Best movies like I Hate Tom Petty
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Through music and dramatic performances, the film tells the story of the relationship between a young emerging guitar player/songwriter named Bob and a the sexy free spirited singer-songwriter Kitt. They are brought together by their friends and one opportunistic agent to build a cover band. Instantly infatuated with each other, they become lovers and move in together creating music for both the band and each other as they slowly push towards becoming a success. Everything begins to feel perfect, but sometimes perfect isn't always what it seems.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 31
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags:
Best tv shows and movies like I Hate Tom Petty (2011):
Similar in 86%
Disorder (1986)
Plot Summary:
Three young friends steal some music equipment for their struggling post-punk band and, in a panic, kill the shop’s owner. Assayas’ debut feature examines, with characteristic restraint and acuity, the psychological fallout as the band unravels—and each of its members grapple with their own feelings of guilt, paranoia, and despair.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 367
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: France
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 76%
Secrets (1992)
Plot Summary:
Five teens get stuck in the basement in an attempt to see the Beatles in a local hotel.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 183
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: New Zealand, Australia
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 76%
Sugar! (2016)
Plot Summary:
Leslie (Tony Award Winner ALICE RIPLEY), a housewife and 50-plus piano teacher, decides to follow her life-long dream of being a rock 'n roll singer much to the chagrin of her husband (SAG Award Winner ROBERT CLOHESSY), who is running for political office and her daughter (LEAH BARKER) who is about to embark for college.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 98
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: political
Similar in 77%
Rock'n Roll Never Dies (2006)
Plot Summary:
Finnish rocker movie.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 343
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: Finland
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
All Ages Night (2009)
Plot Summary:
A teenage rock band believe one night on stage will change their life.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 77
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 86%
Voices (1979)
Plot Summary:
Oscar-nominee Amy Irving ("Crossing Delancy," "Carrie") stars as a deaf woman who falls in love with an aspiring rock singer, even though she is unable to hear him sing.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 334
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 80%
Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1999)
Plot Summary:
A group of high school friends starts a rock band during the 1950's.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 238
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 240 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
Ganes (2007)
Plot Summary:
Remu grew up in modest conditions. He dropped out from schoold during his teen age years and is making career as a small time criminal. His family's destiny is about to come true, and it's going to be the usual: jail, alcoholism and violent death. After learning about rock music Remu learns to play drums and pushes himself into different bands. His first time in jails interrupts his music career, but after being released he starts his own band; Hurriganes.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: Finland
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, captivating, inspirational, factual
Similar in 82%
Zombie and the Ghost Train (1991)
Plot Summary:
Antti "Zombie" Autiomaa does two things well: play the bass guitar and drink. After several months' sleeping on the streets of Istanbul, he returns to Helsinki where he's called into the army but discharged on mental health grounds after adding turpentine to the officers' soup. Zombie lives bleary-eyed in an apartment off his parents' house where his lonely, unemployed father suffers from heart disease. His girl-friend Marjo has taken up with a hairdresser but comes back to Zombie. His friend Harri hires him as a roadie for his band "Harry and the Mulefukkers" then gives him a chance as a bass player. He has his girl and he has a gig, but can Zombie put the bottle down?.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: Finland
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: offbeat, realistic, humorous, gloomy, semi serious
Similar in 81%
Loren Cass (2006)
Plot Summary:
Adolescents come to terms with their lives after the rebellions of 1996 St. Petersburg.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 285
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 88%
DonT Stop (2012)
Plot Summary:
