Captain Fantastic (2016) might fit inbetween Mosquito Coast and Into The Wild?
Not entirely seeing one hard and fast common denominator-criterium for all of the films listed, I connoted films that might not fit your list. Once upon a time, I went from never watching films to watching around 800 films in two years for a research project, where one film lead to another as I followed a thread that explored what really matters in life.
In this vein, just because of the dinner theme, The Last Supper made me think of the Perfect Host (2010), which is pretty freaky.
American History X's Nazi theme made me think of the Danish film Brotherhood (2009) (about two male Neo-Nazis falling in love with eachother). But thinking back to Anerican History X, another great Edward Norton film, besides Fight Club is 25th Hour; better still is 21 Grams (Sean Penn) but now I am thinking of Iñárritu the director, via Amores Perros and Babel, all these films take a look at how to make the most after a dreadful situation. Facing your own failings and mortality and accepting accountability.
Die Welle made me think back to Das Experiment (2001) (of which there is also a remake, but I like the Moritz Bleibtreu one best, who btw might be the most diverse actor ever). It came out around the time the social experiment was a popular theme, which reminds me of Exam (2009) but also of The Cube (1997), which I think I am able to recall gets a bit gruesome, but maybe not as bad as the Belko Experiment (2016).
A milder look at the choices life gives us is Mr Nobody, also about how goals and dreams change with every step of the way somehow and somehow not at all.
Great post. Three new films to watch, aswell: don't know Gattaca, the Instinct (I don't think) and The Man from Earth.
Yes!!!! Captain Fantastic. That's the one I was missing! I love that movie...
I have seen most of the movies you've mentioned. All except Exam and Belko Experiment.
Nice associating!