Loved "The Shape of Water"? Here Are Six More Quirky Classics You'll Adore

Quirky movies for teen boujees.

Update: Guillermo del Toro won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director while Alexander Desplat scored Best Original Music Score for The Shape of Water. Best Production Design went to del Toro's team of Paul D. Austerberry, Shane Vieau and Jeffrey A. Melvin for their work on the movie.

Director Guillermo del Toro’s latest flick The Shape of Water was only released last month in Australia but has already been killing it in the awards game. The surprise hit was nominated for Best Picture among 12 other categories at the Oscars and has been lauded for its beautiful universe and sympathetic story.

Unlike many of the major, generically-titled films Hollywood churns out, The Shape of Water tells the unusual tale of a mute janitor named Elisa who falls for an aquatic creature in an unmistakably 'del Toro-esque' vision of 1960s America. For some young moviegoers, this might be one of the first eccentric films of this kind they've ever seen... and loved.

If you are one of these young moviegoers and you want to branch out from the safe Hollywood nest, we've got you covered. (And if you've already seen them all, how good are you?)

We've compiled a list of independently-minded films that are almost kindred spirits to The Shape of Water in some way or another. Some feature magical creatures like Elisa's fish boyfriend and others are more similar due to their innocence and imagination in a world that doesn't necessarily reward it. Either way, we're pretty sure you're going to enjoy them. Think of it as a mood board, but for movies.

1. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

How it's similar: A seemingly real world with magical elements.

This film follows Ofelia, the step-daughter of a brutish Spanish officer, as she switches between a world of magic and the cruel reality of 1940s fascist Spain. Ofelia is approached by a faun who gives her three tasks in order to prove she's a princess of the Underworld. It's a classic filled with interesting characters and unusual creatures, including one of the creepiest monsters ever to be imagined: a child-eating beast called the Pale Man. 

Being an earlier work of Guillermo del Toro's, it's considered a fairly obvious spiritual predecessor to The Shape of Water. (Fun Fact: Doug Jones, the fishman from The Shape of Water, plays the faun and the Pale Man too!)

2. Amélie (2001)

How it's similar: An eccentric female lead with childlike innocence.

After being isolated from people for most of her life, Amélie, an introverted waitress, finds happiness in a series of tasks designed to make the people around her happy. This includes hooking up her work colleague with a regular customer, helping a blind man cross the road (and painting his surroundings for him with her words) and convincing her dad to travel the world.

In a lot of ways, Audrey Tautou's Amélie is similar in character to Elisa as the shy-but-determined underdog of the film. If their worlds crossed over, they would be great friends.

3. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

How it's similar: Two girls befriend a friendly beast and go on a little adventure.

Satsuki and her sister, Mei, have moved to the country and are waiting to see their sick mother. While they face a bunch of setbacks, they meet Totoro, a cute bear-owl-creature who also happens to be the keeper of the nearby forest. They end up befriending Totoro, who lets them use a cat-bus to see their mother. It's some pretty wholesome stuff.

A 'real world' mixed with fantastical creatures and spirits is classic Hayao Miyazaki (Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, Spirited Away) but is also reminiscent of del Toro's works.

4. Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

How it's similar: A blend of real-life and fantasy with a sprinkle of scary.

Based on the classic children's book of the same name, this movie finds Max, an eight-year-old boy, in the world of the Wild Things, where he wiggles his way into becoming their king. 

While the film is almost completely based in a land of whimsy, the inclusion of anthropomorphic creatures and a human that befriends them means it deserves a spot on this list.

5. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

How it's similar: A journey of innocence and loss.

Set in a fictional town called Bathtub in a bayou of Louisiana, six-year-old Hushpuppy and her father Wink await an imminent storm. As Hushpuppy sets off on her own, she comes across the townsfolk affected by the storm and encounters extinct aurochs (wild cattle-like bison).

Despite being in very realistic environments, it still feels like Hushpuppy's in another world. Because of this, it would slot in nicely in your quirky movie marathon.

6. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

How it's similar: An eccentric, doomed romance set in the same decade as The Shape of Water.

This movie might not feature any unusual creatures, but it is full of imagination and eccentricity. Sam is a 12-year-old scout at an island summer camp who meets Suzy, a resident on the island. They fall in love and run away together.

As a part of stylistic director Wes Anderson's repertoire, the film has similarities such as its unusual editing techniques and unique script that give it a certain vibe or je ne sais quois. If someone is looking for something a bit more playful, this would be right up their alley.

There you have it. If you want to turn the 123 minutes of The Shape of Water into a week-long marathon, this is probably the closest you'll be able to get without watching it back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

Photo: UGC-Fox Distribution