Best La La Land-Like Films
The musical film La La Land, which was released in 2016, literally took the world by storm. It received a whopping 14 Oscar nominations and won 6 of them, as well as numerous other awards from important organizations such as the Golden Globes and BAFTA. La La Land revived the forgotten musical genre in Hollywood. The film follows the characters Mia, who is chasing her acting dreams, and Sebastian, who is trying to break into the music industry. Their love story is intertwined with a story full of art and beauty. If you loved La La Land, we are sure you will enjoy watching similar films.
The movie The Band Wagon follows the career of Tony Hunter, a successful dancer whose career is starting to decline. His friends decide to write a play where he is the lead to prevent his star from fading. However, the director of the play intervenes, turning the comedic play into a Faustian story. The play that was meant to highlight Tony’s talent becomes a dark and twisted tale.
Inside Llewyn Davis, directed by the Coen Brothers, takes place in New York City during the 1960s, a time when music was thriving. The film follows the character Llewyn Davis as he tries to break into the music world. We see him go from door to door, trying to impress producers with his music. Along the way, he discovers the harsh realities of the industry.
The Greatest Showman tells the story of P.T. Barnum, a businessman who, tired of his mundane life, sets out to create the greatest show on earth. Barnum travels the world, collecting people with unique talents and anomalies. His dream is to create a show that will dazzle the world.
Rebel Without a Cause is a film that portrays the life of Jim, a 17-year-old who moves to Los Angeles with his family. Jim is not like the other kids in school and doesn’t fit in with society. When he is arrested for drinking in public, his family intervenes, and we are introduced to the hidden faces of the youth of the time.
West Side Story is a classic musical that tells the story of two gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. A boy and a girl from opposing gangs fall in love, leading to a modern-day adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
In the movie Moulin Rouge, Christian is a young and emotional poet who goes to a night club every evening to watch the dancers. He falls in love with one of the dancers, and so does Duke, who is the complete opposite of Christian. As the story unfolds, the tension between the two men rises, and the dancer must choose between them.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg follows the story of Geneviève, a young and beautiful woman who works at her mother’s umbrella shop. Geneviève and Guy, a mechanic, are in love, but Geneviève becomes pregnant when Guy goes away. Roland, a wealthy jeweler, falls in love with Geneviève and offers to marry her, even though she is pregnant. Geneviève now has a big decision to make.
The Artist is a black and white film set in 1920s Hollywood. The film tells the story of the silent film era’s stars and their struggle to adapt to the new age of talkies.
Singin’ in the Rain is a classic musical that follows the story of Don Lockwood, a successful actor who becomes famous overnight. When he is rejected by another actress, his confidence is shattered. He then falls in love with Kathy Selden, and their love story takes center stage.
Whiplash follows the story of Andrew, a drummer who is passionate about music. He enrolls in one of the best music schools in the world and begins taking lessons from Terence Fletcher, a real jazz genius. Andrew’s passion for music clashes with his personal ambitions.
These are just a few examples of La La Land-esque films. We could go on and on with this list. Please share with us in the comments which films you think should be included in this list.
