Movies Like Dan in Real Life (2007)

Dan in Real Life is a 2007 comedy, drama, romance film from Peter Hedges with a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

Comedy Drama Romance

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

2003

It's the battle of wills, as Andie needs to prove she can dump a guy in 10 days, whereas Ben needs to prove he can win a girl in 10 days. Now, the clock is ticking—and the wildly entertaining comedy smash is off and running in this irresistible tale of sex, lies and outrageous romantic fireworks!

6.8

MagicScore

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

2022

This comical love story follows the story of A.J. Fikry, whose life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history and now his prized possession, a rare edition of Poe poems, has been stolen. He’s given up on people and even the books in his store offer another reminder that the world is changing too rapidly. But when a mysterious package arrives at the store, it gives Fikry the chance to make his life over and see things anew.

6.4

MagicScore

Confessions of a Shopaholic

2009

In the glamorous world of New York City, Rebecca Bloomwood is a fun-loving girl who is really good at shopping – a little too good, perhaps. She dreams of working for her favorite fashion magazine, but can't quite get her foot in the door – until ironically, she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company.

6.5

MagicScore

This Beautiful Fantastic

2016

Set against the backdrop of a beautiful garden in the heart of London, this contemporary fairy tale revolves around the unlikely friendship between a reclusive young woman and a cantankerous old widower. Bella Brown is a beautifully quirky young woman who dreams of writing and illustrating a successful children’s book. After she is forced by her landlord to deal with her neglected garden or face eviction, she meets her match, nemesis, and unlikely mentor in Alfie Stephenson, a grumpy, loveless, old man who lives next door who happens to be an amazing horticulturalist.

7.1

MagicScore

Something from Tiffany's

2022

One woman's life is forever changed by an engagement ring meant for someone else.

6.7

MagicScore

Mother's Day

2016

Sandy is a stressed-out, single mom who learns that her ex-husband is marrying a younger woman. Her friend Jesse's parents don't know that she has a family or that her sister, Gabi is married to a woman. Jesse's friend, Kristin, is juggling motherhood of a toddler, a patient boyfriend who keeps proposing, and searching for her biological mother. Bradley is a widower who's trying to raise two daughters on his own, while Miranda is too busy with her career to worry about children. When their respective problems intersect and start coming to a head, the Mother's Day holiday takes on a special meaning for all.

6.0

MagicScore

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

1963

Although he's only seven, Eddie's got it all figured out. He wants his father, a widower, to get remarried — to the girl next door. Unfortunately, she's not one of the women that his dad's been dating.

5.9

MagicScore

Blended

2014

Recently divorced mom Lauren and widowed dad Jim let their friends push them into a blind date, which goes disastrously wrong. Unsurprisingly, neither wants to see the other ever again. However, fate intervenes when both Jim and Lauren, unbeknownst to each other, purchase one-half of the same vacation package at a South African resort for families, during spring break. They and their children are forced to share the same romantic suite and participate in a slew of family activities together.

6.9

MagicScore

What Men Want

2019

Magically able to hear what men are thinking, a sports agent uses her newfound ability to turn the tables on her overbearing male colleagues.

6.2

MagicScore

#10

A Hole in the Head

1959

An impractical widower tries to hang onto his Miami hotel and his 12-year-old son.

6.1

MagicScore

#11

Chance at Romance

2013

Samantha Hart is delighted when her online "Chance at Romance" to photographer Heath Madsen eventually results in Heath sending her a first class ticket to visit. Upon arriving for what she expects to be a romantic weekend, however, she learns her online relationship with the widowed photographer was actually manufactured a matchmaking twelve year-old. Sam is anxious to end her trip as quickly as possible, but a nasty bout of weather extends her stay through the end of the week.

6.1

MagicScore

#12

Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

2023

The dramatic comedy is based on the true story of writer and pinball wizard Roger Sharpe, chronicling his journey to overturn New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball.

7.0

MagicScore

#13

Eat Drink Man Woman

1994

Retired and widowed Chinese master chef Chu lives in modern day Taipei, with his three attractive daughters, all of whom are unattached. Soon, each daughter encounters a new man in their lives. When these new relationships blossom, stereotypes are broken and the living situation within the family changes.

7.6

MagicScore

#14

Safe Haven

2013

A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.

7.2

MagicScore

#15

The Welts

2004

Following the death of his mother in '80s Poland, 12-year-old Wojciech has taken the brunt of his stressed father's frustrations with him; the boy frequently gets punished via belt. Wojciech's father occasionally tries to, instead, bond with him, but soon snaps back to his short-fused habits. Apart from Wojciech's friend Bartek, no one does anything to help. Jump to present day, Wojciech is a furrow-browed journalist who spends most of his spare time spelunking alone. Just like his father, he has serious anger management issues. Fellow caver Tania feels inexplicably attracted to him, but the love of a good woman may not be enough.

6.8

MagicScore

#16

Nanny McPhee

2005

Widower Cedric Brown hires Nanny McPhee to care for his seven rambunctious children, who have chased away all previous nannies. Taunted by Simon and his siblings, Nanny McPhee uses mystical powers to instill discipline. And when the children's great-aunt and benefactor, Lady Adelaide Stitch, threatens to separate the kids, the family pulls together under the guidance of Nanny McPhee.

6.7

MagicScore

#17

Deliver by Christmas

2020

Bakery owner Molly meets Josh, a widower who recently moved to town with his young son, but she is also charmed by a mysterious client whom she’s never met in person and she doesn’t realize that they’re the same man.

6.3

MagicScore

#18

Prancer

1989

Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished apple farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides the reindeer in her barn and feeds it cookies, until she can return it to Santa. Her father finds the reindeer an decides to sell it to the butcher, not for venison chops, but as an advertising display.

6.0

MagicScore

#19

Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays

2019

World-traveler Harper returns to Memphis and meets wealthy widower Owen who hires her to au pair for the holidays. As they prepare for a joint event at Graceland, their feelings grow for each other. Harper realizes she enjoys living near family and must decide if Memphis will be her forever home.

6.0

MagicScore

#20

The Twilight Samurai

2002

Seibei Iguchi leads a difficult life as a low ranking samurai at the turn of the nineteenth century. A widower with a meager income, Seibei struggles to take care of his two daughters and senile mother. New prospects seem to open up when the beautiful Tomoe, a childhood friend, comes back into he and his daughters' life, but as the Japanese feudal system unravels, Seibei is still bound by the code of honor of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedence. How can he find a way to do what is best for those he loves?

7.8

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Dan in Real Life?

The top films similar to Dan in Real Life by MovieMagicScore are How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (6.8), The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (6.4), Confessions of a Shopaholic (6.5). Each shares comedy/drama/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Dan in Real Life worth watching?

Dan in Real Life holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10 from 1,295 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Dan in Real Life?

Dan in Real Life (2007) is a comedy, drama, romance film directed by Peter Hedges, starring Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook.

Where can I find more recommendations like Dan in Real Life?

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 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Movies like The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Movies like Confessions of a Shopaholic Movies like This Beautiful Fantastic Movies like Something from Tiffany's Movies like Mother's Day

About movies like Dan in Real Life

This ranked list pairs Dan in Real Life (2007), a comedy and drama and romance film from Peter Hedges, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Steve Carell 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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