Regardless of whether these themes are linked to narrative or plot, states of being, or more practical and formal concerns, a Dance Film is one in which dancing is employed to expose the major themes of the film. Films about dance may be found in many different genres, such as animation, drama, and documentaries.
The only area where choreography is ever developed for these sorts of movies is on film or video. Dance movies perform best when they employ a variety of cinematography and editing approaches to provide surprising turns in the plot, numerous layers of reality, and emotional or psychological depth. If dancing plays a significant role in the story or the production of the movie, it is referred to as a dance movie.
Dance movies have been a staple of movie production in Hollywood and other areas of the world since the inception of the movie industry, and modern viewers continue to love seeing them. Below is a list of 50 Movies about Dance for readers to watch and have a musical delight!
1. Footloose (1984)
Ren McCormack (cast by Kevin Bacon), a newbie to the town who moved there from Chicago, is left pondering and astonished when he learns that the little Midwestern town he now calls home has made it illegal to dance to rock music and play rock music.
Ren faces an uphill fight to change things while he is struggling to fit in with the group. It is possible that he may be successful in bringing about change in this traditional community with the assistance of his new buddy, Willard Hewitt (played by Christopher Penn), and the disobedient youngster Ariel Moore (cast by Lori Singer). However, this plan is thwarted by Ariel’s powerful father, Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow), who stands in the way.
- Cast: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Hulu, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
2. Dirty Dancing (1987)
One more unproductive summer for Baby (cast by Jennifer Grey), and she’ll be off to the Peace Corps. She was hoping to make the most of her youth while it lasted, but instead, her summer plans led her to a boring resort in the Catskills with her parents.
She was disappointed. However, her good fortune changes when Johnny, the resort’s dancing teacher (played by Patrick Swayze), chooses Baby to be his new dance partner, and the two of them eventually fall in love. Although Baby’s father forbids her to visit Johnny, she is adamant about assisting him in the performance of the final major dance of the summer.
- Cast: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video, Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
3. Flashdance (1983)
Alex Owens, cast by Jennifer Beals, is a stunning young lady who spends her days working in a steel factory and her nights dancing in a bar. When Alex learns that her dashing employer, Nick Hurley (played by Michael Nouri), is interested in her and supportive of her performance future, she redoubles her efforts to get admitted into a prominent dance school.
Nick Hurley also supports Alex’s desire to pursue a performing career. Even though Alex is terrified of failing, she is encouraged to keep going by both her boyfriend, Nick, and her mentor, a former ballet dancer named Hanna Long (cast by Lilia Skala).
- Cast: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
4. Hairspray (2007)
Tracy Turnblad, a young woman who is passionate about dancing and lived in Baltimore during the 1960s and is played by Nikki Blonsky, is successful in her attempt to land a role on “The Corny Collins Show.”
She rose to fame instantly, becoming an innovator in the fields of dance, fun, and fashion. It’s possible that her recent rise to fame as a teen idol will be enough to unseat Corny’s undisputed king of the dance floor and usher in a more diverse cast for the program.
- Cast: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
5. Step Up (2006)
After finding himself in front of the judge once more, Tyler Gage, who is portrayed by Channing Tatum, is given a sentence that requires him to perform community service for 200 hours, which is wiping down floor tiles at Maryland College of the Arts.
Tyler Gage has spent the majority of his life getting in and out of trouble. He very soon draws the attention of Nora, a talented ballet student played by Jenna Dewan. Nora is attempting to incorporate hip-hop dances and routines into her classical ballet performances. After some early reluctance, Nora is successful in persuading Tyler to assist her with her dancing routines, and sparks immediately begin to fly between the two of them.
- Cast: Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, De’Shawn Washington
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
6. Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
When the edgy street dancer Andie (portrayed by Briana Evigan) attends the illustrious Maryland College of the Arts, she discovers that it is challenging to adjust to the environment there. She finds a way to merge her old life and her new life by assembling a group of troublemaker classmates and mentoring together in order to compete in an underground dance competition known as The Streets.
She does this by joining forces with Chase, the hottest dancer at the school (who was played by Robert Hoffman), and by joining forces with Chase.
- Cast: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Adam G. Sevani
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
7. Step Up 3D (2010)
Luke (played by Rick Malambri) and Natalie, two dancers with a close-knit community, set their story against the backdrop of New York City’s underground street-dancing scene (played by Sharni Vinson).
