10 Movies and TV Shows Similar to Étoile (2025)

Description: Like Étoile (2025), 'The Red Shoes' is a seminal film about the sacrifices and passions of ballet dancers. It combines stunning dance sequences with a tragic narrative about the conflict between personal desires and professional ambitions, mirroring the emotional and artistic struggles likely present in Étoile.

Fact: The film is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It was a major influence on many subsequent dance films, including 'Black Swan'. The ballet sequence in the film is considered one of the most beautiful ever filmed.

Description: Similar to Étoile (2025), 'Flashdance' tells the story of an aspiring dancer overcoming obstacles to achieve her dreams. Both films blend dramatic storytelling with electrifying dance sequences, capturing the grit and glamour of the dance world.

Fact: The film's iconic water dance scene was performed by a stunt double. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film's success led to a surge in interest in dance classes.

Description: This film, like Étoile (2025), explores the intersection of dance and personal freedom, featuring a defecting Russian ballet dancer. Both films use dance as a means of expressing political and personal struggles, set against the backdrop of the ballet world.

Fact: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines star as the lead dancers. The film features a famous duet between Baryshnikov and Hines. It was inspired by Baryshnikov's own defection from the Soviet Union.

Description: Like Étoile (2025), this film explores the intersection of dance and personal identity, with a protagonist who uses ballet to navigate personal loss and cultural differences. Both films emphasize dance as a means of emotional and artistic expression.

Fact: Julia Stiles trained intensively in ballet for the role. The film addresses themes of racial and cultural integration. It was a commercial success, spawning a direct-to-video sequel.

Description: This film shares with Étoile (2025) a focus on the competitive world of ballet, showcasing the rigorous training, personal rivalries, and emotional highs and lows of aspiring dancers. Both films highlight the dedication required to succeed in the demanding world of professional dance.

Fact: The film features real-life American Ballet Theatre dancers. It was praised for its authentic portrayal of ballet. The director, Nicholas Hytner, is also known for his work in theater.

Description: Like Étoile (2025), 'The Company' offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of professional dancers, blending narrative and documentary styles to capture the beauty and brutality of dance. Both films emphasize the collaborative yet intensely personal nature of dance.

Fact: The film stars Neve Campbell, who also produced it. It features the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Director Robert Altman was known for his ensemble casts and overlapping dialogue.

Description: While more mainstream than Étoile (2025), 'Step Up' shares its focus on the transformative power of dance and the fusion of different dance styles. Both films highlight how dance can bridge cultural and personal divides, offering a path to redemption and self-expression.

Fact: The film launched the careers of Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. It was the first in a successful franchise. The dance sequences were choreographed by Jamal Sims.

Description: Similar to Étoile (2025), 'Black Swan' delves into the intense, often dark world of professional dance, exploring themes of obsession, perfectionism, and the psychological toll of artistic pursuit. Both films feature protagonists who push their limits to achieve greatness, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination.

Fact: Natalie Portman trained for over a year in ballet to prepare for her role. The film's director, Darren Aronofsky, was inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'The Double'. 'Black Swan' won Natalie Portman the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Description: While 'Suspiria' is a horror film, its setting in a prestigious dance academy and its exploration of the physical and psychological extremes of dance make it thematically similar to Étoile (2025). Both films use dance as a metaphor for transformation and the darker aspects of artistic dedication.

Fact: The film is a remake of the 1977 Italian horror classic. Tilda Swinton plays multiple roles, including an elderly male doctor. The choreography was designed to look painful and unnatural to enhance the horror elements.

Description: Similar to Étoile (2025), 'Polina' follows a young ballet dancer's journey from classical training to contemporary dance, exploring themes of artistic growth and self-discovery. Both films depict the physical and emotional challenges of pursuing dance at the highest level.

Fact: The film is based on a graphic novel by Bastien Vivès. It features real-life dancer Anastasia Shevtsova in the lead role. The director, Valérie Müller, is also a novelist.