10 Best Movies Like Clerks 3

Movies like Clerks III deliver raunchy humor with heart. With Clerks III, Kevin Smith returned to the franchise that he started his career with, delivering yet another chapter in the story of Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, the clerks who haven’t really done much with their lives since the first movie, where they worked in a convenience store and video store in New Jersey. The third movie follows Randall and Dante, who, faced with their own mortality, decide to make a movie based on their lives at the Quick Stop.

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The first Clerks movie was one of the films that helped set the stage for the rise of independent filmmaking in the 1990s. However, the second movie was more in line with something like Mallrats, a teenage R-rated comedy that predated American Pie. While Clerks II received the worst critical acclaim of the franchise trilogy, Clerks III returned with the raunchy R-rated humor, pop culture references, and self-referential humor that Kevin Smith’s View Askeniverse movies are known for.

10 Clerks (1994)

Kevin Smith’s First Movie

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7.8/10 Clerks RComedy

Kevin Smith’s Clerks is a comedy film that follows Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, two best friends who work at a conjoined storefront of a convenience store and a video rental store. Presented entirely in black and white, the film goes through a day in the life of the two characters as they deal with the mundane, the weird, and the flat-out nonsensical as Dante continues to lament his current state in life, providing sharp satire on various discussed topics.

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*Availability in US Director Kevin Smith Release Date September 13, 1994 Distributor(s) Lionsgate Cast Brian O’Halloran , Jeff Anderson , Marilyn Ghigliotti , Lisa Spoonauer , Jason Mewes , Kevin Smith Runtime 92 minutes

Anyone who liked Clerks III will likely want to return to the movie that started it all. Clerks was a hugely influential 90s indie movie with pop culture references and jokes that helped create a new subgenre of comedy. It was also an ultra-low-budget film that spent more money on its musical soundtrack than its actual filming. Shot at a real convenience store in New Jersey, it tells the story of Dante, a convenience store clerk called in to work on his day off. With Randal, a video store clerk, the film follows their workday.

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The story they are making is partially based on the events from this specific movie.

What makes Clerks III so interesting is that Dante and Randal decide to make a movie about their lives as clerks, and the story they are making is partially based on the events from this specific film. That makes the two great to watch back-to-back since many scenes from the first film are shown here from a different angle, and even some of the supporting characters from this movie return almost 30 years after fans saw them last.

9 Clerks II (2006)

Dante & Randal Move Into Fast Food

Clerks 2 Movie Poster

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ScreenRant logo 2/10 10/10 Clerks 2 pg-13

Releasing over a decade after the original cult classic, Clerks II centers on Dante and Randal, who venture out to find a new job after their Quick Stop store catches on fire. They eventually settle on a Mooby’s fast food restaurant. Clerks II is the sixth film in Kevin Smith’s Askewniverse.

Director Kevin Smith Release Date July 21, 2006 Cast Kevin Smith , Jeff Anderson , Rosario Dawson

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While the first Clerks movie is clearly the most important to welcome fans back into the View Askewniverse, they should also not avoid going back to the second entry. Clerks II finds Dante and Randal switching to the fast food industry when the Quick Stop burns down. This film has them working for Mooby’s, a restaurant that made a huge impression in Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back. It also introduces Rosario Dawson’s Becky and Trevor Fehrman’s Elias Grover.

The movie is also a nice step in the evolution of Dante and Randal.

This is a very important film to revisit for fans of Clerks III because it allows fans to get to know Becky better, which is important considering what happens to her in this third part of the trilogy. The movie is also a nice step in the evolution of Dante and Randal. While they finished the first installment making almost no changes in their lives, the second film put them in their 30s and let them grow somewhat, and Clerks III allowed both of them to take the final steps in their friendship.

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8 Jay And Silent Bob Reboot (2021)

Jay & Silent Bob Returned Before The Clerks Guys

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Jay and Silent Bob Reboot RComedy

In this stoner buddy comedy film, Jay and Silent Bob return to Hollywood. After losing the rights to their names in a court case over a “Bluntman and Chronic” reboot, the two have three days to stop the movie and reclaim their identities.

