If you loved
Nothing Left to Do But Cry
Roberto Benigni · Film · 1984
If you loved Nothing Left to Do But Cry, you will adore these chaotic tales of ordinary people navigating impossible, fish-out-of-water settings.
Books on the same thread
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
Explores: Existentialism, Bureaucracy, The Absurd.
Like the characters in Nothing Left to Do But Cry, Arthur Dent finds himself hopelessly out of his element, facing absurd, reality-bending situations with a distinct brand of comedic helplessness.
The Cuckoo Clock of Doom
R. L. Stine · Book · 2015
Explores: sibling rivalry, cursed objects, consequences of meddling with time.
The accidental temporal shift in Nothing Left to Do But Cry is echoed here as a protagonist meddles with time, creating the same frantic, consequence-filled humor found in Benigni’s classic.
No Word from Gurb
Eduardo Mendoza · Book · 2007
Explores: Alien encounters, Culture clash, Misunderstandings.
This story of a displaced alien navigating Barcelona mirrors the culture clash and disoriented humor that defined the 1492 journey of the two friends in Nothing Left to Do But Cry.
Crispin: The End of Time
Avi · Book · 2010
Explores: Freedom, Orphanhood, Medieval Life.
While darker in tone, the struggle to find one's footing in a harsh medieval world will resonate with anyone who enjoyed the historical disorientation central to Nothing Left to Do But Cry.
Series on the same thread
Mr. Queen
Park Kye-ok · Series · 2020
Shares 3 threads with Nothing Left to Do But Cry: Fish Out of Water, Anachronism, Historical Comedy.
The physical comedy and fish-out-of-water chaos of a modern person trapped in a historical era perfectly replicate the core appeal of the time-traveling antics in Nothing Left to Do But Cry.
Futurama
Matt Groening · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with Nothing Left to Do But Cry: Fish Out of Water.
Fry’s sudden jump into a distant future captures that same fish-out-of-water feeling of being completely unmoored in time, much like the protagonists of Nothing Left to Do But Cry.
The 10th Kingdom
Series · 2000
Shares a thread with Nothing Left to Do But Cry: Fish Out of Water.
The portal fantasy element forces characters into a world they do not understand, mirroring the disorienting, humorous historical collision experienced by the friends in Nothing Left to Do But Cry.
Mr. Bean
Richard Curtis · Series · 1990
Shares a thread with Nothing Left to Do But Cry: Slapstick Comedy.
The pure, dialogue-free slapstick chaos that follows Mr. Bean everywhere is the spiritual successor to the physical comedy that made Nothing Left to Do But Cry such a memorable experience.
Podcasts on the same thread
No Such Thing As A Fish
No Such Thing As A Fish · Podcast · 2026
Explores: intellectual curiosity, bizarre trivia, banter-driven discourse.
The delight in bizarre trivia and intellectual banter mirrors the absurd, off-the-wall curiosity that drives the comedy in Nothing Left to Do But Cry, making it a perfect thematic follow-up.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
The dark, investigative humor applied to human folly provides a similar comedic perspective on social absurdity to the historical blunders found throughout Nothing Left to Do But Cry.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Nothing Left to Do But Cry a historical documentary?
Nothing Left to Do But Cry is not a documentary. It is a 1984 film featuring two 20th-century friends who accidentally travel back to the year 1492. The story focuses on their comedic attempts to interact with the past and alter history.
What is the premise of the film Nothing Left to Do But Cry?
Nothing Left to Do But Cry follows two friends from the 20th century who unexpectedly find themselves in the year 1492. During their time travel experience, they meet a charming teenager and attempt to change the course of historical events.
Does Nothing Left to Do But Cry involve time travel?
Yes, Nothing Left to Do But Cry centers on the concept of time travel. The plot begins when two 20th-century friends accidentally stumble into the year 1492, where they must navigate life in the past while attempting to alter history.
When was Nothing Left to Do But Cry released?
Nothing Left to Do But Cry was released in 1984. The film was directed by and stars Roberto Benigni, depicting the journey of two modern friends who accidentally travel back to the year 1492 to interact with historical figures.