 |
| Best Movies Like Wicker. |
A strange romance, a husband made from willow branches and a village with far too much time to gossip: Wicker has all the ingredients for an unusual fantasy film. The story of an ostracised fisherwoman who creates her own romantic destiny offers something a little different from the usual love stories, particularly when its central relationship challenges the rules of a judgemental community. It is hardly surprising that viewers drawn to its blend of dark comedy, unconventional romance, surreal fantasy and social satire might want something similar for their next film night.
Fortunately, cinema has plenty of stories about outsiders, unlikely companions, bizarre relationships and communities that become deeply uncomfortable when someone refuses to follow the rules. From gothic fairy tales to offbeat romantic comedies, these 23 movies like Wicker explore similar ideas while bringing their own distinctive characters, peculiar worlds and wonderfully awkward situations to the screen.
Movies Like Wicker
1. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands is an obvious starting point for anyone attracted to Wicker's unusual romantic premise. Johnny Depp plays Edward, an artificial man with scissors instead of hands who is taken into a seemingly ordinary suburban community. His strange appearance initially fascinates the neighbours, but their enthusiasm becomes considerably less convincing when his differences disrupt their comfortable routines.
Like Wicker, the film explores what happens when an unconventional individual enters a community obsessed with appearances and social acceptance. Edward's relationship with Kim, played by Winona Ryder, adds a tender romantic dimension to the gothic surroundings. Both films understand that people who preach about normality are not necessarily the most accepting people around. The colourful suburban setting also provides a delicious contrast with the loneliness at the heart of the story. If you want a fantasy romance that questions society's definition of normal, this is an excellent first choice.
2. The Shape of Water (2017)
Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water follows Elisa, a lonely woman who works as a cleaner at a secretive government facility. Her life changes when she encounters an extraordinary aquatic creature held inside the building. As their connection develops, their relationship challenges the expectations of the people who control their surroundings.
The similarities to Wicker are particularly strong in their unconventional romances. Both films centre on a woman who discovers companionship outside the boundaries society considers acceptable. Neither story relies on the familiar formula of a perfect couple meeting under perfect circumstances, because apparently romance would be far too easy without a few complications.
The Shape of Water also blends fairy-tale imagery with social commentary, using its fantastical premise to explore isolation, prejudice and the desire to be understood. Its atmospheric production design creates a world that feels simultaneously magical and unsettling. For viewers who enjoy the emotional sincerity beneath Wicker's eccentric surface, this Oscar-winning fantasy romance is well worth considering.
3. Poor Things (2023)
Poor Things is a particularly strong recommendation for viewers interested in Wicker's themes of female autonomy and resistance to restrictive social conventions. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film follows Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by an unconventional scientist who gradually discovers the world on her own terms.
Bella's journey challenges traditional expectations surrounding relationships, manners, independence and respectable behaviour. Much like Wicker's fisherwoman, she refuses to remain within the narrow boundaries other people establish for her. Naturally, this creates plenty of discomfort among those who prefer women to behave according to a convenient set of rules.
The film's extravagant production design, surreal humour and unusual approach to romance make it a natural companion to Wicker. Both stories use fantasy to examine social hypocrisy rather than simply offering escapism. Poor Things is considerably more flamboyant in its visual style, but its central interest in a woman claiming control over her own life makes the connection clear. Expect eccentric characters, unconventional choices and a world that rarely behaves as expected.
4. The Lobster (2015)
If the village's obsession with marriage in Wicker sounds ridiculous, The Lobster takes that same social pressure and turns it into an entire dystopian nightmare. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film takes place in a society where single people must find romantic partners within a strict period or face a bizarre transformation.
Colin Farrell plays David, a man navigating this absurd system while struggling to find a relationship that fits the rules. The film's deadpan humour exposes the artificial standards society imposes on romance, particularly the assumption that being single is a problem that needs immediate fixing.
That makes it an especially fitting choice for viewers who enjoy Wicker's satire of marriage conventions and community expectations. Both films ask why other people feel so entitled to decide what a proper relationship should look like. The Lobster is colder, stranger and deliberately uncomfortable, with comedy that often arrives wearing a completely straight face. If you appreciate romantic stories that question romance itself, this one deserves serious consideration.
5. Amélie (2001)
Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie offers a gentler alternative to Wicker while retaining its interest in lonely outsiders and unconventional connections. Audrey Tautou stars as Amélie Poulain, a shy Parisian waitress who begins secretly improving the lives of people around her through a series of imaginative interventions.
