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Movies like

The Handmaiden

Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.

The Handmaiden poster

Why people love it

The Handmaiden works as a thriller movie with a point of view—fans quote moments, but they also argue about what the film is actually saying about power, desire, or survival. The thriller and drama blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.

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Runtime 2h 25m · ★ 8.2

Your 10 recommendations

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  1. 96match

    1.Unfaithful (2002)

    6.7 · Thriller · Drama · Romance · 2h 4m

    Why you'll love it

    If The Handmaiden's thriller stayed with you, Unfaithful (2002) delivers the same sensation through an entirely different story. The drama through-line is the real common thread between them.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    • Google Play Movies(Buy)
    + Save for later
  2. 94match

    2.Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

    6.7 · Drama · Romance · 1h 45m

    Why you'll love it

    Where The Handmaiden excels in drama, Fifty Shades Freed (2018) doubles down on romance to comparable effect. The tonal similarities run deep enough that watching both back-to-back feels intentional.

    Watch on

    • Netflix
    • Netflix Standard with Ads
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    + Save for later
  3. 92match

    3.Lolita (1997)

    7.1 · Drama · Romance · 2h 17m

    Why you'll love it

    Lolita (1997) is the natural next step after The Handmaiden: same drama DNA, different perspective. The bittersweet streak and romance elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Prime Video
    • OVID
    • Amazon Prime Video with Ads
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    + Save for later
  4. 90match

    4.Below Her Mouth (2017)

    6.8 · Drama · Romance · 1h 31m

    Why you'll love it

    Fans of The Handmaiden who respond to its drama will find Below Her Mouth (2017) immediately familiar. Both films share a romance sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.

    Watch on

    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    • Google Play Movies(Buy)
    • YouTube(Buy)
    • Fandango At Home(Buy)
    + Save for later
  5. 88match

    5.Notes on a Scandal (2006)

    7.1 · Drama · Romance · 1h 32m

    Why you'll love it

    There's a reason The Handmaiden fans keep landing on Notes on a Scandal (2006) — the drama is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    • Google Play Movies(Buy)
    + Save for later
  6. 86match

    6.Through My Window: Across the Sea (2023)

    6.5 · Romance · Drama · Comedy · 1h 50m

    Why you'll love it

    Through My Window: Across the Sea draws from the same drama well as The Handmaiden, channeling romance in ways that feel unmistakably related. The 2023 film makes a natural companion watch — similar in spirit but distinctly its own.

    Watch on

    • Netflix
    • Netflix Standard with Ads
    + Save for later
  7. 84match

    7.My Policeman (2022)

    7.6 · Drama · Romance · 1h 53m

    Why you'll love it

    My Policeman (2022) captures the drama appeal of The Handmaiden without simply imitating it. The romance streak running through both films is what puts My Policeman at the top of any "if you liked…" shortlist.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Prime Video
    • Amazon Prime Video with Ads
    + Save for later
  8. 82match

    8."Wuthering Heights" (2026)

    6.4 · Romance · Drama · 2h 16m

    Why you'll love it

    The drama appeal of The Handmaiden — that bittersweet edge, the romance — translates cleanly into "Wuthering Heights" (2026). Different setting, same essential satisfaction.

    + Save for later
  9. 80match

    9.The Duke of Burgundy (2015)

    6.3 · Drama · Mystery · Romance · 1h 44m

    Why you'll love it

    The filmmakers behind The Duke of Burgundy (2015) clearly understood what makes drama work — the same quality that keeps The Handmaiden rewatchable. Expect the same bittersweet rhythm, executed with a fresh angle.

    Watch on

    • AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
    • AMC+ Amazon Channel
    • AMC+
    • Philo
    • Sundance Now
    • MUBI
    • MUBI Amazon Channel
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    + Save for later
  10. 78match

    10.The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

    6.8 · Drama · History · Comedy · 1h 45m

    Why you'll love it

    The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) is the kind of film The Handmaiden fans discover and immediately send to their group chat. The drama overlap is real, but it's the funny emotional pull that seals the recommendation.

    Watch on

    • HBO Max
    • HBO Max Amazon Channel
    • Cinemax Amazon Channel
    • Cinemax Apple TV Channel
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    + Save for later

FAQ

What should I watch after The Handmaiden?
Try Unfaithful, Fifty Shades Freed, Lolita—each shares DNA with The Handmaiden while changing the setting enough to feel fresh.
What genre is The Handmaiden?
The Handmaiden (2016) is best described as Thriller, Drama, Romance. Stores and algorithms use different labels, but that mix is what fans actually recognize on a rewatch.
Is The Handmaiden worth revisiting?
Viewer scores sit around 8.2/10 on TMDB—high enough that replays are common for people who like this thriller lane.

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