12 Movies Like The Secret Lives of Dentists You Need to Watch
Craving tense, character-driven picks after The Secret Lives of Dentists? Explore drama, thriller, romance, and horror titles that match its uneasy mood.
If you liked the tense, intimate mood of movies like The Secret Lives of Dentists, this list keeps that same blend of emotional strain, messy relationships, and quiet unease. You’ll find a smart mix of drama and thriller picks, from Unfaithful and Laurel Canyon to The Safety of Objects and Ex-Husbands, all of which explore what happens when private lives start to crack. There’s also room for sharper, stranger energy in The Rules of Attraction and the eerie family tension of A Tale of Two Sisters. For something a little lighter but still grounded in real feelings, Reba and the other selections offer more than simple comfort viewing.
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01
Reba
comedy · drama
After her dentist husband of 20 years leaves her for his dental hygienist, Reba Hart's seemingly perfect world is turned upside down.
Directed by Will Mackenzie, Robbie Countryman, Gail Mancuso, Christopher Rich, Amanda BearseCast Reba McEntire, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Steve Howey, Melissa Peterman, Christopher RichHulu -
02
Phil
comedy · drama
A depressed dentist in mid life crisis tries to learn why one of his happiest patients suddenly commits suicide, and a dark comedic adventure ensues.
Directed by Greg KinnearCast Greg Kinnear, Emily Mortimer, Bradley Whitford, Jay Duplass, Megan CharpentierFreevee -
03
Unfaithful
drama · romance · thriller
A New York suburban couple's marriage goes dangerously awry when the wife indulges in an adulterous fling.
Directed by Adrian LyneCast Diane Lane, Erik Per Sullivan, Richard Gere, Olivier Martinez, Myra Lucretia TaylorAmazon Prime Video -
04
The Rules of Attraction
comedy · drama · romance
The incredibly spoiled and overprivileged students of Camden College are a backdrop for an unusual love triangle between a drug dealer, a virgin and a bisexual classmate.
Directed by Roger AvaryCast James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, Kip Pardue, Kate BosworthHuluStarz -
05
The Safety of Objects
drama
In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not his family. Helen Christianson wants to find a new spark in life, while Annette Jennings tries to rebuild hers.
Directed by Rose TrocheCast Glenn Close, Dermot Mulroney, Jessica Campbell, Patricia Clarkson, Joshua JacksonAMC+ -
06
Ex-Husbands
comedy · drama
Manhattan dentist Peter Pearce is facing a midlife crisis after his wife of 35 years leaves him. On the spur of the moment, he books a trip to Tulum, Mexico, only to crash his son’s bachelor party.
Directed by Noah PritzkerCast Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Richard Benjamin, Miles Heizer, James NortonStarz -
07
Laurel Canyon
drama
When an uptight young man and his fiancée move into his libertine mother's house, the resulting clash of life attitudes shakes everyone up.
Directed by Lisa CholodenkoCast Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale, Natascha McElhone, Alessandro NivolaAmazon Prime Video -
08
A Tale of Two Sisters
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
Two sisters return home after a stay in a mental institution, only to face disturbing events and a strained relationship with their stepmother. As eerie occurrences unfold, dark family secrets begin to surface, blurring the line between reality and nightmare.
Directed by Kim Jee-woonCast Lim Soo-jung, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-su, Moon Geun-young, Park Mi-hyeonAMC+ -
09
We Don't Live Here Anymore
drama · romance
Married couple Jack and Terry Linden are experiencing a difficult period in their relationship. When Jack decides to step outside the marriage, he becomes involved with Edith, who happens to be the wife of his best friend and colleague, Hank Evans. Learning of their partners' infidelity, Terry and Hank engage in their own extramarital affair together. Now, both marriages and friendships are on the brink of collapse.
Directed by John CurranCast Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern, Peter Krause, Naomi Watts, Sam CharlesAmazon Prime Video -
10
Good Luck Chuck
comedy · romance
Cursed since childhood, dentist Charlie Logan cannot find the right woman. Even worse, he learns that each of his ex-girlfriends finds true love with the man she meets after her relationship with him ends. Hearing of Charlie's reputation as a good-luck charm, women from all over line up for a quick tryst. But when Charlie meets the woman of his dreams, he must find a way to break the curse or risk losing her to the next man she meets.
Directed by Mark HelfrichCast Connor Price, Troy Gentile, Mackenzie Mowat, Sasha Pieterse, Caroline FordAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreevee -
11
A Lot of Nothing
comedy · drama · thriller
An upper middle class married couple find their lives spiraling out of control when they decide to take justice into their own hands and seek retribution against their neighbor.
Directed by Mo McRaeCast Justin Hartley, Cleopatra Coleman, Andrew Leeds, Sheila Carrasco, Skye P. MarshallAMC+ -
12
Blue Valentine
drama · romance
Dean and Cindy live a quiet life in a modest neighborhood. They appear to have the world at their feet at the outset of the relationship. However, his lack of ambition and her retreat into self-absorption cause potentially irreversible cracks in their marriage.
Directed by Derek CianfranceCast Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Faith Wladyka, John Doman, Mike VogelAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus
Wrapping Up
This roundup is built for viewers who want stories with tension, vulnerability, and characters under pressure. Whether you lean toward romance, horror, comedy, or psychological drama, these recommendations give you plenty of ways to keep that same uneasy, human feeling going. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh set of smart follow-ups. It’s updated regularly, so the list stays useful as new titles arrive and old favorites deserve another look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Secret Lives of Dentists?
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.
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Last updated: September 9, 2026