12 Movies Like High Maintenance You Need to Watch
Searching for movies and shows like High Maintenance? Explore 12 smart comedy, drama, crime, and mystery picks, including Better Things and The Deuce.
If you liked the mix of intimacy, awkward humor, and sharp character writing in High Maintenance, this list is built for your next queue. These 12 picks lean into the same easygoing, human feel while branching into comedy, drama, crime, and mystery in smart ways. Start with Better Things and Crashing for dry, character-first storytelling, then move to The Deuce or Kid Cannabis if you want messier, more criminal worlds. Escort Boys, You Me Her, and Sexify bring a fresh, playful edge, while the 2016 original remains the benchmark for this kind of relaxed, observant storytelling.
-
01
Better Things
comedy · drama
Sam Fox is a single, working actor with no filter trying to raise her three daughters – Max, Frankie and Duke – in Los Angeles. She is mom, dad, referee and the cops.
Directed by Pamela Adlon, Nisha Ganatra, Lance Bangs, Louis C.K.Cast Pamela Adlon, Mikey Madison, Hannah Riley, Olivia Edward, Celia ImrieHulu -
02
Crashing
comedy · drama
A standup comic discovers that his wife is unfaithful, leading him to reevaluate his life amidst the New York City comedy scene.
Directed by Ryan McFaul, Gillian Robespierre, Judd Apatow, Chris Kelly, Jeff SchafferCast Pete Holmes, George Basil, Jamie Lee, Artie Lange, Lauren LapkusMax -
03
Escort Boys
comedy · drama
In Camargue, four guys in dire straits turn to escorting to save their childhood beekeeping estate. Coached by the group's little sister who manages this unique 'business' in the region, they will have to service women and, through their desires... learn to be men of today.
Directed by Ruben AlvesCast Guillaume Labbé, Thibaut Evrard, Corentin Fila, Simon Ehrlacher, Marysole FertardAmazon Prime Video -
04
The Deuce
crime · drama · mystery
The story of the legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New York’s Times Square from the early ’70s through the mid ’80s, exploring the rough-and-tumble world that existed there until the rise of HIV, the violence of the cocaine epidemic and the renewed real estate market ended the bawdy turbulence of the area.
Directed by Alex Hall, James Franco, Roxann Dawson, Uta Briesewitz, Michelle MacLarenCast James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Margarita Levieva, Emily MeadeMax -
05
Kid Cannabis
biography · comedy · crime · drama
An eighteen year old high school drop out and his twenty-seven year old friend start trafficking marijuana across the border of Canada in order to make money and their lives are changed forever.
Directed by John StockwellCast Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kenny Wormald, Aaron Yoo, Ron Perlman, John C. McGinleyNetflix -
06
You Me Her
comedy · drama · romance
An unusual, real-world romance involving relatable people, with one catch - there are three of them! You Me Her infuses the sensibilities of a smart, grounded indie rom-com with a distinctive twist: one of the two parties just happens to be a suburban married couple.
Directed by Sara St. Onge, Nisha Ganatra, Jem Garrard, Gail HarveyCast Greg Poehler, Rachel Blanchard, Priscilla Faia, Melanie Papalia, Jennifer SpenceAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
07
Sexify
comedy · drama
To build an innovative sex app and win a tech competition, a sexually inexperienced student and her friends must explore the daunting world of intimacy.
Directed by Kalina Alabrudzinska, Piotr DomalewskiCast Aleksandra Skraba, Maria Sobocinska, Sandra Drzymalska, Jan Wieteska, Alex Rose WieselNetflix -
08
Bad Moms
comedy
When three overworked and under-appreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.
Directed by Jon Lucas, Scott MooreCast Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett SmithFreevee -
09
The Motive
comedy · crime · drama
Álvaro, a man obsessed with the idea of writing what he brands as “high literature,” manipulates the lives and feelings of the people around him to write about the consequences caused by his devious acts.
Directed by Manuel Martín CuencaCast Javier Gutiérrez, María León, Adelfa Calvo, Adriana Paz, Tenoch HuertaNetflix -
10
I Love Dick
comedy
Adapted from the lauded feminist novel and set in a colorful academic community in Marfa, Texas, this is the story of a struggling married couple, Chris and Sylvere, and their obsession with a charismatic professor named Dick. Told in Rashomon-style shifts of POV, the series charts the unraveling of a marriage, the awakening of an artist and the deification of a reluctant messiah.
Directed by Andrea Arnold, Joey Soloway, Jim Frohna, Kimberly PeirceCast Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Hahn, Griffin Dunne, Roberta Colindrez, Bobbi Salvör MenuezAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
11
Insecure
comedy · drama · romance
Follows the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern-day African-American woman.
Directed by Melina Matsoukas, Kevin Bray, Prentice Penny, Maurice Marable, Stella MeghieCast Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda SealesMax -
12
Fleabag
comedy · drama
A portrait into the mind of a dry-witted, sexual, angry, porn-watching, grief-riddled woman, trying to make sense of the world. As she hurls herself headlong at modern living, Fleabag is thrown roughly up against the walls of contemporary London, with all its frenetic energy, late nights, and bright lights.
Directed by Harry Bradbeer, Tim KirkbyCast Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman, Jenny Rainsford, Bill PatersonAmazon Prime Video
Wrapping Up
Whether you want something funny, candid, or a little offbeat, these recommendations cover the range without losing the grounded charm that made the original stand out. From the emotional honesty of Better Things to the bolder edge of The Deuce and Kid Cannabis, there’s plenty here to fit a late-night binge or a slower weekend watch. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh, well-matched shortlist. It’s updated regularly, so the lineup stays useful as new favorites arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to High Maintenance?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
Related Guides
Last updated: September 12, 2026