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*Availability in US Director Kevin Smith Release Date October 15, 2019 Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Cast Grant Gustin , Kevin Smith , Justin Long , Harley Quinn Smith , Joe Manganiello , Shannon Elizabeth , Jason Lee , Jason Biggs , Rosario Dawson , David Dastmalchian , James Van Der Beek , Joey Lauren Adams , Chris Hemsworth , Kate Micucci , Jason Mewes Runtime 105 minutes Expand

Even though Randal and Dante might be the leads, it wouldn’t be a Clerks movie without Jay and Silent Bob. They return to hanging out in front of the Quick Stop for Clerks III and offer the same funny presence they always do. The iconic duo returned to the spotlight in another recent sequel adventure, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. Much like Clerks III, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is filled with in-jokes and meta-humor to please the hardcore fans of Smith’s filmmaking world.

While Clerks III let people see what Dante and Randal were up to 30 years after making their first appearance, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot did the same for the stoners, who went from being illegal drug dealers to owning their own legalized dispensary (where the video store used to be). This film has Jay realize he has a daughter (played by Kevin Smith’s real-life daughter), and they set out on a trip to Hollywood in what was the same plot as Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

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7 The Disaster Artist (2017)

Another Movie About An Amateur Filmmaker

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8/10 The Disaster Artist RComedy

When Greg Sestero, an aspiring film actor, meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams come true. This film is based on the book of the same name by Sestero, which chronicles the making of Wiseau’s infamous film The Room, which is widely considered to be the “Citizen Kane of bad movies.”

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*Availability in US Director James Franco Release Date December 8, 2017 Distributor(s) A24 Cast Dave Franco , Dylan Minnette , James Franco , Sharon Stone , June Diane Raphael , Alison Brie , Seth Rogen , Zac Efron , Josh Hutcherson , Zooey Deutch

It is always interesting to see a movie about making a movie. It is even more entertaining when the characters are amateur filmmakers, trying to figure it out as they go. That is very much the position Randal and Dante find themselves in with their moviemaking endeavors, but they meet the challenge with enthusiasm and passion. In Clerks III, the two set out to make a movie about their life story, albeit one that is a little more from Randal’s memories than from Dante’s.

The Disaster Artist is another moviemaking comedy, but this one is based on a true story. It follows Tommy Wiseau’s attempts to make his infamous film The Room, regarded as one of the worst movies ever made in cinema history. Even with his eccentricities, Wiseau’s passion makes it hard not to cheer for the filmmaker, even if audiences already know that the movie ends up as a “disaster.” James Franco directed the movie and stars as Wiseau, and it earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

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6 Brigsby Bear (2017)

A Young Man Tries To Make A Movie To Relieve Trauma

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Brigsby Bear PG-13ComedyDocumentary

Brigsby Bear, directed by Dave McCary, follows a sheltered young man named James, who discovers his beloved children’s show is abruptly canceled. Determined to bring closure to his cherished series, James sets out to finish its story himself, confronting the realities of the world outside his isolated existence.

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*Availability in US Director Dave McCary Release Date July 27, 2017 Cast Chris Provost , Kyle Mooney , Jorge Lendeborg Jr. , Michaela Watkins , Mark Hamill , Christopher Sullivan , Andy Samberg , Ryan Simpkins , Claire Danes , Greg Kinnear

There are a lot of themes at the center of Clerks III and the best of them is just about the joy of making a movie. On top of that, it is seen as a healing process for Randal, who uses it to get a new outlook on the life he has made after he almost dies of a heart attack. The process of making a movie is also important in healing the fractured relationship between Dante and Randal, as the friends realize how important they were to each other over the course of their lives.

Bigsby Bear
is a quirky comedy starring Kyle Mooney as a young man who was kidnapped and held in an underground bunker as a child by two people pretending to be his parents.

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He spends most of his time watching his favorite show, Brigsby Bear. He is rescued and discovers the show isn’t real, so he sets out to make it himself. The movie has the humor of trying to make a movie with no experience, but also a lot of heart as the trauma James underwent follows him as he tries to cope in the real world.

5 Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)

Three High School Friends Deal With Cancer

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl poster

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9/10 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl PG-13ComedyDrama

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl centers on Greg (Thomas Mann), whose easygoing life of remaking movies with his friend Earl (RJ Cyler) takes a dramatic turn when he befriends Rachel (Olivia Cooke), a young girl with cancer. The film is based on Jesse Andrews’ novel of the same name.

