacher rediscovers his enthusiasm for his work, but the boy’s intrusion will unleash a series of uncontrollable events.

7.2

MagicScore

#10

Some Came Running

1958

A former novelist returns to his small Midwest town after serving in the Army during WWII, to the chagrin of his social-climbing brother, and becomes close with an easy-going professional gambler and torn between two very different women.

6.9

MagicScore

#11

The Whole Wide World

1996

In 1930s Texas, pulp fiction master Robert E. Howard is introduced to Novalyne Price, a teacher with aspirations of becoming an author herself, and they begin a unique relationship filled with conversation and imagination. Although the possibility exists for romance, Howard's obsession with his work and dedication to his sick mother leads Price to look elsewhere for love, leaving Howard feeling betrayed and alone.

6.6

MagicScore

#12

The Night of the Hunter

1955

In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.

7.9

MagicScore

#13

Synecdoche, New York

2008

A theater director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he attempts to create a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse as part of his new play.

7.5

MagicScore

#14

The Betrayed

2008

Kidnappers force a young mother to recover money stolen by her shady husband.

5.5

MagicScore

#15

Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle

1994

Dorothy Parker remembers the heyday of the Algonquin Round Table, a circle of friends whose barbed wit, like hers, was fueled by alcohol and flirted with despair.

5.8

MagicScore

#16

29 Palms

2002

When a bag filled with money goes missing from a casino, the Hitman (Chris O'Donnell) must retrieve it. While he tracks the stash down, the bag changes hands numerous times, finding its way to the Drifter (Jeremy Davies) and the Waitress (Rachael Leigh Cook), among others. As the bag's journey continues, more characters, including the Cop (Michael Rapaport) and the Sheriff (Keith David), get drawn into the winding crime tale, and the search becomes increasingly desperate.

4.6

MagicScore

#17

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

1976

A young country-star wannabe takes off from her carhop career to join with a young, modern Billy the Kid wannabe for an adventure in theft, murder and mayhem.

4.3

MagicScore

#18

The Bachelors

2017

After the early death of his wife, a mourning father moves with his teenage son across the country for a private school teaching job. Their lives begin to transform due to two unique women, who help them embrace life and love again

7.1

MagicScore

#19

Dial M for Murder

1954

When her American lover visits London, a wealthy woman’s jealous husband hatches a plan to murder her and inherit her fortune.

8.0

MagicScore

#20

The Magnificent One

1973

A writer of pulpy book series in which he's the hero and his beautiful English roommate is the love interest attempts to finish his new book in time at the publisher's demand.

7.0

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The United States of Leland?

The top films similar to The United States of Leland by MovieMagicScore are Miss Meadows (5.9), Freeway (6.5), The Woman in the Fifth (5.2). Each shares crime/drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The United States of Leland worth watching?

The United States of Leland holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.5/10 from 330 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is The United States of Leland?

The United States of Leland (2003) is a crime, drama film directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge, starring Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein.

Where can I find more recommendations like The United States of Leland?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like Miss Meadows Movies like Freeway Movies like The Woman in the Fifth Movies like Tuner Movies like Half Nelson Movies like Chain of Fools

About movies like The United States of Leland

This ranked list pairs The United States of Leland (2003), a crime and drama film from Matthew Ryan Hoge, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Don Cheadle 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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