For a high-stakes competition against the finest hip-hop dancers in the world, the gifted couple joined forces with a first-year student at New York University named Moose, who was played by Adam G. Sevani. Whether they win or lose, the competition will irrevocably alter their lives.
- Cast: Rick Malambri, Sharni Vinson, Adam G. Sevani
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
8. La La Land (2016)
Mia, a want-to-be actress, is played by Emma Stone, and Sebastian, a want-to-be jazz musician, is portrayed by Ryan Gosling. Mia serves lattes to Hollywood stars in between their auditions, while Sebastian makes ends meet by playing cocktail party engagements in seedy clubs. Because of their shared aspiration to pursue their passions, Sebastian and Mia find themselves increasingly drawn to one another.
But as their success grows, they are forced to make choices that begin to tear at the fragile thread of their infatuation, and the aspirations that they have worked so hard to keep alive within each other threaten to tear them apart. But despite these challenges, their love affair continues to flourish.
- Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
9. Center Stage (2000)
Twelve young adults have recently started their training at the illustrious American Ballet Academy, where they are subjected to enormous amounts of mental and physical pressure as they compete with one another for a coveted seat in a renowned dancing group.
Maureen (played by Susan May Pratt), who is having a difficult time undergoing the emotional peaks and valleys that come with being in ballet school, has talent but the wrong proportions. Eva Rodriguez, who is fiery and played by Zoe Saldana, can’t seem to interact with her instructors, and Jody Sawyer, who is played by Amanda Schull, has natural ability but the incorrect compositions.
- Cast: Amanda Schull, Sascha Radetsky, Zoe Saldana
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
Also Read: 30 Best Movies Of Zoe Saldana That Have The Actor’s Iconic Flair
10. A Chorus Line (1985)
At a pep rally for Broadway dancers, there are hundreds of aspirants gathered around. Zach, a sour director portrayed by Michael Douglas, and his gruff assistant, played by Terrence Mann, pare down the ranks of the dancers until there are just 16 of them remaining.
Everyone shares their life experiences, some of which are funny while others are heartbreaking, and discusses why they love to dance. When Cassie, played by Alyson Reed, was formerly a major movie actress and the filmmaker’s lover but is now desperate for a role, or auditions, the tension in the room begins to rise. However, Zach needs to select just the very finest for his presentation.
- Cast: Michael Douglas, Alyson Reed, Terrence Mann
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
11. White Nights (1985)
Ballet dancer Nikolai Rodchenko, played by Mikhail Baryshnikov, is imprisoned as a defector after having to perform an emergency landing in Siberia in his aircraft. The actor is Baryshnikov.
After meeting his old flame, the aging prima ballerina Galina Ivanova (played by Helen Mirren), Nikolai returns to Leningrad, where he meets American dancer Raymond Greenwood (played by Gregory Hines), who secretly became disenchanted with his new life in the Soviet Union after defecting during the Vietnam War. They devise a plan to flee together to freedom and the American embassy.
- Cast: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
12. The Full Monty (1997)
After being laid off from his work at a steel factory, the character of Gaz, played by Robert Carlyle, learns that his wife has decided to take legal action against him for failing to pay child support. Due to their financial predicament, Gaz and his friend Dave, who is portrayed by Mark Addy, come to the conclusion that they should launch their own male strip-tease performance.
The two friends decide to engage four more individuals, one of which being their former manager, who goes by the name of Tom Wilkinson, along with a security guard (cast by Steve Huison). The group believes their performance will be successful because they are willing to go to “the Full Monty,” in which they will be completely naked.
- Cast: Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Tom Wilkinson
- Rating: R
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
13. Chicago (2002)
The role of Nightclub Sensation Velma was played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. Richard Gere was cast in the role of Chicago’s slickest lawyer, Billy Flynn, who is poised to defend her.
When Roxie, played by Renée Zellweger, gets arrested as well, Billy comes to her aid and takes on her case as well, which turns her into a media circus that makes headlines. In their competition against one another and the general public for recognition and celebrity, none of these women will be defeated.
- Cast: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
14. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
At the turn of the 20th century, a notoriously ostentatious and opulent Parisian nightclub serves as the setting for a celebration of love and the artistic inspiration it provides. When he is thrust into the intoxicating world of the Moulin Rouge, a young poet portrayed by Ewan McGregor begins a passionate romance with the club’s most renowned and gorgeous star (cast by Nicole Kidman).
- Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
15. Save the Last Dance (2001)
After her mother is killed in a car accident, Sara (played by Julia Stiles) is required to move in with her father on the south side of Chicago. Before the disaster, Sara lived in a quiet town in the Midwest. Soon after starting at her new high school, she develops feelings for an African American student named Sean Patrick Thomas, who has a history that is not precisely picture-perfect.
They both have a passion for dancing, specific ballet for her and hip hop for him, and together they work through the challenges that come with being in an interracial relationship.
- Cast: Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Paramount+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
16. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
In order to open a chest that hides a precious present, the little girl Clara requires a magical key that is unlike any other. She follows a golden thread that eventually brings her to the prized key, but the key itself mysteriously vanishes into another dimension when she has it.
She makes the acquaintance of a soldier named Phillip, a bunch of mice, and the regents who rule over three different kingdoms while she is in that world. The only way for Clara and Phillip to acquire the key and bring peace back to the unbalanced earth is to now venture into a fourth dimension.
- Cast: Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Family
- Where To Watch: Disney+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
Also Read: 20 Best Morgan Freeman Movies To Watch – According To IMDb Rating!
17. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The gloomy Phantom, portrayed by Gerard Butler, plots his approach to Christine Daae, the lead soprano in the musical “The Phantom of the Opera,” from his lair under the 19th-century Paris opera building (played by Emmy Rossum).
The Phantom, who hides a birth defect behind his mask, exerts pressure on management to place the aspiring actress in leading parts, but Christine chooses to develop feelings for arts patron Raoul instead (cast by Patrick Wilson). The Phantom is petrified at the prospect of Christine leaving him, so he devises a strategy to ensure that she remains at his side. All the while, Raoul works to disrupt the plot.
- Cast: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
18. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
When his unconventional approach earns him the scorn of his more traditionally oriented colleagues, a top ballroom dancer finds solace in the arms of a plain-looking, left-footed local girl. Everyone on the squad puts forth their best effort, and as a result, they are able to realize their goal of winning the national championship.
- Cast: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Paramount+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
19. Footloose (2011)
When seventeen-year-old Ren MacCormack (played by Kenny Wormald), who was born and raised in Boston, relocates to the rural community of Bomont in the South, he has a severe case of culture shock. A tragic event that occurred a few years earlier and involved five young people resulted in the local councilmen and a well-liked priest (who was portrayed by Dennis Quaid) passing regulations that prohibited loud music and dancing.
Ren, who has never been one to follow the rules, defies the prohibition, and in the process, he simultaneously revitalizes Bomont and falls in love with the troubled daughter of a local pastor (cast by Julianne Hough).
- Cast: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Paramount+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
Also read: 50 Best Family Movies to Watch Right Now
20. Billy Elliot (2000)
When Billy Elliot, then 11 years old and the son of a Northern England man who works as a coal miner, happens across a ballet class by accident one day when he is in the middle of his regular boxing session, his life is irrevocably altered.
Soon after, he finds himself participating in dancing, where he exhibits the type of unrefined skill that the demanding teacher of the class, Mrs. Wilkinson, seldom sees. Mrs. Wilkinson’s passion for teaching is reignited when she recognizes Billy’s untapped potential, despite the fact that she has a sour taste in her mouth and has a pack of smokes in her hand at all times.
- Cast: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis
- Rating: R
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
21. Salsa (1988)
A neighborhood bereft of fathers, Puertorican Rico, spends his days working as a lowly auto mechanic, but his nights are spent dancing and dating attractive dancing females. Rico is arrogantly confident that he will claim the crown of Salsa king in the forthcoming competition at the upscale nightclub La Luna.
He pushes his closest buddy, Ken, who is an upstanding gentleman, to date his sister Margarita, so which helps him in spending more time with Lola, one of her classmates who is flirty. Rico’s on-again, off-again relationship with Vicki is put in jeopardy because of the defending salsa queen Luna’s desire for Rico as a dancing partner. When Ken and Margarita finally admit their feelings for one another, more jealousy and conflict ensue.
