Film Theme: Starting Over

1.

The House Bunny

2008 American film

Overview: The House Bunny is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Fred Wolf and written by Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah Lutz. It stars Anna Faris as a former Playboy bunny who signs up to be the "house mother" ...

Release date: 22 August 2008

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Director: Fred Wolf

Cast: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, Hugh Hefner, Christopher McDonald

Producer: Jason Burns, Allen Covert

Writer: Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith

After Playboy bunny Shelley is kicked out of the playboy mansion, she finds a job as the house mother for a sorority full of socially awkward girls.

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2000s English-language films 4,280T

Films about Playboy 4T

2008 romantic comedy films 97T

2.

Monster's Ball

2001 film by Marc Forster

Overview: Monster's Ball is a 2001 American drama film directed by Marc Forster, produced by Lee Daniels and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos, who also appear in the film. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Heath ...

Release date: 11 November 2001

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Marc Forster

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Taylor Simpson, Gabrielle Witcher, Heath Ledger, Amber Rules, Peter Boyle

Producer: Milo Addica, Michael Burns

Writer: Milo Addica, Will Rokos

After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed ...

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2000s English-language films 4,261T

2021 deaths 12,029T

2001 romantic drama films 59T

3.

Jerry Maguire

1996 sports film by Cameron Crowe

Overview: Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama sports film written, produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe, and stars Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renée Zellweger. Produced in part by long ...

Release date: 6 December 1996

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sport

Director: Cameron Crowe

Cast: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr

Producer: James L. Brooks, Cameron Crowe

Writer: Cameron Crowe

When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with ...

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1990s English-language films 2,203T

Films about mother–son relationships 142T

American sports comedy-drama films 69T

4.

Rango

2011 computer-animated Western comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski

Overview: Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski from a screenplay by John Logan. Co-produced by Verbinski with Graham King and John B. Carls, the film stars the ...

Release date: 14 February 2011

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Action, Comedy, Family, Western

Director: Gore Verbinski

Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy

Producer: Mark Bakshi, John B. Carls

Writer: John Logan, Gore Verbinski

Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff.

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American films with live action and animation 274T

Animation controversies in film 102T

Western (genre) animated films 35T

5.

Burn Notice

American television series

Overview: Burn Notice is an American television series created by Matt Nix, which originally aired on the USA Network for a total of seven seasons from June 28, 2007, to September 12, 2013. The show stars Jeffrey ...

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Adventure, Action

Director: Stephen Surjik, Jeremiah S. Chechik

Cast: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless, Coby Bell, Paul Tei

Producer: Matt Nix, Alfredo Barrios Jr.

Writer: Matt Nix, Ben Watkins

A spy recently disavowed by the U.S. government uses his special ops training to help others in trouble.

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Television series about the Central Intelligence Agency 17T

American spy drama television series 7T

American spy thriller television series 21T

6.

Woman on Top

2000 American film

Overview: Woman on Top is a 2000 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Fina Torres, written by Vera Blasi, and starring Penélope Cruz, Murilo Benício, Harold Perrineau Jr., and Mark Feuerstein.

Release date: 22 September 2000

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy

Director: Fina Torres

Cast: Penélope Cruz, Murilo Benício, Harold Perrineau, Mark Feuerstein, John de Lancie, Anne Ramsay

Producer: Augusto Casé, Caíque Martins Ferreira

Writer: Vera Blasi

Brazilian chef Isabella Oliveira moves to San Francisco when her husband, frustrated by her motion sickness, cheats on her.

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2000s Portuguese-language films 127T

2000s English-language films 2,127T

2000 romantic comedy films 52T

7.

What's Love Got to Do with It

1993 film by Brian Gibson

Overview: What's Love Got to Do with It (marketed as Tina: What's Love Got to Do with It in some territories) is a 1993 American biographical film directed by Brian Gibson, based on the life of American-born singer ...

Release date: 9 June 1993

Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

Director: Brian Gibson

Cast: RaéVen Kelly, Virginia Capers, Dororthy Thorton, Demetrice Cheathon, Nita Woods Allen, Helen Marie Lovelace

Producer: Doug Chapin, Roger Davies

Writer: Tina Turner, Kurt Loder

The story of singer Tina Turner's rise to stardom and how she gained the courage to break free from her abusive husband, Ike Turner.

