Trading Places
1983USA★ 7.28 pt match
Both films sit with figuring out who you are. The world both films live in revolves around class and money and poverty. The feel is the same: dark comedy, warm, escalating, and episodic.
El mesero
2021MexicoLanguage: esDirected by Raúl Martínez★ 8
Available in English: subtitled
A waiter pretends to be an important businessman in order to reach the upper class through his entrepreneurial dreams.
Themes and style
Tone
dark comedywarmhopeful
Pacing
episodicescalating
Story
con deceptionjourney
Emotion
figuring out who you arebelongingshamelonging
Themes
class and moneypovertyold ways vs. new world
Feel
crowd pleaserdiscussion startercathartic
Violence
noneWhere to watch
Hollywood films like El mesero
If El mesero hit you the right way, here are Hollywood films that share its DNA. Same emotional weight, same kind of stories, same kind of payoff.
The Big Lebowski
1998USA★ 7.85 pt match
Both films sit with figuring out who you are and belonging. They share the same lens on class and money and old ways vs. new world. The feel is the same: dark comedy, warm, and episodic.
Burn After Reading
2008USA★ 6.75 pt match
Like El mesero, this one is rooted in figuring out who you are and longing. They share the same lens on class and money. Both move the same way too, dark comedy and escalating.
Bridesmaids
2011USA★ 6.54.5 pt match
Like El mesero, this one is rooted in belonging, figuring out who you are, and longing. Both circle the same ground: class and money and poverty. Both move the same way too, dark comedy, warm, episodic, and escalating.
Being John Malkovich
1999USA★ 7.44 pt match
What ties these together is figuring out who you are and longing. Both circle the same ground: class and money and old ways vs. new world. The feel is the same: dark comedy and escalating.
Catch Me If You Can
2002USA★ 84 pt match
Like El mesero, this one is rooted in figuring out who you are, longing, and belonging. Both circle the same ground: class and money. Both move the same way too, dark comedy, warm, escalating, and episodic.
Beetlejuice
1988USA★ 7.44 pt match
Both films sit with belonging, figuring out who you are, and belonging. Both circle the same ground: class and money and old ways vs. new world. Same energy: dark comedy, episodic, and escalating.
Game Night
2018USA★ 6.84 pt match
Like El mesero, this one is rooted in figuring out who you are and belonging. Both move the same way too, dark comedy and escalating.