Movies Like Cousin Bette (1998)

Cousin Bette is a 1998 comedy, drama, romance film from Des McAnuff with a MovieMagicScore of 5.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Moulin Rouge! and Swann in Love.

Comedy Drama Romance

Moulin Rouge!

2001

A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet, who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star.

7.5

MagicScore

Swann in Love

1984

In 19th-century Paris, Charles Swann risks his social standing in his obsessive pursuit of prostitute Odette. His overwhelming desire for her comes, in part, from Odette's complete disinterest in him. When he finally weds her, utterly compromising himself in high society, he finds to his horror that his love for her was a complete illusion. At the same time, the Baron de Charlus pursues his own ill-advised romance.

5.5

MagicScore

Gigi

1958

A home, a motorcar, servants, the latest fashions: the most eligible and most finicky bachelor in Paris offers them all to Gigi. But she, who's gone from girlish gawkishness to cultured glamour before our eyes, yearns for that wonderful something money can't buy.

6.2

MagicScore

The Heiress

1949

In 1840s New York, the uneventful and boring days of the daughter of a wealthy doctor come to an end when she meets a dashing poorer man — who may or may not be after her inheritance.

7.8

MagicScore

Great Expectations

1946

In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.

7.3

MagicScore

Washington Square

1997

In 1870s New York, spinster heiress Catherine Sloper is courted by the much younger, penniless Morris Townsend, much to the chagrin of her overprotective father. Catherine must decide whether to spend the rest of her life alone, or marry a man interested in her solely for her inheritence.

6.1

MagicScore

Tess

1979

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.

7.1

MagicScore

Stolen Kisses

1968

The third in a series of films featuring François Truffaut's alter-ego, Antoine Doinel, the story resumes with Antoine being discharged from military service. His sweetheart Christine's father lands Antoine a job as a security guard, which he promptly loses. Stumbling into a position assisting a private detective, Antoine falls for his employers' seductive wife, Fabienne, and finds that he must choose between the older woman and Christine.

7.3

MagicScore

Quality Street

1937

In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.

5.8

MagicScore

#10

Can-Can

1960

A Parisian nightclub owner known for her performances of the can-can attracts the ire of a self-righteous judge. He hatches a plot to photograph her in the act but ends up falling for her — much to the chagrin of her lawyer boyfriend.

6.6

MagicScore

#11

That Hamilton Woman

1941

The story of courtesan and dance-hall girl Emma Hamilton, including her relationships with Sir William Hamilton and Admiral Horatio Nelson and her rise and fall, set during the Napoleonic Wars.

7.1

MagicScore

#12

Lola Montès

1955

Lola Montes, previously a great adventuress, is reduced to being the attraction of a circus after having been the lover of various important men.

6.8

MagicScore

#13

The Scarlet Letter

1927

In Puritan Boston, seamstress Hester Prynne and kindly Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale fall in love. After Dimmesdale must go away for a time to England, he returns to discover that Hester has given birth to their child and is the focus of local censure.

7.1

MagicScore

#14

Camille

1936

Life in 1847 Paris is as spirited as champagne and as unforgiving as the gray morning after. In gambling dens and lavish soirees, men of means exert their wills and women turned courtesans exult in pleasure. One such woman is Marguerite Gautier, who begins a sumptuous romance with Armand Duval.

6.9

MagicScore

#15

The Widow of Saint-Pierre

2000

In 1850, on the isolated French island of Saint-Pierre, a murder shocks the natives. Two fishermen are arrested. One of them, Louis Ollivier, dies in custody. The other, Neel Auguste, is sentenced to death by the guillotine. The island is so small that it has neither a guillotine nor an executioner. While those are sent for Auguste is placed under the supervision of an army Captain.

6.5

MagicScore

#16

Now, Voyager

1942

A woman suffers a nervous breakdown and an oppressive mother before being freed by the love of a man she meets on a cruise.

7.3

MagicScore

#17

Flowers of Shanghai

1998

At the end of the 19th century, Shanghai is divided into several foreign concessions. In the British concession, a number of luxurious “flower houses” are reserved for the male elite of the city. Since Chinese dignitaries are not allowed to frequent brothels, these establishments are the only ones that these men can visit. They form a self-contained world, with its own rites, traditions and even its own language. The men don’t only visit the houses to frequent the courtesans but also to dine, smoke opium, play mahjong and relax. The women working there are known as the “flowers of Shanghai”.

6.9

MagicScore

#18

Mughal-e-Azam

1960

In the 16th century, when Prince Salim falls in love with a beautiful courtesan named Anarkali, Emperor Akbar's disapproval leads to a battle between father and son.

6.9

MagicScore

#19

Lost Illusions

2021

Lucien de Rubempré, a young, lower-class poet, leaves his family's printing house for Paris. Soon, he learns the dark side of the arts business as he tries to stay true to his dreams.

7.4

MagicScore

#20

Les Misérables

1998

In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.

7.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Cousin Bette?

The top films similar to Cousin Bette by MovieMagicScore are Moulin Rouge! (7.5), Swann in Love (5.5), Gigi (6.2). Each shares comedy/drama/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Cousin Bette worth watching?

Cousin Bette holds a MovieMagicScore of 5.5/10 from 47 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Cousin Bette?

Cousin Bette (1998) is a comedy, drama, romance film directed by Des McAnuff, starring Jessica Lange, Elisabeth Shue, Bob Hoskins.

Where can I find more recommendations like Cousin Bette?

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 Moulin Rouge!Movies like Swann in Love Movies like Gigi Movies like The Heiress Movies like Great Expectations Movies like Washington Square

About movies like Cousin Bette

This ranked list pairs Cousin Bette (1998), a comedy and drama and romance film from Des McAnuff, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Jessica Lange 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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