NoBadPicks

Movies Like Happy to Be Different

Fans of Happy to Be Different, should consider this curated list which questions the purpose and existential weight of our choices all while offering targets the intellect with complex, multi-layered ideas. Carefully balances character development with narrative progression makes this a deeper look into what makes these stories stick.

Mood Breakdown
Runtime Cluster

Standard feature-length experiences.

Viewer Fit

Best for fans of who appreciate concise storytelling.

Top Picks

Fuck
6.4

Fuck

2006

A documentary on the expletive's origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use.

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me
6.0

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me

2023

From the heights of her modeling fame to her tragic death, this documentary reveals Anna Nicole Smith through the eyes of the people closest to her.

Selfie
7.2

Selfie

2019

Naples, Trajan's district. Initially it was intended for the inhabitants of the shantytowns on the seafront of Naples, who were homeless after the war. But it soon became a kind of ghetto. Alessandro and Pietro are two teenagers who film with an iPhone to tell their difficult neighborhood, their daily life, the friendship that binds them.

McQueen
7.5

McQueen

2018

Alexander McQueen's rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale, laced with the gothic. Mirroring the savage beauty, boldness and vivacity of his design, this documentary is an intimate revelation of McQueen's own world, both tortured and inspired, which celebrates a radical and mesmerizing genius of profound influence.

28 Up
7.5

28 Up

1984

Just two years away from turning 30, participants in Michael Apted's documentary series are facing serious questions of identity and purpose, wondering whether they've found their place in the world.

My Mom Jayne
8.0

My Mom Jayne

2025

Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.

The U.S. vs. John Lennon
6.7

The U.S. vs. John Lennon

2006

A documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist.

Sergio Leone: The Italian Who Invented America
7.4

Sergio Leone: The Italian Who Invented America

2022

To mark the recent thirtieth anniversary of Sergio Leone’s death, this documentary sets out to pay tribute to one of the great legends of world cinema. The singular artistic vision of Sergio Leone has transcended national borders, creating the Spaghetti Western genre and transforming the international cinematic panorama forever with his innovative stylistic and narrative solutions, which have now become part of the language of the movies. The film, which is enriched with precious archive footage from the Cineteca di Bologna, including rare audio recordings and film clips shot behind the scenes, sees for the first time the direct participation of the Leone family and has interviews both with Leone’s longtime collaborators and with icons of Hollywood who have been profoundly influenced by his work.

More Movies Like Happy to Be Different

A Decade Under the Influence
7.9

A Decade Under the Influence

2003

A documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.

Birth of the Living Dead
6.7

Birth of the Living Dead

2013

A behind the scenes look into George Romero's groundbreaking horror classic Night of the Living Dead.

Louis Theroux: Twilight of the Porn Stars
6.3

Louis Theroux: Twilight of the Porn Stars

2012

In 1997, Louis Theroux made a documentary about the world of male porn performers in Los Angeles. 15 years later, he returns to find a business struggling with the deluge of free porn on the internet. Louis revisits some of the original programme's contributors as well as meeting the latest crop of porn performers dreaming of porn stardom.

The Class of ‘92
7.1

The Class of ‘92

2013

A detailing of the rise to prominence and global sporting superstardom of six supremely talented young Manchester United football players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). The film covers the period 1992-1999, culminating in Manchester United's European Cup triumph.

Public Speaking
7.0

Public Speaking

2011

Martin Scorsese’s portrait of writer and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, celebrated for her sharp wit and observations on modern life. Filmed at New York’s Waverly Inn and intercut with archival footage and interviews, the documentary captures Lebowitz’s distinctive worldview through her spontaneous monologues and public appearances.

Directed by John Ford
6.9

Directed by John Ford

1971

A documentary about the life and films of director John Ford.

35 Up
7.6

35 Up

1991

Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

Elstree 1976
6.1

Elstree 1976

2015

A documentary about ten very different lives connected by having appeared onscreen wearing masks or helmets in Star Wars.

Naqoyqatsi
6.1

Naqoyqatsi

2002

A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.

The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends
7.1

The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends

2019

This documentary focuses on the actors and their journey over two summers to create the remake to the original IT, by Stephen King. The documentary originally released as bonus material, bundled with IT: Chapter Two.

Casting By
6.9

Casting By

2012

This essential new documentary pays tribute to the legacy of the late, legendary casting director Marion Dougherty and shines a light on one of the most overlooked and least understood crafts in filmmaking.

Santiago, Italia
7.2

Santiago, Italia

2018

After the coup d'État of the Democratic government of Allende, the embassy of Italy in Santiago played a major role in helping the opposers of the regime, and extradited many of them to Italy.

Why These Movies Are Similar

These recommendations share core qualities with Happy to Be Different (2014): Documentary themes, similar narrative structure, and comparable emotional depth. NoBadPicks uses a combination of TMDB collaborative filtering, genre matching, and AI analysis to surface films most likely to resonate with fans of Happy to Be Different.

See full details for Happy to Be Different (2014)

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