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*Availability in US Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Release Date June 12, 2015 Distributor(s) Searchlight Pictures Cast Olivia Cooke , Jon Bernthal , Molly Shannon , Nick Offerman , Connie Britton , RJ Cyler , Thomas Mann Runtime 105 Minutes

Fans of the vulgar and pop-culture humor of the original Clerks might be surprised by how much the new movie deals with death. Randal’s heart attack is a pivotal moment for him while Dante is dealing with his own brush with death as well as losing his beloved wife Becky and their unborn child at the hands of a drunk driver. The movie about their lives, their losses, and their own mortality plays a poignant role at the center of it all.

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Another story that mixes amateur filmmaking and death is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. The movie follows a high school boy named Greg (Thomas Mann) who spends his time parodying classic films. One day, he invites a classmate diagnosed with cancer named Rachel (Olivia Cooke) to join his creative ventures. The entire film has comic moments, but it is a tragic tale of a young boy who knows his best friend will die and doesn’t know what to do about these feelings, similar to Dante in Clerks III.

4 Cinema Paradiso (1988)

A Love Letter To Cinema

Cinema Paradiso

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Cinema Paradiso PGDramaRomance

Cinema Paradiso is an Italian film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. The story revolves around a young Sicilian boy named Toto who develops a deep bond with the local cinema in his village and its projectionist, Alfredo. Through a series of flashbacks, the film explores Toto’s childhood, his passion for movies, and his eventual departure from home. The film celebrates the magic of cinema and the impact it has on our lives.

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*Availability in US Director Giuseppe Tornatore Release Date February 23, 1990 Cast Philippe Noiret , Enzo Cannavale , Antonella Attili , Isa Danieli , Leo Gullotta , Marco Leonardi , Pupella Maggio , Agnese Nano Runtime 174 Minutes

Kevin Smith’s movies have always paid tribute to his love of the movies that shaped him in his youth.Clerks III examines how a life spent watching movies can have a fulfilling sense that some might not understand. While Cinema Paradiso is certainly very different in its tone and style from Clerks III, it surprisingly touches on those same themes. The Italian movie follows a friendship between a young boy and a projectionist with a love of cinema at its center.

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(Amanda-Seyfried-as-Marion-Davies)from-Mank--&-(-Leonardo-DiCaprio-as-Rick-Dalton)-from-OUAT-in-Hollywood-&-(Gabriel-LaBelle-as-Sammy-Fabelma)-from-Fabelmans Related 10 Best Movies About Filmmaking, Ranked

Movies including Singin’ in the Rain, Sunset Blvd. and The Artist tell compelling original stories and show important moments in Hollywood history.

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, Cinema Paradiso is a coming-of-age comedy-drama about a famous Italian filmmaker named Salvatore Di Vita. After learning that a man named Alfredo has died, he flashes back to his childhood and his time with Alfredo, a projectionist at the local movie theater called Cinema Paradiso, who helped Salvatore develop his love of film until the young man finally grows up and leaves, promising not to give in to nostalgia and always look forward.

3 Son Of Rambow (2007)

Two Pre-Teens Set Out To Make Their Own Rambo Movie

01354537_poster_w780.jpg

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Son of Rambow PG-13Comedy

Director Garth Jennings Release Date January 22, 2007 Writers Garth Jennings Cast Bill Milner , Will Poulter , Jessica Hynes , Jules Sitruk , Neil Dudgeon , Ed Westwick , Anna Wing , Tallulah Evans , Emilie Chesnais , Paul Ritter , Adam Buxton , Adam Godley , Asa Butterfield , Edgar Wright , Adam Paul Harvey , Atila Emirali , Louise Jennings Character(s) Will Proudfoot , Lee Carter , Mary Proudfoot , Didier Revol , Joshua , Lawrence Carter , Grandma , Jess Proudfoot , French teacher , Geography Teacher , Science Teacher , Brethren Leader , Brethren Boy , Metal Work Teacher , Lawrence’s Henchman , Rambo Double , Nurse Runtime 96 minutes Main Genre Action YouTube Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMsRJE9UM3M Expand

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The moviemaking aspect of Clerks III is a fun plot device in the movie, but it is also a clever way of exploring the friendship between Dante and Randal. It takes on new and touching meaning as they revisit their lives together while making this movie. While Randal is who really dives into making the movie to ensure that something about him will live on after he faces his own mortality, it is even better because it forces him to revisit and reevaluate his relationship with Dante along the way.

