Pixote
1980Brazil★ 7.94.5 pt match
What ties these together is feeling powerless. Both circle the same ground: corrupt institutions, poverty, and class and money. Both move the same way too, bleak, haunting, slow burn, and escalating.
Carlito's Way
1993USALanguage: EnglishDirected by Brian De Palma★ 7.8
Free after years in prison, Carlito Brigante intends to give up his criminal ways, but it's not long before the ex-con is sucked back into the New York City underworld.
Themes and style
Tone
melancholictensehauntingbleak
Pacing
slow burnescalatingslow build to explosion
Story
escapepursuitsurvivalunraveling
Emotion
redemptionguiltlongingfeeling powerlessall-consuming loveloyalty under pressure
Themes
class and moneycorrupt institutionspovertyold ways vs. new world
Feel
catharticquietly hauntinggut punchrewatchablediscussion starter
Violence
graphicWhere to watch
Foreign films like Carlito's Way
These foreign films share the same emotional core, themes, and structural feel as Carlito's Way. Every one of them has confirmed English subtitles or dubbing.
Mother
2009South Korea★ 7.74 pt match
What ties these together is guilt, all-consuming love, and loyalty under pressure. The world both films live in revolves around class and money, corrupt institutions, and poverty. The feel is the same: bleak, haunting, slow burn, and escalating.
Pride and Glory
2008Germany★ 6.34 pt match
Like Carlito's Way, this one is rooted in guilt, loyalty under pressure, and redemption. The world both films live in revolves around corrupt institutions and class and money. Same energy: bleak, tense, slow burn, and escalating.
Léon: The Professional
1994France★ 8.33.5 pt match
What ties these together is loyalty under pressure, all-consuming love, and redemption. Both circle the same ground: corrupt institutions and poverty. The feel is the same: tense, melancholic, escalating, and slow burn.
Night in Paradise
2020South Korea★ 6.93 pt match
What ties these together is guilt and longing. They share the same lens on corrupt institutions and class and money. The feel is the same: bleak, melancholic, slow burn, and escalating.
A Dirty Carnival
2006South Korea★ 73 pt match
Like Carlito's Way, this one is rooted in loyalty under pressure and guilt. They share the same lens on class and money, corrupt institutions, and poverty. Same energy: bleak, melancholic, slow burn, and escalating.
Don't Be Bad
2015Italy★ 7.83 pt match
What ties these together is redemption, loyalty under pressure, and guilt. Both circle the same ground: poverty, class and money, and old ways vs. new world. Both move the same way too, bleak, melancholic, slow burn, and escalating.