Movies Like Promises (2001)

Promises is a 2001 documentary film from Carlos Bolado with a MovieMagicScore of 7.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Walk on Water and Paradise Now.

Documentary

Walk on Water

2004

Eyal, an Israeli Mossad agent, is given the mission to track down and kill the very old Alfred Himmelman, an ex-Nazi officer, who might still be alive. Pretending to be a tourist guide, he befriends his grandson Axel, in Israel to visit his sister Pia. The two men set out on a tour of the country, during which Axel challenges Eyal's values.

6.8

MagicScore

Paradise Now

2005

Two childhood friends are recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

6.9

MagicScore

Inch'Allah

2012

A Canadian doctor finds her sympathies sorely tested while working in the conflict ravaged Palestinian territories.

6.5

MagicScore

5 Broken Cameras

2011

Five broken cameras – and each one has a powerful tale to tell. Embedded in the bullet-ridden remains of digital technology is the story of Emad Burnat, a farmer from the Palestinian village of Bil’in, which famously chose nonviolent resistance when the Israeli army encroached upon its land to make room for Jewish colonists. Emad buys his first camera in 2005 to document the birth of his fourth son, Gibreel. Over the course of the film, he becomes the peaceful archivist of an escalating struggle as olive trees are bulldozed, lives are lost, and a wall is built to segregate burgeoning Israeli settlements.

7.5

MagicScore

Lawrence of Arabia

1962

During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward 'T.E.' Lawrence sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.

8.0

MagicScore

Beirut

2018

In 1980s Beirut, Mason Skiles is a former U.S. diplomat who is called back into service to save a colleague from the group that is possibly responsible for his own family's death. Meanwhile, a CIA field agent who is working under cover at the American embassy is tasked with keeping Mason alive and ensuring that the mission is a success.

6.3

MagicScore

The Message

1976

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

8.7

MagicScore

A Prophet

2009

Sentenced to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena is alone in the world and can neither read nor write. On his arrival at the prison, he seems younger and more brittle than the others detained there. At once he falls under the sway of a group of Corsicans who enforce their rule in the prison. As the 'missions' go by, he toughens himself and wins the confidence of the Corsican group.

7.6

MagicScore

The Message

1976

7.2

MagicScore

#10

The District

2004

In an effort to end family feuding, a young gypsy travels back in time to kill mammoths to ensure Hungary becomes rich by killing mammoths in order to create a massive oil reservoir. Things don't go entirely according to plan...

4.8

MagicScore

#11

Kingdom of Heaven

2005

After his wife dies, a blacksmith named Balian is thrust into royalty, political intrigue and bloody holy wars during the Crusades.

7.0

MagicScore

#12

Louis Theroux: The Settlers

2025

14 years after his first visit, Louis Theroux meets some of the growing community of religious-nationalist Israelis who have settled in the occupied West Bank.

8.5

MagicScore

#13

Waltz with Bashir

2008

An Israeli film director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in that conflict.

7.7

MagicScore

#14

Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority

2006

A thought-provoking documentary on the current and historical causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. political involvement.

7.5

MagicScore

#15

The Gatekeepers

2012

In an unprecedented and candid series of interviews, six former heads of the Shin Bet — Israel's intelligence and security agency — speak about their role in Israel's decades-long counterterrorism campaign, discussing their controversial methods and whether the ends ultimately justify the means.

6.9

MagicScore

#16

Tikkun

2015

Haim-Aaron is a bright, ultra-orthodox religious scholar living in Jerusalem. His talents and devotion are envied by all. One evening, following a self-imposed fast, Haim-Aaron collapses and loses consciousness. The paramedics announce his death, but his father takes over resuscitation efforts and, beyond all expectations, Haim-Aaron comes back to life. After the accident, try as he might, Haim-Aaron remains apathetic to his studies. He feels overwhelmed by a sudden awakening of his body and suspects this is God testing him. He wonders if he should stray from the prescribed path and find a way to rekindle his faith... The title means "Rectify" in Hebrew; nevertheless the movie is called Tikkun in the English-speaking world.

5.9

MagicScore

#17

O Jerusalem

2006

A tale of friendship between two men, one Jewish and the other Arab, as the state of Israel is being created.

5.9

MagicScore

#18

Jeruzalem

2016

When a couple of American young adults fly to Israel to visit the city of Jerusalem, a biblical nightmare falls upon the city.

5.5

MagicScore

#19

Exodus

1960

Ari Ben Canaan, a passionate member of the Jewish paramilitary group Haganah, attempts to transport 600 Jewish refugees on a dangerous voyage from Cyprus to Palestine on a ship named the Exodus. He faces obstruction from British forces, who will not grant the ship passage to its destination.

6.7

MagicScore

#20

Cast a Giant Shadow

1966

An American Army officer is recruited by the yet to exist Israel to help them form an army. He is disturbed by this sudden appeal to his Jewish heritage. Each of Israel's Arab neighbors has vowed to invade the poorly prepared country as soon as partition is granted. He is made commander of the Israeli forces just before the war begins.

6.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Promises?

The top films similar to Promises by MovieMagicScore are Walk on Water (6.8), Paradise Now (6.9), Inch'Allah (6.5). Each shares documentary themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Promises worth watching?

Promises holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.5/10 from 38 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Promises?

Promises (2001) is a documentary film directed by Carlos Bolado, starring Moishe Bar Am, B.Z. Goldberg, Sanabel Hassan.

Where can I find more recommendations like Promises?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like Walk on Water Movies like Paradise Now Movies like Inch'Allah Movies like 5 Broken Cameras Movies like Lawrence of Arabia Movies like Beirut

About movies like Promises

This ranked list pairs Promises (2001), a documentary film from Carlos Bolado, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Moishe Bar Am 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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