Son of Rambow looks at a younger friendship as it follows two boys from different backgrounds who get together to make a movie based on First Blood. The first entry in the Rambo franchise is R-rated and violent, and it seems like the last choice that two 11-year-old boys will make when deciding to film their own movie. However, the kids deal with the problems associated with making a movie, fracturing their friendship but allowing them to come out stronger in the end.

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2 Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Michel Gondry’s Tale Of 2 Video Store Clerks

Be Kind Rewind (2008) - Poster - Danny Glover

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Be Kind Rewind PG-13DramaComedy

Be Kind Rewind is a comedy directed by Michel Gondry, featuring Jack Black and Mos Def. The film follows two friends who accidentally erase all the tapes at their video rental store. Desperate to keep their last few customers, they set out to remake every film in the collection, resulting in a series of wildly creative, low-budget adaptations. The movie explores themes of community, creativity, and the love of cinema.

Director Michel Gondry Release Date January 20, 2008 Cast Jack Black , Yasiin Bey , Danny Glover , Mia Farrow , Melonie Diaz Runtime 102 Minutes

With Clerks being a movie that so many fans know so well, it is a lot of fun seeing the characters remake it in Clerks III. They do a shot-for-shot recreation of many of the most famous scenes, which is a thrill to watch. These scenes play an important role in the film as well, since Randal and Dante often argue about how things really happened, while the viewers know exactly how it all turned out. Be Kind Rewind also has a lot of fun remaking beloved movies in its clever comedy premise.

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It’s impressive when a great movie stands the test of time, but some stick out like a sore thumb as products of their time.

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This Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) film follows two video store clerks who accidentally erase all the tapes and are forced to recreate them. The hilarious premise has the two clerks setting out to film and recreate movies like Ghostbusters and Robocop with modest budgets and no real actors. The entire premise is ludicrous, but it supposes that many of the people renting the videos have never seen the movies and wouldn’t know better,

1 Zack And Miri Make A Porno (2008)

Another Kevin Smith Movie About Making Movies

Zack and Miri Make a Porno - Poster - Seth Rogen & Elizabeth Banks

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Zack and Miri Make a Porno RComedyRomance

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 comedy directed by Kevin Smith, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. The film revolves around two longtime friends, Zack and Miri, who decide to make an adult film to solve their financial problems. As they recruit friends and acquaintances to help with the project, they navigate the complexities of their relationship and the unexpected consequences of their decision.

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*Availability in US Director Kevin Smith Release Date September 18, 2008 Cast Elizabeth Banks , Seth Rogen , Craig Robinson , Gerry Bednob , Jason Mewes , Edward Janda Runtime 101 minutes

A lot of Clerks III‘s charm comes from the ragtag group of friends who get together to make this movie and bring some joy to their mundane lives. While this movie is one about friends trying to recreate the special moments in their life for memories purpose, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is about making films for a very different reason. While the title might suggest otherwise, this is about two close friends believing they can make money to live on by making these movies.

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Though it exists outside the View Askewniverse, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is another Kevin Smith movie that shares similarities to Clerks III. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star as down-and-out friends who decide to make money by shooting their own porn parody of Star Wars along with a group of eccentric characters (including Jeff Anderson from Clerks III). It is also a movie that wears its heart on its sleeve and has a lot more under the hood than one might expect.

Clerks-3-Official-Poster

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Clerks 3 RComedy

Following up years after Clerks II, Clerks III returns to the iconic Quick Stop/VHS strip location that’s been around since the first film. In this third entry in the Clerks series, Randal Graves has just had a heart attack. Upon his recovery, he realizes he wants to finally push ahead by making a film about his life surrounding the Quick Stop and his best friend, Dante Hicks.

Director Kevin Smith Release Date September 13, 2022 Distributor(s) Lionsgate Cast Brian O’Halloran , Jeff Anderson , Trevor Fehrman , Austin Zajur , Jason Mewes , Rosario Dawson , Kevin Smith Runtime 115 minutes

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