Although the film is less concerned with dark satire, it shares Wicker's belief that loneliness does not have to prevent someone from creating meaningful relationships. Amélie's unusual approach to everyday life also gives the story a whimsical, almost fairy-tale quality. She observes people from the margins, notices the little things others overlook and gradually discovers that arranging everybody else's happiness is easier than confronting her own feelings.
The film's playful visual style and eccentric supporting characters should appeal to anyone who enjoys fantasy grounded in recognisable human emotions. It is also a reminder that romantic fulfilment does not always arrive through conventional courtship. Sometimes it takes a peculiar hobby, an elaborate plan and an alarming amount of curiosity about strangers.
6. Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Lars and the Real Girl explores loneliness and community acceptance through one of cinema's more unusual romantic situations. Ryan Gosling plays Lars Lindstrom, a socially withdrawn young man who introduces an unconventional companion to his family and neighbours. Rather than responding with ridicule, the community gradually finds a way to accommodate his situation.
The film shares Wicker's interest in how a relationship that appears incomprehensible to outsiders can reveal something important about the people involved. Both stories examine loneliness without treating it as a character flaw, and both ask whether a community can respond to difference with compassion instead of gossip.
There is a substantial difference in tone, however. Lars and the Real Girl is a gentle comedy-drama rather than a dark fairy tale, with a stronger focus on emotional healing and collective kindness. Its premise may sound absurd when reduced to a sentence, but that is precisely where its appeal lies. If Wicker's strangest ideas appeal to you because of the feelings beneath them, this film is an especially thoughtful choice.
7. Ruby Sparks (2012)
In Ruby Sparks, a struggling novelist named Calvin discovers that a fictional woman he has created on the page appears to have become real. Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan star in this romantic fantasy, which begins with a seemingly wonderful situation before examining the complications of turning an imagined partner into an actual person.
The connection with Wicker lies in the idea of creating an unconventional companion and discovering that love cannot be reduced to the fulfilment of personal wishes. Wicker's wicker husband is brought to life through fantasy, while Ruby emerges from the imagination of a writer. Both premises challenge the comforting assumption that an ideal partner is simply someone who fits our expectations.
Ruby Sparks also moves beyond the novelty of its central idea to explore control, independence and the difference between loving a person and loving an idea of that person. Its humour is often awkward by design, making it a smart pick for viewers who prefer romantic fantasy with a satirical edge rather than straightforward wish fulfilment.
8. The Science of Sleep (2006)
Michel Gondry's The Science of Sleep follows Stéphane, an imaginative young man whose dreams frequently spill into his waking life. His attempts to navigate a growing attraction to his neighbour, Stéphanie, become increasingly complicated as fantasy and reality blur together.
Like Wicker, the film uses an eccentric romantic premise to explore loneliness, emotional vulnerability and the difficulty of forming a genuine connection. Its handmade visual effects, dreamlike sequences and playful storytelling create a world in which the ordinary can suddenly become extraordinary.
The film is especially suitable for viewers who enjoy fantasy that feels personal rather than grandiose. There are no sprawling kingdoms or elaborate magical systems here; instead, everyday objects and private fantasies become part of a deeply unusual emotional landscape. Gondry's approach is considerably more surreal than conventional romantic comedy, and the characters are often their own worst enemies. That makes the film an appealing choice for anyone who wants another love story where reality refuses to behave itself.
9. Penelope (2006)
Penelope follows a young woman born into a wealthy family whose appearance is affected by a mysterious family curse. Convinced that marriage will provide a solution, her relatives attempt to find a suitable match, but Penelope's journey gradually becomes about discovering her own worth beyond other people's expectations.
The film shares Wicker's interest in the pressures placed on women by communities that treat marriage as the ultimate measure of success. Both stories feature female protagonists whose lives are shaped by the opinions of people who believe they know what is best for them.
Christina Ricci leads a cast that includes James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon in a romantic fantasy with a bright visual style and a gently rebellious spirit. Penelope is more accessible and less darkly satirical than Wicker, but its message about self-acceptance gives the two films common ground. If you enjoy stories in which a woman gradually stops organising her life around society's approval, this fairy-tale comedy makes a fitting addition to your watchlist.