- Cast: Robby Rosa, Cynthia Rhodes, Leo Vasquez
- Rating: R
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video, Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
22. Step Up Revolution (2012)
Emily, a young dancer who just moved to Miami and is played by Kathryn McCormick, has big hopes of making it big in the dance world. Soon after, she meets Sean, the head of a dancing team known as “the Mob,” and she becomes infatuated with him.
Ryan Guzman will portray Sean. Emily is forced to join forces with Sean as well as the Mob to transform their contemporary art into protest art when a wealthy businessman’s plans to rebuild the dancers’ historic neighborhood threaten to displace thousands of people. Despite the fact that doing so may put Emily’s dreams in jeopardy, she must do this in order to save the neighborhood from being destroyed.
- Cast: Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick, Misha Gabriel
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
23. Cats (2019)
A special cat group known as the Jellicles is tasked with choosing one of its members on an annual basis to travel to the Heaviside Layer and return to a new life as a Jellicle.
- Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Musical
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
24. The Ringer (2005)
A problematic situation has befallen Steve Barker, who is portrayed by Johnny Knoxville in this production. Because he does not have health insurance, his close buddy Stavi, who he was forced to dismiss, has an accident that causes him to lose three fingers, and he has no method of paying for the operation.
While this is going on, his gambler, uncle Gary (played by Brian Cox), is accumulating a large amount of debt. Because Barker desperately needs money to assist Stavi and Gary, he grudgingly agrees to go through with his uncle’s scheme to manipulate the Special Olympics, in which Barker would pretend to be an athlete. However, the level of competition is relatively high.
- Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, Katherine Heigl
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
25. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
A parody of the chaos that befell the film business in the late 1920s, when the transition from silent to sound pictures caused widespread disruption. Lina Lamont’s speaking and singing parts are dubbed by a chorus girl when Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont’s most recent silent film is adapted into a musical. The film starred Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont. Don is at the pinnacle of his success until Lina learns the truth.
- Cast: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor
- Rating: G
- Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
26. The Turning Point (1977)
Shirley MacLaine’s character, Deedee, a ballerina who became pregnant and thus had to give up her career, relocated from New York to Oklahoma with her husband in order to bring up their children there (cast by Tom Skerritt).
When Deedee’s old friend and fellow ballerina, Emma (played by Anne Bancroft), arrives in town with her dancing company and encourages Deedee’s girl, Emilia (played by Leslie Browne), to participate, Deedee is both delighted for her daughter and sentimental about her previous life as a dancer. As Deedee attempts to deal with her long-forgotten goals, feelings of envy and sorrow begin to emerge to the surface.
- Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, Mikhail Baryshnikov
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical
- Where To Watch: Hulu, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
27. The Company (2003)
Neve Campbell plays the role of Loretta “Ry” Ryan, an aspiring ballerina who is now dancing with the world-famous Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. At the same time as she is having trouble meeting the requirements of being a dancer, she starts a relationship with the charming Josh (James Franco), who isn’t a part of that exclusive society.
A large number of genuine Joffrey dancers appear in the drama, which examines the lives of others in the company, including the ardent creative director, Alberto Antonelli (played by Malcolm McDowell), and incorporates many of those dancers.
- Cast: Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, James Franco
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
28. Sing (2016)
Buster Moon, a dapper koala, presides over what was once a magnificent theatre but has since fallen on bad times. He is an everlasting optimist who also has a reputation for being a tad bit rascal. He loves his theatre more than anything else and is willing to do everything to protect it.
As he watches the realization of his life’s desire slip away, he seizes the last opportunity to bring his once-glorious diamond back to its previous luster by organizing the most prestigious singing competition in the world. There are now five competitors left in the competition: a timid elephant, a pig, a mouse, a porcupine, and a gorilla that listens to punk rock.
- Voice Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Animation, Comedy, Musical
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
Also Read: 35 Matthew McConaughey Movies and TV Shows To Watch
29. Swing Kids (1993)
A close-knit community of young children in Nazi Germany listens to music from the United States that has been declared illegal to import. The Nazis soon begin to strengthen their hold on Germany, and soon enough, the dancing and the pleasure give way to more tough decisions. Every member of the gang is put in a difficult position where they must decide what is good and wrong in order to survive.
