10 quirky character-driven movies you’ll love if you liked Ghost World

Released in 2001, Ghost World was directed by Terry Zwigoff. Its strange characters, simple life, and melancholic humor still fascinate the audience. The prime hype around the movie revolves around its vivid characterization.

The plot revolves around the lives of two young high school graduates and their struggles. Although they have distinct personalities, their friendship binds them together through thick and thin. Enid Coleslaw (played by Thora Birch) is seen struggling to fit into a suburban lifestyle. On the other hand, Rebecca Dopplemeyer (played by Scarlett Johansson) is fairly content with evolving circumstances.

If you're looking for character-driven movies like Ghost World, you can add these 10 titles, which feature a mix of interesting personalities, well-crafted plots, and dry humor.

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10 quirky character-driven movies similar to Ghost World

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2004)

Where to watch: Prime Video

Wristcutters: A Love Story is a narrative about love, life, death, and the survival of a young man named Zia. The story begins when the young man commits suicide and ends up in a strange world after falling in love. In that world, everyone has committed suicide again.

Although everything seems to be the usual, it offers a twisted take. The surroundings are a little more pale; there is no laughter, no brightness, no joy. After entering this world, Zia discovers that her ex-lover has also committed suicide. How will she find her lover? This is the question that this film tries to answer.

Harold and Maude (1971)

Where to watch: Prime Video

Harold feels a kind of attraction to death. This 20-year-old boy from a wealthy family has no interest in life. He fakes his death, which upsets her mother quite a lot. The mother thinks that marriage will make the son a better man. But Harold often goes to funerals. One day, there he meets Maud, a 79-year-old, free-spirited, lively old woman who enjoys living life to the fullest and also teaches him to live by the same principle.

Amélie (2001)

Where to watch: Prime Video

Amélie tells the story of a pretty and kind-hearted girl. The story begins when she finds a small box hidden in the wall of her room. The box belonged to a child 40 years ago. Here, the story takes a turn.

Amélie decides that she will find the owner of this box. After giving the box to its owner, he sees how happy the owner is, and then he realizes that this is his life's purpose, which is making others happy in little ways. Then a mysterious young man comes into his life, and he watches the movie.

Clerks

Where to watch: Prime Video

Directed by Kevin Smith, Clerks in 1994 tells the story of a young man named Dante. Who works at a convenience store? One morning, on his day off, he is suddenly called to the store and, quite naturally, gets angry and says, “I’m not even supposed to be here today!” This line turns his life around.

The entire movie tells the story of a single day. In this single day, various strange revolving the overarching events, love, quarrels, and the truth of life come to the fore. This movie is not just a story of an employee but also a story of disappointment, dreams, and finding the purpose of one's life.

Anomalisa (2005)

Where to watch: Prime Video

A motivational speaker, Michael Stone, although outwardly successful, is bored with his life, lonely, and mentally bored. In this boredom and mental unrest, he suddenly meets a woman. Lisa gives him a taste of life for a moment. It seems that he has found someone special.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Where to watch: Prime Video

It is a story about a small Irish island, where two old friends, Podrick and Colm, spend all their time together. One day, Colm suddenly tells Podrick that he will no longer speak to him. He feels that Podrick is no longer a good friend to him and wants to cut him out of his life.

Podrick is shocked and disappointed, but Colm is adamant in his decision. This unusual separation turns Podrick's life upside down, and the people of the entire island feel the effects of this separation. This story explores friendship, relationships, loneliness, and the meaning of life.

Being John Malkovic h(1919)

Where to watch: Prime Video

What exactly would happen if you entered the human brain? It's amazing to think about the possibilities!

That's what happened in this movie about choice, consciousness, and mental existence. A frustrated puppeteer suddenly finds a secret door in his office.

Donnie Darko

Where to watch: Prime Video

Similar to Ghost World, Donnie Darko , the political lyricist around a teenage dilemma and self-discovery. The movie shows that the teen character is suffering from mental illness. Donnie sleepwalks, takes medication, and is often out of touch with reality.

One night, he sees a mysterious rabbit-like figure, claiming that the world will end in just 28 days. From then on, Donnie's timeline, visions of the future, the nature of existence, and even his reality are questioned. This has repercussions for his family, girlfriend, school, and the society around him. It gradually becomes clear that Donnie may be trapped in an alternate timeline of time and reality.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Where to watch: Prime Video

A strange tale of family love and failure, this Wes Anderson film follows a stingy, self-centered father who leaves his wife and three children.

His children are all very talented, but they grow up isolated, filled with disappointment and hatred for the past. This story will unfold differently.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Where to watch: Prime Video

Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, Olive, a 7-year-old girl, dreams of competing in a beauty pageant called "Little Miss Sunshine." The dream tells a story of a different kind. This movie does the rare job of making you laugh, cry, and think all at once.

Olive's dancing, her grandfather's comments, Dwayne's facial expressions, and the whole family pushing the van together on the road are all hilarious and heartwarming moments from real life. Watch.

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If you loved Ghost World, you'll surely enjoy its quirky characters, authentic complexities, and nuanced portrayals of relationships. Each of the movies on this list captures that vision. Sometimes through satire, sometimes with a touch of sadness, and sometimes through colorful imagination.