Best Movies like The Intouchables (2011)

Me Before You centers on a young woman becoming a caregiver for a recent quadriplegic, mirroring the central relationship in The Intouchables, where caregiving and the impact of disability on personal growth are prominent. Both films explore how unexpected companionship can transform both the caregiver and the individual receiving care.

Lou Clark, a directionless 26-year-old from the English countryside, takes a job at the local castle as a caregiver and companion to a wealthy young banker, Will Traynor. Wheelchair-bound from an accident two years prior, the once adventurous Will has all but given up — that is until Lou determines to show him that life is worth living. Me Before You is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.9 by 13,429 people. The movie made an estimated total of $207,945,075 in the box office.

The Upside features a dynamic between a disabled man and his unconventional caregiver, directly echoing the premise and character journey in The Intouchables. Relationships formed across cultural and socioeconomic boundaries, as well as the use of humor in overcoming adversity, connect these two films closely.

Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic who needs a caretaker to help him with his day-to-day routine in his New York penthouse. He decides to hire Dell, a struggling parolee who's trying to reconnect with his ex and his young son. Despite coming from two different worlds, an unlikely friendship starts to blossom. The Upside is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,418 people. The movie made an estimated total of $125,856,180 in the box office.

Untouchable shares its release year with The Intouchables and, by its title, likely has thematic or direct adaptation ties, suggesting significant overlap in narrative or approach regarding interpersonal connection and transformative friendship.

A masseuse's journey to find the human touch. Untouchable is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 14m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 5.0 by 1 people.

Sink or Swim, while specifics are not provided, is grouped here possibly due to themes of overcoming adversity and growth within group dynamics or friendships. Like The Intouchables, it may blend drama and comedic moments arising from personal struggle or recovery journeys.

40-year-old Bertrand has been suffering from depression for the last two years and is barely able to keep his head above water. Despite the medication he gulps down all day, every day, and his wife's encouragement, he is unable to find any meaning in his life. Curiously, he will end up finding this sense of purpose at the swimming pool, by joining an all-male synchronised swimming team. Sink or Swim is a movie from Belgium in French, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,595 people.

The Fundamentals of Caring revolves around an individual becoming a caregiver for someone with physical limitations. Both films balance drama and comedy, focusing on the mutual transformation resulting from the caregiver-recipient relationship and illustrating how personal challenges can lead to profound, life-changing friendship.

Having suffered a tragedy, Ben becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor, is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship. The Fundamentals of Caring is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,342 people.

The Peanut Butter Falcon, included in this list, likely draws parallels in its portrayal of an unlikely pairing and road to self-discovery, much like The Intouchables. Both stories explore how forming unexpected bonds can bring new purpose to the lives of those involved.

A down-on-his-luck crab fisherman embarks on a journey to get a young man with Down syndrome to a professional wrestling school in rural North Carolina and away from the retirement home where he’s lived for the past two and a half years. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,633 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,712,097 in the box office.

The Sessions portrays a protagonist facing life with significant physical disability, echoing the explorations of autonomy and vulnerability in The Intouchables. Both films delve into the emotional and relational complexities that arise from living with physical limitations and connecting with caregivers.

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene to lose his virginity. The Sessions is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.9 by 624 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,138,338 in the box office.

Rain Man focuses on the transformative relationship between two men from sharply different backgrounds, centering on themes of caregiving, personal change, and the challenges of bridging social divides, paralleling the emotional core and cross-class friendship central to The Intouchables.

When car dealer Charlie Babbitt learns that his estranged father has died, he returns home to Cincinnati, where he discovers that he has a savant older brother named Raymond and that his father's $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which Raymond lives. Motivated by his father's money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility in order to return with him to Los Angeles. The brothers' cross-country trip ends up changing both their lives. Rain Man is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 14m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 7.8 by 7,196 people. The movie made an estimated total of $354,825,435 in the box office.

You're Not You examines the evolving bond between a woman living with a severe illness and her caregiver, paralleling the narrative structure and themes found in The Intouchables. Both stories highlight how caregiving roles can foster unexpected, life-changing friendships across personal boundaries.

When an accomplished pianist is diagnosed with the devastating and incurable disease ALS, she hires a directionless young woman who becomes her full-time caregiver. Complete opposites, the strangers form a life-changing bond inspiring each other to live life to fullest, while being brought together by the most challenging of circumstances. You're Not You is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.4 by 847 people. The movie made an estimated total of $894,964 in the box office.

A Man Called Ove explores the gradual development of an unlikely friendship that breaks through initial barriers, much like the core dynamic in The Intouchables. Both narratives reflect on how human connection can heal emotional wounds and change perspectives on life.

Despite being deposed as president of his condominium association, grumpy 59-year-old Ove continues to watch over his neighbourhood with an iron fist. When pregnant Parvaneh and her family move into the terraced house opposite Ove and she accidentally backs into Ove’s mailbox, it sets off a series of unexpected changes in his life. A Man Called Ove is a movie from Sweden in Swedish, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.6 by 1,341 people. The movie made an estimated total of $30,692,889 in the box office.