Prague, 1983. The communist regime, in a suffocating atmosphere ruled over by the secret police, imposes "normalization". Miki and David need some kind of motivation to carry on in the communist wasteland. They discover The Clash's album 'London Calling' and, of course, decide to set up a punk band. But playing punk during normalization in Czechoslovakia isn't the best idea, an opinion shared not only by their horrified parents. Many decisions made under the influence of cheap alcohol and compulsive music could be more fatal than they initially seemed. A story about the revolt of some 18-year-olds against authority, against social norms, against adult duties and responsibility. It is about the search for one's own models and values. Although based on personal experiences from the early 1980s, it could have taken place at any time and anywhere, and is more than likely taking place somewhere right now.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 148
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Czech Republic, Slovakia
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: freeze frame
Similar in 83%
Just Like Before (2006)
Plot Summary:
A movie about the Filipino rock Band The Dawn.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 24
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Philippines
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: captivating, semi autobiographical, independent film, entertaining
Similar in 87%
Born in Heinola (2016)
Plot Summary:
A story of five Finnish youth growing up during the devastating 90's recession. They live in the small, timber industrial town of Heinola. As the parents of these young teens struggle through hard economic times, the five very different youth meet by coincidence to form the punk band Apulanta (fertilizer). Nowadays Apulanta is one of the most famous bands in Finland.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: Finland
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: sentimental, captivating, exciting, tense, melancholic
Similar in 77%
Beck (2010)
Plot Summary:
Yukio is your average high school student who spends his days going to class and avoiding bullies. That is until he meets Ryusuke, a guitar prodigy. Together with Taira, Chiba, and Saku they form the rock band BECK. As their popularity increases so does the danger as Ryusuke's past catches up with him.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Japan
Duration: 145 min
Plot tags: light, unusual plot structure, captivating, visually appealing, uplifting
Similar in 83%
Light of Day (1987)
Plot Summary:
Fox and Jett play a brother and sister who are lead performers in a rock band, The Barbusters, in Cleveland, Ohio. The sister, Patti Rasnick, is an unmarried mother and has a troubled relationship with her own mother, who is deeply religious. Estranged from her parents and struggling to make ends meet, Patti decides to dive headlong into a carefree rock music lifestyle. The brother, Joe Rasnick, pulls away from rock music to provide some stability for his young nephew. It takes a family crisis to bring Patti back home and force her to face the prickly past with her mother.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: touching, independent film, sincere, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, freeze frame, light, road movie
Similar in 89%
Falling from Grace (1992)
Plot Summary:
Rock singer John Mellencamp makes his screen and directorial debut in this story by "Lonesome Dove" author, Larry McMurtry. The story, not too separated from Mellencamp's real life, finds him as a country music star whose meanderings and philandering has thrown his life into turmoil. Returning to his native Indiana to try to reestablish a normal life. Instead he takes up with an old lover (Lenz), ignoring his loving wife (Hemingway), and duplicating the lifestyle of his womanizing father (Akins).
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 695
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 78%
Scenes from the Goldmine (1987)
Plot Summary:
A girl trying to make it in the 1980's New Wave rock and roll scene in L.A.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 153
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic
Similar in 75%
Brothers of the Head (2005)
Plot Summary:
In the 1970s a music promoter plucks Siamese twins from obscurity and grooms them into a freakish rock'n'roll act. A dark tale of sex, strangeness and rock music.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: touching, semi serious, humorous, realistic, witty, period piece, clever, offbeat, mockumentary, gothic
Similar in 76%
Strutter (2012)
Plot Summary:
A young musician recovers from the loss of his girlfriend with the help of his female filmmaker friend, and even forms a friendship with the rival who stole her.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 114
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: cult classic, silent, silent film
Similar in 83%
Killer Diller (2004)
Plot Summary:
A guitar playing car thief meets an autistic savant piano player, and together they transform a group of reluctant halfway house convicts into The Killer Diller Blues Band.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 425
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: realistic, semi serious, humorous, touching, captivating, feel good
