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Movies that feel like Defending Your Life (1991)

If you loved Defending Your Life, the closest films we have are Truly Madly Deeply (1991), Modern Romance (1981) and Swiss Army Man (2016). All three share Defending Your Life's romantic and tender feel, which is what we rank on before quality. 5 of the 12 picks below are included with a subscription right now on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads and Amazon Prime Video and others, checked against today's data.

Is there love after death? After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia offers him a chance to finally feel alive.

πŸ… 92% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 7.2 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. Albert Brooksromantictenderdreamlikewittyplayfulcontemplative

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If Defending Your Life hit the spot, these will too

Truly Madly Deeply poster
Truly Madly Deeply
1991 Β· dir. Anthony Minghella
πŸ… 76%β˜… 7.2fantasy Β· drama Β· comedy

Afterlife is the engine of both

Nina is totally heartbroken at the death of her boyfriend Jamie, but is even more unprepared for his return as a ghost. At first it's almost as good as it used to be – hey, even the rats that infested her house have disappeared. But Jamie starts bringing ghostly friends home and behaving more and more oddly.

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Modern Romance poster
Modern Romance
1981 Β· dir. Albert Brooks
πŸ… 83%β˜… 7comedy Β· drama Β· romance

The same hand behind both of them: Albert Brooks

The difference: None of the dream logic that defines Defending Your Life

A film editor breaks up with his girlfriend, unsure if he is in love.

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Swiss Army Man poster
Swiss Army Man
2016 Β· dir. Daniel Kwan
πŸ… 73%β˜… 6.9comedy Β· drama Β· romance

The same mix in both: romance, then tenderness

The difference: Plays it as adventure more than Defending Your Life does

Alone on a tiny deserted island, Hank has given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a dead body washes ashore, and he soon realizes it may be his last opportunity to escape certain death. Armed with his new β€œfriend” and an unusual bag of tricks, the duo go on an epic adventure to bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.

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Strictly Ballroom poster
Strictly Ballroom
1992 Β· dir. Baz Luhrmann
β˜… 7.2comedy Β· drama Β· romance

Witty where it counts, playful underneath

The difference: Not nearly as dreamlike as Defending Your Life

Brave new steps put Scott's career in jeopardy. With a new partner and determination, can he still succeed?

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Say Anything... poster
Say Anything...
1989 Β· dir. Cameron Crowe
πŸ… 98%β˜… 7.3romance Β· comedy Β· drama

Romance with a pulse of stillness, in both cases

Average student and eternal optimist Lloyd Dobler seeks to capture the heart of Diane Court, a beautiful but unattainable valedictorian classmate. He surprises just about everyone - including himself - when she returns the sentiment. However, Diane's divorced, over-protective father soon begins to disapprove of the match, and Lloyd realises that it's going to take more than just the power of love to conquer all.

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Jerry Maguire poster
Jerry Maguire
1996 Β· dir. Cameron Crowe
πŸ… 86%β˜… 7.3comedy Β· drama Β· romance

Both trade on romance more than on being comedy

Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When he voices these doubts, he ends up losing his job and all of his clients, save Rod Tidwell, an egomaniacal football player.

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Groundhog Day poster
Groundhog Day
1993 Β· dir. Harold Ramis
πŸ… 93%β˜… 8romance Β· fantasy Β· comedy

Dreamlike fantasy, and it commits to that

A cynical TV weatherman, along with his idealistic producer and his sardonic cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.

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Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge poster
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1995 Β· dir. Aditya Chopra
πŸ… 100%β˜… 8comedy Β· drama Β· romance

Tender drama in both cases

Raj is a rich, carefree, happy-go-lucky second generation NRI. Simran is the daughter of Chaudhary Baldev Singh, who in spite of being an NRI is very strict about adherence to Indian values. Simran has left for India to be married to her childhood fiancΓ©. Raj leaves for India with a mission at his hands, to claim his lady love under the noses of her whole family. Thus begins a saga.

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The Purple Rose of Cairo poster
The Purple Rose of Cairo
1985 Β· dir. Woody Allen
πŸ… 93%β˜… 7.6fantasy Β· comedy Β· romance

Romance built on dream logic, twice over

Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.

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Being John Malkovich poster
Being John Malkovich
1999 Β· dir. Spike Jonze
πŸ… 94%β˜… 7.7comedy Β· drama Β· fantasy

Both trade on wit more than on being fantasy

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.

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Bridget Jones's Diary poster
Bridget Jones's Diary
2001 Β· dir. Sharon Maguire
πŸ… 80%β˜… 6.8comedy Β· romance Β· drama

Playful comedy in both cases

Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against expectations. As a New Year's resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. Her charming boss takes an interest in her, and she cannot stop running into a rather disagreeable acquaintance whom Bridget cannot help finding quietly attractive.

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Love Actually poster
Love Actually
2003 Β· dir. Richard Curtis
πŸ… 65%β˜… 7.5comedy Β· romance Β· drama

Drama with a pulse of stillness, in both cases

The difference: Critics were much harder on this one

Eight very different couples deal with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London.

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In the mood for more romantic?

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The best-reviewed films that share Defending Your Life's defining feeling.