Best movies like Purple Rain
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A young man with a talent for music meets an aspiring singer, Apollonia, and finds that talent alone isn't all that he needs.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, sentimental, realistic, cult classic, intellectual, entertaining, avant garde, hood, eros
Best tv shows and movies like Purple Rain (1984):
Similar in 84%
The Song (2014)
Plot Summary:
The film follows aspiring singer-songwriter Jed King (Alan Powell) as he struggles to catch a break and escape the long shadow of his father, a country music legend. After reluctantly accepting a gig at a local vineyard harvest festival, Jed is love-struck by the vineyard owner’s daughter, Rose (Ali Faulkner), and a romance quickly blooms. Soon after their wedding, Jed writes Rose “The Song,” which becomes a breakout hit. Thrust into a life of stardom and a world of temptation in the form of fellow performer Shelby Bale (Caitlin Nicol-Thomas), Jed’s life and marriage begin to fall apart.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, serious, captivating, christian film, inspirational, touching, realistic, independent film
Similar in 79%
The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Plot Summary:
Frank and Jack Baker are professional musicians who play small clubs. They play smaltzy music and have never needed a day job.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA, West Germany
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: sexy, offbeat, sex comedy, sensual, sincere, clever, touching, serious, realistic, light
Similar in 85%
Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (1989)
Plot Summary:
In the sixties, Eddie and the cruisers was the hottest band around. But the tragic death of its lead singer broke the band up. Only Eddie is not dead. He works as a carpenter in Montreal. His love of music forces him to create a new band which will have to struggle with its anonymity.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, serious, emotional, realistic, romantic, road movie, sexy, thought provoking, feel good
Similar in 78%
The Bodyguard (1992)
Plot Summary:
A former Secret Service agent grudgingly takes an assignment to protect a pop idol who's threatened by a crazed fan. At first, the safety-obsessed bodyguard and the self-indulgent diva totally clash. But before long, all that tension sparks fireworks of another sort, and the love-averse tough guy is torn between duty and romance.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 145000
Genere: Action, Drama, Music, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: romantic, touching, suspense, exciting, sexy, entertaining, serious, suspenseful, romantic drama, erotic
Similar in 80%
The Jazz Singer (1980)
Plot Summary:
Neil Diamond stars as Yussel in this tale of a young Jewish cantor who strives to make a career in music.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: touching, intense, sentimental, serious, emotional, realistic, independent film, inspirational, road movie, feel good
Similar in 83%
Beyond the Lights (2014)
Plot Summary:
Noni Jean is a hot new rising star. But not all is what it seems, and the pressure causes Noni to nearly fall apart - until she meets Kaz Nicol, a promising young cop and aspiring politician who's been assigned to her detail. Can Kaz's love give Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be?.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: romantic, sexy, melancholic, emotional, sentimental, romantic comedy, teen, cute, serious, entertaining
Similar in 83%
Song to Song (2017)
Plot Summary:
In this modern love story set against the Austin, Texas music scene, two entangled couples — struggling songwriters Faye and BV, and music mogul Cook and the waitress whom he ensnares — chase success through a rock ‘n’ roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: stylized, atmospheric, serious, art house, independent film, inspirational, captivating, disturbing, philosophical, artsy
Similar in 83%
Flashdance (1983)
Plot Summary:
The popular 1980’s dance movie that depicts the life of an exotic dancer with a side job as a welder who true desire is to get into ballet school. It’s her dream to be a professional dancer and now is her chance. The film has a great soundtrack with an Oscar winning song.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 58000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sexy, teen, retro, erotic, inspirational, romantic, sweet, serious, stylized, feel good
Similar in 80%
A Star Is Born (1976)
Plot Summary:
A Star Is Born is a 1976 rock music film telling the story of a young woman, played by Barbra Streisand who enters show business, and meets and falls in love with an established male star, played by Kris Kristofferson, only to find her career ascending while his goes into decline.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, sentimental, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, corny
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 83%
Chopin: Desire for Love (2002)
Plot Summary:
The biography of world famous Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 794
Genere: Drama, Romance, Music
Country: Poland
Duration: 134 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, captivating, realistic, emotional, period drama
Similar in 85%
Hearts of Fire (1987)
Plot Summary:
A reclusive musician, once a huge rock star, takes a young female protegee. While on a tour she meets a younger, more popular rocker and switches her loyalties.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 519
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: independent film, realistic, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 89%
A Star is Born (2018)
Plot Summary:
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers-and falls in love with-struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer – until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 410000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: sad, inspirational, romantic drama, sincere, uplifting, touching, feel good, depressing, heartbreaking, captivating
Similar in 76%
Forty Shades of Blue (2005)
Plot Summary:
A Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock-n-roll legend experiences a personal awakening when her husband's estranged son comes to visit.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: sincere, emotional, realistic, contemplative, serious, erotic, offbeat, psychological, gloomy, crying
Similar in 75%
Crazy Heart (2009)
Plot Summary:
When reporter Jean Craddock interviews Bad Blake -- an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend -- they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son. But can he leave behind an existence playing in the shadow of Tommy, the upstart kid he once mentored?.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 94000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: touching, romantic, depressing, emotional, sincere, sentimental, serious, feel good, cult classic, realistic
Similar in 76%
A Slipping-Down Life (1999)
Plot Summary:
A young woman becomes obsessed with a small-time North Carolina rock singer.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, sincere, captivating, romantic, romantic drama, independent film, sentimental, offbeat, humorous
Similar in 90%
Stomp the Yard (2007)
Plot Summary:
After the death of his younger brother, a troubled 19-year-old street dancer from Los Angeles is able to bypass juvenile hall by enrolling in the historically black, Truth University in Atlanta, Georgia. But his efforts to get an education and woo the girl he likes are sidelined when he is courted by the top two campus fraternities, both of which want and need his fierce street-style dance moves to win the highly coveted national step show competition.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: inspirational, intense, captivating, exciting, touching, hood, serious, realistic, independent film, erotic
Similar in 90%
The Competition (1980)
Plot Summary:
The movie centers on a piano competition whose winner is assured of success. It is Paul's last chance to compete, but newcomer Heidi may be a better pianist. Can romance be far away? Will she take a dive despite the pressure to win from her teacher, Greta, or will she condemn Paul to obscurity?.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: romantic, sentimental, uplifting, touching, serious, realistic, light, inspirational, sexy, feel good
Similar in 87%
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)
Plot Summary:
An acclaimed stage performer, Dorothy still struggled with the challenge of her color, in a time that wouldn't let some stars in by the front door. Yet against the odds she beat out many more famous rivals for the role of "Carmen Jones", becoming the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Marriages and affairs would break her heart, but her heart was strong. Seductive and easily seduced, she was born to be a star - with all the glory and all the pain of being loved, abused, cheated, glorified, undermined and undefeated. Here was a woman who wouldn't wait in the wings. Halle Berry stars as Dorothy Dandrige.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: cult classic, sentimental, sincere, thought provoking, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, contemplative, entertaining
Similar in 79%
Walk the Line (2005)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 262000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, road movie, captivating, inspirational, feel good, dramatic, romantic, period piece
Similar in 78%
Backbeat (1994)
Plot Summary:
Chronicles the early days of The Beatles in Hamburg, Germany. The film focuses primarily on the relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe (played by Stephen Dorff) and John Lennon (played by Ian Hart), and also with Sutcliffe's German girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr (played by Sheryl Lee).
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: UK, Germany
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, sincere, rough, serious, realistic, inspirational, clever, enigmatic, melancholic
Similar in 90%
The Mambo Kings (1992)
Plot Summary:
The Mambo Kings tells the story of César and Nestor Castillo, brothers and aspiring musicians who flee from Cuba to America in search of the American Dream.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: France, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: sentimental, emotional, melancholic, serious, realistic, touching, captivating, fairy tale, romantic, sexy
Similar in 80%
The Josephine Baker Story (1991)
Plot Summary:
Biography of the African-American who became a major performer in the Paris cabarets of the 1920's and 1930's. The film follows her life beginning as a struggling performer in 1917 St. Louis, her frustrations leading to her move to France, and follows to her death in 1975. Written by John Sacksteder.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Music, Romance
Country: USA, UK, Hungary
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, emotional, serious, entertaining, crying, uplifting, black cinema
Similar in 77%
Once (2007)
Plot Summary:
A vacuum repairman moonlights as a street musician and hopes for his big break. One day a Czech immigrant, who earns a living selling flowers, approaches him with the news that she is also an aspiring singer-songwriter. The pair decide to collaborate, and the songs that they compose reflect the story of their blossoming love.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 120000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Ireland, USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, inspirational, independent film, romantic, heartbreaking, light, melancholic, talky
Similar in 85%
High Fidelity (2000)
Plot Summary:
When record store owner Rob Gordon gets dumped by his girlfriend, Laura, because he hasn't changed since they met, he revisits his top five breakups of all time in an attempt to figure out what went wrong. As Rob seeks out his former lovers to find out why they left, he keeps up his efforts to win Laura back.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 188000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: realistic, melancholic, feel good, funny, romantic, sentimental, humorous, semi serious, cult classic, clever
Similar in 88%
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Plot Summary:
Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday. Her late childhood, stint as a prostitute, early tours, marriages and drug addiction are featured.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min
Plot tags: realistic, retro, intellectual, sentimental, touching, serious, gloomy, sexy, brutal, feel good
Similar in 76%
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
Plot Summary:
A film about the singer Tina Turner and how she rose to stardom with her abusive husband Ike Turner and how she gained the courage to break free.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sincere, intense, serious, emotional, touching, intellectual, hood, captivating, realistic
Similar in 82%
Get on Up (2014)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: heartbreaking, emotional, talky, captivating, realistic, sentimental, intellectual, feel good, surreal, period piece
Similar in 79%
Cadillac Records (2008)
Plot Summary:
The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: realistic, inspirational, talky, stylized, intense, sincere, sentimental, serious, captivating, social
Similar in 83%
Notorious (2009)
Plot Summary:
NOTORIOUS is the story of Christopher Wallace. Through raw talent and sheer determination, Wallace transforms himself from Brooklyn street hustler (once selling crack to pregnant women) to one of the greatest rappers of all time; THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. Follow his meteoric rise to fame and his refusal to succumb to expectations - redefining our notion of "The American Dream.".
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 46000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: hood, melancholic, factual, sincere, serious, epic, sad, sexual, sentimental, rough