Similar in 90%
Telling Lies in America (1997)
Plot Summary:
Karchy (Brad Renfro) is a boy in school who has moved from Hungary to America in the 1960's. He is struggling in school and trying to adjust to America's culture. He then hears about a radio DJ Billy Magic (Kevin Bacon) who holds a contest for a Student Hall of Fame every week. When Karchy finally wins after several weeks, he spends more time with Billy Magic...a man with money, girls, and glam. Karchy thinks that by spending time with Magic, he can become "cool". He then starts telling lies, to make himself seem greater than he really is. But when his lies begin hurting the people he cares about, he realizes that it isn't worth telling lies if it affects your friends. Afterwards, he learns to accept himself for the person he is, and gives up lying. And as for Billy Magic, it turns out that he pays his price for all the lies that he has told as well.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sentimental, talky, touching, realistic, humorous, semi serious, independent film, detective, biting, sexy
Similar in 85%
Tender Mercies (1983)
Plot Summary:
Alchoholic former country singer Mac Sledge makes friends with a young widow and her son. The friendship enables him to find inspiration to resume his career.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, realistic, atmospheric, sincere, serious, christian film, depressing, philosophical
Similar in 89%
Graffiti Bridge (1990)
Plot Summary:
It's got that Purple Rain feeling through and though. And it's got The Kid, too! For the first time since Purple Rain, Prince is back as The Kid. And where he goes , there's music! With Thieves in the Temple, New Power Generation, Elephants and Flowers and more red-hot Prince tunes from the Platinum-selling Graffiti Bridge soundtrack. What time is it? Party time! Morris Day and the Time play Release It, Shake! and more. And you'll also see and hear George Clinton, Tevin Campbell, Robin Power, Mavis Staples and other hot performers, too. Graffiti Bridge is where the movie meets the music. Cross over on it now.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sexy, sentimental, offbeat, serious, realistic
Similar in 77%
The Dirt (2019)
Plot Summary:
The story of Mötley Crüe and their rise from the Sunset Strip club scene of the early 1980s to superstardom.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 54000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sexy, humorous, captivating, feel good, serious, slasher, sad, historical drama, psychological, tense
Similar in 83%
That Thing You Do! (1996)
Plot Summary:
A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 73000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: humorous, sentimental, feel good, light, sincere, period piece, touching, sexy, retro, emotional
Similar in 78%
Rock Star (2001)
Plot Summary:
Rock Star tells the story of Chris Cole and a rock band called Steel Dragon. Cole is a photocopier technician by day, and the lead singer of a Steel Dragon tribute band called "Blood Pollution" by night.Internal struggles between the Steel Dragon band members culminate with the firing of the lead singer, Bobby Beers and the starting of recruitment sessions to find a new vocalist. Loosely inspired by the true story of the heavy metal band Judas Priest.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 45000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: light, entertaining, melancholic, stylized, intense, serious, realistic, period piece, cult classic, inspirational
Similar in 78%
Things Behind the Sun (2001)
Plot Summary:
A young music journalist's dark memories are awakened when he goes to interview a female rock singer, and both are forced to confront troubling secrets from their pasts.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, emotional, realistic, erotic, cult classic, talky, gloomy, independent film, masterpiece
Similar in 78%
Lackawanna Blues (2005)
Plot Summary:
In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, sincere, sentimental, captivating, crying, hispanic, entertaining
Similar in 76%
Sound of Metal (2019)
Plot Summary:
Metal drummer Ruben begins to lose his hearing. When a doctor tells him his condition will worsen, he thinks his career and life is over. His girlfriend Lou checks the former addict into a rehab for the deaf hoping it will prevent a relapse and help him adapt to his new life. After being welcomed and accepted just as he is, Ruben must choose between his new normal and the life he once knew.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 145000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: psychological, disturbing, tense, captivating, melancholic, realistic, philosophical, touching, offbeat, serious
Similar in 88%
Black Snake Moan (2006)
Plot Summary:
A God-fearing bluesman takes to a wild young woman who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, is looking everywhere for love, but never quite finding it.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: psychological, sexy, emotional, melancholic, rough, dramatic, cult classic, sexual, erotic, atmospheric