10. Stardust (2007)
Matthew Vaughn's Stardust takes viewers into a magical realm where a young man crosses a mysterious boundary in search of a fallen star. What follows is an adventure involving witches, unusual companions, dangerous pursuits and an increasingly complicated understanding of love.
Although its adventure elements are more prominent than those in Wicker, the film shares a taste for unconventional fairy-tale romance. Its characters rarely behave like polished figures from a traditional bedtime story, and its magical world is populated by people with questionable motives and rather peculiar priorities.
Stardust also understands that romance becomes more interesting when it forces characters to reconsider what they actually want. The film balances comedy, fantasy and adventure without taking itself too seriously, making it a good option for viewers who appreciate Wicker's playful treatment of familiar romantic conventions. With its eccentric supporting cast and richly imagined setting, it offers a more adventurous route into the same territory of strange relationships and unexpected emotional discoveries.
11. The Green Knight (2021)
David Lowery's The Green Knight is a darker and more contemplative recommendation for viewers drawn to the medieval atmosphere surrounding Wicker. Based on the Arthurian poem, the film follows Sir Gawain, a young knight who accepts a mysterious challenge that sends him on an unsettling journey through a strange and unpredictable world.
Its central story is less romantic, but its combination of folklore, unusual encounters and richly textured medieval imagery makes it a natural companion for fans of unconventional fantasy. Both films draw on the visual language of old legends while using their settings to explore questions about identity, social expectations and the meaning of honour.
The Green Knight is deliberately patient, with an atmosphere that often matters as much as the dialogue. Its surreal episodes and ambiguous encounters make it especially appealing to viewers who enjoy fantasy that leaves room for interpretation. If the medieval seaside setting of Wicker interests you as much as its central relationship, this atmospheric film offers another way to escape into a world where ordinary rules no longer seem reliable.
12. The Fall (2006)
Tarsem Singh's The Fall follows a young girl who befriends an injured stuntman in a hospital. He begins telling her an elaborate fantasy adventure populated by extraordinary characters, and the story gradually becomes intertwined with their developing friendship.
The film shares Wicker's interest in the boundary between ordinary life and imaginative storytelling. Both use fantasy to explore emotional needs, with extraordinary situations revealing the loneliness and vulnerability beneath their characters' outward behaviour.
Its striking visual design is another major attraction. The Fall creates a lavish, dreamlike world from real locations and carefully composed imagery, offering a visual experience that feels closer to an illustrated fairy tale than a conventional adventure film. While its emotional centre is a friendship rather than a romantic relationship, its combination of fantasy, isolation and unconventional companionship makes it a worthwhile recommendation. Viewers who enjoy films that approach familiar human experiences from an unusual angle should find plenty to appreciate.
13. The Princess Bride (1987)
Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride is a playful fantasy adventure that mixes romance, comedy, sword fights and fairy-tale absurdity. The story follows a young woman and the people drawn into a series of increasingly improbable adventures involving love, loyalty and revenge.
Its tone is lighter than Wicker's, but both films play with the expectations audiences bring to fairy tales and romantic stories. The Princess Bride refuses to treat its familiar ingredients with excessive seriousness, finding humour in exaggerated characters and situations that seem determined to become more ridiculous.
That irreverence makes it a good choice for viewers who want another fantasy film that understands romance can coexist with comedy and eccentricity. Its memorable supporting characters also provide the sort of colourful personalities that help make a fictional community feel alive. If Wicker appeals because it takes familiar storybook conventions and gives them a mischievous twist, this classic adventure remains an entertaining option.
14. The Little Hours (2017)
Jeff Baena's The Little Hours takes place in a medieval convent where several nuns find their routines disrupted by the arrival of a young servant. Their reactions lead to a series of increasingly chaotic situations as the film satirises religious authority, social restrictions and expectations of respectable behaviour.
The connection to Wicker is its irreverent treatment of a conservative community. Both films explore what happens when people who live under strict rules encounter situations that expose the gap between public respectability and private desires.
The Little Hours relies on deliberately awkward comedy and a cast of characters who are considerably less composed than their surroundings suggest. Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza and Kate Micucci lead the ensemble, bringing an unpredictable energy to the film's medieval setting. It is not a conventional romantic fantasy, but its combination of period atmosphere, social satire and eccentric characters makes it a strong recommendation for viewers who enjoy stories about tradition being thoroughly inconvenienced.