- Cast: Robert Sean Leonard, Christian Bale, Frank Whaley
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, War
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
Also read: 50 Best Bollywood Movies For Wholesome Entertainment
30. Dance with Me (1998)
A young Cuban man, played by Chayanne, travels to Houston to visit his father, who is portrayed by Kris Kristofferson. While there, he competes in a dance competition and develops feelings for a gorgeous dancer (played by Vanessa L. Williams).
- Cast: Vanessa L. Williams, Chayanne, Joan Plowright
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
31. Take the Lead (2006)
When globally famous dancer Pierre Dulaine (played by Antonio Banderas) accepts a teaching job in a public school in New York City, he is met with scorn from the kids, who are street-wise and laugh at the concept of ballroom dancing.
Instead of giving up on them, he combines their hip-hop dancing moves with his classical technique, so assisting them in the development of a new dance style and, in the process, becoming their teacher.
- Cast: Antonio Banderas, Alfre Woodard, Rob Brown
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
32. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Cal Weaver, portrayed here by Steve Carell, is a model citizen who has achieved the American dream. He is blessed with a wonderful family that includes his lovely wife, Emily, wonderful children, and a successful career (cast by Julianne Moore).
However, Cal’s seemingly ideal existence begins to fall apart when he discovers that Emily has so far been disloyal to him and seeks a divorce. Cal, who is above the age of 40 and found himself suddenly unmarried, is floundering in the unpredictable world of dating.
Enter Ryan Gosling’s character, Jacob Palmer, a self-styled casanova who adopts Cal under his wing and educates him on how to become successful with the girls. Jacob is portrayed by Ryan Gosling.
- Cast: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
33. Newsies (1992)
In this musical, Christian Bale plays the role of a homeless newsboy in New York City named Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, who makes friends with two up-and-coming members of his industry named David (David Moscow) and Les Jacobs (played by Luke Edwards).
The guys decide to go on strike after the publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, played by Robert Duvall, implements new restrictions that make it more difficult for inexperienced newspaper sellers to earn a buck.
As the newsboys’ struggle grabs the city, a journalist named Bryan Denton, portrayed by Bill Pullman and sympathetic to their predicament, offers them some advice in public relations during this tense time.
- Cast: Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Disney+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
34. All That Jazz (1979)
Joe Gideon, the character played by Roy Scheider, is a choreographer and director who, when he is not busy preparing for his next stage musical or preparing for his Hollywood picture, he can be found taking drugs and sleeping with what seems to be an unending line of women.
The ragged perfectionist starts to show signs of the negative effects of stress, both mentally and physically. Soon, he will have to make a decision over whether or not to put his life in jeopardy to continue his non-stop work life and selfish life. The famous Bob Fosse wrote the story for the film and also directed it. The story is, in part, autobiographical.
- Cast: Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Leland Palmer
- Rating: R
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: *Not Available to Stream Right Now*
35. Fame (1980)
Auditions are held throughout the year to choose who will be accepted into the prestigious Nyc H S of Performing Arts. Those that have made it to the final round learn that being a star requires a great deal of laborious effort and that sometimes one must make decisions that are not easy.
Young people struggle with difficult topics such as homosexuality, attempted suicide, abortion, and illiteracy. In addition to the particular challenges they face, the children also have to contend with the everyday stresses that come with being a teenager, such as having to finish their schoolwork and dealing with heartache and rejection.
- Cast: Irene Cara, Lee Curreri, Laura Dean
- Rating: R
- Genre: Drama, Music
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
36. Battle of the Year (2013)
Dante Graham, portrayed by Laz Alonso, is a hip-hop entrepreneur who started out as a breakdancer. These days, he is obsessed with the idea of an American team winning the Battle of the Year, which is an international competition for b-boys.
Dante chooses the drunken, widower basketball coach Jason Blake, a former dancer who was played by Josh Holloway. Jason Blake’s job is to choose and then train a worthy squad. Blake, his assistant (played by Josh Peck), and a choreographer (Caity Lotz) have a challenging task ahead of them: they have just three months to turn a group of 13 independent-minded males into a cohesive team. Caity Lotz plays the role of the choreographer.
- Cast: Josh Holloway, Laz Alonso, Josh Peck
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
37. Anywhere But Here (1999)
Dante Graham, portrayed by Laz Alonso, is a hip-hop entrepreneur who started out as a breakdancer. These days, he is obsessed with the idea of an American team winning the Battle of the Year, which is an international competition for b-boys. Dante chooses the drunken, widower basketball coach Jason Blake, a former dancer who was played by Josh Holloway.
