Movies Like Side Out
A law student comes to California for the summer and ends up playing professional volleyball.
Ranked by shared directors, cast, themes, genre, and era — not just generic recommendations.
Blue Crush
Beach sports drama/romance with young adult underdog athlete chasing pro competition; nearly identical setting and tone
Summer Catch
Summer sports romance with working-class young man chasing athletic dreams; same audience, same warm tone
The Natural
Sports underdog drama about an unknown athlete rising to the top; shared themes of talent, redemption, and competition
Cinderella Man
Underdog sports comeback story with strong emotional core; more dramatic but same genre DNA and inspirational arc
...All the Marbles
Sports comedy/drama about underdogs competing at the top level; similar scrappy, crowd-pleasing sports energy
Forget Paris
Romantic comedy set in the world of professional sport (NBA); light tone, young adult romance, sports backdrop
Fever Pitch
Sports-driven romantic comedy where athletic passion complicates a young relationship; similar warm, crowd-pleasing register
D2: The Mighty Ducks
Underdog sports comedy about scrappy underdogs reaching a major competition; same upbeat, youth-sports spirit
American Pie 2
Summer beach house comedy for young adults; same seasonal, carefree setting and demographic even without sports focus
Shag
Summer beach comedy/drama with young adults, romance, and period warmth; same era and breezy vacation energy
Fire with Fire
1980s young-adult romantic drama; shares the era, demographic, and a fish-out-of-water protagonist finding love
Class
1980s young-adult coming-of-age comedy; naive protagonist in a new environment discovers romance and self-confidence
SubUrbia
Comedy/drama about young adults at a crossroads finding their footing; shares the young-male-drifter-finds-purpose thread
Cherry
Comedy/drama romance where a young man enters unfamiliar territory and falls for someone unexpected; tonal adjacency
In July
Light summer road-trip comedy/romance about a young man following his heart somewhere new; warm seasonal vibe
Mumford
Warm-hearted comedy/drama about a stranger arriving in a new community and shaking things up; same gentle register
Greenberg
LA-set comedy/drama about a directionless man who finds unexpected connection; tonal cousin despite darker edge
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding
Summer-set family comedy/drama where characters loosen up and find romance; same warm, low-stakes summer feel
Cyrus
Offbeat romantic comedy about a man navigating an unexpected obstacle to love; shares light dramedy tone
Just Before I Go
Comedy/drama about a man at a turning point revisiting his past; loose tonal cousin sharing the drifter-finds-himself arc
How Good Is Side Out?
Ratings across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and TMDB, plus our verdict.
Where to Watch Side Out
Streaming, rental, and purchase options across 40+ countries.
United States
USFree with Ads
1
Tubi TVRent
5
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
6Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At Home
Barnes & NobleAvailable in 29 countries
Frequently asked about Side Out
Common questions people search for, with answers written by us at MoviesPack.
Why does Monroe Clark come to Los Angeles at the start of the film?
Monroe travels from the Midwest to LA to work as an eviction agent for his uncle's real estate company, hoping to earn enough money to pay for law school. He is essentially an outsider to the beach culture, which sets up his transformation over the course of the story.
How does Monroe end up partnering with Zack Barnes for the volleyball tournament?
Monroe meets the washed-up former pro Zack Barnes when he is sent to evict him from a beachside property. Rather than carry out the eviction, Monroe strikes a deal with Zack: he will help Monroe learn to play at a competitive level in exchange for Monroe finding a way to keep him housed. Their partnership grows from this unlikely arrangement.
What is Zack Barnes's backstory and why did his career decline?
Zack was once a top-ranked beach volleyball player but his career fell apart due to a combination of personal recklessness, heavy drinking, and an inability to commit to the discipline the sport demands. By the time Monroe meets him he is broke, living on borrowed time, and largely dismissed by the beach volleyball community as a has-been.
Does Monroe and the team actually win the big tournament at the end?
Monroe and Zack make it deep into the AVP tournament and compete seriously against the elite teams, but they ultimately fall short of winning the championship. The film's resolution focuses more on Monroe's personal growth — he abandons plans to work in corporate law and commits to staying in California — than on a clean tournament victory.
Recent Updates
New Trailer: Side Out
Side Out now streaming on Amazon Video (AU)
Side Out now streaming on Apple TV Store (AU)
Side Out now streaming on YouTube (CA)
Side Out now streaming on Google Play Movies (CA)