8 Best Fred Astaire Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 11, 2026

Comedy feel good

Fred Astaire redefined what a movie musical could be, choreographing dance sequences with a precision and elegance that has never really been matched. Top Hat, Swing Time and Shall We Dance are the Ginger Rogers highlights, Easter Parade turns a chorus girl into his new partner, Holiday Inn has rivals opening an inn that only stages holiday shows, The Band Wagon attempts a Broadway comeback, and Funny Face has a photographer falling for a bookstore clerk. Flying Down to Rio rounds out the list.

Funny Face (1957) 01

Funny Face (1957)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A bookish shop clerk is transformed into a glamorous high-fashion model by an ambitious photographer.

Directed by Stanley Donen · 1h 43m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Band Wagon (1953) 02

The Band Wagon (1953)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 95% Metacritic 93

A washed-up movie star tries to restart his career on Broadway with a pretentious new director.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli · 1h 52m · Rated NR

Nominated for 3 Oscars2 wins & 4 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Easter Parade (1948) 03

Easter Parade (1948)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 91%

A dancer recruits a random chorus girl to replace his old partner, and neither expects what follows.

Directed by Charles Walters · 1h 43m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar5 wins

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Holiday Inn (1942) 04

Holiday Inn (1942)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Two performers turn a Connecticut farmhouse into a holiday-themed inn while competing for the same woman.

Directed by Mark Sandrich · 1h 41m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Shall We Dance (1937) 05

Shall We Dance (1937)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A ballet dancer and a Broadway star pose as a married couple to escape a persistent rumour.

Directed by Mark Sandrich · 1h 49m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Swing Time (1936) 06

Swing Time (1936)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A gambler and dancer's budding romance is complicated by his engagement to another woman.

Directed by George Stevens · 1h 43m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Top Hat (1935) 07

Top Hat (1935)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Charlie Hall features in this musical about a charming American dancer whose pursuit of a woman in London is complicated by a case of mistaken identity.

Directed by Mark Sandrich · 1h 39m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Flying Down to Rio (1933) 08

Flying Down to Rio (1933)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A bandleader's romance with a rich Brazilian woman is complicated by a rival suitor and a big air show.

Directed by Thornton Freeland · 1h 29m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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.

You might also like

6 Best Modeling Agency Movies of All Time

6 Best Modeling Agency Movies of All Time

comedy

 6 Best Tap Dance Movies of All Time

6 Best Tap Dance Movies of All Time

musical

 6 Best Fashion Industry Movies

6 Best Fashion Industry Movies

drama

 50 Best Movie Musicals of All Time

50 Best Movie Musicals of All Time

drama

 6 Best Frank Jenks Movies

6 Best Frank Jenks Movies

Frank Jenks

 6 Best Dudley Dickerson Movies

6 Best Dudley Dickerson Movies

Dudley Dickerson

Vlad Zakh

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.