Movies Like A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1951 drama, thriller film from Elia Kazan with a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with A Streetcar Named Desire and The Color Purple.

Drama Thriller

A Streetcar Named Desire

1995

A fading Southern Belle moves in with her sister in New Orleans where her ferocious brother-in-law takes stabs at her sanity.

7.1

MagicScore

The Color Purple

1985

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

7.7

MagicScore

The Sound and the Fury

2015

A look at the trials and tribulations of The Compson siblings, living in the deep south during the early part of the 20th century.

4.9

MagicScore

Sommersby

1993

Set in the South just after the US Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband, believed killed in battle. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he suddenly returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an imposter. Laurel herself is unsure, but willing to take the man into her home, and perhaps later into her heart.

6.3

MagicScore

Jezebel

1938

In 1850s Louisiana, the willfulness of a tempestuous Southern belle threatens to destroy all who care for her.

7.0

MagicScore

The Color Purple

2023

A decades-spanning tale of love and resilience and of one woman's journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

7.0

MagicScore

The Grass Harp

1996

Based on the novel by Truman Capote, this often-witty coming-of-age drama looks at a young man growing up with an unusual family in the Deep South in the 1940s. Becoming an orphan in 1935, Collin moves to his dad's cousins Verena and Dolly. Verena is a rich, bossy businesswoman. Dolly, Collin and the maid revolt, moving to a tree house.

5.8

MagicScore

Brothers

2009

When his helicopter goes down during his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan, Marine Sam Cahill is presumed dead. Back home, brother Tommy steps in to look over Sam’s wife, Grace, and two children. Sam’s surprise homecoming triggers domestic mayhem.

7.3

MagicScore

Daddy and Them

2001

Ruby and her husband Claude are a working-class couple who live in suburban Arkansas. As crazy as they are for each other, their relationship is far from harmonious. (The lack of money doesn't help matters, either.) In fact, their whole family is fraught with unresolved conflicts. Then Claude's uncle is arrested on a felony charge, and everyone rallies round. Ruby's mother Jewel and flirtatious sister Rose (Claude's ex-girlfriend) even fly in from Tennessee; but, far from being a source of support, Jewel seems only to want to break up Ruby and Claude.

5.3

MagicScore

#10

Angel Heart

1987

A down-and-out Brooklyn detective is hired to track down a singer on an odyssey that will take him through the desperate streets of Harlem, the smoke-filled jazz clubs of New Orleans, and the swamps of Louisiana and its seedy underworld of voodoo.

7.1

MagicScore

#11

Tarnation

2003

Filmmaker Jonathan Caouette's documentary on growing up with his schizophrenic mother -- a mixture of snapshots, Super-8, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, and more -- culled from 19 years of his life.

6.8

MagicScore

#12

Once Were Warriors

1994

A drama about a Maori family living in Auckland, New Zealand. Lee Tamahori tells the story of Beth Heke’s strong will to keep her family together during times of unemployment and abuse from her violent and alcoholic husband.

7.4

MagicScore

#13

Take My Eyes

2003

One winter night, Pilar runs away from home. With her, she takes only a few belongings and her son, Juan. Antonio soon sets out to look for her. He says Pilar is his sunshine, and what's more, "She gave him her eyes"...

7.2

MagicScore

#14

Toys in the Attic

1963

Julian Berniers returns from Illinois with his young bride Lily Prine to the family in New Orleans. His spinster sisters Carrie and Anna welcome the couple, who arrive with expensive gifts. The sisters hope Julian will help with their expenses, and he tells them that while his profitable factory went out of business, he did manage to save money. It turns out that Julian pulled off a real estate scam and took off with the money. Carrie is obsessed with her brother. Her jealousy of Lily pushes her to discover the shady land deal for herself and she does everything she can to wreck their marriage.

5.9

MagicScore

#15

Sunset Boulevard

1950

A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.

8.3

MagicScore

#16

Raging Bull

1980

The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.

7.9

MagicScore

#17

Straw Dogs

2011

A young couple moves to a quaint southern town. Soon their perfect getaway turns out to become a living hell when dark secrets and lethal passions spiral out of control.

5.9

MagicScore

#18

The Little Foxes

1941

In 1900, a clan attempts to strike a deal with a Chicago industrialist to get him to build cotton mills in their Deep South town.

7.5

MagicScore

#19

East of Eden

1955

In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.

7.5

MagicScore

#20

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1962

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

7.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like A Streetcar Named Desire?

The top films similar to A Streetcar Named Desire by MovieMagicScore are A Streetcar Named Desire (7.1), The Color Purple (7.7), The Sound and the Fury (4.9). Each shares drama/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is A Streetcar Named Desire worth watching?

A Streetcar Named Desire holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10 from 1,425 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is A Streetcar Named Desire?

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) is a drama, thriller film directed by Elia Kazan, starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter.

Where can I find more recommendations like A Streetcar Named Desire?

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 A Streetcar Named Desire Movies like The Color Purple Movies like The Sound and the Fury Movies like Sommersby Movies like Jezebel Movies like The Color Purple

About movies like A Streetcar Named Desire

This ranked list pairs A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), a drama and thriller film from Elia Kazan, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Vivien Leigh 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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