Movies like Joe the King

Stand by Me takes viewers on an emotional journey with four boys as they search for a dead body, forming a bond that defies their personal turmoils. Although less harsh in its depiction of childhood than Joe the King, its focus on the pains of growing up and friendship will resonate with viewers.

The Basketball Diaries follows the harrowing journey of a young basketball star as he grapples with addiction and eventual homelessness. Fans of Joe the King will appreciate the gritty portrayal of a teenager's struggle with hardship and the complicated process of finding redemption.

Sleepers revolves around a group of friends who are sent to a juvenile detention center and later come together to confront the abuses they suffered there. Joe the King's audience may appreciate Sleepers for its dark themes of friendship and vengeance stemming from a troubled adolescence.

This adaptation of Tobias Wolff's memoir, This Boy's Life, encapsulates the trials of a boy and his mother as they attempt to start anew away from an abusive past, only to face new challenges. Like Joe the King, it's a poignant examination of a young man's fight for identity against the backdrop of a difficult upbringing.

L.I.E. brings to light the story of a 15-year-old boy navigating his way through a complicated web of desire, morality, and circumstance. Viewers who appreciated the complexity and troubled youth aspect of Joe the King will likely find similar themes engaging in L.I.E..