15. The Favourite (2018)
Yorgos Lanthimos's The Favourite is a period comedy-drama centred on the rivalry between two women competing for influence in the court of Queen Anne. Olivia Colman stars as the monarch, with Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz playing the women whose shifting relationships drive the story.
Although the film takes place in a royal court rather than a small fishing village, it shares Wicker's interest in jealousy, social hierarchy and the destructive power of gossip. Both stories depict communities in which personal relationships become public entertainment and where apparently respectable behaviour can conceal rather less admirable motives.
Colman's performance is a particular attraction for viewers interested in the unusual character dynamics associated with Wicker. The Favourite replaces fairy-tale romance with political manoeuvring, but its dark humour and fascination with social performance make the comparison worthwhile. It is a sharp reminder that jealousy does not become more dignified simply because the people involved happen to live in expensive buildings.
16. A Monster Calls (2016)
A Monster Calls, directed by J. A. Bayona, follows a young boy who encounters a gigantic tree-like creature that tells him a series of stories while he struggles with difficult circumstances in his life. The fantasy elements provide a framework for exploring emotions that are otherwise hard for the boy to articulate.
The film shares Wicker's interest in unusual beings that become central to the lives of isolated human characters. In both stories, an extraordinary companion challenges the boundary between reality and imagination while revealing something important about the person at the centre of the narrative.
Its tone is more emotional than satirical, so viewers should not expect the same emphasis on village gossip or romantic conventions. Nevertheless, its imaginative creature design, folklore-inspired storytelling and themes of loneliness make it a meaningful recommendation. A Monster Calls demonstrates how fantasy can give a physical presence to experiences that are difficult to express, creating a story that feels magical without losing sight of its human characters.
17. The Company of Wolves (1984)
Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves reimagines traditional fairy tales through a gothic fantasy lens. Drawing inspiration from the stories surrounding Little Red Riding Hood, the film explores a dreamlike world filled with unsettling transformations, mysterious figures and warnings about the dangers hidden beneath respectable appearances.
Its connection to Wicker lies in the way both films draw on folklore rather than treating fairy tales as simple stories of good manners and happy endings. Their fantastical settings create space for examining social expectations, relationships and the tension between appearances and reality.
The Company of Wolves is considerably more gothic in tone, making it particularly suitable for viewers who enjoy the darker edges of Wicker's fantasy world. Its imagery feels deliberately strange, and its narrative moves through the logic of dreams rather than the tidy rules of conventional storytelling. If you prefer your fairy tales with an unsettling atmosphere and a willingness to question familiar conventions, this older fantasy film deserves a place on the list.
18. Enchanted (2007)
Disney's Enchanted follows Giselle, a fairy-tale character who is transported from an animated kingdom into the live-action world of modern New York. Her uncomplicated understanding of romance clashes with the realities of city life, creating a comedy built around the differences between fairy-tale expectations and ordinary relationships.
The film shares Wicker's willingness to question romantic conventions, although it approaches the subject with considerably more sweetness. Both stories examine what happens when a fairy-tale idea of love meets a society that has its own rigid assumptions about how relationships should work.
Amy Adams brings an enthusiastic sincerity to Giselle, while the film's mixture of animation, fantasy and romantic comedy keeps its premise entertaining. Enchanted is an ideal option for viewers who enjoy the contrast between magical storytelling and everyday social behaviour but prefer a lighter viewing experience. Its central question is familiar: what happens when the romantic rules someone has always believed in turn out to be less reliable than expected?
19. The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm turns the legendary storytellers into adventurers who travel through rural communities, dealing with supernatural rumours and increasingly dangerous folklore. Matt Damon and Heath Ledger star as the brothers, whose scepticism is challenged by events that are rather more extraordinary than their usual tricks.
Like Wicker, the film uses a historical setting to explore a world where superstition, local traditions and strange occurrences influence everyday life. Its fairy-tale atmosphere is filled with peculiar characters and communities whose beliefs can be as troubling as the supernatural events themselves.
The film also mixes dark comedy with fantasy adventure, creating a world that feels playful one moment and unsettling the next. Its focus is less romantic than Wicker's, but the shared interest in folklore and the absurdities of village life makes it a useful recommendation. Viewers who want another medieval-inspired fantasy with a mischievous sense of humour should find this an enjoyable choice.
20. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus follows a travelling theatre troupe whose mysterious leader offers audiences access to an extraordinary imaginary world. The story combines fantasy, surreal imagery and characters whose choices become increasingly difficult as the boundaries between imagination and reality begin to shift.
