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English Vinglish poster

Movies that feel likeEnglish Vinglish (2012)

In the United States for the first time, an Indian housewife with a limited command of English turns Manhattan into her personal language school.

If you loved English Vinglish, the closest films we have are Paper Planes (2014), We Bought a Zoo (2011) and Queen (2014). All three share English Vinglish's witty and playful feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is The White Balloon (1995).

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If English Vinglish hit the spot, these will too

Paper Planes poster
Paper Planes
2014 · dir. Robert Connolly
🍅 85%★ 6.2comedy · family · dramaStarz

Witty where it counts, playful underneath

The difference: Takes it somewhere less romantic than English Vinglish does

Dylan discovers he has a talent for making paper planes. He has a chance to compete in a world championship, but he'll have to face bullies and self-doubt to do so.

We Bought a Zoo poster
We Bought a Zoo
2011 · dir. Cameron Crowe
🍅 64%★ 7drama · comedy · familyDisney+

Both land stillness and warmth at once

Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble.

Queen poster
Queen
2014 · dir. Vikas Bahl
🍅 90%★ 8.1comedy · drama

Comedy built on romance, twice over

Rani, a 24-year-old homely girl, decides to go on her honeymoon alone when her fiancé calls off the wedding. Traveling around Europe, she finds joy, makes friends, and gains new-found independence.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani poster
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
2013 · dir. Ayan Mukerji
🍅 69%★ 7.3romance · comedyNetflixPrime Video

Witty drama in both cases

The difference: Leans harder into romance than English Vinglish does

On a trekking trip, an introverted Naina falls for a charming ex-classmate, whose thirst for adventure drives them apart. Years later, their paths cross again.

Red Dog poster
Red Dog
2011 · dir. Kriv Stenders
🍅 84%★ 7.3drama · comedy · familyPrime Video

Cozy family, and it commits to that

The legendary true story of the Red Dog who united a disparate local community while roaming the Australian outback in search of his long lost master.

Alibi.com poster
Alibi.com
2017 · dir. Philippe Lacheau
🍅 67%★ 6.5comedy · familyRent or buy

Comedy with a pulse of play, in both cases

Greg founded a company called Alibi.com that creates any type of alibi. With his associate, Augustin, and Medhi his new employee, they devise unstoppable stratagems and stagings to cover their clients. But meeting Flo, a pretty blonde who hates men who lie, will complicate Greg's life, which begins by hiding the true nature of his activity. During the presentation to parents, Greg understands that Gérard, the father of Flo, is also one of their clients.

Fala Sério, Mãe! poster
Fala Sério, Mãe!
2017 · dir. Pedro Vasconcelos
★ 6.1comedy · family

Both lean on warmth more than on family

Ângela Cristina, mother of teenager Maria de Lourdes, has to deal with the difficulties and delights of guiding her daughter during one of the most complicated stages of life.

The White Balloon poster
The White Balloon
1995 · dir. Jafar Panahi
🍅 83%★ 7.6drama · family

Drama with a pulse of stillness, in both cases

Several people try to take advantage of a little girl's innocence to hustle money her mom gave to her to buy a goldfish with.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement poster
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
2004 · dir. Garry Marshall
🍅 25%★ 5.9comedy · drama · familyDisney+

Both lean on comfort more than on comedy

The difference: The critics' underdog of the pair

Mia Thermopolis is now a college graduate and on her way to Genovia to take up her duties as princess. Accompanied by her friend Lilly, Mia continues her 'princess lessons', like riding horses side-saddle and archery. But her already complicated life is turned upside down once again when she learns that she is to take the crown as queen earlier than expected, all while she meets a mysteriously charming young man.

Just Another Christmas poster
Just Another Christmas
2020 · dir. Roberto Santucci
★ 6.7comedy · drama · fantasyNetflix

Different title, same corner of the shelf

After taking a very nasty fall on Christmas Eve, grinchy Jorge blacks out and wakes up one year later, with no memory of the year that has passed. He soon realizes that he’s doomed to keep waking up on Christmas Eve after Christmas Eve, having to deal with the aftermath of what his other self has done the other 364 days of the year.

Tolo Tolo poster
Tolo Tolo
2020 · dir. Checco Zalone
★ 5.7comedy · drama · family

Both lean on play more than on family

Checco is a young Apulian entrepreneur dreamer who has opened a sushi restaurant in his Apulia. However, after one month, the restaurant went bankrupt and he chose to emigrate to Africa to escape from debt. Here he adapts to being a waiter in a resort in Kenya, but at the outbreak of a civil war he decides to embark on a stowaway trip on a boat for migrants to Europe and chooses to do it with his African friends. However, he would not like to return to Italy, but rather to go to Liechtenstein where banking secrecy is in force and there is a lower tax burden than in Italy.

Dangal poster
Dangal
2016 · dir. Nitesh Tiwari
🍅 89%★ 8.3drama · family · comedyNetflix

A streak of stillness through both

Dangal is an extraordinary true story based on the life of Mahavir Singh and his two daughters, Geeta and Babita Phogat. The film traces the inspirational journey of a father who trains his daughters to become world class wrestlers.

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The best-reviewed films that share English Vinglish’s defining feeling.