Put a pep in your step with these amazing musical comedies that are rich with drama. Coyote Ugly is a 2000 film that is based on the Coyote Ugly Saloon, a chain of bars known for having bartenders dance on bars. The film follows Violet Sanford, an aspiring songwriter who landed a job at a women-run NYC bar.
If you want to watch movies in the same genre, then look no further than this list of great recommendations. From the dancing in Step Up to the drama in Burlesque, these are the best movies like Coyote Ugly.
12. Bring It On, Prime Video (2000)
One of the best movies like Coyote Ugly is Bring It On, a 2000 teen comedy film starring Kristen Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union.
The film centers around two high school cheerleading teams who prepare for the national competition. A champion high school cheerleading squad discovers its previous captain stole all their best routines and must scramble to compete at this year’s championship.
11. Footloose, Netflix (2011)
When talking about dancing movies, you can’t have a list of movies like Coyote Ugly without having Footloose. Footloose is a 1984 musical dance drama film that stars Kevin Bacon, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town that has banned dancing and rock music.
But Ren McCormack, played by Bacon, goes against this rule, along with Ariel, Reverend Shaw Moore’s daughter, and overturns the ban on dancing.
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10. Nick & Norah Infinite Playlist, Amazon (2008)
While not a dance movie, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a wonderful romantic comedy-drama that features amazing music.
The film stars Michael Cera and Kat Dennings and follows the story of Nick, a bass player for a band, who play at a club. Norah appreciates Nick’s taste in music and asks Nick to pretend to be her boyfriend for five minutes at the club, not knowing that her friend broke up with Nick.
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9. Dirty Dancing, Prime Video (1987)
Dirty Dancing is another classic that deserves a spot on the most like Coyote Ugly movies. The 1987 romantic dance movie stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
Grey plays Frances Houseman who has grown up privileged and has her life planned out. Swayze plays Johnny Castle, a dance instructor at a camp. When Houseman goes to a vacation resort, she meets Castle and falls in love. But when her father bans her from seeing Castle, she decides to finally put her feelings first.
8. Pitch Perfect, Peacock (2012)
Pitch Perfect has a cult following, and rightly so as the music, drama, and choreography are amazing, from the first to the third.
The 2012 musical comedy features an ensemble cast starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, and more. The story follows a Beca who joins an A Cappella group. Beca uses her knowledge of music to turn a very boring ground into something more entertaining.
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7. Grease, Max (1978)
Grease is a classic, and is one of the best movies like Coyote Ugly. The 1978 musical stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John who had a summer fling in between school.
But once school starts again, Danny, played by Travolta, resumes his role as leader of the T-Birds greaser gang who acts standoffish to Sandy, played by Newton-John, who believes they are in love. The songs are memorable and the dancing is electrifying.
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6. Honey, Tubi (2003)
Honey is a 2003 dance film starring Jessica Alba, Mikhi Phifer, Romeo Miller, and more. The film follows Honey, a bartender, record store clerk, and dance teacher who dreams of becoming a hip-hop choreographer.
However, her mother presses her to teach ballet instead. When a video of her in a dance-off reaches director Michael Ellis, he gives Honey a job as a backup dancer.
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5. Save the Last Dance, Paramount (2001)
One movie like Coyote Ugly is Save the Last Dance, a 2001 dance film starring Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas.
The two fall in love when Stiles’ character, Sara, moves to the South Side of Chicago to live with her father and meets Derek, who has a rough past. The two work together to help Sara train for a Julliard School dance audition to follow her ballet dreams.
4. Begin Again, Paramount (2013)
Starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo, Begin Again is a 2013 musical comedy-drama and is one of the best movies like Coyote Ugly. Knightley plays a singer-songwriter whose world crashes when her long-time boyfriend finds fame and strays.
Things are turned around when she is discovered by a struggling record label executive played by Ruffalo. She then decides to collaborate with him to produce an album recorded in public locations all over New York City.
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3. Rock of Ages, Prime Video (2012)
Rock of Ages is a 2012 jukebox comedy musical based on the rock jukebox Broadway musical sharing the same name. It stars Julianna Hough and Diego Boneta with an ensemble cast featuring Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, and more.
The film follows a small-town girl and a city boy who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.
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2. Step Up, Prime Video (2006)
Step Up is one of the most well-known dance films that also is a teen drama and romance. The film stars popular names like Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, and more. Released in 2006 with several sequels, Step Up follows Tyler Cage and Nora Clark who are opposites when it comes to dance.
However, they soon find themselves paired up in a showcase that determines both of their futures. While Cage has had a lot of struggles and Clark is more privileged, they set their differences aside once they realize they only have one chance to create a future for themselves and work together.
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1. Burlesque, Netflix (2010)
Burlesque is the best movie like Coyote Ugly thanks to the intense, smoldering dancing and the drama. The 2010 musical stars Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kristen Bell, and more. The film follows Ali, an aspiring singer who leaves her small town to become a dancer at a struggling burlesque lounge.
After one of her performances is sabotaged by her rival, Nikki, Ali sings, impressing the owner of the lounge and then becoming the main attraction. Like Coyote Ugly, it’s a sexy, inspirational musical that shows off several mediums of art.