MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Start-Up

Start-Up

2019 · 102 min

A warm, bittersweet coming-of-age story about scraping by, with moments of tension and gentle humour.

Directed by
Choi Jung-yol
Genres
Drama, Action, Comedy
Starring
Don Lee, Park Jeong-min, Jung Hae-in
Tagline
It's time to grow up.
Overview
Two boys are becoming real adults during a turbulent time as they experience a world that doesn't go their way.

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

Add to a list: Start-Up

You have no lists yet. Name one, and this title goes into it.

All your lists

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Choi Jung-yol
Genres
Drama, Action, Comedy
Starring
Don Lee, Park Jeong-min, Jung Hae-in
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • warmstrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • tensestrength 1 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • coming-of-age
  • family
  • class
  • survival
  • friendship
Places
  • small town
  • workplace
  • home
Era
contemporary
Audience
teen
Form
  • true story
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action4
Horror0
Humour5
Realism7
Romance1
Tension4
Darkness4
Complexity4
Emotional weight6

More like this

Titles like Start-Up

Movie

Punch

2011

A rough-edged but tender coming-of-age story that balances scrappy humour with quiet emotional punches.

Warm, melancholic · about coming-of-age and family

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • family
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
110 min
Details
PunchHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Florida Project

2017

A sun-drenched, child's-eye view of poverty that is joyful and heartbreaking, immersive and quietly devastating.

Warm, melancholic · about coming-of-age and class

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • class
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
112 min
Details
The Florida ProjectHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Full Monty

1997

A warm, funny, and heartfelt underdog story that balances gritty realism with joyful camaraderie and a triumphant finale.

Warm, melancholic · about family and class

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • class
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
91 min
Details
The Full MontyHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Billionaire

2011

A scrappy, heartfelt underdog story that keeps you rooting for a kid hustling against the odds.

Earnest · about coming-of-age and family · true story

Via
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • family
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
124 min
Details
The BillionaireHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Parasite

2019

A razor-sharp, darkly funny descent from farce into horror, constantly shifting tone while tightening its grip on your nerves.

About family and class

Via
  • family
  • class
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
133 min
Details
ParasiteHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Drifting Clouds

1996

A deadpan, bittersweet struggle through unemployment that finds quiet dignity and hope in the face of relentless hardship.

Warm, melancholic · about family and class

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • class
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
97 min
Details
Drifting CloudsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Little Men

2016

A quiet, bittersweet watch that lingers on small moments and moral compromises, leaving a gentle ache.

Warm, melancholic · about coming-of-age and family

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • family
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
85 min
Details
Little MenHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Karate Kid

2010

A warm, earnest underdog story with gentle humour, cultural texture and satisfying martial-arts payoffs that the whole family can enjoy.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • friendship
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
140 min
Details
The Karate KidHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Soul Kitchen

2009

A warm, ramshackle comedy that ambles through messy lives with affection, serving up gentle laughs and a bittersweet aftertaste.

Warm, earnest · about family and friendship

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • family
  • friendship
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
99 min
Details
Soul KitchenHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Fighting Spirit

2000–2014

An exhilarating underdog ride that mixes heartfelt character growth with punchy, high-energy fights and goofy comedy.

Earnest · about coming-of-age and survival

Via
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • survival
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Seasons
3
Details
Fighting SpiritHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Yi Yi

2000

A quietly absorbing, novelistic look at ordinary lives that rewards patience with deep emotional resonance.

Warm, melancholic · about coming-of-age and family

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • family
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
demanding
Runtime
174 min
Details
Yi YiHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Dìdi (弟弟)

2024

A tender, funny, and painfully relatable look at awkward adolescence, family friction, and the ache of growing up.

Warm, melancholic · about coming-of-age and family

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • family
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
94 min
Details
Dìdi (弟弟)Hidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
drama, action, comedy
Directed by
Choi Jung-yol
Written by
Choi Jung-yol
Starring
Don Lee, Park Jeong-min, Jung Hae-in, Yum Jung-ah, Choi Sung-eun, Kim Jong-soo, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kim Kyung-duk
Music
Mowg
Cinematography
Lee Hyung-bin
Runtime
102 min
Country
South Korea
Languages
Korean

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata