Movies Like Boat People (1982)

Boat People is a 1982 drama film from Ann Hui with a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Heaven & Earth and To the Ends of the World.

Drama

Heaven & Earth

1993

In a small Vietnamese village torn apart by war, a young woman faces unimaginable horrors before deciding to escape to the city. There, she encounters a compassionate Marine who offers her hope and a chance at a new life, igniting the possibility of a future together.

6.7

MagicScore

To the Ends of the World

2018

Indochina, 1945. While the French are harassed by both the Japanese army and the Vietnamese rebels, private Robert Tassen, driven by the memory of a tragedy of which he is the only survivor, embarks on the search for the mysterious and cruel Võ Bình Yên, one of the leaders of the insurrection.

5.9

MagicScore

In His Own Image

2024

Fragments of the life of Antonia, a young photographer for a local newspaper in Corsica. Her commitment, her friends, and her loves intertwine with the major political events of the island, from the 1980s to the dawn of the 21st century. It is the fresco of a generation.

6.2

MagicScore

Rambo: First Blood Part II

1985

John Rambo is released from prison by the government for a top-secret covert mission to the last place on Earth he'd want to return - the jungles of Vietnam.

6.7

MagicScore

The Third Wife

2019

Though only 14 years old, May is selected to be the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Her new home seems idyllic, her husband favours her, and she quickly becomes pregnant with what she is certain will be the desired male progeny. But trouble is quietly brewing: she witnesses a forbidden tryst that will spark a chain reaction of misfortunes — and stir in May urges that until now had been dormant.

6.4

MagicScore

Polisse

2011

Paris, France. Fred and his colleagues, members of the BPM, the Police Child Protection Unit, dedicated to pursuing all sorts of offenses committed against the weakest, must endure the scrutiny of Melissa, a photographer commissioned to graphically document the daily routine of the team.

7.8

MagicScore

Berlin Syndrome

2017

A passionate holiday romance leads to an obsessive relationship when an Australian photojournalist wakes one morning in an abandoned Berlin apartment and is unable to leave.

6.0

MagicScore

Shooting the Mafia

2019

Sicilian photojournalist Letizia Battaglia began a long battle against the ruthless Cosa Nostra when she first photographed the sinister scene of a brutal murder. Documenting the barbaric rule of the Italian Mafia, she was an unwavering witness to its crimes. Her art and courage helped end the horrific and bloody reign of the Corleonesi clan.

7.3

MagicScore

Eros

2004

A three-part anthology about love and sexuality: it features three different tales of passion. In "The Hand," young tailor Zhang (Chen Chang) is attracted to high-priced prostitute Miss Hua (Gong Li). Next is "Equilibrium," in which stressed businessman Nick (Robert Downey Jr.) explains his problems to unhelpful therapist Dr. Pearl (Alan Arkin). Finally, "The Dangerous Thread of Things" examines the relationship problems of Christopher (Christopher Buchholz) and Chloe (Regina Nemni), a couple on vacation in Tuscany.

5.7

MagicScore

#10

Lee

2024

The true story of photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

Killing Jesus

2017

Paula, a young art student, witnesses the assassination of her father, a university professor. Frustrated by the local police she starts to investigate the murder herself. Driven by anger, frustration and sorrow, she commits fearless acts that put her and her family at risk.

6.7

MagicScore

#12

Proof

1991

Martin, a young blind photographer, is divided between his friendship with restaurant worker Andy and the exclusive love that Celia—who is terribly jealous of this new friendship—has for him.

6.6

MagicScore

#13

Molly Maxwell

2013

At Phoenix Progressive School, students take notes lying on parlor couches and are encouraged to explore their gifts through electives like break-dancing and graphic-novel writing. In the midst of all this liberal pedagogy and budding talent, Molly Maxwell feels unexceptional, until she falls for her attractive English teacher, Ben.

6.6

MagicScore

#14

The Summer of Sangaile

2015

Seventeen-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by stunt planes. She meets a girl her age at the summer aeronautical show, nearby her parents' lakeside villa. Sangaile allows Auste to discover her most intimate secret and in the process finds in her teenage love, the only person that truly encourages her to fly.

6.4

MagicScore

#15

High Art

1998

When Syd, a young editor at an influential art magazine, becomes involved with her neighbor, a drug-addicted lesbian photographer, both seek to exploit each other for their respective careers while slowly falling in love with each other.

6.2

MagicScore

#16

Embrace of the Vampire

1995

An 18-year-old college freshman is seduced by a handsome vampire lover who introduces her to a dark world of carnal desires.

4.8

MagicScore

#17

The Sword

1980

Swordsman Li Mak-Jan is on a quest to duel the powerful and reclusive Hua Qian Shu. But will a cursed sword and the intrigues of the martial world bring him fame or tragedy?

6.9

MagicScore

#18

The Butterfly Murders

1979

A journalist attempting to solve a mystery in "Martial World" enlists the aid of a master fighter and a woman named Green Breeze. They go to a mysterious castle where they come across poisonous butterflies and a black-leather-clad killer.

6.5

MagicScore

#19

Last Days in Vietnam

2014

During the chaotic final weeks of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as the panicked South Vietnamese people desperately attempt to escape. On the ground, American soldiers and diplomats confront a moral quandary: whether to obey White House orders to evacuate only U.S. citizens.

7.3

MagicScore

#20

A Thousand Times Good Night

2013

On assignment while photographing a female suicide bomber in Kabul, Rebecca – one of the world’s top war photojournalists - gets badly hurt. Back home, another bomb drops as her husband and daughters give her an ultimatum: her work or her family.

6.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Boat People?

The top films similar to Boat People by MovieMagicScore are Heaven & Earth (6.7), To the Ends of the World (5.9), In His Own Image (6.2). Each shares drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Boat People worth watching?

Boat People holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10 from 55 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Boat People?

Boat People (1982) is a drama film directed by Ann Hui, starring George Lam Tsz-Cheung, Season Ma, Cora Miao.

Where can I find more recommendations like Boat People?

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 Heaven & Earth Movies like To the Ends of the World Movies like In His Own Image Movies like Rambo: First Blood Part II Movies like The Third Wife Movies like Polisse

About movies like Boat People

This ranked list pairs Boat People (1982), a drama film from Ann Hui, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of George Lam Tsz-Cheung 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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