Movies Like Phar Lap (1983)

Phar Lap is a 1983 drama, family, history film from Simon Wincer with a MovieMagicScore of 7.2/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Dream Horse and Seabiscuit.

Drama Family History

Dream Horse

2021

The inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town bartender, Jan Vokes. With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream and compete with the racing elites. Their investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks and becomes a beacon of hope in their struggling community.

7.0

MagicScore

Seabiscuit

2003

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.

7.1

MagicScore

The Black Stallion

1979

While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion that is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a deserted island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once successful trainer. Together they begin training the horse to race against the fastest ones in the world.

7.0

MagicScore

Hidalgo

2004

Set in 1890, this is the story of a Pony Express courier who travels to Arabia to compete with his horse, Hidalgo, in a dangerous race for a massive contest prize, in an adventure that sends the pair around the world...

6.9

MagicScore

In Like Flynn

2018

A mostly true account of future Hollywood star Errol Flynn's sea adventures in the early thirties, sailing from Australia to Papua in search of gold, along with his best friend Rex, a former Canadian smuggler; Dook, a handy English gentleman; and Charlie, a grumpy old sailor.

4.9

MagicScore

Jack Irish: Black Tide

2012

Jack Irish has no shortage of friends, but family members are few and far between. His wife was murdered by an ex-client and his father is a fading photo on the pubs football wall of fame. So when Des Connors, the last link to his dad, calls to ask for help in the matter of a missing son, Jack is more than happy to lend a hand. But sometimes prodigal sons go missing for a reason... As Jack begins to dig, he discovers that Gary Connors was a man with something to hide, and his friends are people with yet darker and even more deadly secrets.

6.7

MagicScore

Jack Irish: Bad Debts

2012

Jack Irish is a man getting his life back together again. A former criminal lawyer whose world imploded, he now spends his days as a part-time investigator, debt collector, apprentice cabinet maker, punter and sometime lover - the complete man really. Jack is an expert in finding those who don't want to be found - dead or alive. He helps out his mates while avoiding the past. That is until the past finds him.

6.4

MagicScore

Ride Like a Girl

2019

The story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

7.3

MagicScore

Lean on Pete

2018

Charley Thompson, a teenager living with his single father, gets a summer job working for horse trainer Del Montgomery. Bonding with an aging racehorse named Lean on Pete, Charley is horrified to learn he is bound for slaughter, and so he steals the horse, and the duo embark on an odyssey across the new American frontier.

6.9

MagicScore

#10

National Velvet

1945

Mi Taylor is a young wanderer and opportunist who finds himself in the quiet English countryside home of the Brown family. The youngest daughter, Velvet, has a passion for horses and when she wins the spirited steed Pie in a town lottery, Mi is encouraged to train the horse.

7.2

MagicScore

#11

On the Beach

1959

In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?

6.6

MagicScore

#12

Proof

1991

Martin, a young blind photographer, is divided between his friendship with restaurant worker Andy and the exclusive love that Celia—who is terribly jealous of this new friendship—has for him.

6.6

MagicScore

#13

Son of a Gun

2014

Locked up for a minor crime, 19 year old JR quickly learns the harsh realities of prison life. Protection, if you can get it, is paramount. JR soon finds himself under the watchful eye of Australia's most notorious criminal, Brendan Lynch, but protection comes at a price.

6.4

MagicScore

#14

Noise

2007

The community reels after an incident on a suburban train. A young cop, beset with doubt and afflicted with tinnitus, is pitched into the chaos that follows this tragic event. He struggles to clear the noises in his head while all around him deal with the after burn of the crime.

6.0

MagicScore

#15

Death in Brunswick

1991

A reserved man in need of a job, Carl Fitzgerald finds employment at a Greek restaurant. Upon meeting waitress Sophie, Carl begins dating the attractive woman. Though it seems things are improving for Carl, an unexpected situation leads to the death of Mustafa, a shady coworker, and Carl must figure out how to cover up the incident. Unsure of what to do, Carl enlists the help of his buddy, Dave, to get rid of Mustafa's corpse.

5.8

MagicScore

#16

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

1936

A doctor is driven into an investigation of sinister goings-on at a horse race track by his mystery writer ex-wife.

6.2

MagicScore

#17

Dark Horse

2015

The larger than life true story of how a barmaid in a poor Welsh mining village convinces some of her fellow residents to pool their resources to compete in the "sport of kings" with a racehorse they would breed and raise.

5.3

MagicScore

#18

The Protector

2005

A young fighter named Kham must go to Australia to retrieve his stolen elephant. With the help of a Thai-born Australian detective, Kham must take on all comers, including a gang led by an evil woman and her two deadly bodyguards.

7.1

MagicScore

#19

The Sum of Us

1994

A widowed father has to deal with two complex issues: while he is searching for "Miss Right," his son, who is in his 20s and gay, is searching for "Mr. Right."

6.7

MagicScore

#20

Ladies in Black

2018

Adapted from the bestselling novel by Madeleine St John, Ladies in Black is an alluring and tender-hearted comedy drama about the lives of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney.

6.7

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Phar Lap?

The top films similar to Phar Lap by MovieMagicScore are Dream Horse (7.0), Seabiscuit (7.1), The Black Stallion (7.0). Each shares drama/family/history themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Phar Lap worth watching?

Phar Lap holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.2/10 from 28 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Phar Lap?

Phar Lap (1983) is a drama, family, history film directed by Simon Wincer, starring Tom Burlinson, Richard Morgan, Judy Morris.

Where can I find more recommendations like Phar Lap?

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 Dream Horse Movies like Seabiscuit Movies like The Black Stallion Movies like Hidalgo Movies like In Like Flynn Movies like Jack Irish: Black Tide

About movies like Phar Lap

This ranked list pairs Phar Lap (1983), a drama and family and history film from Simon Wincer, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Tom Burlinson 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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