Movies Like Heat and Dust (1983)

Heat and Dust is a 1983 drama, romance film from James Ivory with a MovieMagicScore of 6.1/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Kim and A Passage to India.

Drama Romance

Kim

1950

During the British Raj, the orphan of a British soldier poses as a Hindu and is torn between his loyalty to a Buddhist mystic and aiding the English secret service.

6.2

MagicScore

A Passage to India

1984

Set during the period of growing influence of the Indian independence movement in the British Raj, the story begins with the arrival in India of a British woman, Miss Adela Quested, who is joining her fiancé, a city magistrate named Ronny Heaslop. She and Ronny's mother, Mrs. Moore, befriend an Indian doctor, Aziz H. Ahmed.

6.8

MagicScore

Bhowani Junction

1956

Anglo-Indian Victoria Jones seeks her true identity amid the chaos of the British withdrawal from India.

5.9

MagicScore

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

2001

In 1890s India, an arrogant British commander challenges the harshly taxed residents of Champaner to a high-stakes cricket match.

7.3

MagicScore

The Drum

1938

Set in the India of the British Raj, the evil and untrustworthy Prince Guhl (Raymond Massey) plans to wipe out the British troops as they enjoy the hospitality of Guhl's spacious palace. It's up to the loyal young Prince Azim (Sabu) to warn the troops of Guhl's treachery by tapping out a message on his drum.

5.8

MagicScore

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

1935

In the Northwest Frontier of India, the 41st Bengal Lancers led by the harsh Colonel Tom Stone are having trouble with the rebellious leader Mohammed Khan. Surly McGregor and wry, blue-blooded Forsythe are officers in charge of newcomer Lieutenant Stone, the commanding officer’s inexperienced son. Motivated by a grudge toward his father, Lt. Stone allows himself to be captured by the enemy.

6.6

MagicScore

Mister Johnson

1991

In 1923 British Colonial Nigeria, Mister Johnson is an oddity -- an educated black man who doesn't really fit in with the natives or the British. He works for the local British magistrate, and considers himself English, though he has never been to England. He is always scheming, trying to get ahead, which lands him in a lot of hot water.

6.1

MagicScore

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

2009

Paris 1913. Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is about to be performed. The revolutionary dissonances of Igor's work parallel Coco's radical ideas. She wants to democratize women's fashion; he wants to redefine musical taste. Coco attends the scandalous first performance of The Rite in a chic white dress. The music and ballet are criticized as too modern, too foreign. Coco is moved but Igor is inconsolable.

6.1

MagicScore

The Stranglers of Bombay

1959

In 1826 British-ruled India, the secret Cult of Thugee demonstrates their worship of their goddess, Kali, by the mutilation and mass murder of thousands of Indians while pirating the shipments of the British East-Indian Tea Company. As the British military leaders play down the implications of the piracy and disappearances, a lone captain realizes that they are not just coincidence and sets out to uncover the source of the deviltry, at the risk of his career. Based on history.

6.5

MagicScore

#10

Carry On Up the Khyber

1968

Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond looks after the British outpost near the Khybar pass. Protected by the kilted Third Foot and Mouth regiment, you would think they were safe, but the Khazi of Kalabar has other ideas—he wants all the British dead. But his troops fear the 'skirted-devils, who are rumoured not to wear any underwear.

6.5

MagicScore

#11

There's No Business Like Show Business

1954

Molly and Terry Donahue, plus their three children, are The Five Donahues. Youngest son Tim meets hat-check girl Vicky and the family act begins to fall apart.

6.1

MagicScore

#12

Satanás - Profile of a Killer

2007

Based on the Mario Mendoza's book and inspired by true events, tells three interconnected stories happening in the eve of the infamous Pozzetto Massacre.

7.0

MagicScore

#13

In the Hand of Dante

2026

A Vatican priest discovers Dante's original Divine Comedy manuscript. When asked to authenticate it, writer Nick Tosches steals it, while a parallel story follows Dante's quest to create his masterpiece.

5.5

MagicScore

#14

The Black Swan

1942

When notorious pirate Henry Morgan is made governor of Jamaica, he enlists the help of some of his former partners in ridding the Caribbean of buccaneers. When one of them apparently abducts the previous governor's pretty daughter and joins up with the rebels, things are set for a fight.

6.4

MagicScore

#15

People on Sunday

1930

A semi-documentary experimental 1930 German silent film created by amateurs with a small budget. With authentic scenes of the metropolis city of Berlin, it's the first film from the later famous screenwriters/directors Billy Wilder and Fred Zinnemann.

7.2

MagicScore

#16

After We Fell

2021

Just as Tessa's life begins to become unglued, nothing is what she thought it would be. Not her friends nor her family. The only person that she should be able to rely on is Hardin, who is furious when he discovers the massive secret that she's been keeping. Before Tessa makes the biggest decision of her life, everything changes because of revelations about her family.

7.0

MagicScore

#17

Practical Magic

1998

Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

6.8

MagicScore

#18

Waterland

1992

The story of a mentally anguished high school history teacher going through a complete reassessment of his life. His method for reassessing his life is to narrate it to his class and interweave in it three generations of his family's history.

6.3

MagicScore

#19

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

1969

James Bond tracks his archnemesis, Ernst Blofeld, to a mountaintop retreat in the Swiss alps where he is training an army of beautiful, lethal women. Along the way, Bond falls for Italian contessa Tracy Draco, and marries her in order to get closer to Blofeld.

6.6

MagicScore

#20

The River

1951

Director Jean Renoir’s entrancing first color feature—shot entirely on location in India—is a visual tour de force. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden, the film eloquently contrasts the growing pains of three young women with the immutability of the Bengal river around which their daily lives unfold. Enriched by Renoir’s subtle understanding and appreciation for India and its people, The River gracefully explores the fragile connections between transitory emotions and everlasting creation.

7.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Heat and Dust?

The top films similar to Heat and Dust by MovieMagicScore are Kim (6.2), A Passage to India (6.8), Bhowani Junction (5.9). Each shares drama/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Heat and Dust worth watching?

Heat and Dust holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.1/10 from 41 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Heat and Dust?

Heat and Dust (1983) is a drama, romance film directed by James Ivory, starring Julie Christie, Greta Scacchi, Shashi Kapoor.

Where can I find more recommendations like Heat and Dust?

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 Kim Movies like A Passage to India Movies like Bhowani Junction Movies like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India Movies like The Drum Movies like The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

About movies like Heat and Dust

This ranked list pairs Heat and Dust (1983), a drama and romance film from James Ivory, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Julie Christie 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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