The thriller Stillwater drew positive reviews for its compelling story and the lead performances by Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin. While Breslin plays a falsely imprisoned college student in France, Damon stars as an American oil-rig employee who goes to any extent to prove her innocence.
Directed by Spotlight's Tom McCarthy, the film serves as both a family drama and a crime thriller. The viewers who enjoyed Stillwater would also enjoy other films with similar themes as well as the rest of McCarthy's filmography.
The Fugitive (1993) - Available On HBO Max
When it comes to movies about heroes who are wrongfully accused, John Kimble from The Fugitive is a classic example. After Kimble is implicated in the murder of his own wife, he escapes a prison bus and struggles to survive. Hot on the pursuit is a U.S. Marshall along with the actual killer.
The film has acquired the status of a classic over the years, setting a benchmark for crime thrillers. While Stillwater's Allison can't break out of prison, her constant efforts to prove her innocence would remind one of the exasperation that Kimble feels all through The Fugitive.
Maggie (2015) - Available On Kanopy
Maggie is arguably one of the most underrated zombie movies in recent years. Instead of relying on an action-packed storyline, Maggie takes a humanistic approach. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a grieving father while Abigail Breslin plays his titular daughter, a girl infected with the zombie strain.
Desperate to save his daughter, the father gives his very best even in bleak times. The parental themes and Breslin's casting would make Maggie an interactive watch for those who loved Stillwater.
The Mauritanian (2020) - Available On Showtime
Inspired by a heartbreaking true story, The Mauritanian deals with the 14-year-long imprisonment of Mohamedou Ould Sahi. The Mauritanian civilian was unlawfully detained in Guantanamo Bay in the wake of 9/11. As a legal team tries to free him, the film reveals the harrowing trauma that one can go through in such situations.
While Stillwater might not be as political as The Mauritanian, both films feature characters who are imprisoned in alien environments. If the false charges weren't enough, the new setting adds to their scares.
Beckett (2021) - Available On Netflix
Beckett revolves around an American tourist of the same name who is caught in the middle of a Greek political uprising. When he unknowingly becomes an assassination target, he must run a race against time to reach the American embassy to find safety.
An on-the-run thriller movie with John David Washington in the lead, Beckett's atmospheric tension is similar to that of Stillwater's. Another common element are the visual aesthetics as Beckett's sprawling landscape might remind viewers of the French locations in Stillwater.
Conviction (2010) - Available On VUDU
When her brother is imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit, Betty Anne Waters vows to get him justice on her own. She puts herself through years of law school while actively investigating her brother's case.
This real-life case that inspired Conviction took 18 years to unwrap until Betty could emerge victoriously. Her endless struggles to bring justice for her kin is very similar to the central storyline of Stillwater. Oklahoma native Bill Baker is willing to let go of everything and relocate to France to release his convicted daughter.
Panic Room (2002) - Available On Showtime
As the title suggests, this intense David Fincher film deals with a single mother and her daughter hiding in their house's panic room. When a group of burglars barge in the place, the duo devise their own survival plans.
Panic Room's fast-pacing and realistic survival tactics add to the entertainment while Jodie Foster gives her all as a caring mother. When it comes to movies like Stillwater that include parents going to all lengths to save their children, Panic Room is a must-watch.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (2020) - Available On Disney+
Tom McCarthy has had a diverse filmography. Even though he gained popularity with his Oscar-winning drama Spotlight, he follows it up with a relatively lighter film. Timmy Failure is a kids' adventure film that finds a highly imaginative 11-year-old who solves cases as a detective.
The lead character's deadpan humor and adulting efforts make it a light-hearted movie for families. As McCarthy's follow-up was Stillwater, Timmy Failure is an interesting recommendation to showcase McCarthy's versatility. Instead of sticking to one theme, he can easily shift between a family-friendly comedy and a family-centric thriller.
Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) - Available On Netflix
Karen Gillian and Lena Headey star in Gunpowder Milkshake as a distanced mother-daughter duo who must unite in order to save a young girl from rival assassins. Both lead characters are skilled assassins themselves leading to several adrenaline-fueled action sequences.
The troubled family relationship might be of interest to those who liked Stillwater. Both films show that parents might have issues with their children but in times of trouble, the good ones would always have their back.
Sweet Girl (2021) - Available On Netflix
Netflix's Sweet Girl deals with a disgruntled man's efforts to protect his daughter and avenge the death of his wife. With Jason Momoa in a badass role as the revenge-seeking family man, the film is pretty straightforward and formulaic. But the stunts and the central relationship add more heart to the narrative.
It is interesting to find the protagonist's daughter thrown in the mix, especially during the action sequences. The family equation aside, both films also share a twist ending. While Stillwater's third act reveals the truth behind the crime, Sweet Girl adds an unexpected twist behind the daughter's identity.
The Visitor (2007) - Available On DIRECTV
Before Spotlight and Stillwater, Tom McCarthy directed another heartwarming drama. The Visitor was his sophomore film and dealt with issues of immigration and finding identity in a post-9/11 New York City. When he finds an immigrant couple staying at his house, a college professor is unsure of what he should do with these unexpected visitors. Strangely enough, he learns several life lessons from these squatters.
The film drew raves for Richard Jenkins' Oscar-nominated central performance while McCarthy's screenplay and direction also won several awards amongst critics' circles. The Visitor should be viewed by fans of Tom McCarthy's work as it showcases his journey from making simplistic dramas like this to helming big-budget blockbusters like Stillwater.