Best movies & TV Shows like V.C. Andrews' Dawn

Two men want to escape from East Germany (under Communist rule) but they will only go if they can take their families with them. Based on a true story.

Heaven Leigh Casteel, gifted and intelligent, is the eldest of five dirt-poor children struggling to survive in a mountain shack. As she endures neglect and abuse, Heaven discovers a dark secret that changes everything she thought she knew about her family. Then tragedy tears her world apart and she must forge her own way in the cruel, unknown world.

New student Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called ‘The Plastics,’ ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George and her minions Gretchen and Karen. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels, she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis and Damian, she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

As a shocking truth about a couple's families emerges, the two lovers discover they are not so different from each other. Tessa is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin — any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for.

Georgia Rule follows a rebellious, uncontrollable teenager who is hauled off by her dysfunctional mother to spend the summer with her grandmother. Her journey will lead all three women to revelations of buried family secrets and an understanding that - regardless what happens - the ties that bind can never be broken.

After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie's past threatens to ruin his new life and family.

In the world of MIDNIGHT, it is a time of overwhelming darkness. After three ages of scheming and war, the dark god Izrador has finally defeated the heroes and armies of the free races. Now, he rules the world of Aryth with an iron fist. Enslaved under the Shadow, the race of men leads an oppressed existence, and the elves and dwarves have retreated to distant forests and mountains.

On the dark streets of Draiga, a mining colony occupied by the Visray Empire, lives Azura, the last of a fearsome warrior race known as the Sarnians. After witnessing her once beautiful home world turn into a lifeless husk, Azura must fight to the death in the gladiatorial ring to stay alive. Meanwhile, a group of human freedom fighters form a resistance, seeking to try and protect their families from the oppressive and cruel rule of the Visray Section Commander Sorrentine. Unbeknownst to Azura, the fate of all humans on Draiga is about to rest in her hands. Can she survive long enough to save her colony?

This is the story of the President who was more powerful than God. He ruled the world with an iron fist. But getting into heaven is not easy even for him. All the laws he made for others to follow turns to his detriment. Everything that was done to ruin him turns out to be his salvation. What the President has to do to get into heaven? - Written by Anonymous

After the shocking and untimely death of her husband, Shelley Stratton (Catherine Hicks) moves her daughter Alexis (Emily Hurst) and her adopted daughter, Laurie (Alexz Johnson), to their remote summer house in hopes of giving her family a fresh start. As Laurie begins to settle in and put her life back together, she gets the eerie feeling that she is constantly being watched. Laurie's uneasiness grows when people start claiming to see her in places that she has never been. The family's delicate state begins to unravel when Laurie unearths the dark past, discovering a twin sister that she never knew she had. Laurie is forced to delve deeper into her twin's secrets, for as it turns out her twin has been locked up for years! Laurie must now understand their strange connection in order to prevent her sister from taking over her life and harming her loved ones. Based on the book by author Lois Duncan

It's 1963 in rural Massachusetts, and Nora James has the usual worries of an eleven year-old girl:lipstick, first crushes, staying out of trouble at school...not easy when your teacher is the elderly Sister Concilia. And even harder when your parents are struggling to heal from an almost unbearable loss. Then tragedy strikes another Massachusetts family, the Kennedys, and shatters the fragile bonds holding the James family together, Nora, sent to live with her brittle Aunt Rose, soon learns who she is, what she wants, and what she must do to achieve it. She makes a decision that is both cruel and courageous. Nora's choice unlocks the way to what amounts to the rescue of her family. (Maureen Foley, writer/director of the film)

A tyrannical king reigns over his kingdom with an iron fist, but there is hope. A prophecy foretold long ago states that a boy will rise up against the oppressive regime and lead his people to the promised land of Promethea. This is the action-packed journey of one boy that sparks a rebellion that ignites a vicious clash where only one group can emerge alive and victorious.

Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist join forces to take on common enemies as a sinister conspiracy threatens New York City.

Looking down on her friends and family isn't a way of life for Mary Alice Young... it's a way of death. One day, in her perfect house, in the loveliest of suburbs, Mary Alice ended it all. Now she's taking us into the lives of her family, friends and neighbors, commenting from her elevated P.O.V.

The trials and triumphs of life in the small town of Dillon, Texas, where high school football is everything.

Monica, an angel, is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who are at a crossroads in their lives.

Five brothers and sisters are determined to stay together following the tragic loss of their parents.

After her mother dies in a fire, Cassie Blake moves in with her grandmother in the small town of Chance Harbor, Washington. As she gets to know her high school classmates, strange and frightening things begin to happen. They are all descended from powerful witches, and they've been waiting for Cassie to join them and complete a new generation of the Secret Circle. What they don't yet know is that darker powers are at play and that Cassie's mother's death might not have been an accident.

Captain Wolf Larsen, the notorious Sea Wolf who rules the crew of his ship, the Ghost, with an iron fist. While on the high seas he takes on a castaway, the literary critic Humphrey Van Weyden. But instead of dropping him off at the next harbour, Larsen forces him to work in his crew as a ship boy. The young dandy has to fight for his very own survival in this new, rough world on board. But his most dangerous challenge is the captain himself, who involves him in an evil game.