Its appeal for Wicker fans lies in its willingness to embrace an unusual premise without attempting to make everything conventional. Both films build distinctive worlds around extraordinary ideas and use their fantasy elements to explore human desires, personal choices and the complications of relationships.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is more visually extravagant, moving between dreamlike environments rather than remaining focused on a single village. Its storytelling can be deliberately unpredictable, which is part of its appeal for viewers who enjoy films that refuse to follow the most obvious route. If you appreciate the imaginative ambition of Wicker, this fantasy adventure offers another invitation to leave ordinary reality behind.
21. The Tale of Tales (2015)
Matteo Garrone's The Tale of Tales adapts several stories from Giambattista Basile's collection of fairy tales, bringing together royal courts, magical creatures and characters whose desires lead them into extraordinary situations. Its interconnected narratives create a fantasy world that feels ancient, elaborate and occasionally absurd.
The film shares Wicker's interest in folklore, unconventional relationships and the strange consequences of people trying to satisfy their deepest wishes. Both films use fairy-tale settings to explore familiar human weaknesses, including jealousy, vanity and the temptation to impose one's desires on others.
Its visual style is more lavish and its storytelling more fragmented than Wicker's, but the emphasis on strange circumstances and the darker side of fantasy makes the comparison convincing. The Tale of Tales is particularly suitable for viewers who enjoy traditional fairy-tale imagery with a less predictable approach to romance and morality. It offers a reminder that the oldest stories are often stranger than their familiar modern retellings suggest.
22. The House (2022)
Netflix's animated anthology The House presents three unsettling stories connected by an unusual building and the different people who inhabit it. Blending dark comedy, surreal storytelling and stop-motion animation, the film examines how people become attached to places, possessions and ideas that do not necessarily make them happy.
The similarities to Wicker are strongest in its strange atmosphere and its interest in the absurdity of human behaviour. Both films use an unconventional setting to explore deeper questions about belonging, social expectations and the desire to create a life that feels secure.
The House is not a romantic comedy, and its anthology format means that its stories approach their themes from different angles. Nevertheless, its eccentric world-building and darkly comic observations should appeal to anyone looking for fantasy that feels distinctive rather than familiar. The stop-motion visuals also give it a handcrafted quality that suits viewers who appreciate the practical artistry behind Wicker's extraordinary central creation.
23. A Ghost Story (2017)
David Lowery's A Ghost Story follows a recently deceased musician who returns to his home as a sheet-covered ghost, remaining connected to the place and the people who once gave his life meaning. Its deliberately unusual presentation turns a familiar supernatural idea into a quiet reflection on time, memory and attachment.
The connection with Wicker is less about comedy or medieval folklore and more about the emotional importance of an unconventional presence. Both films consider how a relationship can challenge ordinary ideas about companionship, while their fantastical premises allow them to approach loneliness from a different perspective.
A Ghost Story is far more meditative than Wicker, favouring long stretches of silence and an understated visual style. It is best suited to viewers who appreciate fantasy with emotional depth and a willingness to move beyond familiar storytelling conventions. If the idea of an extraordinary companion appeals to you more than conventional romantic formulae, this thoughtful film provides a different but rewarding final recommendation.
What makes Wicker such an interesting starting point for a watchlist is the way its unusual romantic premise opens the door to much bigger questions. A woman commissions a husband made from willow, and suddenly the village's ideas about marriage, respectability and acceptable behaviour look rather ridiculous. That is a promising combination of fantasy and social satire, especially for viewers who are tired of romance films in which everyone behaves as though they have read the same instruction manual.
Edward Scissorhands and The Shape of Water are my strongest recommendations for their balance of tenderness and outsider stories, while Poor Things and The Lobster offer sharper examinations of social expectations. Ruby Sparks is another excellent choice if you enjoy relationships built around impossible ideas. The important thing is to choose a film that embraces its peculiar premise rather than apologising for it. After all, ordinary romance has had plenty of screen time already.
If you are building a watchlist after Wicker, these 23 films offer plenty of options, whether you prefer gothic fairy tales, surreal romantic comedies or fantasy stories that poke fun at society. Which film would you watch first, and have we missed a similarly strange romantic fantasy that deserves a place on this list? Share your favourite recommendation and let other viewers know what they should watch next.