Movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?

Being John malkovich. Kaufman wrote both this and eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. 

Stranger Than Fiction is a whimsical romantic film starring a manic, comedic actor playing a quiet, lonely guy, and both happen to be my favorite roles of either actor.

Science of Sleep, Amelie.

Lars and the real girl

I think you will like Dinner in America.

her

Lost in Translation* In the mood for love Her* Portrait of a Lady on Fire Truman Show* Everything everywhere all at once* Anomalisa American Beauty Safety not guaranteed Petit manan The worst person in the world All of us strangers* Frances Ha The Purple Rose of Cairo The Red Turtle Starred are most comparable, but all of these share some feeling or theme and are great films.

The "Before" trilogy (Before Sunset, Before Sunrise, Before Midnight) by Richard Linklater Harold and Maude Blue Valentine (be ready to cry) Amelie Portrait of a Lady on Fire edit: also Punch Drunk Love

Big fish

Little miss sunshine

Lost in Translation

Interesting...those are all about grieving a relationship and moving forward. And I also love them. Past Lives, Worst Person in the World, Annie Hall, In the Mood for Love, Moonlight.

‘The Worst Person In The World’ might be a good fit

Mr. Nobody

Don't Talk to Irene Frances Ha

- The Science of Sleep (vibes) - Palm Springs (theme) - Arrival (theme) - Run Lola Run (vibes and themes)

Jacobs Ladder

Eternal Sunshine is one of my all time faves. If you're more wanting that dreamy, surreal, sci-fi vibe, you could try: Synecdoche, New York (2008) The Science of Sleep (2006) Vanilla Sky (2001) Being John Malkovich (1999) For a more general list of movies with differing amounts of romance, dreamy vibes, beautiful soundtracks and all-round beauty/coolness, you could try: Lost in Translation (2003) Her (2013) The Virgin Suicides (1999) Blue Valentine (2010) Romeo + Juliet (1996) Donnie Darko (2001) Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013) Amélie (2001) As for the other two you mentioned, you may also like: Crazy, Stupid Love (2011) Forgetting Sarah Marsall (2008) If all these movies were in one list, Eternal Sunshine would be at the top of it for me, probably with Lost In Translation at #2, so that's my top pick for you! Happy rom-tripping!

Im thinking of ending things. Fantastic movie by the same guy who wrote Eternal sunshine

Perks of being a wallflower if you haven’t seen already

Everything Everywhere All At Once Though Eternal Sunshine is better imo.

Being John Malkovich

Ruby Sparks About Time

Little Fish

If you're in the mood for a TV series, check out Maniac.

_Like Crazy_ and _Conversations with Other Women_ come to mind, about relationships.

The science of sleep

Not a movie, but severance is straight up an alternate eternal sunshine

Adaptation, also written by Charlie Kaufman, is maybe my favorite movie of all time.

Kodachrome Road trip movie. Similar vibe, cinematography, etc.

I watched it so long ago that I don't even remember what it was but Mr Nobody

About Time

Vanilla Sky

Sliding Doors (1998) (Note: It was very highly rated when it came out, but it now has low ratings on IMDB. Ignore IMDB and watch it anyway).

My Old Ass, Past Lives, and Palm Springs (all on Amazon). Past lives is not as whimsical, but it was emotional and scratched an itch for me in a way that I related to it. There were aspect of it that were beautiful in its realism, it wasn't sugar coated. My Old Ass is funny and real, and emotional and I think fits into that 500 days of summer kind of realm (which is one of my fave movies). Palm Springs is the funnier option of the 3 options but has that raw drama piece of it as well when you get into it. They are all great.

Seconding someone else's recommendation for Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton. Quirky (as you'd expect from Burton) with a great story and casting, beautifully shot.

Little fish very underrated

Synecdoche, New York. Written, directed by Charlie Kaufman. Very similar imagery, lots of themes of loss and memory and existence in general.

Spontaneous (teen comedy romance but people randomly explode) it is both light and fluffy and existential. Highly recommend. Palm Springs Groundhog day but at a wedding and there are 2 of them. The world according to Garp. Seems like you want a joyous film that isn't afraid to confront the "hard parts" of life. World's greatest dad also has this but it's more dark humor with a satisfying end.

Here's a movie that was actually inspired by **Eternal Sunshine...** --another existential, slightly-surreal romantic dramedy that has a similar plot trigger: It's about a man who is desperate to change himself and so undergoes a new technological procedure --which, instead of removing his memories, removes his soul. It's Sophie Barthes' **Cold Souls**: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cold_souls It stars Paul Giamatti as a version of himself, an actor who's having trouble preparing for the title role in Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" --as he doesn't seem to have a dark enough disposition for the part. So he has his soul extracted and exchanged for that of a moody Russian poet. The dominoes start tumbling from that action.