The Sea Inside, like The Intouchables, follows a protagonist dealing with life after a paralyzing accident and delves into complex discussions about autonomy, dignity, and relationships. Both films explore the emotional challenges and growth stemming from profound physical limitation.

Ramón Sampedro is a ship mechanic and part-time poet left a quadriplegic following a diving accident. Ramón fought for 30 years for the legal right to end his own life. He develops close relationships with his long-term lawyer Julia and his friend Rosa, who tries to convince him that his life is worth living. Despite his situation, Ramón manages to inspire those around him to live life to the fullest. The Sea Inside is a movie from Spain in Spanish, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.6 by 1,031 people. The movie made an estimated total of $43,731,621 in the box office.

Still Alice is suggested here likely for its sensitive portrayal of living with a life-altering condition and the impact on personal relationships. While the conditions differ, both films reflect on dignity, vulnerability, and how support dynamics transform lives.

Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested. Still Alice is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.5 by 3,302 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,779,195 in the box office.

Driving Miss Daisy shares with The Intouchables a focus on the evolution of friendship between employer and caregiver across class and cultural divides. Both films trace the deepening connection and mutual respect that develops between two seemingly mismatched individuals.

The story of an old Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her black chauffeur, Hoke. From an initial mere work relationship grew in 25 years a strong friendship between the two very different characters, in a time when those types of relationships were shunned. Driving Miss Daisy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 39m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 7.2 by 1,817 people. The movie made an estimated total of $145,793,296 in the box office.

Finding Forrester may be included for its exploration of transformative friendship between unlikely characters. Both it and The Intouchables center on individuals from different worlds whose interactions lead to meaningful personal growth and broadened worldviews.

Gus Van Sant tells the story of a young African American man named Jamal who confronts his talents while living on the streets of the Bronx. He accidentally runs into an old writer named Forrester who discovers his passion for writing. With help from his new mentor Jamal receives a scholarship to a private school. Finding Forrester is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,236 people. The movie made an estimated total of $80,100,000 in the box office.

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, like The Intouchables, is based on a true story involving a person with significant physical disability and highlights how family or caregivers are integral to overcoming adversity, achieving self-expression, and finding connection.

No one expects much from Christy Brown, a boy with cerebral palsy born into a working-class Irish family. Though Christy is a spastic quadriplegic and essentially paralyzed, a miraculous event occurs when, at the age of 5, he demonstrates control of his left foot by using chalk to scrawl a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother — and no shortage of grit and determination — Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author. My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 7.5 by 1,038 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,743,391 in the box office.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is included likely due to its focus on how kindness and compassion facilitate emotional growth and healing. Both this film and The Intouchables underscore the profound effects that supportive relationships can have on overcoming challenges.

An award-winning cynical journalist, Lloyd Vogel, begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write an Esquire profile piece on the beloved television icon Fred Rogers. After his encounter with Rogers, Vogel's perspective on life is transformed. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,775 people. The movie made an estimated total of $67,900,000 in the box office.

50/50 explores a young man's life-changing medical diagnosis and the support he receives from those around him, resonating with The Intouchables in its blend of drama and comedy, as well as its thoughtful portrayal of friendship forged through adversity.

Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease. 50/50 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.2 by 4,160 people. The movie made an estimated total of $39,187,783 in the box office.

Central Station deals with the connection between unlikely companions on a transformative journey, akin to the narrative in The Intouchables. The films share a focus on the emotional growth and understanding that emerge from cross-generational or cross-cultural friendships.

An emotional journey of a former school teacher, who writes letters for illiterate people, and a young boy, whose mother has just died, as they search for the father he never knew. Central Station is a movie from Brazil in Portuguese, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 8.1 by 1,060 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,596,708 in the box office.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, like The Intouchables, depicts the experience of living with paralysis, tackling themes of resilience, the search for meaning, and the significance of support systems in coping with profound physical challenges.

Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French fashion bible Elle magazine, has a devastating stroke at age 43. The damage to his brain stem results in locked-in syndrome, with which he is almost completely paralyzed and only able to communicate by blinking an eye. Bauby painstakingly dictates his memoir via the only means of expression left to him. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.6 by 1,295 people. The movie made an estimated total of $19,777,647 in the box office.

Elling belongs in this article for its depiction of individuals forging new bonds while navigating personal or social obstacles. Like The Intouchables, this film explores how friendship provides strength and helps characters adapt to major life transitions.

40-year-old Elling, sensitive, would-be poet, is sent to live in a state institution when his mother, who has sheltered him his entire life, dies. There he meets Kjell Bjarne, a gentle giant and female-obsessed virgin, also in his 40s. Elling is a movie from Norway in Norwegian, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 7.1 by 196 people.

Green Book follows an unlikely friendship that develops across racial and class lines during a journey, echoing the mutually transformative relationship at the core of The Intouchables. Both films build on the power of connection across divisions.

Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South in the days when African Americans, forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line, relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book. Green Book is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 8.2 by 13,051 people. The movie made an estimated total of $321,752,656 in the box office.

St. Vincent examines how an eccentric, unlikely mentor positively influences a younger character, paralleling how The Intouchables centers on bonds that cross generational and social boundaries to produce profound change for all involved.

