Movies Like The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

The Art of Self-Defense is a 2019 comedy, drama, mystery, thriller film from Riley Stearns with a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Mask You Live In and The Last Supper.

Comedy Drama Mystery Thriller

The Mask You Live In

2015

Compared to girls, research shows that boys in the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with a behaviour disorder, prescribed stimulant medications, fail out of school, binge drink, commit a violent crime, and/or take their own lives. The Mask You Live In asks: as a society, how are we failing our boys?

7.7

MagicScore

The Last Supper

1995

A group of idealistic but frustrated liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering right-wing pundits for their political beliefs.

6.5

MagicScore

Karate Girl

2011

In Okinawa, Ayaka Kurenai was born in the world’s greatest legendary Karate family. When she was a child, her family was attacked by a mysterious gang that seeks legendary black belt. Her father Soujiro Kurenai was killed and her younger sister was taken in front of her. Time has passed. In Yokohama, she was spending her life as a normal high school girl, hiding her real name and her status as a heir of the legendary Karate family. However, one incident brought her a fateful encounter with her sister who was separated in their childhood. But, her sister was raised as a heartless killing machine by the mysterious gang who took her. .

5.3

MagicScore

The Producers

1968

Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his accountant, Leo Bloom, plan to make money by charming wealthy old biddies to invest in a production many times over the actual cost, and then put on a sure-fire flop, so nobody will ask for their money back – and what can be a more certain flop than a tasteless musical celebrating Hitler.

7.1

MagicScore

The Bikeriders

2024

After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny, member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

6.7

MagicScore

Black Belt

2007

Set in 1932, amid the rise of militarism after the establishment of the Manchukuo colony in Northeast China, the story centers on a trio of karateka. Studying under their aging master in a small dojo in the woods of central Kyushu, Choei, Taikan and Giryu face a company of kempeitai military police come to requisition their dojo for use as a military base.

6.7

MagicScore

The Special

2020

Suspecting his wife of infidelity, Jerry is persuaded by his best friend to accompany him to a brothel to sample ‘The Special’, which proves to be a lifechanging experience in more ways than one. Because every pleasure has its price...

5.3

MagicScore

Cyborg 3: The Recycler

1995

Prepare yourself for the all too deadly future. Cash, the heroine of Cyborg 2, is living safe in the free zone. But not for long. Biomechanical problems are taking down her systems and a visit to a doctor in Silica confirms her worst fears. She is more then a marvel of cyborg technology. She is the first of her kind to become a creator-she is pregnant.

3.5

MagicScore

ExTerminators

2009

Alex is a lonely accountant whose one act of rage results in her being sentenced to court-ordered therapy. There she meets Stella, the owner of a small extermination business who uses her car as a weapon, and Nikki, a dental technician with the face of an angel and the mind of a sociopath. Together these women form their own "silent revolution", wreaking havoc on the abusive men in their lives.

5.4

MagicScore

#10

mid90s

2018

In 1990s Los Angeles, a 13-year-old spends his summer navigating between a troubled home life and a crew of new friends he meets at a skate shop.

7.5

MagicScore

#11

The Next Karate Kid

1994

Mr. Miyagi decides to take Julie, a troubled teenager, under his wing after he learns that she blames herself for her parents' demise and struggles to adjust with her grandmother and fellow pupils.

5.4

MagicScore

#12

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

#13

Filth

2013

A bigoted junkie cop suffering from borderline personality disorder and drug addiction manipulates and hallucinates his way in a bid to secure promotion.

6.8

MagicScore

#14

American Psycho

2000

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.

7.4

MagicScore

#15

Brazil

1985

Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.

7.7

MagicScore

#16

Up!

1976

Adolf Hitler is hiding out in California under the identity of Adolf Schwartz; however, he is soon murdered by a mysterious assailant. This coincides with the arrival of a mysterious woman in a nearby town. Whatever the case might be, nobody seems interested in investigating the crime, but there are many who are interested in her.

5.6

MagicScore

#17

The Invisible Man's Revenge

1944

A fugitive, dangerous madman reaches an English village where he confronts his former partner who left him for dead in the jungle after their discovery of a diamond mine. When the former partner also claims to have since lost the mine and all its wealth, which he took all for himself, and though the partner is still living in a state of luxury , the madman takes up an offer from a crazed scientist to make him invisible, something the scientist has already done with experimental animals, so that he can take revenge.

5.6

MagicScore

#18

The Middle Man

2021

Frank Farrelli takes on the job as a middle man in the God-forsaken town of Karmack, USA, a community in a depression so deep that they need a middle man to professionally communicate more of the bad news.

6.0

MagicScore

#19

Leading Lady Parts

2018

The best women of British acting go to an audition for a dream role, primed to take on the role of a lifetime: that complex woman, the strong woman, a woman for today.

7.8

MagicScore

#20

A Clockwork Orange

1971

In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?

8.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Art of Self-Defense?

The top films similar to The Art of Self-Defense by MovieMagicScore are The Mask You Live In (7.7), The Last Supper (6.5), Karate Girl (5.3). Each shares comedy/drama/mystery/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Art of Self-Defense worth watching?

The Art of Self-Defense holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10 from 783 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is The Art of Self-Defense?

The Art of Self-Defense (2019) is a comedy, drama, mystery, thriller film directed by Riley Stearns, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Art of Self-Defense?

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 The Mask You Live In Movies like The Last Supper Movies like Karate Girl Movies like The Producers Movies like The Bikeriders Movies like Black Belt

About movies like The Art of Self-Defense

This ranked list pairs The Art of Self-Defense (2019), a comedy and drama and mystery and thriller film from Riley Stearns, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Jesse Eisenberg 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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