SimilarScreen
Garden State

Garden State

20047.11h 42m

Overview

Andrew returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, a journey that reconnects him with old friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam—a girl also struggling with various maladies—opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional connections, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.

Directed by Zach Braff
Written by Zach Braff
Produced by Pamela Abdy, William H. Brown, Gary Gilbert
Box OfficeBudget: $2.5MRevenue: $26.8M

Top Cast

Zach Braff

Zach Braff

Andrew Largeman

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman

Sam

Ian Holm

Ian Holm

Gideon Largeman

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard

Mark

Jean Smart

Jean Smart

Carol

Armando Riesco

Armando Riesco

Jesse

Jackie Hoffman

Jackie Hoffman

Aunt Sylvia Largeman

Method Man

Method Man

Diego

Alex Burns

Alex Burns

Dave

Ron Leibman

Ron Leibman

Dr. Cohen

Themes & Keywords

depressionnew jerseyunsociabilityparaplegicexpensive restaurantloss of loved onepop culturedifficult childhoodecstasystrangenessepilepsylethargyanswering machinesinglemarijuanalos angeles, californiapsychiatristgrave digger

About Garden State

Garden State is a comedy, drama, romance film released in 2004 exploring themes of depression, new jersey, unsociability, paraplegic, expensive restaurant, loss of loved one. Directed by Zach Braff, it stars Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm. Andrew returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, a journey that reconnects him with old friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam—a girl also struggling with various maladies—opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional connections, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.

Movies Similar to Garden State

Discover titles like Garden State — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to Garden State

If you enjoyed Garden State, 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 Garden State.

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself
25% Match

The strange comedy film of two close brothers; one, Wilbur, who wants to kill himself, and the other, Harbour, who tries to prevent this. When their father dies leaving them his bookstore they meet a woman who makes their lives a bit better yet with a bit more trouble as well.

Sleepless in Seattle
24% Match

After the death of his mother, a young boy calls a radio station in an attempt to set his father up on a date. Across the country, an engaged woman becomes convinced that they belong together, despite their never having met. Will their paths collide despite the odds?

Jersey Girl
23% Match

Ollie Trinke is a young, suave music publicist who seems to have it all, with a new wife and a baby on the way. But life deals him a bum hand when he's suddenly faced with single fatherhood, a defunct career and having to move in with his father. To bounce back, it takes a new love and the courage instilled in him by his daughter.

Cha Cha Real Smooth
23% Match

Fresh out of college and stuck at his New Jersey home without a clear path forward, 22-year-old Andrew begins working as a party starter for bar/bat mitzvahs—where he strikes up a unique friendship with a young mom and her teenage daughter.

Lost in Translation
23% Match

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.

Silver Linings Playbook
22% Match

After losing his job and wife, and spending time in an institution, a former teacher winds up living with his parents. He wants to rebuild his life and reconcile with his wife, but his father would be happy if he shared his obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles. Things get complicated when he meets Tiffany Maxwell who offers to help him reconnect with his wife if he will do something very important for her in exchange.

He Was a Quiet Man
22% Match

An unhinged office worker who planned to go on a shooting spree at his workplace struggles with his newfound status as a hero after he ends up stopping a shooting spree instead.

Don Jon
22% Match

Don Jon(2013)

Movie6.0/10

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.

The Bachelors
22% Match

After the early death of his wife, a mourning father moves with his teenage son across the country for a private school teaching job. Their lives begin to transform due to two unique women, who help them embrace life and love again

Chasing Amy
22% Match

Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything is going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she's a lesbian.

Lars and the Real Girl
22% Match

Extremely shy Lars finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother and sister-in-law worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor, his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.

Broken Flowers
21% Match

Introverted Don Johnston receives an anonymous letter from an ex-lover informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him. A freelance sleuth neighbor motivates Don to embark on a cross-country search for his past flames seeking answers.

The Meddler
21% Match

With a new iPhone, an apartment near the Grove, and a comfortable bank account left to her by her beloved late husband, Marnie Minervini has happily relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be near her daughter Lori, a successful (but still single) screenwriter, and smother her with motherly love. But when the dozens of texts, unexpected visits, and conversations dominated by unsolicited advice force Lori to draw strict personal boundaries, Marnie finds ways to channel her eternal optimism and forceful generosity to change the lives of others - as well as her own - and find a new purpose in life.

Forrest Gump
21% Match

A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.