SimilarScreen
Boys on the Side

Boys on the Side

A motion picture that celebrates the art of survival, the gift of laughter and the miracle of friendship.

19956.41h 55m

Overview

After breaking up with her girlfriend, a nightclub singer, Jane, answers a personal ad from Robin, a real estate agent with AIDS, seeking a cross-country travel partner. On their journey from New York City to Los Angeles, the two stop by Pittsburgh to pick up Jane's friend Holly, who is trying to escape an abusive relationship. With three distinct personalities, the women must overcome their differences to help one another.

Directed by Herbert Ross
Written by Don Roos
Produced by Steven Reuther, Arnon Milchan, Herbert Ross
Box OfficeBudget: $21.0MRevenue: $23.4M

Top Cast

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg

Jane Deluca

Mary-Louise Parker

Mary-Louise Parker

Robin

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore

Holly Pulchik-Lincoln

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey

Abe Lincoln

James Remar

James Remar

Alex

Billy Wirth

Billy Wirth

Nick

Anita Gillette

Anita Gillette

Elaine

Dennis Boutsikaris

Dennis Boutsikaris

Massarelli

Estelle Parsons

Estelle Parsons

Louise

Amy Aquino

Amy Aquino

Anna

Themes & Keywords

friendshipescapeaidshomophobiahomicideroommatescar journeyfemale friendshiproad tripfriendsdomestic violencefresh startabusive boyfriendlesbianchosen family

About Boys on the Side

Boys on the Side is a comedy, drama film released in 1995 exploring themes of friendship, escape, aids, homophobia, homicide, roommates. Directed by Herbert Ross, it stars Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, Drew Barrymore. After breaking up with her girlfriend, a nightclub singer, Jane, answers a personal ad from Robin, a real estate agent with AIDS, seeking a cross-country travel partner. On their journey from New York City to Los Angeles, the two stop by Pittsburgh to pick up Jane's friend Holly, who is trying to escape an abusive relationship. With three distinct personalities, the women must overcome their differences to help one another.

Movies Similar to Boys on the Side

Discover titles like Boys on the Side — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to Boys on the Side

If you enjoyed Boys on the Side, 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 Boys on the Side.

Girlfriends
29% Match

A photographer and her best friend are roommates. She is stuck with small-change shooting jobs and dreams of success. When her roommate decides to get married and leave, she feels hurt and has to learn how to deal with living alone.

The Bucket List
28% Match

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
26% Match

Manhattan drag queens Vida Boheme and Noxeema Jackson impress regional judges in competition, securing berths in the Nationals in Los Angeles. When the two meet pathetic drag novice Chi-Chi Rodriguez — one of the losers that evening — the charmed Vida and Noxeema agree to take the hopeless youngster under their joined wing. Soon the three set off on a madcap road trip across America and struggle to make it to Los Angeles in time.

Ana
26% Match

Ana(2020)

Movie6.3/10

Ana meets Rafa in a chance encounter and they embark on a road trip to try and save him from bankruptcy, or worse.

Burn Burn Burn
26% Match

Following the death of their friend, two girls in their late twenties embark on a road trip to spread his ashes. Seph and Alex take turns driving. Dan is in the glove compartment, in tupperware, decreasing in volume as the trip progresses.

My Girl
25% Match

My Girl(1991)

Movie7.4/10

Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is "allergic to everything", and sticks with Vada despite her hangups. When Vada's father hires Shelly, and begins to fall for her, things take a turn to the worse...

Kolya
25% Match

Kolya(1996)

Movie7.3/10

After a fictitious marriage with a Russian emigrant, Cellisten Louka, a Czech man, must suddenly take responsibility for her son. However, it’s not long before the communication barrier is broken between the two new family members.

Mean Girls
24% Match

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.

Beautiful Girls
23% Match

During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.

Suncoast
23% Match

Suncoast(2024)

Movie6.7/10

While caring for her brother along with her audacious mother, a teenager strikes up an unlikely friendship with an eccentric activist who is protesting one of the most landmark medical cases of all time.

Forrest Gump
23% 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.

Billy Elliot
23% Match

County Durham, England, 1984. The miners' strike has started and the police have started coming up from Bethnal Green, starting a class war with the lower classes suffering. Caught in the middle of the conflict is 11-year old Billy Elliot, who, after leaving his boxing club for the day, stumbles upon a ballet class and finds out that he's naturally talented. He practices with his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson for an upcoming audition in Newcastle-upon Tyne for the royal Ballet school in London.

Sleepless in Seattle
23% 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?