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Movies like Stand by Me (1986) Finished Stand by Me and want that feeling again? These are ranked by what it is actually about — its themes, its pacing, the kind of person at the centre of it — rather than the genre it was filed under. Every match says what it shares with Stand by Me, and what it does not.
What did you love about Stand by Me? Pick up to 3, and the matches below will be ranked around them. Optional — leave it blank for the closest overall.
Loss of innocence Childhood trauma Male bonding Small town drama Small town secrets Male identity Drama Coming of age Your best matches Ranked against what Stand by Me is actually about, not its genre labels.
66% Reverina match Top pick 1975 · Film · Comedy
Good match
Why it matches Watched for the same thing: male friendship and coming of age Also about male identity Shares its melancholic and bleak register More matches Each with the traits it shares with your pick.
I Swear 2025 · 2h 1m
Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure Algorithm anchor-3 · considered 139 candidates
Builds as slowly
What's different Not built around self-discovery or male bonding Not about small town secrets or childhood trauma Commitment 2h 20m
Short Long
Why this ranked above the others
The least obvious pick of the set when ranked against Stand by Me.
Add to watchlist Not for me
1985 · Film · Drama · Horror
Good match
Why it matches Built around the same loss of innocence Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure Told the same way, nonlinear What's different Not built around self-discovery or male bonding Not about small town secrets or childhood trauma More violent Where it streams Criterion Channel Why this ranked above the others
The best-reviewed of the set when ranked against Stand by Me.
Add to watchlist Not for me
2007 · Film · Adventure · Drama
Good match
Why it matches Also about childhood trauma Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Told the same way, nonlinear Built around the same self-discovery What's different Not about small town secrets or male identity Not really drama or small town drama Where it streams Disney Plus Why this ranked above the others
The closest tonal match of the set when ranked against Stand by Me.
Add to watchlist Not for me
(500) Days of Summer 2009 · 1h 35m
Centres on the same innocent figure Told the same way, nonlinear Moonlight 2016
Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Also drama at heart Up 2009 · 1h 36m
Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure Look Back 2024 · 58m
Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure Inside Out 2015 · 1h 35m
Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure Rebelde 2004 · 3 seasons
Watched for the same thing: coming of age and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure Anne with an E 2017
Watched for the same thing: small town life and coming of age Centres on the same innocent figure
Long
Long
