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The Purple Rose of Cairo poster

Movies that feel likeThe Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

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.

If you loved The Purple Rose of Cairo, the closest films we have are Bedazzled (1967), The Mermaid (2016) and Midnight in Paris (2011). All three share The Purple Rose of Cairo's dreamlike and witty feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is Truly Madly Deeply (1991).

πŸ… 93% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 7.6 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. Woody Allendreamlikewittyplayfulromantic
6 of 12 streaming nowHBO Max Β· Amazon Prime Video Β· FlixFling

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See it on the Mood Map

If The Purple Rose of Cairo hit the spot, these will too

Bedazzled poster
Bedazzled
1967 Β· dir. Stanley Donen
πŸ… 74%β˜… 6.7fantasy Β· comedy Β· romance

Dreamlike and witty in the same breath

A hapless loser sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for seven wishes, but has trouble winning over the girl of his dreams.

The Mermaid poster
The Mermaid
2016 Β· dir. Stephen Chow
πŸ… 95%β˜… 6.2comedy Β· fantasy Β· romance

The same mix in both: play, then romance

The difference: Made in the 2010s, in a different era of the craft

When Xuan's real estate project threatens the home of mermaids, Shan is sent to stop him. When they fall in love, he is encouraged to cancel the project. However, he must save them from bigger danger.

Midnight in Paris poster
Midnight in Paris
2011 Β· dir. Woody Allen
πŸ… 93%β˜… 7.6fantasy Β· comedy Β· romance

Both are Woody Allen's work, and they rhyme

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancΓ©e's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

Nothing Left to Do But Cry poster
Nothing Left to Do But Cry
1984 Β· dir. Roberto Benigni
β˜… 7.6comedy Β· fantasy

Fantasy with a pulse of dream logic, in both cases

The difference: Trades the romance of The Purple Rose of Cairo for an angle of its own

Two 20th-century friends accidentally stumble into the year 1492, where they meet a charming teen and try to alter history.

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

Both lean on wit more than on comedy

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.

Defending Your Life poster
Defending Your Life
1991 Β· dir. Albert Brooks
πŸ… 92%β˜… 7.2romance Β· fantasy Β· comedy

Romance built on play, twice over

The difference: Sits closer to drama than The Purple Rose of Cairo does

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.

Shallow Hal poster
Shallow Hal
2001 Β· dir. Peter Farrelly
πŸ… 49%β˜… 6comedy Β· fantasy Β· romance

Common ground: falling in love

The difference: The scrappier of the two with critics

After taking his dying father's advice, Hal dates only the embodiments of female physical perfection. But that all changes after Hal has an unexpected run-in with self-help guru Tony Robbins. Intrigued by Hal's shallowness, Robbins hypnotizes him into seeing the beauty that exists even in the least physically appealing women. Hal soon falls for Rosemary, but he doesn't realize that his gorgeous girlfriend is actually a 300-pound-not-so-hottie.

Practical Magic poster
Practical Magic
1998 Β· dir. Griffin Dunne
πŸ… 31%β˜… 6.4romance Β· fantasy Β· comedyMax

Romantic fantasy in both cases

Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

A Rainy Day in New York poster
A Rainy Day in New York
2019 Β· dir. Woody Allen
πŸ… 46%β˜… 6.4comedy Β· romancePrime Video

The same hand behind both of them: Woody Allen

Two young people arrive in New York to spend a weekend, but once they arrive they're met with bad weather and a series of adventures.

The Invention of Lying poster
The Invention of Lying
2009 Β· dir. Ricky Gervais
πŸ… 56%β˜… 6.4comedy Β· fantasy Β· romance

Dreamlike comedy, and it commits to that

Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.

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

Romance with a pulse of wit, in both cases

The difference: Leans harder into drama than The Purple Rose of Cairo does

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.

Manhattan poster
Manhattan
1979 Β· dir. Woody Allen
πŸ… 93%β˜… 7.8comedy Β· drama Β· romance

New York City shapes both of them

Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend's mistress.

In the mood for more dreamlike?

all dreamlike movies β†’

The best-reviewed films that share The Purple Rose of Cairo’s defining feeling.