Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for multiple movies.The Life of Chuck is an adaptation of Stephen King‘s novella of the same name, which was published in the compilation book If It Bleeds. The story introduces Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), whose life is presented in reverse-chronological order, beginning with his death and then following him through his childhood. Chuck’s life is filled with ordinary, heartwarming, and frustrating moments. The Life of Chuck explores big existential questions while always focusing on life’s ordinary moments.
There are several movies that explore similar themes presented in The Life of Chuck and present characters who do their best to live their lives. While director Mike Flanagan has mainly focused on horror movies, he has also consistently created characters who are given the chance to explore their humanity in unique ways. The best movies like The Life of Chuck feature characters and stories that aren’t afraid to tackle the entire human experience.
10
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (2008)
Directed by David Fincher
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button features the story of a man who ages in reverse. The story follows Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) and his unique perspective on life as he is born at the end of World War I as an elderly man. Button moves through life and has to face the reality that his relationships are destined to end in tragedy. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button focuses on the fact that its protagonist spends his life chasing his love, Daisy Fuller (Cate Blanchett).
In addition to the fact that The Life of Chuck and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are both adaptations of shorter stories, they are both poignant meditations on the passage of time. Both of these stories invite viewers to reflect on the importance of human connection. The Life of Chuck and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button use reverse chronological order to follow protagonists who seek their place in the world.
9
‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)
Directed by Michel Gondry
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind follows an estranged couple, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) and Joel Barish (Jim Carrey), who undergo the same procedure to have their memories of each other erased. The story is told in a non-linear fashion as Clementine and Joel try to piece together the truth about their relationship and what they meant to each other. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is ultimately a story that reflects on the power of memory.
For those who appreciate The Life of Chuck‘s unique perspective on relationships and what matters most in life, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind features a similar journey. Both stories invite viewers to think about how relationships evolve over time, and we all have the ability to impact each other’s lives for better and worse. These movies fully use their non-linear structure to tell heartfelt stories about lives well-lived.
8
‘Dolores Claiborne’ (1995)
Directed by Taylor Hackford
Dolores Claiborne is a psychological thriller that follows Dolores (Kathy Bates), a caregiver for an elderly woman. When Dolores is accused of murdering her former employer, her estranged daughter, Selena St. George (Jennifer Jason Leigh) reluctantly offers her support. Dolores Claiborne is a mystery that delves into its protagonist’s traumatic past and explores the tragedy that she has kept hidden for so long.
Dolores Claiborne and The Life of Chuck are both Stephen King adaptations that introduce complex protagonists who are easy to root for, even at their most flawed. Both explore dark themes and present characters facing existential crises. While The Life of Chuck features more moments of whimsy than Dolores Claiborne does, both feature relatable characters who are deeply human and doing the best they can with the life they’ve been given.
7
‘Gerald’s Game’ (2017)
Directed by Mike Flanagan
Gerald’s Game is a psychological horror that introduces a married couple on their holiday. When her husband, Gerald (Bruce Greenwood), dies of a heart attack, Jessie (Carla Gugino) finds herself trapped in handcuffs after a role-playing misadventure. As time passes, she loses her grip on reality and ultimately hallucinates a different version of herself. She uses this version of herself to process everything she’s been through.
For those who appreciate the unique perspective Flanagan brings to The Life of Chuck as a director, Gerald’s Game offers an earlier glimpse into how he has consistently told compelling, character-driven stories. While Gerald’s Game is more of a typical horror movie, and The Life of Chuck‘s horror is more of the existential variety, both movies take their characters to dark places psychologically and emotionally. These stories are both unorthodox explorations of trauma, without ever providing easy answers.
Gerald’s Game
- Release Date
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September 29, 2017
- Runtime
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104 minutes
6
‘Boyhood’ (2014)
Directed by Richard Linklater
Boyhood is a coming-of-age drama that is unique in that it was filmed over 12 years. The story introduces Mason Evans Jr. (Ellar Coltrane), and follows him as he grows up as a child of divorced parents. Boyhood follows Mason and his family as they face challenges over the years, and how they all respond to the fact that Mason is growing up. Mason’s journey from childhood to adulthood is marked by ups and downs that he navigates with the support of his family.
