Movies Like Chess Story (2021)

Chess Story is a 2021 drama, history, thriller, war film from Philipp Stölzl with a MovieMagicScore of 6.9/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Seventh Seal and Searching for Bobby Fischer.

Drama History Thriller War

The Seventh Seal

1957

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

8.1

MagicScore

Searching for Bobby Fischer

1993

A seven-year-old chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

7.1

MagicScore

Computer Chess

2013

At the American Computer Chess Convention, enthusiasts gather to pit their programs against other computer chess programs and human players in a tournament for a grand prize of $7500.

6.0

MagicScore

Seeking Justice

2011

After his wife is assaulted, a husband enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score.

5.9

MagicScore

The Lucky One

2012

A Marine travels to Louisiana after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.

7.2

MagicScore

Stalag 17

1953

It's a dreary Christmas 1944 for the American POWs in Stalag 17 and the men in Barracks 4, all sergeants, have to deal with a grave problem—there seems to be a security leak.

7.7

MagicScore

Europa

1991

Just after World War II, an American takes a railway job in Germany, but finds his position politically sensitive with various people trying to use him.

7.4

MagicScore

Fresh

1994

Death and violence anger twelve year old drug courier Fresh, who sets his rival employers against each other.

7.2

MagicScore

Pawn Sacrifice

2015

American chess champion Bobby Fischer prepares for a legendary match-up against Russian Boris Spassky.

6.7

MagicScore

#10

5150 Elm's Way

2009

Yannick moves to a small, quiet town to study cinema. One day when he fell off his bike, he knocked at the door of the Beaulieu residence so he could clean the blood off his hands. But Jacques Beaulieu and his family had other plans for Yannick. Beaulieu is a righteous psychopath and fanatic chess player who wants to rid the world of evil. And even though Ian has done nothing wrong, he is beaten, tortured and tormented before Beaulieu makes him an offer: win at chess and he is free to go. And so Ian is now a pawn in Beaulieu 's game. A game in which he will either lose his mind or his life.

6.4

MagicScore

#11

The Dark Horse

2014

One-time Maori speed-chess champ, Genesis Potini, lives with a bi-polar disorder and must overcome prejudice and violence in the battle to save his struggling chess club, his family and ultimately, himself.

6.3

MagicScore

#12

The Chess Player

2017

In 1934 Diego Padilla wins the Spanish Championship of Chess and meets a French journalist, Marianne Latour, and they fall in love. At the end of the Civil War, Marianne convinces Diego to live in France with their daughter, where shortly afterwards Diego will be accused of spying by the Nazis and imprisoned in an SS prison. In prison, Diego will try to survive in a hostile environment thanks to Colonel Maier's passion for chess.

6.3

MagicScore

#13

The Coldest Game

2019

Warsaw, Poland, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962. Josh Mansky, a troubled math genius and former US chess champion, is recruited to hold a dangerous public match against the Soviet champion, while playing the deadly game of espionage hidden in the darkest shadows of a hostile territory.

6.2

MagicScore

#14

Dangerous Moves

1984

During the Cold War, the World Chess Championship clashed complete opposites - personal and political.

5.8

MagicScore

#15

Falsettos

2017

Jewish family man Marvin leaves his wife and son for a male lover during the height of the AIDS crisis in 1980s New York City.

8.2

MagicScore

#16

Queen of Katwe

2016

A young girl overcomes her disadvantaged upbringing in the slums of Uganda to become a Chess master.

7.2

MagicScore

#17

The Chess Players

1977

In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the King of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British intend to control this rich land and send General Outram to clear way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either — noblemen Mir and Mirza ignore all duties and spend their days playing endless games of chess. Based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 2010.

7.0

MagicScore

#18

Night Moves

1975

Private detective and former football player Harry Moseby gets hired on to what seems a standard missing person case - a former Hollywood actress wants Moseby to find and return her daughter. Harry travels to Florida to find her, but he begins to see a connection between the runaway girl, the world of Hollywood stuntmen, and a suspicious mechanic when an unsolved murder comes to light.

6.7

MagicScore

#19

Wazir

2016

'Wazir' is a tale of two unlikely friends, a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster and a brave ATS officer. Brought together by grief and a strange twist of fate, the two men decide to help each other win the biggest games of their lives. But there's a mysterious, dangerous opponent lurking in the shadows, who is all set to checkmate them.

6.7

MagicScore

#20

Queen to Play

2009

Hélène, a housekeeper at a ritzy hotel in Corsica, is devoted to her family but lacks any passion in her own life. When she sees a handsome couple play a passionate game of chess, she becomes inspired to play herself. Hélène's working-class husband and spoiled daughter are soon bewildered by her obsession with chess. They also grow suspicious of Hélène's close relationship with Dr. Kröger, her eccentric American expat tutor.

6.6

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Chess Story?

The top films similar to Chess Story by MovieMagicScore are The Seventh Seal (8.1), Searching for Bobby Fischer (7.1), Computer Chess (6.0). Each shares drama/history/thriller/war themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Chess Story worth watching?

Chess Story holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.9/10 from 141 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Chess Story?

Chess Story (2021) is a drama, history, thriller, war film directed by Philipp Stölzl, starring Oliver Masucci, Albrecht Schuch, Birgit Minichmayr.

Where can I find more recommendations like Chess Story?

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 The Seventh Seal Movies like Searching for Bobby Fischer Movies like Computer Chess Movies like Seeking Justice Movies like The Lucky One Movies like Stalag 17

About movies like Chess Story

This ranked list pairs Chess Story (2021), a drama and history and thriller and war film from Philipp Stölzl, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Oliver Masucci 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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