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1990s English-language films 3,887T

1993 drama films 329T

1990s biographical drama films 147T

8.

Waiting to Exhale

1995 film by Forest Whitaker

Overview: Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romance film directed by Forest Whitaker (in his feature film directorial debut) and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. The film was adapted from the 1992 ...

Release date: 22 December 1995

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: Forest Whitaker

Cast: Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Gregory Hines, Dennis Haysbert

Producer: Ron Bass, Caron K

Writer: Terry McMillan, Ron Bass

Based on Terry McMillan's novel, this film follows four very different African-American women and their relationships with men.

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1990s English-language films 3,885T

1995 directorial debut films 93T

1995 comedy films 209T

9.

The Quiet Man

1952 film by John Ford

Overview: The Quiet Man is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent ...

Release date: 6 June 1952

Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Director: John Ford

Cast: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick

Producer: Merian C. Cooper, John Ford

Writer: Frank S. Nugent, Maurice Walsh

A retired American boxer returns to the village of his birth in 1920s Ireland, where he falls for a spirited redhead whose brother is contemptuous of their ...

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English-language Irish films 375T

1950s romantic comedy-drama films 37T

1952 drama films 299T

10.

Swingers

1996 American film

Overview: Swingers is a 1996 American comedy-drama film about the lives of single, unemployed actors living on the 'eastside' of Hollywood, California during the 1990s swing revival. Written by Jon Favreau and ...

Release date: 31 August 1996

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Director: Doug Liman

Cast: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, Patrick Van Horn, Alex Désert, Heather Graham

Producer: Jon Favreau, Nicole LaLoggia

Writer: Jon Favreau

A wannabe actor has a hard time moving on from a break-up, but he is lucky to have supportive friends.

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1990s buddy comedy-drama films 12T

American buddy comedy-drama films 61T

1990s English-language films 3,883T

11.

Sex and Lucía

2001 film directed by Julio Médem

Overview: Sex and Lucía (Spanish: Lucía y el sexo) is a 2001 Spanish drama film written and directed by Julio Medem, and starring Paz Vega and Tristán Ulloa. The film was shot on two separate locations along the ...

Release date: 24 August 2001

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Julio Medem

Cast: Paz Vega, Tristán Ulloa, Najwa Nimri, Daniel Freire, Elena Anaya, Silvia Llanos

Producer: Fernando Bovaira, Anna Cassina

Writer: Julio Medem

Various lives converge on an isolated island, all connected by an author whose novel has become inextricably entwined with his own life.

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Sogecine films 9T

Films set in the Balearic Islands 5T

Spanish erotic drama films 18T

12.

Poetic Justice

1993 film directed by John Singleton

Overview: Poetic Justice is a 1993 American romantic drama film written and directed by John Singleton, and starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, with Regina King and Joe Torry in supporting roles. Poetic Justice ...

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: John Singleton

Cast: Khandi Alexander, Maya Angelou, Ché J. Avery, Lloyd Avery II, Kimberly Brooks, Rico Bueno

Producer: Steve Nicolaides, John Singleton

Writer: John Singleton

Grieving hairdresser, Justice, goes on a road trip from South Central L.A. to Oakland on a mail truck alongside her friend and a postal worker which she ...

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African-American romantic drama films 12T

1990s American films 4,757T

Golden Raspberry Award winning films 247T

13.

P.S. I Love You

2007 film by Richard LaGravenese

Overview: P.S. I Love You is a 2007 American romantic drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese from a screenplay by LaGravenese and Steven Rogers based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. The ...

Release date: 20 December 2007

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Richard LaGravenese

Cast: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, James Marsters, Kathy Bates

Producer: Noam Dromi, Wendy Finerman

Writer: Richard LaGravenese, Steven Rogers

A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.

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2007 romantic drama films 60T

2007 drama films 616T

Film scores by John Powell 65T

14.

Old School

2003 film by Todd Phillips

Overview: Old School is a 2003 American comedy film directed and co-written by Todd Phillips. The film stars Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell as depressed men in their thirties who seek to relive their ...

