Movies Like The Search (1948)

The Search is a 1948 drama, war film from Fred Zinnemann with a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Murderers Are Among Us and Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues.

Drama War

The Murderers Are Among Us

1946

After returning from a concentration camp, Susanne finds a traumatized ex-soldier living in her apartment in bombed out Berlin. Together the two try to move past their experiences during WWII.

6.9

MagicScore

Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues

2015

September, 1945. Sebastian impatiently waits for the return of his friend Angelina, whom he has not seen for two years. When the plane carrying the young woman to her small village in the Alps is reported to have crashed in the mountains, Sebastian is convinced that Angelina is still alive. Along with his faithful dog Belle, Sebastian embarks on the most dangerous adventure of his life.

6.9

MagicScore

Phoenix

2014

In the aftermath of WWII, German-Jewish cabaret singer Nelly has to undergo facial reconstructive surgery following her survival from Auschwitz. Without recognising Nelly, her former husband Johnny asks her to help him claim his wife’s inheritance. To see if he's betrayed her, she agrees, becoming her own doppelgänger.

6.8

MagicScore

The Windermere Children

2020

The story of the pioneering project to rehabilitate child survivors of the Holocaust on the shores of Lake Windermere.

7.4

MagicScore

The Aftermath

2019

In the aftermath of World War II, a British colonel and his wife are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions arise with the German widower who lives with them.

6.4

MagicScore

Philomena

2013

A woman searches for her adult son, who was taken away from her decades ago when she was forced to live in a convent.

7.3

MagicScore

A Foreign Affair

1948

In occupied Berlin, a US Army Captain is torn between an ex-Nazi cafe singer and the US Congresswoman investigating her.

7.1

MagicScore

The House on Telegraph Hill

1951

Concentration camp survivor Victoria Kowelska finds herself involved in mystery, greed, and murder when she assumes the identity of a dead friend in order to gain passage to America.

6.4

MagicScore

Gracie's Choice

2004

For as long as she can remember, 16 year-old Gracie has been raising her four siblings, each of whom has a different, absent father and their mother is on the fast track to self-destruction. When these children's lives are about to be pulled apart, Gracie will have to do the impossible and make the ultimate sacrifices to keep her family together.

7.1

MagicScore

#10

Sandra

1965

Sandra returns to her childhood village to take care of family business, but childhood memories and secrets soon overcome her.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

Standing Up

2013

Based on one of the most beloved Young Adult novels of all time: Two kids are stripped naked and left together on an island in a lake - victims of a vicious summer camp prank; But rather than have to return to camp and face the humiliation, they decide to take off, on the run together. What follows is a three day odyssey of discovery and self-discovery.

6.7

MagicScore

#12

A Little Princess

1995

When her father enlists to fight for the British in WWI, young Sara Crewe goes to New York to attend the same boarding school her late mother attended. She soon clashes with the severe headmistress, Miss Minchin, who attempts to stifle Sara's creativity and sense of self-worth.

7.6

MagicScore

#13

Nowhere Special

2020

John, a 35-year-old window cleaner, has dedicated his life to bringing up his 4-year-old son, Michael, after the child's mother left them soon after giving birth. When John is given only a few months left to live, he attempts to find a new, perfect family for Michael, determined to shield him from the terrible reality of the situation.

7.3

MagicScore

#14

Follow That Bird

1985

Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker, who thinks it would be better for him to live with other birds. Unhappy, Big Bird runs away from his foster home, prompting the rest of the Sesame Street gang to go on a cross-country journey to find him.

6.3

MagicScore

#15

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

#16

Man's Castle

1933

Bill takes Trina into his depression camp cabin. Later, just as he finds showgirl LaRue who will support him, Trina becomes pregnant.

6.8

MagicScore

#17

Great Freedom

2021

In post-war Germany, liberation by the Allies does not mean freedom for everyone. Hans Hoffmann is repeatedly imprisoned under Paragraph 175, which criminalizes homosexuality. Nevertheless, over the decades, he continues his quest for freedom and love, even if he finds it in the most unusual places.

7.2

MagicScore

#18

Fury

1936

Joe, who owns a gas station along with his brothers and is about to marry Katherine, travels to the small town where she lives to visit her, but is wrongly mistaken for a wanted kidnapper and arrested.

7.4

MagicScore

#19

7th Heaven

1927

In 1910s Paris, a sewer worker disillusioned with Christianity feels his prayers have been answered when he chances upon a street waif and they fall in love.

7.3

MagicScore

#20

Rebecca

1940

Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.

7.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Search?

The top films similar to The Search by MovieMagicScore are The Murderers Are Among Us (6.9), Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues (6.9), Phoenix (6.8). Each shares drama/war themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Search worth watching?

The Search holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10 from 76 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is The Search?

The Search (1948) is a drama, war film directed by Fred Zinnemann, starring Montgomery Clift, Ivan Jandl, Aline MacMahon.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Search?

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 Murderers Are Among Us Movies like Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues Movies like Phoenix Movies like The Windermere Children Movies like The Aftermath Movies like Philomena

About movies like The Search

This ranked list pairs The Search (1948), a drama and war film from Fred Zinnemann, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Montgomery Clift 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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