10 Movies like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty you must watch

By Romey Norton
Published: June 29, 2023 (Last updated: February 8, 2024)
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10 Movies like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty you must watch

We discuss 10 Movies like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty you must watch. Add these well-recommended and highly-rated films to your watch list.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a 2013 film directed by and starring Ben Stiller. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Shirley McClaine, and Adam Scott. 

The story surrounds a man, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), who daydreams about different, more exciting, and romantic scenarios in order to escape his mundane life. Something I think all audiences can relate to. His secure job is threatened, and this jump-starts Walter to embark on a real adventure. 

It’s a wonderful, wholesome, family movie that has comedic moments and is inspiring to audiences as it is a story of becoming your true self, being adventurous, having courage, and changing your life.

10 Movies like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Wild (2014) 

Similar to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, this film is all about self-discovery and adventure. We follow Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon), who is recently divorced and decides to start a new life by hiking along the 1,100-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail. 

Eat Pray Love (2010)

Elizabeth Gilbert (Julia Roberts) has a perfect life, which is completely broken when she gets divorced. Similar to Wild, Elizabeth then embarks on a journey across the world, seeking a new life. Like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, our protagonist needs adventure and change to rediscover herself and what makes her happy. 

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

Psychiatrist Hector (Simon Pegg) considers breaking out of his lackluster routine when he realizes he’s not enjoying his work. Hector summons up the courage to embark on an international quest to find excitement and happiness.

Big Fish (2003)

This magical film is a wonderful watch and a beautiful tale of embellishing life to make it better than it is. Edward Bloom has always told unbelievable stories. On his deathbed, his son tries to find out if his exuberant tales are all true. His son is on a journey to discover what it is to be a father and reconnect with his own. 

Yes Man (2008)

This is a great romantic comedy, where we watch Carl, a lonely man with low self-esteem, join a self-help program that sets him the challenge to say yes to everything for an entire year. The biggest improv class you could ever go to. Our protagonist is seeking change, excitement, and something to shake up his mundane life. 

Fight Club (1999)

Changing the tone a little here for the more serious drama fans. This film sees a similar protagonist to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty in that he is unhappy with his capitalist lifestyle and seeks a change.

Only he gets involved in an underground fight club and a man called Tyler. Instead of a happy-go-lucky life adventure, we have a more sinister storyline. However, it’s one about dealing with being unhappy with your life, and well worth the watch. 

Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is based on the 1996 book by Jon Krakauer and tells the true story of young graduate Christopher McCandless who decided to renounce all his possessions and hitchhike across America. On this journey, he discovers things about himself and grows as a person. 

The Bucket List (2007)

This heartfelt comedy sees two terminally ill men join forces in exploring the rest of their short life by making a bucket list of all the things they’ve never done before and ticking them off one by one.

It’s inspiring and shows that it’s never too late to do what you want (or at least try). 

The Truman Show (1998)

I’m throwing this in as another twist on the tale. Here we have someone who doesn’t realize his life is a sham; it’s an entire TV show, and his friends and family are actors.

When he starts to notice things, he seeks the truth and an escape. It’s an incredibly moving and thought-provoking film about life and what it means to be happy. 

The Way (2011)

Trying to deal with death and grieving for his son, The Way follows Thomas Avery, played by Martin Sheen, who embarks on a pilgrimage in Spain that his son was supposed to go on.

This journey is to discover things about himself and his son.

Do you have any other recommendations for movies like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? Let us know in the comments below.

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