Release date: 13 February 2003

Genre: Comedy

Director: Todd Phillips

Cast: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Piven, Ellen Pompeo, Juliette Lewis

Producer: Paul Deason, Daniel Goldberg

Writer: Court Crandall, Todd Phillips

Three friends attempt to recapture their glory days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater.

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2000s English-language films 2,128T

Films with screenplays by Scot Armstrong 4T

2003 comedy films 356T

15.

Kal Ho Naa Ho

2005 film by Nikhil Advani

Overview: Kal Ho Naa Ho (transl. Tomorrow May Never Come, ), also abbreviated as KHNH, is a 2003 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Nikkhil Advani. The film stars Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh ...

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

Director: Nikhil Advani

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Sushma Seth, Reema Lagoo

Producer: Anadil Hossain, Hiroo Johar

Writer: Niranjan Iyengar, Karan Johar

Naina, an introverted, perpetually depressed girl's life changes when she meets Aman. But Aman has a secret of his own which changes their lives forever ...

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2003 romantic comedy-drama films 29T

2003 romantic drama films 85T

2003 drama films 469T

16.

Honey

2003 US dance drama film by Bille Woodruff

Overview: Honey is a 2003 American dance film directed by Billie Woodruff and stars Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Romeo Miller, Joy Bryant, David Moscow, with featured performances by Tweet, Jadakiss and Ginuwine ...

Release date: 24 November 2003

Genre: Drama, Music, Romance

Director: Bille Woodruff

Cast: Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Romeo Miller, Joy Bryant, David Moscow, Lonette McKee

Producer: Nicole Brown, Andre Harrell

Writer: Alonzo Brown, Kim Watson

Honey is a sexy, tough music video choreographer who shakes up her life after her mentor gives her an ultimatum: sleep with him or be blacklisted within ...

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2000s English-language films 4,356T

2003 drama films 469T

2003 directorial debut films 143T

17.

Forever Strong

2008 American film

Overview: Forever Strong is a sports film directed by Ryan Little and written by David Pliler and released on September 26, 2008. The film stars Sean Faris, Gary Cole, Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, Penn Badgley and ...

Release date: 26 September 2008

Genre: Drama, Sport

Director: Ryan Little

Cast: Gary Cole, Sean Astin, Neal McDonough, Sean Faris, Julie Warner, Penn Badgley

Producer: Adam Abel, Steven A. Lee

Writer: David Pliler, Dony West

A rugby player is put up in a juvenile detention center. There he plays for the Highland Rugby team and ultimately plays against his father in the National ...

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Films set in Salt Lake City 5T

Cultural depictions of rugby footballers 9T

Cultural depictions of American men 224T

18.

Blues Brothers 2000

1998 film by John Landis

Overview: Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, written and produced by John Landis and Dan Aykroyd. Directed by Landis, the film stars ...

Release date: 6 February 1998

Genre: Action, Comedy, Musical

Director: John Landis

Cast: Walter Levine, Dan Aykroyd, Tom Davis, Frank Oz, Shann Johnson, B.B. King

Producer: Dan Aykroyd, Leslie Belzberg

Writer: Dan Aykroyd, John Landis

Elwood must reunite the old band, with a few new members, and go on another "Mission from God."

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1990s English-language films 3,887T

Saturday Night Live in the 1990s 32T

1998 comedy films 276T

19.

Blue Hawaii

1961 film

Overview: Blue Hawaii is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the ...

Release date: 22 November 1961

Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance

Director: Norman Taurog

Cast: Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury, Nancy Walters, Roland Winters, John Archer

Producer: Paul Nathan, Hal B. Wallis

Writer: Allan Weiss, Hal Kanter

After arriving back in Hawaii from the Army, Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) defies his parents' wishes for him to work at the family business and instead goes ...

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1960s American films 1,984T

1960s English-language films 3,348T

1961 romantic comedy films 30T

20.

Angel Eyes

2001 film by Luis Mandoki

Overview: Angel Eyes is a 2001 American romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki and starring Jennifer Lopez, Jim Caviezel, and Jeremy Sisto. Written by Gerald Di Pego, the film is about a mysterious man who ...