Movies Like The Big Sick (2017) for Indie Romance with Depth
Warm, culturally rich romances where real life complicates falling in love.
Warm, culturally rich romances where real life complicates falling in love.
Best first watch
Past Lives (2023)
92% fit106 min · IMDb 7.8 · RT 95%
Like The Big Sick, Past Lives builds a romance around cultural identity and the pull between two worlds. Its PG-13 rating and 95% Rotten Tomatoes score make it an easy, rewarding couples night pick.
Watch if
You want a romance that treats longing as its own kind of love story.
Skip if
You need laughs mixed in with your romance.
For you if
- You love romances grounded in cultural identity and real-world complications
- Ideal when you prefer movies that balance humor with genuine emotional weight
- Great if you want something to watch together that sparks actual conversation afterward
Not for you if
- You expect traditional rom-com formulas with big airport-chase finales
- You want constant laughs without stretches of quiet or sadness
- You prefer action-heavy date night movies over dialogue-driven ones
How The Big Sick (2017) alternatives compare
Pick The Map of Tiny Perfect Things if you want something light, funny, and done in under 100 minutes. Pick Past Lives if you want the deepest emotional payoff, though it has almost no comedy. About Time matches Past Lives for tears but adds warmth and humor across its longer 123-minute runtime. The Half of It is the funniest option here and streams on Netflix, making it the easiest grab for a casual night in.
How much will it make you cry?
Quietly devastating
How funny is it?
Barely any humor
Slow burn or fast start?
Decades-long slow burn
How long is the commitment?
106 minutes
How much will it make you cry?
Bittersweet ending
How funny is it?
Steady dry wit
Slow burn or fast start?
Gradual realization
How long is the commitment?
104 minutes
How much will it make you cry?
Sweeping and moving
How funny is it?
Mostly serious
Slow burn or fast start?
Sparks then separation
How long is the commitment?
114 minutes
How much will it make you cry?
Gently touching
How funny is it?
Charming and playful
Slow burn or fast start?
Quick connection
How long is the commitment?
99 minutes, breeziest
How much will it make you cry?
Full-on sobbing likely
How funny is it?
Warm British humor
Slow burn or fast start?
Falls fast, deepens slow
How long is the commitment?
123 minutes, longest
Not sure what to watch?
Date night
Past Lives is deeply romantic and conversation-starting, perfect for watching close together on the couch.
Quick watch
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
At 99 minutes and PG-13, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is breezy and sweet.
Friend group
The Half of It is funny, surprising, and sparks great debate about its unconventional ending.
Find your pick
Do you prefer romance that builds slowly over time?
Moments you loved
Best movies like The Big Sick (2017)
1. Past Lives (2023)
106 min · IMDb 7.8 · RT 95%
Like The Big Sick, Past Lives builds a romance around cultural identity and the pull between two worlds. Its PG-13 rating and 95% Rotten Tomatoes score make it an easy, rewarding couples night pick.
Watch if
You want a romance that treats longing as its own kind of love story.
Skip if
You need laughs mixed in with your romance.
Where to watch
2. The Half of It (2020)
104 min · IMDb 6.9 · RT 97%
This comedy-drama on Netflix flips the Cyrano setup into something fresh by centering a queer Chinese American teenager. Its 97% on Rotten Tomatoes reflects how well the sharp writing and warm performances land.
Watch if
You love smart dialogue and love stories that zig where you expect a zag.
Skip if
You want a conventional couple-gets-together ending.
Where to watch
3. Sylvie's Love (2020)
114 min · IMDb 6.8 · RT 94%
Sylvie's Love brings the same cultural specificity as The Big Sick, set in 1950s and 1960s Harlem with a jazz-infused romance. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, it's a PG-13 drama with gorgeous period detail.
Watch if
You want a sweeping, old-fashioned love story with beautiful costumes and music.
Skip if
You prefer modern settings and snappy contemporary dialogue.
4. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
99 min · IMDb 6.8 · RT 78%
At 99 minutes, this PG-13 pick is the easiest watch on the list, but it still carries emotional weight. It is a warm romance where real life complicates falling in love, even inside a playful time-loop premise.
Watch if
You want a sweet, easy romance with a fun sci-fi twist.
Skip if
You find time-loop movies repetitive by nature.
5. About Time (2013)
123 min · IMDb 7.8 · RT 70%
Richard Curtis wrote a time-travel romance that's really about learning to love ordinary days with your family. Like The Big Sick, it's rated R but earns it through emotional honesty rather than anything harsh.
Watch if
You want a warm, funny romance that will absolutely make you cry.
Skip if
You find sentimental father-son stories manipulative.
Where to watch
Beyond movies
TV shows and books that scratch the same itch
Master of None
Aziz Ansari explores modern dating and cultural identity with the same thoughtful humor. Dev's relationship struggles and family expectations mirror Kumail's journey perfectly.
Netflix
Never Have I Ever
Mindy Kaling's series captures the same tension between traditional family values and American romance. The cultural comedy hits similar notes with more teenage energy.
Netflix
Ramy
Ramy Youssef navigates faith, family expectations, and modern relationships with honest complexity. The cultural specificity and romantic fumbling feel very familiar.
Hulu
The Namesake
by Jhumpa Lahiri
Lahiri's novel explores the same themes of cultural identity and family expectations that drive The Big Sick. The immigrant family dynamics and romantic complications feel remarkably similar.
Available in most bookstores and libraries
Common questions about movies like The Big Sick (2017)
What is the best movie like The Big Sick (2017)?
Based on our analysis, Past Lives (2023) is the closest match with a 92% fit score. See the full breakdown above for why it earned the top spot.
When people want movies like The Big Sick, is Past Lives the safest first choice?
Yes, start with Past Lives. It nails the same emotional sophistication and cultural depth. Metacritic rates it 94.
If I want a compact runtime watch after The Big Sick, is The Map of Tiny Perfect Things at 99 minutes the best fit?
At 99 minutes, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is the quickest option here, with 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.
For viewers who liked The Big Sick, which streaming platforms currently carry Past Lives for subscription or rental?
Past Lives is currently listed on Max for subscription streaming as a follow-up to The Big Sick. Availability changes by region, so confirm current streaming listings before watching, and use Amazon Video or Apple TV Store as a rental fallback.
Was this list useful?
Quick feedback helps us improve ranking quality.