Best Dance Movie

This 1935 musical comedy stars Fred Astaire as Jerry Travers, an American dancer in London seeking the attention of Dale Tremont. The film involves a romantic pursuit orchestrated by Horace Hardwick, with supporting roles including fashion designer Alberto Beddini and Hardwick’s wife, Madge. It show...

La La Land tells the story of Mia, a waitress with musical ambitions, and Sebastian, a jazz pianist searching for his place in Los Angeles. Their paths cross as they navigate the city's entertainment scene while pursuing their dreams, developing a romantic connection amidst the challenges of pursuin...

Swing Time is a 1936 musical comedy film directed by George Stevens for RKO starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The story centers on a gambler attempting to finance his marriage through dance, leading him to a romance with a dance instructor in New York City. Jerome Kern’s music accompanies the...

The Gay Divorcee is a 1934 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The story adapts the Broadway musical “Gay Divorce,” originally based on a play by J. Hartley Manners, featuring a cast including Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton. It was written...

All That Jazz is a 1979 film directed by Bob Fosse, portraying the life of a stage director through a semi-autobiographical narrative. The movie draws from aspects of Fosse’s career as a choreographer and filmmaker, alongside the final work of producer Robert Alan Arthur. It was written by Fosse and...

42nd Street is a 1933 musical film directed by Lloyd Bacon, featuring music by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, and choreography by Busby Berkeley. The production employed an ensemble cast including Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, and several other prominent actors of the era. It was released before the esta...

An American in Paris, released in 1951, adapts George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.” The film, directed by Vincente Minnelli, features Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron set against the backdrop of Paris. Music for the production was composed by George Gershwin with contributions from several other mus...

Funny Face is a 1957 American musical comedy starring Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, and Kay Thompson. It diverges significantly from the earlier Broadway production by the Gershwin brothers, featuring a different plot and only incorporating four songs from that original work. The film was directed b...

Pina is a documentary exploring the life and artistry of Pina Bausch, a pioneering German choreographer. The film offers an intimate portrait of her innovative approach to dance, blending performance with theater and emotional depth. It’s notable for its biographical focus on a significant figure in...

Billy Elliot depicts an eleven-year-old boy in County Durham during the 1984-1985 miners’ strike who pursues a passion for ballet despite familial opposition rooted in societal prejudices. The film follows his journey with the support of a local ballet instructor, showcasing a conflict between perso...

Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 film directed by Baz Luhrmann that centers on the relationship between an English poet, Christian, and the performer Satine at the Moulin Rouge cabaret. The narrative explores their romance amidst the club’s vibrant atmosphere and the challenges of their respective social pos...

Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy exploring the world of competitive ballroom dancing. The film’s innovative choreography and unique perspective on traditional dance earned director Baz Luhrmann critical acclaim and established his distinctive style. It resonates with those int...

Saturday Night Fever chronicles Tony Manero, an Italian-American youth residing in Brooklyn’s working-class ethnic neighborhood. He spends his weekends at a local disco, engaging in dancing and drinking alongside social tensions and personal disillusionment. The film is adapted from a 1976 New York...

Magic Mike is a 2012 film exploring the world of male revue performance. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Channing Tatum, it portrays the journey of an aspiring performer navigating this specialized industry. The movie offers a look into the lives of individuals involved in erotic entertai...

Dil To Pagal Hai is a Bollywood romantic musical film from 1997. It explores themes of obsession and unrequited love through the lens of a dance troupe’s competitive environment. The story follows a choreographer and two dancers entangled in a complicated triangle. This film, featuring memorable mus...

Dirty Dancing is a 1987 romantic drama film centered on Frances “Baby” Houseman, a young woman’s burgeoning relationship with dance instructor Johnny Castle during a summer vacation at a resort. The story unfolds within the setting of a 1963 Borscht Belt and explores themes of attraction and learnin...

Easter Parade is a 1948 musical film directed by Charles Walters, featuring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. The movie includes several songs composed by Irving Berlin, notably “Easter Parade,” and stars Peter Lawford and Ann Miller. It was produced in Technicolor and based on a story developed by Goo...

Flying Down to Rio marked the debut collaboration between Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in a 1933 musical film. Featuring music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Gus Kahn and Edward Eliscu, the movie starred Dolores del Río and Gene Raymond. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original...

Disco Dancer is a 1982 Bollywood film centered on a talented street dancer’s pursuit of fame and love. Starring Mithun Chakraborty, it showcases vibrant Indian dance traditions alongside action sequences reflecting the burgeoning 1980s musical genre. The movie appeals to audiences interested in Indi...

Take the Lead is a 2006 drama centered around Pierre Dulaine, portrayed by Antonio Banderas, who establishes Dancing Classrooms in New York City. The film features a cast including Alfre Woodard and utilized stock footage to depict urban locations. It premiered on April 7, 2006, and was primarily fi...

Flashdance centers on Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill worker and aspiring ballerina portrayed by Jennifer Beals. The film depicts her dual life balancing demanding dance training with her employment at the mill alongside her boyfriend, the mill’s owner. It explores themes of ambition and working...

Step Up: All In is a 2014 romantic drama centered around dance. The film follows aspiring dancer Vic McCoy as he enters a professional competition, partnering with newcomer Serena Pemberton. It’s notable for its energetic choreography and serves as the series' final installment. This movie appeals t...

Love, Miki and Inori are on their way to a dance contest, but get lost on their way to Minato Mirai. Still looking for their way, they are attacked by a monster. When the three Fresh Precure girls start to fight it, other Precures show up to support them. They all have to combine their powers to win...

Step Up, released in 2006, is a teen dance drama directed by Anne Fletcher and based on a screenplay by Duane Adler and Melissa Rosenberg. The film features Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan among its cast of actors, including Mario Barrett, Drew Sidora, and Rachel Griffiths. It’s a story centered arou...

Staying Alive is a 1983 film directed by Sylvester Stallone, following the story of Tony Manero, played by John Travolta, as he navigates life after his experiences in Saturday Night Fever. The sequel features a supporting cast including Cynthia Rhodes and other performers, continuing the narrative...