10 Movies Like Miss You, Love You You Must See

Penned and helmed by Jim Rash, HBO Max’s ‘Miss You, Love You’ is a drama film that brings together two unlikely companions in the aftermath of a family loss. The narrative follows Jamie Simms (Andrew Rannells), a personal assistant working for a successful journalist named Tyler. Jamie is sent to help his employer’s estranged mother, Diane Patterson (Allison Janney), make arrangements following the death of her husband, Tyler’s stepfather. What begins as a practical responsibility soon places the pair in the uncomfortable position of grieving together despite barely knowing one another. The two of them face hilarious, absurd situations, struggling to understand each other, while neighbors fail to come to terms with the presence of a seemingly strange man in Diane’s house.

As Diane and Jamie navigate funeral preparations, they are forced to confront the complicated relationship both share with Diane’s absent son. Their uneasy partnership gradually uncovers buried emotion, and the two develop an unexpected bond, finding moments of humor as they help each other cope with loss. In this list, we bring you movies similar to ‘Miss You, Love You’ that will not only warm your heart with their meaningful storylines but also keep you engaged with their character dynamics.

10. The Intouchables (2011)

‘The Intouchables’ or ‘Intouchables’ is the story of Philippe (François Cluzet), a wealthy aristocrat whose life is permanently altered after an accident leaves him quadriplegic. In search of a caregiver, he unexpectedly hires Driss (Omar Sy), a young former convict whose unconventional outlook and lack of experience make him an unusual choice for the position. Although Philippe and Driss come from vastly different backgrounds and possess contrasting personalities, their arrangement gradually evolves into a meaningful friendship. As they spend more time together, both men find themselves confronting personal challenges while relying on humor to navigate difficult situations.

However, as circumstances begin to test the strength of their bond, Philippe and Driss are forced to make decisions that could shape the direction of their lives. Written and directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, the French comedy-drama film is inspired by true events. Two characters, an unexpected bond, difficult circumstances, vastly different experiences, grief, and the value of human connection are common themes in ‘Miss You, Love You’ and ‘The Intouchables.’

9. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

Netflix’s ‘The Fundamentals of Caring’ revolves around Ben Benjamin (Paul Rudd), a man attempting to move forward after a painful personal loss by training to become a caregiver. His first assignment pairs him with Trevor (Craig Roberts), a sharp-witted teenager with a disability who has spent much of his life confined to a predictable routine and limited surroundings. What begins as an awkward professional relationship gradually develops into an unlikely friendship when Ben and Trevor decide to leave their everyday lives behind and embark on a spontaneous road trip.

Along the way, they meet Dot (Selena Gomez), a free-spirited young woman who joins their journey. As the trio travels together, they are forced to confront their individual challenges and uncertainties, while also discovering new perspectives on life and love. The comedy-drama film is shaped by the vision of Rob Burnett, who also wrote the movie, which is based on the novel ‘The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving’ by Jonathan Evison. The incredible bond that Ben and Trevor build through difficult conversations and awkward moments will remind you of how ‘Miss You, Love You’ portrays the complex bond between Jamie and Diane.

8. St. Vincent (2014)

‘St. Vincent’ is a comedy-drama film that chronicles the life of Vincent MacKenna (Bill Murray), a Vietnam War veteran whose life is marked by financial troubles, questionable habits, and growing emotional isolation. Content to keep people at a distance, Vincent’s routine is disrupted when Maggie Bronstein (Melissa McCarthy), a recently separated mother, moves into the neighboring house with her son Oliver Bronstein (Jaeden Martell). Needing additional income, Vincent reluctantly agrees to look after Oliver after school. The simple arrangement slowly develops into an unlikely friendship as the boy becomes exposed to Vincent’s unconventional outlook on life.

Spending more time together allows Oliver to see past Vincent’s rough exterior, while Vincent gradually finds himself forming a connection he never expected. Theodore Melfi serves as the writer and director of this engaging and emotional movie. While ‘Miss You, Love You’ is about grief after death and the difficult journey towards healing and reconciliation through an unlikely bond, ‘St. Vincent’ is a deep dive into the struggle to find meaning at an unlikely stage in life and the strength of friendship.

7. Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026)

Adapted from Shelby Van Pelt’s eponymous novel, Netflix’s ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ is the tale of Tova (Sally Field), a widowed woman in her seventies who continues to carry the pain of losing her son years earlier. While working as a cleaner at a local aquarium, she develops an unusual connection with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus whose observations help shape the narrative. Tova’s quiet routine begins to shift after she meets Cameron (Lewis Pullman), a young man trying to track down his father while grappling with uncertainties of his own.

As Marcellus quietly influences events around them, Tova and Cameron find themselves drawn to each other, forming a relationship that fills emotional voids for both. Their growing bond eventually leads them toward a baffling mystery that might reshape their futures. With Olivia Newman in the director’s chair, the mystery drama, akin to ‘Miss You, Love You,’ is a poignant exploration of a unique mother-son-like relationship between an aging, grieving woman and a pessimistic young man. The visual elements and the character dynamics in the movies connect them on a deeper level.

6. The Farewell (2019)

‘The Farewell’ deals with the trials of Billi (Awkwafina), an NYC-based young Chinese American woman struggling to establish herself while balancing diverse cultural expectations. Her life is upended when she learns that her grandmother, Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen), has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Rather than informing Nai Nai of her condition, the family decides to shield her from the truth and hastily arranges a wedding as an excuse to reunite relatives in China to say goodbye to the old woman.

