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Pleasantville

Pleasantville

Nothing is as simple as black and white.

19987.32h 4m

Overview

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

Directed by Gary Ross
Written by Gary Ross
Produced by Steven Soderbergh, Jon Kilik, Gary Ross
Box OfficeBudget: $60.0MRevenue: $49.8M

Top Cast

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire

David

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Jennifer

William H. Macy

William H. Macy

George Parker

Joan Allen

Joan Allen

Betty Parker

Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels

Mr. Johnson

J. T. Walsh

J. T. Walsh

Big Bob

Paul Walker

Paul Walker

Skip

Don Knotts

Don Knotts

TV Repairman

Marley Shelton

Marley Shelton

Margaret Henderson

Jane Kaczmarek

Jane Kaczmarek

David's Mom

Themes & Keywords

sibling relationshipdystopiadinersatirebook burningcoming of ageracismbathtubtv show in filmmasturbationmagic realismalternative reality1950stv repairmanblack and white sequence

About Pleasantville

Pleasantville is a fantasy, comedy, drama film released in 1998 exploring themes of sibling relationship, dystopia, diner, satire, book burning, coming of age. Directed by Gary Ross, it stars Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy. Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

Movies Similar to Pleasantville

Discover titles like Pleasantville — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to Pleasantville

If you enjoyed Pleasantville, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of Pleasantville.

The Tree of Life
25% Match

The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.

Mean Girls
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Mean Girls(2004)

Movie7.2/10

Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

Heavenly Creatures
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Diner
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Diner(1982)

Movie6.8/10

Set in 1959, Diner shows how five young men resist their adulthood and seek refuge in their beloved Diner. The mundane, childish, and titillating details of their lives are shared. But the golden moments pass, and the men shoulder their responsibilities, leaving the Diner behind.

American Beauty
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Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

The Man in the Moon
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Maureen Trant and her younger sibling Dani share a strong connection, but local boy Court Foster threatens to throw their bond off balance. Dani and Court meet first and have a flirtatious rapport -- but when he meets Maureen, he falls hard and they begin a passionate affair. The new couple try to keep their love hidden from Dani, but she soon learns the truth, disavowing her sister. But a heartbreaking accident later reunites the girls.

Ruby Sparks
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Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.

Twitches
18% Match

Twitches(2005)

Movie6.7/10

Twins separated at birth, Camryn and Alex meet by chance for the first time on their 21st birthday and discover they're witches with the power to save their homeland of Coventry from the evil that threatens it. But when Camryn leaves Alex to face the darkness alone, will Coventry be doomed? Or will the sisters multiply their magic by standing together?

Rainbow
18% Match

Rainbow(2022)

Movie5.5/10

In search of her mother, a teenager and her eccentric group of companions set off on a journey, trying to avoid the clutches of a wicked woman.

Sweetie
18% Match

Sweetie(1989)

Movie6.0/10

The buttoned-down, superstitious Kay is attempting to lead a normal existence with her new boyfriend Louis. That’s until Sweetie, her rampaging, devil-may-care sister, returns home after an absence, exposing the rotten roots of their family and placing a strain on Kay and Louis’ relationship.

American Fiction
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A novelist fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

Asteroid City
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In an American desert town circa 1955, the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
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Four best friends (Tibby, Lena, Carmen & Bridget) who buy a mysterious pair of pants that fits each of them, despite their differing sizes, and makes whoever wears them feel fabulous. When faced with the prospect of spending their first summer apart, the pals decide they'll swap the pants so that each girl in turn can enjoy the magic.

Dead Poets Society
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At an elite, old-fashioned boarding school in New England, a passionate English teacher inspires his students to rebel against convention and seize the potential of every day, courting the disdain of the stern headmaster.