Movies Like Only When I Laugh (1981)

Only When I Laugh is a 1981 comedy, drama film from Glenn Jordan with a MovieMagicScore of 5.7/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with One A.M. and Dinner at Eight.

Comedy Drama

One A.M.

1916

A drunken homeowner has a difficult time getting about in his home after arriving home late at night.

6.7

MagicScore

Dinner at Eight

1933

An ambitious New York socialite plans an extravagant dinner party as her businessman husband, Oliver, contends with financial woes, causing a lot of tension between the couple. Meanwhile, their high-society friends and associates, including the gruff Dan Packard and his sultry spouse, Kitty, contend with their own entanglements, leading to revelations at the much-anticipated dinner.

6.7

MagicScore

Georgia Rule

2007

Rebellious, uncontrollable teenager, Rachel is hauled off by her dysfunctional mother to spend the summer with her estranged grandmother, Georgia. Her journey will lead all three women to revelations of buried family secrets and an understanding that - regardless what happens - the ties that bind can never be broken.

6.0

MagicScore

The Turning Point

1977

As young dancers, they were best friends and fierce rivals. Deedee left the stage for marriage and motherhood, while Emma would become an international ballet icon. But when Deedee's teenage daughter is invited to join Emma's dance company and begins an affair with a young Russian star, the two women are forced to confront the choices they've made, the resentments they've hidden and the emotional truths they must face at the turning point.

6.5

MagicScore

Miracle on 34th Street

1947

Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others question his sanity.

7.4

MagicScore

The Women

1939

A happily married woman lets her catty friends talk her into divorce when her husband strays.

7.1

MagicScore

The Power of the Dog

2021

A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.

6.8

MagicScore

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1962

A former child star torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.

7.9

MagicScore

All of Us Strangers

2023

One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry, which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life.

7.4

MagicScore

#10

Come Back, Little Sheba

1953

A mismatched couple's marital problems come to the surface when the husband develops an interest in their pretty boarder.

7.2

MagicScore

#11

The Golden Glove

2019

A serial killer strikes fear in the hearts of residents of Hamburg during the early 1970s.

6.9

MagicScore

#12

The Dresser

1983

In a touring Shakespearean theater group, a backstage hand - the dresser, is devoted to the brilliant but tyrannical head of the company. He struggles to support the deteriorating star as the company struggles to carry on during the London blitz. The pathos of his backstage efforts rival the pathos in the story of Lear and the Fool that is being presented on-stage, as the situation comes to a crisis.

6.7

MagicScore

#13

Jamon Jamon

1992

José Luis has a cushy corporate job at the lingerie factory his mom owns. After he falls in love and proposes to Silvia, a beautiful laborer on the underwear assembly line, his mom enlists Raul, a potential underwear model and would-be bullfighter, to seduce Silvia.

6.2

MagicScore

#14

Gloriously Wasted

2012

Juha Berg is a 30-year-old hopeless drunk in the Kallio neighborhood of Helsinki. Juha doesn't have the first intention of changing his way of life - just the opposite. He really enjoys sundry sexual relationships, adrenalin-inducing violence and, of course, alcohol for which he gets money even if by collecting bottles. But the hilarity in a drunken haze soon gets a run for its money as the passionate Juha falls in love with his AA group leader. The relationship with Tiina progresses quickly to dating and Juha has to make pivotal decisions. Juha has to begin balancing between maintaining a functional intimate relationship and his old lifestyle. Juha's best friend Kristian does his best to sabotage the relationship, and Juha's shaky decision to stay sober is further hindered by Mikael, an expert on German erotica. But how far can you go before there is only one solution left?

4.3

MagicScore

#15

Bridget Jones's Diary

2001

Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her various imperfections. As a New Year's resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance into whom Bridget cannot seem to stop running or help finding quietly attractive.

6.7

MagicScore

#16

Florence Foster Jenkins

2016

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress, who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.

6.7

MagicScore

#17

Doña Diabla

1950

A woman, after committing a murder, flees into a church, confessing her life story to a priest.

7.2

MagicScore

#18

Breakfast at Tiffany's

1961

Holly Golightly is an eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire. But when young writer Paul Varjak moves into her apartment building, her past threatens to get in their way.

7.6

MagicScore

#19

The Entitled

2011

Without the security of the job he wants or the future he dreamed of, Paul Dynan plans the perfect crime to help his struggling family – abduct the socialite children of three wealthy men and collect a ransom of $3-million dollars. Over the course of one long night, Paul and his accomplices hold the rich kids hostage awaiting the ransom with little idea of the secrets that will surface between the fathers when they are forced to choose between their children and their money.

6.1

MagicScore

#20

The House of Mirth

2000

In early 20th century New York City, an impoverished socialite desperately seeks a suitable husband as she gradually finds herself betrayed by her friends and exiled from high society.

6.1

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Only When I Laugh?

The top films similar to Only When I Laugh by MovieMagicScore are One A.M. (6.7), Dinner at Eight (6.7), Georgia Rule (6.0). Each shares comedy/drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Only When I Laugh worth watching?

Only When I Laugh holds a MovieMagicScore of 5.7/10 from 20 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Only When I Laugh?

Only When I Laugh (1981) is a comedy, drama film directed by Glenn Jordan, starring Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco.

Where can I find more recommendations like Only When I Laugh?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like One A.M.Movies like Dinner at Eight Movies like Georgia Rule Movies like The Turning Point Movies like Miracle on 34th Street Movies like The Women

About movies like Only When I Laugh

This ranked list pairs Only When I Laugh (1981), a comedy and drama film from Glenn Jordan, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Marsha Mason 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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