I don’t know if this term is only used in the UK, but every one I’ve seen has been good. I love “Loneliness of a Long-Distance Runner” and many more. Bryan Forbes is a fine director from the handful of movies I’ve seen of his. I love Ken Loach and Mike Leigh the best when it comes to British directors, but I love neo-realism, social-realism, kitchen-sink, etc.
What are your favorites?
To me “kitchen sink” would imply something with everything possible thrown into it. So, not sure the meaning in this context.
Basically, dramatic works that tackle difficult social and class issues.
One from 1972 that has always stuck with me is A Day in the Death of Joe Egg which coincidentally is being revived, yet again, on stage in London’s West End.
I love all of them but have no particular favorite. Maybe ‘Alfie’ with Michael Caine…There was a charming 1966 movie - ‘The Family Way’ - starring Hayley Mills as a newlywed living with her young husband, with her family, in an ‘EastEnders’ type location. I don’t think it’s available on DVD, but I saw it in the theater decades ago. 
. Real ‘slice of life’, but not ‘angry young man’ stuff.
Alan Plater did some similar things I love to watch. The Beiderbecke Affair is one and has three sequels. David Ware does political thrillers but with a “voice of the people” vibe.
I’ve seen The Family Way on TV, it must be available somewhere.
I think that last year’s Roma might qualify.
Seems to me What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is an American version of the genre.
I always think of it as a story largely consisting of people having uncomfortable conversations while doing mundane things like washing dishes.
Reading people’s explanation a Kitchen Sink movie of and the recent passing of Diannne Carroll brought to mind Claudine. Would it fit the bill?
So basically, hyper realistic movies about slobby ignorant guys in tank tops and their long suffering friends and relatives? 
I’d say Once Were Warriors from New Zealand is the best one - extremely well made and legitimately distressing at times.
Blue Collar is another great 1978 drama about auto workers, with Harvey Keitel and Richard Pryor in 100% serious roles.
That’s a great example!
I also recall Baby Boy (with Snoop Dog of all people) as being a well made and gritty character study about a young adult living with his mother.
I’m looking forward to the new South Korean film Parasite.. I’ve never seen a Bong Joon Ho movie before, but the reviews have been fascinating.
Favorite one I’ve actually seen: Fassbinder’s Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974).
I can’t think of a film that would fit but bill, but this video by Squeeze is literally set in front of a kitchen sink as a reference, and the lyrics would not be bad as the basis for a full length film.
I would agree with you, but I’m too busy watching the reflection of an airplane in a puddle of water. Or possibly dog pee. Hard to tell.
LOL… I tried watching “Roma” but 15 minutes was enough.
Good movie… I liked the movie it was based on, too, “All That Heaven Allows” - more about class than race.
Both are very good movies. I don’t think I ever saw a more real and horrific family in a movie than “Once Were Warriors”
The song is actually named after a film (of a play and a novel) Up the Junction, which is a perfect example of this genre, starring the very young Dennis Waterman and Maureen Lipman. Like many of these films it deals with the issue of abortion in the time before it was legalised in Britain.
I saw David Tennant playing Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger on stage in Edinburgh , about 5 minutes before he became A-list. Blake from Blake’s 7 played the dad.
I enjoyed the film of This Sporting Life, which more or less fits the bill here, but I stopped reading the book as it felt quite misogynist.