MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Smile

Smile

1975 · 113 min

A wry, bittersweet satire that observes small-town pageant life with a mix of absurdity and melancholy.

Tagline
This beauty pageant's about to get ugly.
Overview
It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?

Search YouTube for the trailer

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • satiricalstrength 2 of 3
  • cynicalstrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • absurdstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • class
  • identity
  • family
  • ambition
  • betrayal
Places
  • small town
  • workplace
Era
contemporary
Audience
adult
Form
  • ensemble
  • nonlinear
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action2
Horror1
Humour7
Realism8
Romance2
Tension4
Darkness5
Complexity6
Emotional weight5

More like this

Titles like Smile

Movie

American Beauty

1999

A darkly comic and haunting look at suburban malaise, blending satire with tragedy as it builds to a shocking yet oddly beautiful conclusion.

Same cinematographer: Conrad Hall · Satirical, cynical · about identity and family · ensemble

Also
Same cinematographer: Conrad Hall
Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • identity
  • family
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
122 min
Details In your watch list
American BeautyHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Butter

2012

A quirky, fast-paced satire with absurd characters and a warm heart, easy to watch but not demanding.

Satirical, cynical · about class and identity · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • class
  • identity
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
91 min
Details In your watch list
ButterHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Queen America

2018–2019

A sharp, bittersweet character study of ambition and self-worth, laced with dry humor and uncomfortable small-town pageant politics.

Satirical, cynical · about class and identity

Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • class
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
1
Details In your watch list
Queen AmericaHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Little Miss Sunshine

2006

A warm, funny, and bittersweet ride with a dysfunctional family that turns awkward mishaps into moments of unexpected grace.

Melancholic · about identity and family · ensemble

Via
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • family
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
102 min
Details In your watch list
Little Miss SunshineHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Firemen's Ball

1967

A wry, slow-burning satire of small-town vanity and incompetence, funny and quietly despairing as plans unravel.

Satirical · about class and betrayal · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • class
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
73 min
Details In your watch list
The Firemen's BallHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

I, Tonya

2017

A wickedly funny, bruising rollercoaster that keeps yanking you between laughter and flinching, told with a wink and a raw ache.

Satirical, cynical · about class and identity · nonlinear

Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • class
  • identity
  • nonlinear
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
120 min
Details In your watch list
I, TonyaHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

A wry, uncomfortable true-crime comedy that makes you squirm and laugh at the same time.

Same director: Michael Ritchie · Satirical, cynical · about class and identity

Also
Same director: Michael Ritchie
Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • class
  • identity
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
99 min
Details In your watch list
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering MomHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Red Rocket

2021

A frantic, sun-bleached character study that makes you squirm with discomfort and laugh at the audacity, while never letting you look away.

Satirical, cynical · about class and identity · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • class
  • identity
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
130 min
Details In your watch list
Red RocketHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Drop Dead Gorgeous

1999

A wickedly funny faux-documentary that skewers small-town pageant culture with escalating, deadpan absurdity and cheerful malice.

Satirical · about class and family · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • class
  • family
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
98 min
Details In your watch list
Drop Dead GorgeousHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Broadway Danny Rose

1984

A bittersweet, talky comedy that ambles through showbiz anecdotes and mob misadventures, leaving a warm, rueful aftertaste.

Satirical · about identity and betrayal · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • identity
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
84 min
Details In your watch list
Broadway Danny RoseHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Election

1999

A wry, uncomfortable comedy of small-town egos and quiet revenge, watching ambition and pettiness collide with sharp, observant humor.

Satirical, cynical · about ambition and betrayal · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • cynical
  • ambition
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
103 min
Details In your watch list
ElectionHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Bad News Bears

1976

A scrappy, funny, and surprisingly tender underdog story that balances crude humor with genuine heart.

Same director: Michael Ritchie · Satirical · about class and family · ensemble

Also
Same director: Michael Ritchie
Via
  • satirical
  • class
  • family
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
102 min
Details In your watch list
The Bad News BearsHidden 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
comedy
Directed by
Michael Ritchie
Written by
Jerry Belson
Starring
Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, Michael Kidd, Geoffrey Lewis, Nicholas Pryor, Joan Prather, Denise Nickerson, Melanie Griffith
Cinematography
Conrad Hall
Runtime
113 min
Country
United States of America
Languages
English

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata