Best tv shows like Empire
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A powerful family drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 41000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, exciting, captivating, soap opera, suspense, queer cinema
Best tv shows and movies like Empire (2015):
Similar in 78%
Love Monkey (2006)
Plot Summary:
Love Monkey is a television series created by Michael Rauch and based on a book of the same name, by Kyle Smith. It starred Tom Cavanagh as a 30-something, single, record executive who navigated the tumultuous and highly amusing waters of work and dating in New York City. Its first episode aired on January 17, 2006 on CBS, attracting an audience of about 8.6 million viewers. By its third episode on February 7, viewership was down to 6.2 million, and CBS pulled it from the schedule, with no plans for its return. At the end of March, VH1 announced plans to re-broadcast the three episodes broadcast on CBS and air the five remaining unaired episodes. The last episode aired on May 16, 2006 on VH1. CBS has one episode available free for online viewing via its new Innertube website and intends to make the other 7 episodes available for viewing there as well. As it was bought for syndication by VH1, it now airs on MuchMoreMusic in Canada. In the summers of 2009 and 2010, the series was shown on the Universal HD cable network. It was a co-production of Paramount Television and Sony Pictures Television.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 907
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: sentimental, realistic, feel good, serious, clever
Similar in 85%
Vinyl (2016)
Plot Summary:
Set in 1970s New York, Vinyl is a ride through the sex- and drug-addled music business at the dawn of punk, disco, and hip-hop. The show is seen through the eyes of a record label president, Richie Finestra, who is trying to save his company and his soul without destroying everyone in his path.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: stylized, captivating, tense, realistic, erotic, sensual, dark drama, independent film, serious, rockumentary
Similar in 83%
Nashville (2012)
Plot Summary:
Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes face personal and professional challenges as they navigate their paths as artists and individuals. Surrounding them, and often complicating their lives, are their family, friends and, in some cases, lovers, as well as the up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business. In Nashville, musicians and songwriters are at the heart of the storm driven by their own ambitions. Some are fueled by their creativity and passion for fame. Others struggle to cope with the pressures of success and are doing everything in their power to stay on top.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 43 min
Plot tags: captivating, sincere, realistic, sentimental, serious, soap opera, dramatic, game show
Similar in 90%
Queens (2021)
Plot Summary:
Estranged and out-of-touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches—their ‘90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music, Musical
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: captivating, entertaining, queer cinema
Similar in 86%
Treme (2010)
Plot Summary:
Tremé takes its name from a neighborhood of New Orleans and portrays life in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane. Beginning three months after Hurricane Katrina, the residents of New Orleans, including musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians, and other New Orleanians struggle to rebuild their lives, their homes and their unique culture.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 55 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, sentimental, serious, erotic, philosophical, gothic, emotional, social, sensual
Similar in 80%
Dynasty (2017)
Plot Summary:
The reboot follows two of America’s wealthiest families, the Carringtons and the Colbys, as they feud for control over their fortune and their children focusing on Fallon Carrington, the daughter of billionaire Blake Carrington, and her soon-to-be stepmother, Cristal, a Hispanic woman marrying into this WASP family and America’s most powerful class.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: artsy, captivating, soap opera, cynical
Similar in 78%
Elvis (2005)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of the life of Elvis Presley (Rhys Meyers), from his humble beginnings to his rise to international stardom.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 173 min
Plot tags: realistic, sentimental, touching, captivating, serious, gloomy, rockumentary
Similar in 90%
The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)
Plot Summary:
The Jacksons are your average working-class family in Gary, Indiana; but when their father discovers the kids have an extraordinary musical talent they form a band. Winning talent show after talent show they soon hit it big when Motown calls. From there they become the now famous Jackson 5. But along the way their success brings trouble and turmoil.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 240 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, controversial
Similar in 88%
Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019)
Plot Summary:
Tracks the Wu-Tang Clan's formation, a vision of Bobby Diggs, who strives to unite a dozen young, black men that are torn between music and crime but eventually rise to become the unlikeliest of American success stories.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 49 min
Plot tags: suspense, realistic, exciting, sincere
Similar in 89%
Step Up: High Water (2018)
Plot Summary:
Twins Tal and Janelle relocate from Ohio to Atlanta, where at their new school High Water is always a beat.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: captivating, exciting, inspirational, feel good, sweet, serious, entertaining, ridiculous
Similar in 76%
Queen Sugar (2016)
Plot Summary:
The series follows the life of two sisters, Nova Bordelon and Charley Bordelon, who, with her teenage son Micah moves to the heart of Louisiana to claim an inheritance from her recently departed father - an 800-acre sugarcane farm.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: serious, touching, realistic, sentimental, sincere, sad, queer cinema
Similar in 83%
You Got Served (2004)
Plot Summary:
At Mr. Rad's Warehouse, the best hip-hop crews in Los Angeles compete for money and respect. But when a suburban crew crashes the party, stealing their dancers - and their moves - two warring friends have to pull together to represent the street. Starring hip-hop sensations Marques Houston, Omari Grandberry, Lil' Kim and comedian Steve Harvey.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: intense, stylized, humorous, hood, inspirational, entertaining, serious, realistic, sexy, melancholic
Similar in 90%
Filly Brown (2012)
Plot Summary:
“Majo” Tonorio, a.k.a. Filly Brown, is a raw, young Los Angeles hip-hop artist who spits from the heart. When a sleazy record producer offers her a crack at rap stardom, Majo faces some daunting choices. With an incarcerated mother, a record contract could be the ticket out for her struggling family. But taking the deal means selling out her talent and the true friends who helped her to the cusp of success.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: realistic, sincere, captivating, psychological, hood, serious, independent film
Similar in 87%
Just Another Day (2009)
Plot Summary:
Follows a day in the life of two men living at either end of the music game. A successful rapper, A-Maze, is dealing with the pitfalls and trappings of his success and facing new challenges in the music business to get a check while the other, Young Eastie, is a young man struggling in a harsh world that is threatening to destroy him.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 881
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, hood
Similar in 87%
Know Thy Enemy (2009)
Plot Summary:
Nemesis is the hottest rapper in rap's hottest city; Miami, the 305. But he has a little secret...he's not really a rapper. A record label discovers Nate's talent, and offers to make him a star, as a rapper. They create Nemesis, a Hip Hop gangster designed to sell records and spit hate. Fame quickly follows, but at price.
IMDB Rating: 3.3
IMDB Votes: 255
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: realistic, semi serious, inspirational, captivating, entertaining, disturbing
Similar in 75%
Beat Street (1984)
Plot Summary:
An aspiring DJ, from the South Bronx, and his best friend, a promoter, try to get into show business by exposing people to hip-hop music and culture.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: hood, independent film, grim, serious, realistic, light, bloody, melancholic, affectionate, harsh
Similar in 86%
The Five Heartbeats (1991)
Plot Summary:
In the early 1960's, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: sentimental, hood, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious, independent film, light, inspirational, road movie
Similar in 76%
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 76%
Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming (2010)
Plot Summary:
Chance Harris looks to find a balance between his school, work, relationships and opportunity to perform at the nationally televised step competition during homecoming weekend at Truth University.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, serious, captivating, realistic, independent film
Similar in 86%
Krush Groove (1985)
Plot Summary:
Russell Walker is a young, successful manager of rap performers, handling acts for the Krush Groove label, including Run-DMC and The Fat Boys. When Run-D.M.C. has a hit record and Russell needs more money to press more copies, he borrows it from a street hustler and soon regrets his decision.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: hood, black comedy, grim, serious, captivating, realistic, eighties, black cinema, cult film
Similar in 79%
The Colbys (1985)
Plot Summary:
The Colbys is an American prime time soap opera, which originally aired on ABC from November 20, 1985 to March 26, 1987. Produced by Aaron Spelling, it was a spin-off of Dynasty, which had been the highest rated series for the 1984–1985 U.S. television season. The Colbys revolved around another wealthy, upper-class family, who were distant relatives of the Carringtons of Dynasty and who owned a large multi-national corporation. Intended to surpass its predecessor in opulence, the series' producers were handed an immensely high budget for the era and cast a handful of well-known movie stars among its leads, including Charlton Heston, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Ross and Ricardo Montalban. However, The Colbys was ultimately a ratings disappointment, and was canceled after two seasons.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: soap opera, exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, saga, campy
Similar in 82%
Sinatra (1992)
Plot Summary:
An extensive biopic of one of the most famous entertainers of the 20th century - Frank Sinatra. The only thing that could engage the public more than his songs and films was his sometimes controversial private life.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 431
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 250 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, captivating, realistic, iconic, nostalgic
Similar in 78%
The Beach Boys: An American Family (2000)
Plot Summary:
This movie re-creates the life stories of the members of the rock group "The Beach Boys. The film focuses primarily on the Wilson brothers and their parents, but also includes stories about the rest of members of the band. A two-part television movie special.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 781
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 240 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, captivating
Similar in 90%
The Temptations (1998)
Plot Summary:
The true story of The Temptations, the Soul vocal group of the 1960s, as seen from the viewpoint of the last surviving member, Otis Williams. Beginning from their humble origins in the late 50s and continuing through the 90s and the deaths of the other 4 members.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 175 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, black cinema, rockumentary, period drama
Similar in 75%
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 87%
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998)
Plot Summary:
In the mid-80s, three women (each with an attorney) arrive at the office of New York entertainment manager, Morris Levy. One is an L.A. singer, formerly of the Platters; one is a petty thief from Philly; one teaches school in a small Georgia town. Each claims to be the widow of long-dead doo-wop singer-songwriter Frankie Lyman, and each wants years of royalties due to his estate, money Levy has never shared. During an ensuing civil trial, flashbacks tell the story of each one's life with Lyman, a boyish, high-pitched, dynamic performer, lost to heroin. Slowly, the three wives establish their own bond.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: emotional, inspirational, melancholic, touching, sentimental, serious, realistic, cult classic, independent film, entertaining
Similar in 88%
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%
Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story (2013)
Plot Summary:
TLC's humble beginnings in Atlanta quickly led to an unprecedented rise to fame in the 1990's as one of the world's most talented, celebrated and highest-selling female groups of all time. Through very public and high profile success, turmoil and tragedy, TLC left an indelible stamp of female empowerment that changed the face of the music industry forever.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 90%
All Eyez on Me (2017)
Plot Summary:
All Eyez on Me chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records. Against insurmountable odds, Tupac rose to become a cultural icon whose career and persona both continue to grow long after his passing.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: hood, factual, thought provoking, enigmatic, captivating, exciting, inspirational, sad, black cinema
Similar in 78%
Hustle & Flow (2005)
Plot Summary:
With help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 43000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: touching, bleak, realistic, hood, emotional, intense, sincere, rough, uplifting, serious