🎬 Movies Like Whiplash

Loved Whiplash (2014)? A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.. Here are 28 films with the same DNA — matched on shared themes, tone, people and story elements by CinePick's similarity engine, with the reasons each one made the list. Or explore Whiplash itself.

1. 1
   Sound of Metal2019

   7.7 IMDb97% RT critics90% RT audience77% TMDB

   Often recommended together; Shared themes: drums, set in united states

2. 2
   First Man2018

   7.3 IMDb87% RT critics68% RT audience70% TMDB🎓 Critics' darling87·68

   Shared talent: director Damien Chazelle; Matching emotional, epic tone

3. 3
   La La Land2016

   8.0 IMDb91% RT critics82% RT audience79% TMDB💎 Unanimous acclaim91·82

   Shared talent: director Damien Chazelle, J.K. Simmons; Both are music/drama films

4. 4
   10 Cloverfield Lane2016

   7.2 IMDb91% RT critics79% RT audience70% TMDB

   Shared talent: writer Damien Chazelle; Same era (2010s)

5. 5
   Kids1995

   7.0 IMDb47% RT critics76% RT audience69% TMDB🍿 Crowd-pleaser47·76

   Often recommended together; Both are drama films

6. 6
   Searching for Sugar Man2012

   8.2 IMDb95% RT critics92% RT audience79% TMDB💎 Unanimous acclaim95·92

   Both are music films; Matching cerebral, emotional tone

7. 7
   Grand Piano2013

   5.9 IMDb80% RT critics47% RT audience60% TMDB🎓 Critics' darling80·47

   Shared talent: writer Damien Chazelle; Both are music/drama films

8. 8
   Inside Llewyn Davis2013

   7.4 IMDb92% RT critics74% RT audience72% TMDB🎓 Critics' darling92·74

   Both are music/drama films; Matching emotional, light tone

9. 9
   Bohemian Rhapsody2018

   7.9 IMDb60% RT critics85% RT audience80% TMDB🍿 Crowd-pleaser60·85

   Both are music/drama films; Matching emotional, light tone

10. 10
    CODA2021

    8.0 IMDb94% RT critics91% RT audience79% TMDB💎 Unanimous acclaim94·91

    Shared themes: music school, music teacher, set in united states; Both are music/drama films

11. 11
    Once2006

    7.8 IMDb97% RT critics91% RT audience74% TMDB

    Both are music/drama films; Matching light, emotional tone

12. 12
    Step Up 3D2010

    6.2 IMDb47% RT critics64% RT audience68% TMDB

    Shared themes: set in new york city, set in united states; Both are music/drama films

13. 13
    Climax2018

    6.9 IMDb69% RT critics65% RT audience70% TMDB

    Both are music/drama films; Matching dark, tense tone

14. 14
    Samsara2011

    8.4 IMDb75% RT critics87% RT audience80% TMDB💎 Unanimous acclaim75·87

    Both are music films; Matching cerebral, emotional tone

15. 15
    Hustle & Flow2005

    7.3 IMDb83% RT critics83% RT audience71% TMDB

    Both are music/drama films; Matching dark, emotional tone

16. 16
    Babylon2022

    7.1 IMDb57% RT critics53% RT audience74% TMDB

    Shared talent: director Damien Chazelle; Matching funny, emotional tone

17. 17
    A Star Is Born2018

    7.6 IMDb90% RT critics80% RT audience75% TMDB

    Both are music/drama films; Matching emotional, light tone

18. 18
    Yesterday2019

    6.8 IMDb64% RT critics89% RT audience67% TMDB🍿 Crowd-pleaser64·89

    Both are music films; Same era (2010s)

19. 19
    A Late Quartet2012

    7.1 IMDb77% RT critics71% RT audience67% TMDB

    Shared themes: set in new york city, set in united states; Both are music/drama films

20. 20
    Pitch Perfect2012

    7.1 IMDb81% RT critics83% RT audience73% TMDB

    Both are music films; Matching funny, emotional tone

21. 21
    Mo' Better Blues1990

    6.7 IMDb71% RT critics75% RT audience65% TMDB

    Often recommended together; Both are music/drama films

22. 22
    Blue Velvet1986

    7.7 IMDb91% RT critics88% RT audience76% TMDB💎 Unanimous acclaim91·88

    Often recommended together; Matching cerebral, dark tone

23. 23
    Molly Maxwell2013

    6.2 IMDb48% RT audience66% TMDB

    Often recommended together; Matching emotional tone

24. 24
    The Crush1993

    5.9 IMDb28% RT critics42% RT audience67% TMDB⚡ Polarizing28·42

    Often recommended together; Matching dark, intense tone

25. 25
    Class of 19841982

    6.5 IMDb68% RT critics66% RT audience64% TMDB

    Often recommended together; Shared themes: music teacher

26. 26
    Looking for Mr. Goodbar1977

    6.7 IMDb63% RT critics73% RT audience64% TMDB

    Often recommended together; Both are drama films

27. 27
    Blame2017

    5.8 IMDb80% RT critics64% RT audience66% TMDB

    Often recommended together; Same era (2010s)

28. 28
    The Young One1960

    7.4 IMDb100% RT critics78% RT audience69% TMDB

    Often recommended together; Both are drama films