Jason Blake’s job is to choose and then coach a worthy squad. Blake, his assistant (played by Josh Peck), and a choreographer (played by Caity Lotz) have a challenging task ahead of them. They have just 3 more months to turn a group of 13 independent-minded males into a cohesive team. Caity Lotz plays the role of the choreographer.
- Cast: Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman, Hart Bochner
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
38. Save the Last Dance 2 (2006)
Sara follows in her mother’s footsteps and enrolls in the prestigious Julliard School in New York with the goal of one day becoming the school’s prima ballerina. She strikes up a friendship with her housemates Zoe and Miles, both of whom are instructors of hip-hop workshops.
She takes ballet classes with the demanding and well-known Monique Delacroix, a teacher whom she admires immensely. Monique expects her pupils to put in a lot of effort and is very strict with them. Sara’s interest in hip-hop is aroused when Miles, who is a musician, offers her to assist him in writing the soundtrack for the dance choreography.
At that exact time, she gradually falls in love with Miles. She experiences conflicting emotions when she is tasked with performing Giselle on a significant occasion because she is torn between the technical aspects of both the ballet and the artistic endeavors supplied by Miles.
- Cast: Sarah Thompson, Izabella Miko, Columbus Short
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Hulu, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
39. Save the Tiger (1973)
Fashion brand manufacturer Harry Stoner (played by Jack Lemmon) laments the decline of his youthful enthusiasm even as he is about to seal his fate by organizing to have an arsonist (played by Thayer David) torch his failing factory for the insurance payout, is portrayed in the film as mourning the loss of his youthful idealism.
During a haunting demonstration at a fashion show, Stoner’s dispute with himself, his business associate (played by Jack Gilford), his emotionally distant wife (played by Patricia Smith), and a demanding client (played by Norman Burton) come to a head, while a free-spirited hippie girl (played by Laurie Heineman) offers an escape.
- Cast: Jack Lemmon, Jack Gilford, Laurie Heineman
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
Also read: 40 Best Snake Movies of All Time
40. Dancer (2016)
Filmmaker Steven Cantor investigates the life and work of ballerina Sergei Polunin, beginning with the dancer’s childhood in Ukraine and continuing on through his appearances in the UK, the United States, and Russia.
- Cast: Sergei Polunin, Jackie Chan, Elisa Sednaoui
- Rating: Not Rated
- Genre: Documentary, Music
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
41. Red Sparrow (2018)
Prima ballerina After sustaining an injury that puts an end to her professional career, Dominika Egorova is looking at a gloomy and unknowable future. Soon after, she reaches out to Sparrow School, a covert intelligence agency that instructs extraordinary children and teenagers to employ both their minds and their bodies as weapons.
After enduring the gruesome training, Egorova has proven to be the most deadly of the Sparrows. Dominika encounters a CIA agent who, while she is coming to grips with her newly discovered skills, endeavors to persuade her that he’s the one person with whom she can place her faith.
- Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts
- Rating: R
- Genre: Thriller, Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
42. Black Swan (2010)
The character of Nina, portrayed by Natalie Portman, is a ballerina whose love of dancing dictates how she conducts herself in every aspect of her life. Nina is the first person that comes to mind for the role of prima ballerina when the creative director of the company makes the decision to replace one of his dancers in the upcoming performance of “Swan Lake.”
However, she has competition from a newbie named Lily, who is played by Mila Kunis. Lily embodies the character of the Black Swan, in contrast to Nina, who plays the part of the White Swan so well. Nina’s shadowy personality starts to show itself as the two dancers’ once-hostile rivalry evolves into a perverse relationship.
- Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
- Rating: R
- Genre: Thriller, Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
43. Coyote Ugly (2000)
Violet Sanford, age 21, is gifted with a velvet voice, and she moves to New York to continue pursuing her dream of turning into a songwriter. However, her aspirations are pushed aside by the plaudits and notoriety she obtains at her “day job” as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly, and she finds that her dream of becoming a songwriter is put on hold.
The patrons and the media are both titillated by the absurd activities that the “Coyotes,” as they are lovingly nicknamed, engage in, which is one of the reasons why Coyote Ugly has become the watering spot for males who are on the lookout.