As the family gathers in Nai Nai’s hometown, Billi finds herself increasingly conflicted by the deception surrounding her grandmother. Torn between her own beliefs and her family’s wishes, she wrestles with whether to reveal the truth. Crafted and penned by Lulu Wang, the comedy-drama film is a unique cultural experience. Both ‘Miss You, Love You’ and ‘The Farewell’ treat death as a character in itself, capable of reshaping lives in unexpected ways. The films intricately explore grief and the journey towards healing and redemption.

5. A Man Called Otto (2022)

Helmed by Marc Forster, ‘A Man Called Otto’ is a comedy-drama film that serves as a remake of the Swedish film ‘A Man Called Ove,’ which is based on Fredrik Backman’s eponymous novel. The story centers on Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a widowed man whose life has become defined by routine, isolation, and bitterness following the loss of his wife. Known throughout his neighborhood for his unfriendly demeanor and constant complaints, Otto keeps others at a distance while struggling to find meaning in his daily existence. His carefully controlled world is disrupted when a spirited family moves into the house across the street.

Among them is Marisol (Mariana Treviño), a warm and determined neighbor who persistently reaches out to him despite his efforts to push people away. As Marisol and her family gradually become part of Otto’s life, the reluctant friendship that develops begins to fill his emotional void. The movie has much in common with ‘Miss You, Love You’ as it explores the meaning of life and the emotional challenges of isolation and dread, while also confronting the complexities of finding unlikely human connections when one least expects them.

4. The Descendants (2011)

Based on the eponymous novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, ‘The Descendants’ is an Alexander Payne directorial that follows Matt King (George Clooney), a Honolulu lawyer. His life is thrown into turmoil after his wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), suffers a boating accident that leaves her in a coma. While coping with this, Matt must also reconnect with his daughters, Alex King (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie King (Amara Miller), and navigate the growing tensions within his family. At the same time, Matt faces doubt about a major decision involving many acres of valuable Hawaiian land jointly owned by his extended family.

Unexpected revelations connected to Elizabeth and Alex force Matt to reassess both his personal life and his responsibilities. Alexander Payne steers this tragedy-themed comedy-drama film that mainly sheds light on the layers of complexity in familial relationships. This idea also finds resonance in ‘Miss You, Love You,’ which similarly explores family through the lens of tragedy, placing characters in emotionally challenging scenarios.

3. This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

‘This Is Where I Leave You’ revolves around the Altman family after the death of patriarch Mort Altman. Honoring Mort’s final wish, his widow Hilary Altman (Jane Fonda) gathers their four adult children under one roof to observe a week-long shiva, forcing the family to face unresolved conflicts. Among those returning home is Judd Altman (Jason Bateman), whose marriage is in crisis. His sister, Wendy Altman (Tina Fey), questions her marriage while reflecting on a past relationship. The eldest brother, Paul Altman (Corey Stoll), wrestles with his own concerns, and the youngest sibling, Phillip Altman (Adam Driver), arrives with his much older girlfriend, Tracy Sullivan (Connie Britton).

As the family spends the week together, unexpected revelations surface, turning a period of mourning into a reckoning with fate. Guided by the ideas of Shawn Levy, the comedy-drama film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jonathan Tropper. ‘Miss You, Love You’ is about the aftermath of death and the tensions it leads to, which is what ‘This Is Where I Leave You’ also explores in a different setting. Both stories are essentially about insecurities, relationships in crisis, revelations, the journey towards accepting grief, and the element of emotional redemption.

2. Other People (2016)

‘Other People’ focuses on the life of David Mulcahey (Jesse Plemons), a struggling comedy writer whose life is thrown into uncertainty after the end of a relationship. Facing setbacks, David returns to his hometown of Sacramento to spend time with his mother, Joanne Mulcahey (Molly Shannon), after she decides to stop fighting cancer. David confronts long-standing tensions with his father, Norman Mulcahey (Bradley Whitford), and also feels disconnected from the people around him. He struggles to navigate the emotional weight of his mother’s declining health while attempting to maintain calm. As the family faces an inevitable loss, David is forced to come to terms with his puzzling reality.

The comedy-drama film marks the feature directorial debut of Chris Kelly, who also wrote the screenplay. One of the most important connections between ‘Miss You, Love You’ and ‘Other People’ is their intricate navigation of the mother-son bond in uniquely creative ways. While Jamie steps in to play the role of a son in the absence of Diane’s actual son, David must come to terms with his role as a son and recognize his value within the family’s emotional layers.

1. Our Friend (2019)

Based on a true story, ‘Our Friend’ follows Nicole Teague (Dakota Johnson) and her husband Matt Teague (Casey Affleck), whose lives are upended after Nicole receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. As the illness spreads, Matt struggles to take care of their two daughters. During this difficult period, the couple’s friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel) steps in to help. Initially intending to stay only briefly, Dane gradually becomes an essential part of the household, putting his own life on hold to support the family through an increasingly challenging time. As the months pass, his presence provides practical assistance and emotional stability, deepening the bond among the three friends and reshaping their lives in ways none of them could have anticipated.

With Gabriela Cowperthwaite in the director’s seat, the drama film is adapted from Matthew Teague’s Esquire article “The Friend: Love Is Not a Big Enough Word.” Through its characters, ‘Miss You, Love You’ depicts the value of friendship and emotional support during a time of grief and uncertainty, as does ‘Our Friend’ in a poignant manner through the experiences of the couple in crisis and their dear friend. The two films explore tender moments in life, offering hope and optimism amid bleak circumstances, while featuring complementary visual styles.