Movies Like Behind the Sun (2001)

Behind the Sun is a 2001 drama, romance, thriller film from Walter Salles with a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Greatest Show on Earth and Werckmeister Harmonies.

Drama Romance Thriller

The Greatest Show on Earth

1952

To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground.

6.3

MagicScore

Werckmeister Harmonies

2001

A naive young man witnesses an escalation of violence in his small hometown following the arrival of a mysterious circus attraction.

7.9

MagicScore

The Tin Drum

1979

Oskar Matzerath is a very unusual boy. Refusing to leave the womb until promised a tin drum by his mother, Agnes, Oskar is reluctant to enter a world he sees as filled with hypocrisy and injustice, and vows on his third birthday to never grow up. Miraculously, he gets his wish. As the Nazis rise to power in Danzig, Oskar wills himself to remain a child, beating his tin drum incessantly and screaming in protest at the chaos surrounding him.

6.9

MagicScore

Dumbo

2019

A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.

6.6

MagicScore

Blue Ruin

2014

When the quiet life of a beach bum is upended by dreadful news, he sets off for his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. However, he proves an inept assassin and finds himself in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.

6.8

MagicScore

The Kung Fu Cult Master

1993

A wild and rollicking martial arts fantasy extravaganza that features prized swords and swordsmen, a crazy monk attached to a rolling boulder, serious clan and cult rivalries, and lots of magic and flying.

6.8

MagicScore

La Strada

1954

When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.

7.9

MagicScore

Freakshow

2007

In a modern retelling of Tod Browning's "Freaks" (1932), "Freakshow" tells the story of a group of criminals who chose to hide out by working security at a traveling circus. At first, they plot with an insider to steal the ticket sales, but the wily Lucy has bigger plans. She convinces the gang to let her seduce and marry the aging circus owner, Lon, in order to secure the entire circus fortune after he "suffers an accident". "People die all the time," Lucy says. The freaks are on to their scheme, however, and when the youngest of them is caught by the ruthless gang, they show no mercy to ensure her silence. When the circus folk find the child's remains, they swear vengeance, and no one is safe from their fury--least of all, the wily Lucy.

3.0

MagicScore

Suburban Mayhem

2006

Can you really get away with murder? Welcome to the world of Katrina, a 19-year-old single mum who's planning to do just that. Katrina lives in a world of petty crime, fast cars, manicures and blow-jobs. A master manipulator of men living at home with her father in suburban Golden Grove, Katrina will stop at nothing to get what she wants - even murder.

5.4

MagicScore

#10

Laugh, Clown, Laugh

1928

A despairing clown suffering a broken heart and a self-indulgent count who uncontrollably laughs learn to help each other with their problems, but both fall in love with the same young woman.

7.4

MagicScore

#11

Sawdust and Tinsel

1953

A number of complicated relationships develop between a circus ringmaster, his estranged wife and his lover.

7.3

MagicScore

#12

The Blue Angel

1930

Prim professor Immanuel Rath finds some of his students ogling racy photos of cabaret performer Lola Lola and visits a local club, The Blue Angel, in an attempt to catch them there. Seeing Lola perform, the teacher is filled with lust, eventually resigning his position at the school to marry the young woman. However, his marriage to a coquette -- whose job is to entice men -- proves to be more difficult than Rath imagined.

7.3

MagicScore

#13

Two Brothers

2004

Two tigers are separated as cubs and taken into captivity, only to be reunited years later as enemies by an explorer (Pearce) who inadvertently forces them to fight each other.

7.1

MagicScore

#14

The Big Country

1958

Retired wealthy sea captain Jim McKay arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between his future father-in-law, Major Terrill, and the rough and lawless Hannasseys over a valuable patch of land.

7.6

MagicScore

#15

The Valley of Decision

1945

Mary Rafferty comes from a poor family of steel mill workers in 19th Century Pittsburgh. Her family objects when she goes to work as a maid for the wealthy Scott family which controls the mill. Mary catches the attention of handsome scion Paul Scott, but their romance is complicated by Paul's engagement to someone else and a bitter strike among the mill workers.

7.3

MagicScore

#16

The Dark Valley

2014

The Alps, late 19th century. Greider, a mysterious lone rider who claims to be a photographer, arrives at an isolated lumber village, despotically ruled by a family clan, asking for winter accommodation.

7.0

MagicScore

#17

Romeo & Juliet

2013

In Verona, bad blood between the Montague and Capulet families leads to much bitterness. Despite the hostility, Romeo Montague manages an invitation to a masked ball at the estate of the Capulets and meets Juliet, their daughter. The two are instantly smitten but dismayed to learn that their families are enemies. Romeo and Juliet figure out a way to pursue their romance, but Romeo is banished for his part in the slaying of Juliet's cousin, Tybalt.

6.7

MagicScore

#18

The Bride

2015

Based on the famous play "Bodas de sangre" (Blood Wedding) by Federico García Lorca, La novia tells the story of a passionate love triangle. A bride leaves her groom, no longer able to withstand the surging desires of her lover, Leonordo.

6.7

MagicScore

#19

This Christmas

2007

This year Christmas with the Whitfields promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years and they've brought plenty of baggage with them. As the Christmas tree is trimmed and the lights are hung, secrets are revealed and family bonds are tested. As their lives converge, they join together and help each other discover the true meaning of family.

6.5

MagicScore

#20

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1989

In 1938, an art collector appeals to eminent archaeologist Dr. Indiana Jones to embark on a search for the Holy Grail. Indy learns that a medieval historian has vanished while searching for it, and the missing man is his own father, Dr. Henry Jones Sr.. He sets out to rescue his father by following clues in the old man's notebook, which his father had mailed to him before he went missing. Indy arrives in Venice, where he enlists the help of a beautiful academic, Dr. Elsa Schneider, along with Marcus Brody and Sallah. Together they must stop the Nazis from recovering the power of eternal life and taking over the world!

7.8

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Behind the Sun?

The top films similar to Behind the Sun by MovieMagicScore are The Greatest Show on Earth (6.3), Werckmeister Harmonies (7.9), The Tin Drum (6.9). Each shares drama/romance/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Behind the Sun worth watching?

Behind the Sun holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10 from 123 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Behind the Sun?

Behind the Sun (2001) is a drama, romance, thriller film directed by Walter Salles, starring Rodrigo Santoro, José Dumont, Rita Assemany.

Where can I find more recommendations like Behind the Sun?

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 The Greatest Show on Earth Movies like Werckmeister Harmonies Movies like The Tin Drum Movies like Dumbo Movies like Blue Ruin Movies like The Kung Fu Cult Master

About movies like Behind the Sun

This ranked list pairs Behind the Sun (2001), a drama and romance and thriller film from Walter Salles, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Rodrigo Santoro 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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