6 Best Talent Show and Competition Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 13, 2026

Talent competitions give a film a built-in structure for underdog triumph. Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 have college a cappella groups fighting to rebuild their reputations, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a mockumentary about a washed-up pop star, and Whiplash is the brutal version. Bring It On and Sister Act 2 round out the six.

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A disgraced college a cappella group fights to redeem themselves at the world championships.

Directed by Elizabeth Banks · 1h 55m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A washed-up pop star's disastrous solo career is chronicled in a chaotic mockumentary.

Directed by Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone · 1h 26m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Whiplash (2014)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 94% Metacritic 89

An ambitious young drummer is pushed to his psychological limits by a ruthless, abusive music conductor.

Directed by Damien Chazelle · 1h 47m · Rated R

Won 3 Oscars100 wins & 144 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Pitch Perfect (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A college a cappella group rebuilds their reputation after a disastrous performance goes viral.

Directed by Jason Moore · 1h 52m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Bring It On (2000)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A new cheer captain discovers that her squad has been stealing routines for years.

Directed by Peyton Reed · 1h 39m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A disguised lounge singer returns to help a struggling school choir prepare for a big competition.

Directed by Bill Duke · 1h 47m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Talent Show and Competition Movies

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Whiplash (2014)

Pitch Perfect (2012)

Bring It On (2000)

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

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