SimilarScreen
The Messenger

The Messenger

The Scars of War Will Last Forever.

20096.81h 53m

Overview

Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.

Directed by Oren Moverman
Written by Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman
Produced by Lawrence Inglee, Zach Miller, Benjamin Goldhirsh
Box OfficeBudget: $6.5MRevenue: $1.6M

Top Cast

Ben Foster

Ben Foster

Will Montgomery

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson

Tony Stone

Jena Malone

Jena Malone

Kelly

Eamonn Walker

Eamonn Walker

Stuart Dorsett

Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton

Olivia Pitterson

Steve Buscemi

Steve Buscemi

Dale Martin

Dale Soules

Dale Soules

Cashier

Stevie Ray Dallimore

Stevie Ray Dallimore

Kelly's Father

Michael Chernus

Michael Chernus

Alan

Yaya DaCosta

Yaya DaCosta

Monica Washington

Themes & Keywords

bereavementwoundedsoldieriraq warcasualty of warwar widow

About The Messenger

The Messenger is a drama, romance film released in 2009 exploring themes of bereavement, wounded, soldier, iraq war, casualty of war, war widow. Directed by Oren Moverman, it stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone. Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.

Movies Similar to The Messenger

Discover titles like The Messenger — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The Messenger

If you enjoyed The Messenger, 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 The Messenger.

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
26% Match

19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks the film shows what really happened to his squad – contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions.

Punishment Park
25% Match

In this fictional documentary, U.S. prisons are at capacity, and President Nixon declares a state of emergency. All new prisoners, most of whom are connected to the antiwar movement, are now given the choice of jail time or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport by federal authorities. The prisoners invariably choose the latter option, but learn that, between the desert heat and the brutal police officers, their chances of survival are slim.

Platoon
25% Match

Platoon(1986)

Movie7.7/10

As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.

Private Peaceful
24% Match

Set in the fields of Devon and the WW1 battlefields of Flanders, two brothers fall for the same girl while contending with the pressures of their feudal family life, the war, and the price of courage and cowardice.

The Lucky One
24% Match

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.

Carmen
22% Match

Carmen(2003)

Movie5.2/10

A French writer documents the seductive power of the beautiful Carmen, who has enchanted José, a young soldier, awakening his most fervent passions leading to tragedy. A path chained to obsession, jealousy, betrayal, and blood.

Dear John
22% Match

Dear John(2010)

Movie6.8/10

While Sergeant John Tyree is home on two weeks leave from Germany, he meets Savannah after he dives into the ocean to retrieve Savannah's purse that had fallen off a pier. John eventually falls in love with Savannah, who promises to write to him until he returns from overseas.

Grace Is Gone
22% Match

Upon hearing his wife was killed in the Iraq war, a father takes his two daughters on a road trip, all the while searching for the right time and place to tell them about their mother's fate.

Megan Leavey
22% Match

The true story of Marine Corporal Megan Leavey, who forms a powerful bond with an aggressive combat dog, Rex. While deployed in Iraq, the two complete more than 100 missions and save countless lives, until an IED explosion puts their faithfulness to the test.

Lemon Tree
22% Match

Lemon Tree(2008)

Movie7.0/10

Salma Zidane, a widow, lives simply from her grove of lemon trees in the West Bank's occupied territory. The Israeli defence minister and his wife move next door, forcing the Secret Service to order the trees' removal for security. The stoic Salma seeks assistance from the Palestinian Authority, Israeli army, and a young attorney, Ziad Daud, who takes the case. In this allegory, does David stand a chance against Goliath?

Lilting
21% Match

Lilting(2014)

Movie6.9/10

A young man of Chinese-Cambodian descent dies, leaving behind his isolated mother and his lover of four years. Though the two don't share a language, they grow close through their grief.