- Cast: Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Maria Bello
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Where To Watch: Disney+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
44. In the Heights (2021)
On Washington Heights, the lights come on. Just beyond the 181st Street metro stop, where such a kaleidoscope of aspirations rallies this dynamic and close-knit neighborhood, the aroma of a Cafecito Caliente lingers in the air.
At the center of it, all is the lovable and charismatic bodega owner Usnavi, who is played by Anthony Ramos. Usnavi is someone who wishes, imagines, and sings about a better quality of life while he saves every dime from his daily grind of working at the bodega.
The musical “In the Heights” captures a world that is very much of its location but global in its perspective by combining the dynamic music and lyrics of Lin-Manuel Miranda with Jon M. Chu’s vibrant and realistic sense of narrative.
- Cast: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
45. Feel The Beat (2020)
April moves back to her little town after trying and failing to make it big on Broadway. There, she is asked to mentor a young group of dancers who don’t exactly fit in.
- Cast: Sofia Carson, Enrico Colantoni, Eva Hauge
- Rating: TV-PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Netflix
46. West Side Story (2021)
When young Tony sees Maria for the first time at a school dance in New York City in 1957, he experiences love at first sight. Their budding relationship contributes to the tension that exists between the Jets and the Sharks, which are two opposing gangs that are competing for dominance of the streets.
- Cast: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, David Alvarez
- Rating: PG-13
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
- Where To Watch: HBO Max, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
47. The Greatest Showman (2017)
P.T. Barnum demonstrates a natural knack for publicity and marketing as he is coming up during the early 1800s. By the age of 12, he is already selling lottery tickets. After doing a variety of occupations, PT decides to pursue a career in show business so that he may give free rein to his boundless creativity.
He eventually builds the Barnum & Bailey circus from nothing. Barnum’s fascinating extravaganza, which includes catchy musical performances, exotic performers, and dangerous acrobatic feats, quickly catches the globe by storm and becomes the world’s most popular show.
- Cast: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
- Where To Watch: Disney+, Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
48. Zombies (2018)
Zombietown is a desolate and decrepit village that is imbued with the zombies’ own distinct creative energy. Residents of Zombietown are required to remain there because the zombies do not represent a threat nowadays. Addison, a freshman at Seabrook High School, has always had the ambition of becoming a cheerleader.
When zombies are finally allowed to attend Seabrook High School, the charismatic and charming zombie Zed, who is determined to participate in football, meets Addison, who dreams of becoming a cheerleader. Being a cheerleader is the highest form of status in Seabrook.
Addison receives a lot of criticism for befriending Zed and his zombie buddies, but she eventually realizes that cheerleaders and zombies aren’t all that dissimilar from one another after all. Together, Zed and Addison demonstrate to the people of Seabrook what they are capable of doing when they recognize and appreciate the unique qualities that make up their neighborhood.
- Cast: Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim, Trevor Tordjman
- Rating: TV-G
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
- Where To Watch: Disney+
49. Zombies 3 (2022)
During Zed and Addison’s final year at Seabrook, everything is going better than it ever has. The citizens of Seabrook have, at long last, grasped the reality that the town is home to monsters, and the town itself has evolved into a safe haven for both monsters and humans.
Zed is excited to follow Addison, who has already been accepted into the program and is on the verge of earning a football scholarship so that he may attend college for the very first time.
To mark the occasion of the grand opening of the town’s brand-new “cheer pavilion,” cheerleading teams from all over the world have been invited to participate in an “international cheer-off” competition. The town is taken aback when a new group of mysterious extraterrestrial beings, also known as “aliens,” arrives to take part in the cheer-off competition.
The monsters and humans of Seabrook grant the aliens permission to stay for the tournament against their better judgment, but they are on edge after learning that the aliens may have more sinister intentions than just a pleasant competition.
- Cast: Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim, Kylee Russell
- Rating: TV-G
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
- Where To Watch: Disney+
50. Happy Feet (2006)
Antarctica is home to a young Emperor Penguin by the name of Mumble, which is portrayed by Elijah Wood. He must be able to sing like others of his kind in order to woo a mate, but unfortunately, he has a terrible singing voice. Instead, Mumble needs to use his tremendous tap-dancing talent to convey who he is as a person and win the heart of a woman.
- Voice Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy
- Rating: PG
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (rent/buy), Vudu (rent/buy), Apple TV (rent/buy)
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