10 Movies and TV Shows Similar to Bunheads (2012)

Description: Like Bunheads, Gilmore Girls was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and features her signature fast-paced, witty dialogue and strong female leads. Both shows explore themes of small-town life, mother-daughter relationships, and the pursuit of dreams. The quirky, charming settings and ensemble casts are also similar.

Fact: The show was originally pitched as a drama about a young single mother, but evolved into a dramedy. Lauren Graham (Lorelai) and Alexis Bledel (Rory) had immediate chemistry during their first audition together. The famous opening theme song 'Where You Lead' was originally a Carole King song from

Description: Like Bunheads, this show features a quirky, determined female lead in a creative industry (fashion magazines vs. dance studio). Both balance workplace comedy with deeper family dynamics and personal growth stories, using bright visual palettes and eccentric supporting characters.

Fact: America Ferrera wore prosthetic teeth and eyebrows to play Betty. The role was originally offered to Salma Hayek as a star vehicle. It was adapted from the Colombian telenovela 'Yo soy Betty, la fea.'

Description: This Australian drama shares Bunheads' focus on young performers (in this case, ballet dancers) navigating the pressures of their art form. Both shows balance lighthearted moments with deeper emotional storylines about ambition, friendship, and personal growth in competitive artistic environments.

Fact: The show's creators spent two years researching at the National Ballet School of Australia. Many of the dance sequences were performed by the actors themselves after intensive training. It was one of the first Australian teen dramas to gain significant international popularity.

Description: Like Bunheads, this show explores identity and reinvention through its protagonist (a 40-year-old pretending to be 26). Both feature Darren Star's signature blend of comedy and drama, New York settings, and examinations of age and ambition in creative fields (publishing vs. dance).

Fact: The show is based on a novel by Pamela Redmond Satran. Sutton Foster (Bunheads' Michelle) was considered for the lead role. It popularized the term 'Pitch' as a publishing industry term in mainstream culture.

Description: Shares Bunheads' blend of comedy and drama with telenovela influences (more pronounced here). Both feature strong female leads navigating unexpected life changes (artistic director becomes dance teacher vs. virgin becomes pregnant), with vibrant visual styles and heartfelt storytelling.

Fact: Gina Rodriguez filmed her audition tape in one take on her iPhone. The narrator (Anthony Mendez) was originally only meant for the pilot. The show carefully balanced its telenovela roots with American sitcom structure.

Description: Another Amy Sherman-Palladino creation sharing Bunheads' rapid-fire dialogue, strong female protagonist, and exploration of performance (stand-up comedy vs. dance). Both shows feature women breaking societal expectations in mid-century America (1950s vs. 2010s) with vibrant period aesthetics.

Fact: Rachel Brosnahan had to learn to speak at 300 words per minute for the role. The costume department created over 5,000 original outfits for the show. Many scenes are filmed in long, unbroken takes to accommodate the dialogue's rhythm.

Description: Like Bunheads, this show focuses on young women supporting each other in a creative field (magazine journalism vs. dance). Both explore contemporary issues facing millennial women with a mix of humor and sincerity, featuring mentor relationships and workplace challenges.

Fact: Loosely inspired by former Cosmopolitan editor Joanna Coles' life. The show's writers room was predominantly female. Many storylines were directly inspired by real events at women's magazines.

Description: Shares Bunheads' blend of comedy and drama with supernatural elements (reincarnation vs. small-town realism). Both explore themes of second chances and personal reinvention through their female leads, with legal cases providing structure similar to dance performances in Bunheads.

Fact: Brooke Elliott (Jane) is a trained Broadway performer. The show's premise was inspired by a 1980s film called 'Chances Are.' It featured numerous guest stars playing heavenly figures, including Paula Abdul as an angel.

Description: Similar to Bunheads' dance focus, this show centers on competitive gymnastics, featuring young women pursuing excellence in their sport. Both explore the physical and emotional toll of performance arts, coach-student dynamics, and the balance between personal lives and professional ambitions.

Fact: The actors trained for months to perform basic gymnastics moves. Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin made several guest appearances. The show was originally conceived as a more adult-oriented drama before being developed for ABC Family.

Description: Shares Bunheads' small-town charm, fish-out-of-water protagonist, and ensemble cast dynamics. Both shows blend comedy and drama while exploring community relationships and personal reinvention in quirky Southern settings (Alabama vs. South Carolina in Bunheads).

Fact: The fictional town of Bluebell was inspired by real Alabama towns. Rachel Bilson (Zoe) was pregnant during season 3, written into the plot. Many Gilmore Girls alumni worked on the show, creating tonal similarities.