Boyhood and The Life of Chuck capture ordinary moments that make life so compelling. These movies focus more on the fact that life is precious and fragile, and that a person’s life is filled with many quiet, often seemingly unimportant moments. Boyhood and The Life of Chuck are unique examinations of the human experiences that make up all of our lives. The Life of Chuck uses surreal and metaphysical elements to highlight life’s ordinary beauty, and Boyhood achieves a similar effect using realism.
Boyhood
- Release Date
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June 5, 2014
- Runtime
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163minutes
5
‘My Old Ass’ (2024)
Directed by Megan Park
My Old Ass introduces Elliott (Maisy Stella), an 18-year-old girl who encounters her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza) during a mushroom trip. Older Elliott gives her younger self advice and tries her best to get her to avoid a boy. The two are able to stay in touch via text. Older Elliott ultimately wants to prevent her younger self from making huge mistakes and warns her against situations that will cause her the most heartbreak.
While My Old Ass is more of a comedy than The Life of Chuck is, both offer poignant reflections on the realities of growing up. Both introduce characters who are simply doing their best and who want to live their best lives. Both The Life of Chuck and My Old Ass follow characters throughout their lives as they face their successes and their regrets. These stories highlight the fact that every person’s experience is complex and that everyone needs room to grow and change throughout their lives.
My Old Ass
- Release Date
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September 13, 2024
- Runtime
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89 minutes
4
‘Oculus’ (2013)
Directed by Mike Flanagan
Oculus is a supernatural horror that follows two siblings, Kaylie (Karen Gillan) and Tim (Brenton Thwaites), who are convinced that there’s an antique mirror that’s responsible for the tragedies their family has experienced. The story takes place across two timelines as Kaylie and Tim recall their childhood and then have to process their experiences as adults. This is another example of a movie directed by Flanagan that highlights his ability to tell a story using characters’ entire lifetimes.
Oculus may be another movie that’s more of a horror movie than The Life of Chuck, but both are unique explorations of the human psyche. Both invite viewers to question their perceptions of reality and to relate to characters who experience the unexplainable. For those who appreciate The Life of Chuck for its emotional depth and haunting reflection on the fact that life is fleeting, Oculus offers a similarly thoughtful experience, only through the lens of psychological horror.
Oculus
- Release Date
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September 8, 2013
- Runtime
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104 minutes
3
‘Thor’ (2011)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Thor is the MCU’s fourth film, and focuses on Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Norse God of Thunder. Hiddleston stars as Loki, the God of Mischief and Thor’s adopted brother. The movie follows Thor as he goes from being an arrogant warrior to a god who has to navigate a new life among regular people on Earth. When Loki discovers the truth about his heritage, he conspires to take over his father’s throne and become King of Asgard.
Thor and The Life of Chuck are examples of Tom Hiddleston showcasing his ability to give brilliant performances while not being a central figure. Although Chuck and Thor are wildly different characters, they share similarities in that they have experienced lives filled with hurt, and simply want to find a way to live their lives without pain. Thor and The Life of Chuck highlight Hiddleston’s range as an actor and his ability to zero in on any character’s humanity.
Thor
- Release Date
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May 6, 2011
- Runtime
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115 minutes
2
‘The Green Mile’ (1999)
Directed by Frank Darabont
The Green Mile is another Stephen King adaptation that looks at one of King’s non-horror stories. The story introduces Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), a death row prison guard in 1930s Louisiana, who meets a strange inmate on death row, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). Coffey has mysterious healing powers that can’t be explained. As Edgecomb and his fellow guards get to know Coffey on a deeper level, they question the morality of executing him.
Those who love The Life of Chuck should watch The Green Mile because both stories explore the beauty and fragility of life through a lens that blends the supernatural with an exploration of the complexities of human emotion. Like The Life of Chuck, The Green Mile reflects on heavy themes like mortality and the importance of memory. These movies emphasize the impact that one person can have on others in often unexpected ways.
1
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)
Directed by Frank Darabont
The Shawshank Redemption is a prison drama based on Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”. The movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a former banker sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. During his decades-long sentence, he befriends his fellow prisoner Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), a smuggler, and finds himself in the middle of a money-laundering operation led by the prison’s warden.
At their core, both The Shawshank Redemption and The Life of Chuck celebrate the resilience of the human spirit. While The Shawshank Redemption features a man holding onto hope against all odds, and The Life of Chuck sees a man reckoning with the fact that his life is at an end, both highlight characters who have to dig deep to persevere. Both movies are powerful meditations on the meaning of life and what makes it worth living.