Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Rental Family:
Nonnas
Nonnas is a reminder that charm, good casting, and a touch of sincerity can elevate a standard script into something enjoyable, if not exactly essential. It’s not destined for rewatchability or critical acclaim, but for a streaming comedy in 2025, that’s probably enough.
About Schmidt
About Schmidt is a good film, one that sits comfortably in Alexander Payne’s filmography but doesn’t quite reach the heights of his later classics. For fans of Payne’s more nuanced works, it’s an important piece, but it doesn’t carry the same emotional punch or cultural impact as his more well-known projects.
Goodrich
Goodrich is the kind of mid-budget adult drama that feels increasingly rare in today’s film landscape. Once a staple of the box office, movies like this now struggle to find an audience, often landing as overlooked streaming releases rather than getting a fair shot in theaters. It’s a shame because, while Goodrich isn’t a revelation, it’s a solid, well-acted film that relies on the strength of its cast—especially Michael Keaton—to elevate its familiar premise.
One of Them Days
Keke Palmer is undeniably magnetic, and One of Them Days serves as another showcase for her effortless charm and comedic timing. Directed by Lawrence Lamont, the film largely exists to let Palmer shine, and she doesn’t disappoint, carrying the movie’s 97-minute runtime with infectious energy.
The Phoenician Scheme
The Phoenician Scheme finds Wes Anderson at perhaps his most emotionally direct since The Grand Budapest Hotel, yet without sacrificing the signature aesthetic and structural quirks that define his work. Where recent efforts like Asteroid City and The French Dispatch relied heavily on narrative framing devices, nested storytelling, and dense, text-heavy scripts, The Phoenician Scheme plays more like an emotional adventure story—a film that hits hardest on first viewing, even as it leaves behind layers to explore on rewatches.
Happy Gilmore 2
If Happy Gilmore 2 was trying to match the chaotic energy of its predecessor, it took the wrong lessons from the original. Rather than capturing the anarchic charm that made 1996’s Happy Gilmore such a cult classic, this long-gestating sequel trades in simplicity for excess, leaning hard into maximalist spectacle, celebrity cameos, and a softened version of Adam Sandler’s once-iconic character. The result? A bloated and misguided legacy sequel that feels more like a Netflix-branded content dump than a genuine continuation of a classic comedy.
Eephus
Eephus isn’t flashy, and it won’t be for everyone. Its drama is muted, its pacing deliberate. But for those tuned into its frequency, it’s a poignant, beautifully observed story about time, tradition, and the people we share it with. Whether you’re a baseball fan or not, the themes are universal.
Sacramento
Sacramento is a good-not-great entry into the buddy road trip genre. It won’t blow you away, but if you’re a fan of its cast—Michael Cera, Michael Angarano, and Kristen Stewart included—there’s enough charm here to make it worth the ride.
Friendship
Friendship is one of the more unique comedies of 2025—a weird, squirm-inducing, unexpectedly affecting film that feels true to its title in all the worst (and best) ways. It’s another feather in A24’s cap for championing daring, off-kilter voices in comedy. If you’re in tune with Tim Robinson’s specific wavelength, it’s a must-watch.
Love, Brooklyn
Love, Brooklyn starts light on its feet and mostly stays that way. I liked watching André Holland drift through the borough as Roger, a writer dodging a commission about Black history and Brooklyn culture while splitting his time between two relationships. One is with his ex Casey, played by Nicole Beharie, and the other is with Nicole, played by DeWanda Wise. Everyone knows where they stand. There are no secrets. The dynamic feels modern and unusually honest for a romance, which gives the film a soft charge even when it keeps things quiet.
READ MORE: Rental Family (2025)
