Movies Like Carnival Magic (1983)

Carnival Magic is a 1983 drama, family, fantasy film from Al Adamson with a MovieMagicScore of 2.7/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Project X and Funky Monkey.

Drama Family Fantasy

Project X

1987

A young inductee into the military is given the task of looking after some chimpanzees used in the mysterious 'Project X'. Getting to know the chimps fairly well, he begins to suspect there is more to the secret project than he is being told.

6.3

MagicScore

Funky Monkey

2004

A teen genius teams up with a super-talented chimpanzee and his caretaker to take down an animal testing lab. In exchange, the scientist gives the teen some pointers on the girl of his dreams.

6.1

MagicScore

Space Chimps

2008

When an unmanned space shuttle crashes on an uncharted planet, a trio of astronaut chimpanzees are launched by NASA into a wormhole to investigate.

4.9

MagicScore

Chimpanzee

2012

A nature documentary centered on a family of chimps living in the Ivory Coast and Ugandan rain forests. Through Oscar, a little chimpanzee, we discover learning about life in the heart of the African tropical forest and follow his first steps in this world with humor, emotion and anguish. Following a tragedy, he finds himself separated from his mother and left alone to face the hostility of the jungle. Until he is picked up by an older chimpanzee, who will take him under her protection.

7.0

MagicScore

Charlie Chan at Treasure Island

1939

Charlie Chan's investigation of a blackmail-induced suicide as a case of murder leads him into a world of magick and mysticism peopled with a stage magician, a phoney spiritualist, and a for-real mind reader.

6.6

MagicScore

Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus

1960

Angered at stern Uncle Daniel, Toby Tyler runs away from his foster home to join the circus, where he soon befriends Mr. Stubbs, the frisky chimpanzee. However, the circus isn't all fun and games when the evil candy vendor, Harry Tupper, convinces Toby that his Aunt Olive and Uncle Daniel don't love him or want him back. Toby resigns himself to circus life, but when he finally realizes that Tupper lied to him, and that his aunt and uncle truly love him, Toby happily returns home once again.

6.1

MagicScore

Lili

1953

Members of a circus troupe "adopt" Lili Daurier when she finds herself stranded in a strange town. The magician who first comes to her rescue already has romantic entanglements and thinks of her as a little girl. Who can she turn to but the puppets, singing to them her troubles, forgetting that there are puppeteers? A crowd gathers around Lili as she sings. The circus has a new act. She now has a job. Will she get her heart's desire?

6.6

MagicScore

Something Wicked This Way Comes

1983

In a small American town, a diabolical circus arrives, granting wishes for the townsfolk, but twisted as only the esteemed Mr. Dark can make them. Can two young boys overcome the worst the devil himself can deal out?

6.4

MagicScore

Tarzan's New York Adventure

1942

Circus owner Buck Rand kidnaps Boy to perform in his show. He forces a pilot to fly him, Boy and his animal trainer out of the jungle. Tarzan and Jane follow them to New York.

6.3

MagicScore

#10

Being John Malkovich

1999

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.

7.4

MagicScore

#11

Race to Space

2001

In the 1960s a young woman works at NASA as an animal trainer responsible for the chimpanzee who will go into space.

5.9

MagicScore

#12

Planet of the Apes

1968

Astronaut Taylor crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.

7.6

MagicScore

#13

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

2008

Alex, Marty, and other zoo animals find a way to escape from Madagascar when the penguins reassemble a wrecked airplane. The precariously repaired craft stays airborne just long enough to make it to the African continent. There the New Yorkers encounter members of their own species for the first time. Africa proves to be a wild place, but Alex and company wonder if it is better than their Central Park home.

6.5

MagicScore

#14

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones

1964

Merlin Jones, a precocious and intelligent high-school boy, experiments with hypnosis and creates a mind-reading machine. However, his experiments land him in deep trouble with the law.

6.5

MagicScore

#15

Speed Racer

2008

Speed Racer is a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, Speed must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities.

6.3

MagicScore

#16

Pacific Rim: Uprising

2018

It has been ten years since The Battle of the Breach and the oceans are still, but restless. Vindicated by the victory at the Breach, the Jaeger program has evolved into the most powerful global defense force in human history. The PPDC now calls upon the best and brightest to rise up and become the next generation of heroes when the Kaiju threat returns.

6.1

MagicScore

#17

What Women Want

2011

After an accident, a chauvinistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking.

5.9

MagicScore

#18

Listening

2015

For years, we have tried to harness the power of the human mind… and failed. Now, one breakthrough will change everything. Beyond technology. Beyond humanity. Beyond control. David, Ryan, and Jordan hope the telepathy invention will solve all their problems, but the bleeding-edge technology opens a Pandora’s box of new dangers, as the team discovers that when they open their minds, there is nowhere to hide their thoughts.

5.7

MagicScore

#19

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

1973

Sinbad and his crew intercept a homunculus carrying a golden tablet. Koura, the creator of the homunculus and practitioner of evil magic, wants the tablet back and pursues Sinbad. Meanwhile, Sinbad meets the Vizier who has another part of the interlocking golden map, and they mount a quest across the seas to solve the riddle of the map.

6.7

MagicScore

#20

Disclosure Day

2026

A cybersecurity expert becomes a whistleblower after uncovering secrets about aliens, putting him on the run from a corporation. Meanwhile, a meteorologist experiencing strange phenomena joins forces with him to prove there's life beyond our understanding.

7.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Carnival Magic?

The top films similar to Carnival Magic by MovieMagicScore are Project X (6.3), Funky Monkey (6.1), Space Chimps (4.9). Each shares drama/family/fantasy themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Carnival Magic worth watching?

Carnival Magic holds a MovieMagicScore of 2.7/10 from 37 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Carnival Magic?

Carnival Magic (1983) is a drama, family, fantasy film directed by Al Adamson, starring Don Stewart, Jennifer Houlton, Howard Segal.

Where can I find more recommendations like Carnival Magic?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like Project X Movies like Funky Monkey Movies like Space Chimps Movies like Chimpanzee Movies like Charlie Chan at Treasure Island Movies like Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus

About movies like Carnival Magic

This ranked list pairs Carnival Magic (1983), a drama and family and fantasy film from Al Adamson, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Don Stewart 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.

← Back to Carnival Magic