Movies like Mother Night

An intricate tale of the early days of the CIA, The Good Shepherd delves into the personal sacrifices and moral ambiguities faced by a covert operative. Fans of Mother Night might appreciate this approach to the complex nature of espionage and loyalty to one's country.

The Reader follows the post-WWII affair of a young man and an older woman in Germany, culminating in a trial for war crimes. This movie, like Mother Night, addresses the aftereffects of the Holocaust, the moral ambiguity of love and guilt, and the personal reckoning with a nation's dark past.

Both the 1962 original and the 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate present a harrowing tale of brainwashing, political intrigue, and hidden identities, echoing Mother Night's motifs of allegiance, betrayal, and the manipulation of truth in the shadowy world of espionage.

Based on the novella by Stephen King, Apt Pupil explores the dark bond between a high school student and a Nazi war criminal living under a pseudonym in suburban America. Like Mother Night, this movie delves into themes of secret identities, the nature of evil, and the psychological complexity of human morality.

Julia recounts the friendship between playwright Lillian Hellman and her childhood friend Julia, who becomes entangled in anti-Nazi activism. As with Mother Night, it's a tale that weaves personal relationships with the broader implications of standing against oppressive ideologies.