Try **Her.**

Blue valentine. Place beyond the pines. Donnie Darko.

Beau is Afraid

Nomad and Into the Wild

I can be completely wrong, but I’d use this opportunity to recommend Chilly Scenes From Winter

Forever Daylight in my Clean as F*** Brain

Brazil

I think you will really enjoy Little Fish ! https://boxd.it/lAFK

Ignoring the trippy, whimsical, sci-fi element of the ESotSM, my addition to the already thorough recommendations for a little bit sad, not necessarily happy-ending, somewhat brutally realistic movies about relationships: Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012) Sideways (2004)

Strawberry Mansion

Everything Everywhere All at Once was the first film I'd seen since Eternal Sunshine that felt like a similar mix of realism and absurdism, and using absurdity to get to emotional truths in unconventional ways.

Indonesian movie “Sore: A Wife from the Future” and Malaysian movie “Imaginur”

Try happy accidents

Hr is like a quiet heartbreak that lingers inate, lonely, and painfully real in how it explores love and letting go.

You might dig I Heart Huckabees. It's not my favorite, but who the hell am I!?  And to emphasize some things people have already mentioned: Amelie, Stranger Than Fiction, and Punch Drunk Love are all excellent! A couple Spanish movies that are maybe a bit more dramatic, but might work for you are Lovers of the Arctic Circle and Sex and Lucia. 

* Love, Simon (2018) * What's Love Got To Do With It (2022) * Stuck in Love (2012) * Far from the Maddening Crowd (2015) * Rust and Bone (2012) * Jane Austen Book Club (2007) * About Time (2013)

Lost in translation, past lives

Everything Everywhere all at once.

The Ballad of Wallis Island (stream on peacock) has similar themes (though more grounded in reality) and is very nice

Blue Valentine!!

“Her” directed by Spike Jonze

Her by Spike Jonze felt like its inverse. Lovely film that gave a very similar feeling.

Frances Ha Amelie

Perks of being a wallflower

Shopgirl

-Little miss sunshine -Garden state -The science of sleep -Amelie

Synecdoche New York

Maybe Synecdoche, NY?

About Time. Similar tone, similar cinematography, similar everything!

Memento

Umbrellas of Cherbourg

I feel like you might dig What Dreams May Come

Maniac (1 season)

Synecdoche, New York

I know it's not the same, but drop dead gorgeous is a silly and great movie that also has kirsten dunst

The Lobster

I'd recommend Eternity. Plus some other good ones mentioned in this thread like past lives and everything everywhere all at once.

Last christmas

Blue Jay - Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson Loved this movie. It’s short, but really scratches that itch I have for being emotionally damaged by movies. Godspeed!

The Life of Chuck

My Blueberry Nights has a very dreamy, nostalgic, weird vibe that really matches the movies you used as an example. The music is incredible, and it's visually gorgeous. It's very underrated imo.

The One I Love (2014) The Brass Teapot (2012) The Movie Hero (2003) - Great if you like Stranger Than Fiction.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I origins is pretty cool

That’s hilarious those three movies are also my comfort movies, along with the series Fleabag. I masochistly love a (spoiler alert) plot line where they don’t end up together in the end. Call Me By Your Name is also a good one following that theme.

Adaptation.

Before Sunrise/Before Sunset/Before Midnight Closer Chasing Amy

Amelie

I personally love The Secret Life of Walter Mitty for this type of vibe

A movie with a similar message from the three you mentioned is Spread. Not having to rely on someone else for your own happiness and personal growth is key. The 2009 one with Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche to be specific.

Youth in Revolt!

Mood Indigo

I love that you got downvoted, listnook is so toxic

check out "Her" if you haven't seen it yet. it's got that same vibe with unique storytelling and a focus on relationships, plus the cinematography is stunning. also "Synecdoche, New York" is worth a watch if you're into something more mind-bending.

Two of those are in my all time favorites list! (I still haven't seen La la land) movies that make me go "ugh so f****** good": Amelie, Arrival, Everything Everywhere All at Once, District 9, Cruella, Spirited Away, the matrix Other movies that are interesting and thoughtful: Eternal Sunshine, 500 days of summer, The Little Hours, The Lady in the Water, Alien, Matilda, Dear Lemon Lima, Juno, Scott Pilgrim Other stuff with quality writing: Knives Out, Stranger Things, Only Murders in the Building, Death Note, fight club, kung fu hustle, lucky number slevin "Cheaper" movies that I think are actually quality though: Mean girls, dude where's my car, hellboy, mr and mrs smith, grandma's boy, VHS, the ring, kill bill Norma movies that I see as normal, no clever writing, but I like them: The mummy, Captain America, Underworld Movies that aren't as clever as they think they are, but they're still good: Donnie Darko Movies I haven't seen yet but I think they probably have good writing: Dead Poets Society, Meet Joe Black, Erin Brokovich