A young boy whose parents just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic, war veteran who lives next door. St. Vincent is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.1 by 2,100 people. The movie made an estimated total of $54,837,234 in the box office.

Beginners is included for its portrayal of intergenerational relationships and life transitions, resonating with the way The Intouchables approaches transformative friendships that help individuals navigate significant personal change.

Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna only months after his father Hal Fields has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father, who, following the death of his wife of 44 years, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life – which included a younger boyfriend. Beginners is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.8 by 1,156 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,311,701 in the box office.

About Schmidt joins this list as it too deals with a character facing a period of personal upheaval and finding unexpected meaning and companionship later in life, a journey that mirrors aspects of the emotional trajectory in The Intouchables.

A recently retired man embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding, only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected. About Schmidt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,388 people. The movie made an estimated total of $105,834,556 in the box office.

Sweet Bean explores how gentle, unlikely connections can transform lives, much as The Intouchables does. The film traces the emotional resonance found in characters from different backgrounds forming bonds and learning from one another.

The master of a dorayaki pastry store hires a 76-year-old woman whose talents attract customers from all over. But she's hiding a troubling secret. Life's joys are found in the little details, and no matter what may be weighing you down, everyone loves a good pastry. Sweet Bean is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.5 by 611 people. The movie made an estimated total of $124,518 in the box office.

Untamed Heart is included due to its heartfelt depiction of life-altering relationships where vulnerability and compassion allow characters to face their challenges, echoing themes of companionship and emotional healing seen in The Intouchables.

Caroline, a young waitress who seems to have bad taste in men, is on her way home one night when thugs attempt to rape her. Adam, the mysterious busboy who works at the same diner, helps fight off the assailants, and she begins a relationship with him -- but not all their fellow Minnesotans are happy for them. Meanwhile, the couple face their own difficulties when Caroline finds about Adam's past, including his unique health condition. Untamed Heart is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 6.9 by 269 people. The movie made an estimated total of $18,899,204 in the box office.

Leon the Pig Farmer may be listed for its exploration of personal discovery in the wake of unexpected life changes, a narrative kinship it shares with The Intouchables, where embracing new relationships leads to self-understanding.

An irreverent comedy is set in motion when Leon Geller, a sensitive Jewish boy from London, accidentally learns that his is the product of artificial insemination. Leon the Pig Farmer is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 5.4 by 17 people.

Intimate Strangers appears here for its thematic connection to forging deep, meaningful relationships that challenge the protagonists’ worldviews, a thread running through The Intouchables’ story of growth through unlikely companionship.

Because she picked the wrong door, Anna ends up confessing her marriage problems to a financial adviser named William Faber. Touched by her distress, somewhat excited as well, Faber does not have the courage to tell her that he is not a psychiatrist. From appointment to appointment, a strange ritual is created between them. William is moved and fascinated to hear the secrets no man ever heard. Intimate Strangers is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.3 by 82 people. The movie made an estimated total of $10,485,817 in the box office.

The Straight Story builds a gentle narrative around a life-changing journey and the unlikely relationships encountered along the way. Like The Intouchables, it underlines the impact of connection and mutual support across personal divides.

Retired farmer and widower Alvin Straight learns one day that his estranged brother Lyle has suffered a severe stroke. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey. The Straight Story is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 7.7 by 1,827 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,418,028 in the box office.

An Unfinished Life is included for its focus on healing and redemption through new relationships fostered in unexpected circumstances, resonating with The Intouchables’ exploration of friendship as a catalyst for emotional repair.

Stoic and heartbroken, Einar Gilkyson quietly lives in the rugged Wyoming ranchlands alongside his only trusted friend, Mitch Bradley. One day, the woman he blames for the death of his only son arrives at his door broke, desperate, and with a granddaughter he's never known. But even as buried anger and accusations resurface, the way is opened for unexpected connection, adventure, and forgiveness. An Unfinished Life is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 6.8 by 709 people. The movie made an estimated total of $18,618,284 in the box office.

The Waterdance, by examining the relationships formed between people adjusting to paralysis, connects directly to The Intouchables’ depiction of disability, caregiving, and how camaraderie is vital for healing and adaptation.

Author Joel Garcia breaks his neck while hiking, and finds himself in a rehab center with Raymond, an exaggerating ladies man, and Bloss, a racist biker. Considerable tension builds as each character tries to deal with his new found handicap and the problems that go with it, especially Joel, whose lover Anna is having as difficult a time as he is. The Waterdance is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 6.0 by 44 people.

Jojo Rabbit appears here likely for its blend of humor and drama in exploring cross-generational and cross-cultural relationships that lead to personal growth, reflecting The Intouchables’ spirit of transformation through unconventional bonds.

Jojo, a lonely German boy during World War II has his world shaken when he learns that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. Influenced by a buffoonish imaginary version of Adolf Hitler, he begins to question his beliefs and confront the conflict between propaganda and his own humanity. Jojo Rabbit is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 8.0 by 10,547 people. The movie made an estimated total of $82,468,705 in the box office.