Netflix’s new romantic comedy/family drama The Life List is a heartwarming story about family, loss, and self-discovery, and these 8 movies are the perfect next watches for those who loved the film. The Life List’s cast of characters stars Sofia Carson as Alex and Connie Britton as Elizabeth. Tragically, Elizabeth passes away due to cancer early in the movie, leaving Alex and her family members reeling—made all the worse for Alex when she realizes her mother hasn’t left her company to Alex as expected.

In fact, Elizabeth is also requiring that Alex complete every item on the life list before she finally gets her inheritance. Although this initially seems harsh, over the course of The Life List, Alex truly finds herself again, and she comes to understand her mother so much better as well. Based on these themes, these are the 8 best movies like The Life List.

8Eat Pray Love

Released In: 2010

With The Life List being focused on a young woman who is completing bucket list items to rediscover herself, Eat, Pray, Love feels like an obvious connection. In Eat, Pray, Love, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) has a difficult divorce and, in the wake of that marriage ending, she goes on a trip abroad. Throughout that trip, she has myriad experiences and beautiful moments that remind her of who she truly is and what she values in life.

Eat, Pray, Love is a well-known movie, and it is often a go-to reference for movies of this nature. Eat, Pray, Love’s Rotten Tomatoes scores, which are currently 35% for critics and 42% for audiences, are admittedly rather low in spite of that. Among the complaints are the plot’s pace and the privilege of the protagonist and the story. It’s clear Eat, Pray, Love has staying power, though, and for those who loved The Life List and are looking for something similar, Eat, Pray, Love is worth the watch.

7Julie & Julia

Released In: 2009

Julie & Julia is a charming movie with a star-studded cast. The movie stars Amy Adams as Julie Powell and Meryl Streep as famous chef Julia Child. The movie sees Adams’ Julie preparing the more than 500 recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook, and, while that may sound rather different, The Life List and Julie & Julia actually share a number of themes. In fact, throughout the movie, Julie also goes on a journey of self-discovery and experiences some major life changes.

Julie & Julia has a considerably higher Rotten Tomatoes score than Eat, Pray, Love does. Currently, Julie & Julia’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are 77% for critics and 70% for audiences. Compliments for the movie include the actresses’ stellar performances, the writing, and the wholesome themes. While it may not be a journey borne out of a loss such as death or a divorce, Julie & Julia is a brilliant next watch for those who enjoyed The Life List.

Julie & Julia is a brilliant next watch for those who enjoyed The Life List.

6Wild

Released In: 2014

Like The Life List, Wild begins with the loss of the protagonist’s mother. In this case, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) is grieving the loss of her mother, Bobbi (Laura Dern), and she channels that grief into an incredible 1,100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. This journey took months and was incredibly harrowing, but those challenges ultimately helped Cheryl come to terms with the loss of her mother and heal.

Wild’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are even higher, with a current 88% score with critics and 75% with audiences. The movie received praise for its charm, emotion, and vulnerability, and Witherspoon’s performance in particular has received recognition. Given the event that triggers each protagonist’s journey is the death of their mother, Wild is a truly perfect next watch for those who are looking for a movie like The Life List.

5Grey’s Anatomy

Released In: 2005

Grey’s Anatomy has absolutely dominated television for decades, and it is actually one of the longest-running TV show franchises of all time. The show centers on titular character Meredith Grey, who has become a world-renowned surgeon, in addition to experiencing years of terrible losses, major life events, and massive victories. Although Meredith has long been the focus of the show, it is her half-sister Maggie who has an arc that makes the show perfect for those who liked The Life List.

In Grey’s Anatomy, Maggie learns that her adoptive mother, Diane, is dying of breast cancer. After trying every medical intervention she could think of, Maggie finally accepts that her mother is dying, and she helps her mother pass peacefully. Of course, there are numerous seasons for audiences to watch beyond this arc, but audiences who were affected by the mother-daughter relationship in The Life List will be touched by this Grey’s Anatomy arc.

4P.S. I Love You

Released In: 2007

P.S. I Love You stars Hilary Swank as Holly and Gerard Butler as Gerry. Tragically, Gerry becomes ill and dies, leaving Holly without her beloved husband. However, he does not completely leave Holly on her own, as, during his battle with his sickness, Gerry wrote and scheduled a series of letters to be sent to Holly on an ongoing basis following his death. This storyline involving Holly receiving letters as she mourns the loss of her husband is very similar to Alex receiving her mother’s messages via DVD in The Life List.

P.S. I Love You is therefore a perfect fit for audiences who enjoyed The Life List, although P.S. I Love You evidently has critics and audiences shockingly divided. P.S. I Love You’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are entirely split, with the critic score currently sitting at just 25%, whereas the audience score is 80%. While a gap this significant is a shock, this certainly suggests that audiences largely enjoy P.S. I Love You, making it a perfect next watch after The Life List.

3The Fault In Our Stars

Released In: 2014

Arguably the saddest movie on this list, The Fault in Our Stars tells the devastating story of two teenagers with cancer who fall in love. Shailene Woodley plays Hazel, and Ansel Elgort plays Gus, the two stars of the movie (although Woodley is the clear protagonist). Unfortunately, The Fault in Our Stars has a beautiful and realistic ending, but it isn’t necessarily a happy one.

Despite that, The Fault in Our Stars is a great fit for those who loved The Life List, as it shares similar themes with that movie, and reinforces the importance of love, family, and living one’s life to the fullest. The Fault in Our Stars is widely praised, and, unlike P.S. I Love You, has a high rating across the board. The Fault in Our Star’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are currently 81% for critics and 85% for audiences. This movie is undoubtedly a tear-jerker, but it is absolutely worth the watch.

2Silver Linings Playbook

Released In: 2012

Silver Linings Playbook is unique on this list in part because it feels so much more like a comedy than many of the other movies. It stars Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany and Bradley Cooper as Pat, both of whom are struggling with their mental health and develop complex feelings for one another despite their complex circumstances. Although that might sound distinct from the story of The Life List, like Alex in The Life List, both Tiffany and Pat undergo major transformations in Silver Linings Playbook.

Silver Linings Playbook is largely hailed as a brilliant movie, and the Rotten Tomatoes scores make that evident. Currently, Silver Linings Playbook’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are 86% for audiences and an impressive 92% for critics. While it might not be an exact fit for the story arc of The Life List, audiences will recognize the heart, optimism, and charm of The Life List in Silver Linings Playbook.

Audiences will recognize the heart, optimism, and charm of The Life List in Silver Linings Playbook.

1Life As A House

Released In: 2001

Finally, Life as a House is the single best movie for fans of The Life List to watch next. Life as a House stars Hayden Christensen as Sam Monroe, a troubled teen who has a strained relationship with his father. Sam’s father, George Monroe (Kevin Kline), asks him to live with him and help him rebuild his house, but Sam has no idea that his father is terminally ill with cancer. Not only is this one of Hayden Christensen’s best roles, but it is also a truly touching story.

Yet again, audiences and critics are divided, given Life as a House’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are currently 47% for critics and 88% for audiences. Although critics reviewed the movie less favorably, Life as a House is a brilliantly acted, touching story about a father and son’s relationship and a son learning to live with loss and find his way. Of all the movies and shows that are great fits for those who loved The Life List, Life as a House is the best of them all.