Sinbad accidentally kills the son of the powerful Lord Akbari in a fist fight. As recompense for the blood debt, Sinbad's brother is killed in front of his eyes. Sinbad escapes, but his grandmother uses a magic talisman to curse him for the death of his brother. The curse prevents Sinbad from staying on land for more than one day; if he tarries the talisman will choke him to death. This prohibition against remaining on land leads to a life of adventure at sea that holds many wonders. Sinbad is unaware that he is still being hunted by Lord Akbari, who does not consider Sinbad's brother's death as sufficient payment of the blood debt.

Agnes Brown - a widow living in Ireland - runs her home with an iron fist as she manages her sons, daughter Kathy and best friend Winnie. Add elderly Grandad, various in-laws and grandchildren to the mix and Mrs Brown usually has her hands full. Funny, outspoken and never at a loss for words (especially profanity), she gets through life and the daily grind with a caustic remark and a loving wink. What makes the show different is that the "fourth wall" is broken often leaving in the bloopers.

The spirit of the infamous gangster Al Capone still lives on in Chicago in the form of his drama-filled, lasagna-loving dysfunctional family, the Capones. Direct descendants of Al Capone himself are living a true mashup of the American Dream. With a notorious bloodline and larger-than-life personalities, this workplace docuseries follows the goodfellas as they run the family Italian restaurant and try to keep peace at the Capone mansion with the extended family all living under one roof. Each episode follows Dom Capone "The Boss" as he runs this unkempt crew at his Italian eatery with an iron fist. The only one who keeps this loud-mouthed and fiery boss in check is his mother, Dawn. As co-owner of the restaurant with her son, Dawn is the meddling mother who gets involved in everyone's business, whether they like it or not. Surrounding Dom and Dawn Capone are an unusual cast of characters even by reality show standards. Dom's current girlfriend "The Princess" and ex-girlfriend "Madness Cherry Lips", two crazy aunts and the unemployed friend "Sausage", drunken cousins, a pathological liar, flirty waitresses, an eccentric uncle "Toupee Lou", an Irishman, and of course, the neighborhood troublemakers "Meatball" and "Bart" and that just includes the staff. However dysfunctional this cast of characters can get, they always end the week with the traditional Sunday dinner where the drama is always spicier than the pepperoni. Despite all the arguing, yelling, jealousy and manipulation, the passion and love that holds this family together runs deep. No matter what happens, they always stick together and know that family comes first no matter what.

People Magazine explores shocking stories of ordinary people who, lured by promises of eternal life, get caught up in a terrifying web of abuse, deception, and manipulation. Explore the deeply disturbing world of cults through the eyes of survivors who managed to escape.

Comedy drama that shines a light on the day-to-day life of a family looking after their severely learning disabled girl, Rosie.

13 year old British film star Isaac Mensah was sexually abused by a producer on the set of a Hollywood film, the family decide to take action after learning the truth and Deal with US Lawyers who offer the family 3 million to stay silent.

The intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. Explore the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

What happens when idle gossip escalates out of control and starts to affect people’s lives. Set in a picturesque fishing village, the series centres on Maggie Cole, the self- appointed oracle of this close-knit community.

Sam is a true Kansan on the surface but beneath it all struggles to fit the hometown mold. As she grapples with loss and acceptance, singing is Sam’s saving grace and leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders that don’t fit in but don’t give up, showing that finding your people, and finding your voice, is possible. Anywhere. Somewhere.

When Frank and Joe Hardy arrive in Bridgeport, they set out to uncover the truth behind the recent tragedy that has changed their lives. In doing so, they stumble upon something much more sinister - something only the Hardy Boys can stop.

Meera Syal stars in this poignant story of friendship, betrayal and cross-cultural conflict based on her hit novel. Three childhood friends, now in their 30s, find themselves at a crossroads & struggling to come to terms with shocking revelations.

When Carlton Flynn vanishes 17 years to the night after Stewart Green did, it sets off a chain reaction in the lives of people connected to both men.

A shocking Hollywood scandal rips open the Hammer family's perfect façade. From rape allegations against Armie Hammer to years of deceit at the hands of his great-grandfather, the family's dark secrets finally come to light.

Amateur investigator Sierra Barter confronts a traumatic past and secrets that have plagued her family for generations. Sierra, her mother Shannon, and her grandmother Judy bravely pursue the truth about a mystery that could change their lives forever – was Jim Mordecai, their husband, stepfather, and step-grandfather a notorious serial killer?

Featuring new revelations and unprecedented access, this docuseries digs into the disappearance of 25-year-old Sheena Bora and the shocking aftermath.

From the director of Generation Iron, comes the anticipated sequel that will depict 5 of the top bodybuilding and fitness mega-stars on a quest of achieving the ultimate physique and taking it to the next extreme level. In the world of social media and internet, the rules have changed as to what makes an iconic bodybuilding mass-monster. Starring Kai Greene, Calum Von Moger, Rich Piana, among others, this film will explore an all new generation of bodybuilders and how this new world, and new people, carve their own path to physique perfection.