MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Ruby Sparks

Ruby Sparks

2012 · 104 min

A whimsical romantic fantasy that turns unsettling as control and insecurity curdle into something darker and more honest.

Directed by
Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Genres
Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
Starring
Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina
Tagline
She's Out Of His Mind.
Overview
Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Rent or buy in the UK
  • Apple TV Store
  • Rakuten TV
  • Amazon Video
More options Data from JustWatch
Directed by
Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Genres
Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
Starring
Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • whimsicalstrength 2 of 3
  • romanticstrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • identity
  • obsession
  • love
  • isolation
  • betrayal
Places
  • big city
  • home
Era
contemporary
Audience
adult
Form
None
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action1
Horror1
Humour5
Realism4
Romance7
Tension5
Darkness5
Complexity6
Emotional weight7

More like this

Titles like Ruby Sparks

Movie

Wicker

2026

A whimsical, slightly eerie folk tale that charms with warmth, then stings with jealousy and small-town cruelty.

Whimsical · about identity and love

Via
  • whimsical
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
105 min
Details
WickerHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Her

2013

A tender, melancholic meditation on loneliness and love that feels like a warm, bittersweet conversation with a close friend.

Romantic, melancholic · about identity and love

Via
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
126 min
Details
HerHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2008

A sun-drenched, witty exploration of desire and dissatisfaction, with sharp dialogue and a lively Spanish backdrop.

Romantic, melancholic · about identity and obsession

Via
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • obsession
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
96 min
Details
Vicky Cristina BarcelonaHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Amélie

2001

A whimsical, warm-hearted Parisian fable that charms with visual playfulness and quiet melancholy, inviting you to savor small joys.

Whimsical, romantic · about identity and love

Via
  • whimsical
  • romantic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
122 min
Details
AmélieHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Verity

2026

A sleek, chilly thriller that keeps you uneasy, constantly second-guessing what's real and who's lying.

About obsession and betrayal

Via
  • obsession
  • betrayal
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
117 min
Details
VerityHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Edward Scissorhands

1990

A bittersweet fairy tale that blends whimsy and melancholy, leaving a lingering sense of lonely beauty and tender heartbreak.

Whimsical, melancholic · about identity and love

Via
  • whimsical
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
105 min
Details
Edward ScissorhandsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Shape of Water

2017

A lush, tender fairy tale wrapped in Cold War menace, blending aching loneliness with wonder and sudden violence.

Romantic, melancholic · about identity and love

Via
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
123 min
Details
The Shape of WaterHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Sex Plate 17

2017

A playful, sensual fantasy that blurs dream and reality, mixing comedy and romance with a softcore edge.

Romantic · about identity and obsession

Via
  • romantic
  • identity
  • obsession
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
121 min
Details
Sex Plate 17Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Mermaid

2007

A whimsical yet melancholic journey through magical realism, blending quirky humor with poignant moments of love and loss.

Whimsical, romantic · about identity and love

Via
  • whimsical
  • romantic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
115 min
Details
MermaidHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Materialists

2025

A thoughtful, talky romance that balances wit and melancholy as it weighs love against ambition and self-knowledge.

Romantic, melancholic · about identity and love

Via
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
116 min
Details
MaterialistsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Secretary

2002

A quirky, tender romance about two damaged people finding intimacy through unconventional means, balancing dark humor with genuine emotion.

Whimsical, romantic · about identity and obsession

Via
  • whimsical
  • romantic
  • identity
  • obsession
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
111 min
Details
SecretaryHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Science of Sleep

2006

A whimsical, dreamlike plunge into a shy artist's mind, where handmade fantasies and tender awkwardness blur the line between imagination and reality.

Whimsical, romantic · about identity and love

Via
  • whimsical
  • romantic
  • identity
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
106 min
Details
The Science of SleepHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Rent or buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Rakuten TV
  • Amazon Video
  • Sky Store
  • YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
comedy, romance, fantasy, drama
Directed by
Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Written by
Zoe Kazan
Starring
Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Alia Shawkat, Deborah Ann Woll, Steve Coogan
Music
Nick Urata
Cinematography
Matthew Libatique
Runtime
104 min
Country
United States of America
Languages
English, French

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.