10+ THINGS LIKE ‘ÉTOILE’: SIMILAR FILMS AND SHOWS TO WATCH!
Back to creating TV after successful and best fan loved shows, the producing duo of Daniel Palladino and Amy Sherman-Palladino are back without their first, but second dance themed show. Inspired by the binge release (from Thursday the 24th) of Étoile, we are looking into the 10 things like Étoile aka similar shows, and films, too. There are more films in this list actually, but we’ll still call this a win as we take a closer look and see what we find.
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10+ THINGS LIKE ‘ÉTOILE’: SIMILAR FILMS AND SHOWS TO WATCH! A list of things to watch if you binge watched #Étoile! What else would you add? Share on XIf you aren’t familiar with Étoile, it’s from the creators of Gilmore Girls and is, in many ways, a mirror portrait of that fan favorite show. The concept is very different as it follows a group of dancers. However, the show is about more than dance which is traditionally what we see in a dance show or film. It’s about these dancer outside of pointe shoes or tutus; about their passions and the things they fight for. It’s about a jaded but passionate dancer recognizing the innocence and beauty of a young girl trying to learn ballet. It’s about a man with a failing company making sacrifices to foster the importance of ballet. There is lots of layers to this show, and most of it, it’s more about fun than it is the dark drama of dance.
From romance to coming of age, let’s see what we discover as we investigate some watchalike titles.
10 THINGS like ÉTOILE aka SHOWS to watch if you LIKE ÉTOILE
BUNHEADS
This one is also from Amy Sherman-Palladino, and centers on dance. It has Sutton Foster in the lead as a woman who loses her husband and ends up as co-owner of a dance studio that the mother-in-law who doesn’t know she exists owns. Given the familiar faces (Kelly Bishop co-stars and other familiar to Palladino productions make appearances) and the creators, this may be the most 10 Things like Étoile to watch on the list.
Stream, at publication on Hulu; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
CENTER STAGE, films
I haven’t seen this film, but Center Stage is, I think a film that is a kind of cult classic film. It’s about a group of students from various walks of life who enroll in the American Ballet Academy. I did see one of the less popular sequels though because it has Kenny Wormhald, from the 2011 Footloose remake. It’s entertaining if I remember right and for that reason alone, it may be worth seeing if you’re a fan of dancing stories.
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
DANCE ACADEMY
An Australian show, this one is “young” but also oddly addictive because of its behind the scenes look at the world of dance. The show had a number of seasons, and follows a farm girl, Tara, and her awkward inability to always smoothly fit into the sophisticated dance school she attends.
Stream, at publication, on Peacock, Prime Video, Roku
DANCE with ME, film
Arriving in a new city and at a new dance studio, a man falls in love with a dance instructor in this 90s film! It has an eclectic cast including Kris Kristofferson, Vanessa Williams and Joan Plowright.
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
DIRTY DANCING, films and series
The story of Baby in Dirty Dancing is iconic and known as Jennifer Grey’s role. However, this original film also got TV movie remake treatment (Abigail Breslin steps into the role of Baby). It also has a kind of sequel (Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights from 2004) and had, briefly, a TV show that continued the love story of Grey’s Baby and Patrick Swayze’s Johnny though new actors took on the parts.
Stream, at publication, Havana Nights on places like Plex or Roku; digitally purchase the 1987 Dirty Dancing on places like Prime Video
FIND ME in PARIS
Another “young” series, this one is about a prima ballerina living in the 1900s in France. When an odd time travel snag allows her to travel to the future, she finds herself trying to navigate the modern world and the changing dance landscape while also hoping to return to the boy she left behind. I did see a few episodes of this and did think it was quite charming. It’s a pretty wholesome series so if you don’t like “simple” storytelling with little to no content, Find Me in Paris may not be your jam. However if you don’t mind missing out on more adult conversation, this is a nice 10 Things like Etoile titles to enjoy.
Stream, at publication, all three seasons on Hulu
GILMORE GIRLS
This isn’t about dance, although there are some dance themed episodes that stand out as being memorable, but this list wouldn’t be complete without adding the show that was really the “start” of it all for this producing duo. It’s a cult classic that inspires debates over which guy is “best” for its youngest heroine, Rory, drew fans in with its slow burn, will-they-or-won’t-they between Lorelai and Luke, and perhaps even appreciates the wisdom of its eldest heroine, Emily Gilmore. The show is a fast-talking, quippy show, that in many ways also shapes Étoile.
Stream, at publication, with Hulu or Netflix; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
SAVE the LAST DANCE, film
Yet another cult favorite, Julia Stiles stars in this as a girl who dreams of being a dancer only to have her dreams cut short when she loses her mother. Still, with new friends even after a rough transition moving to a new place, she makes new plans. This one has a pretty impressive case too including a young Kerry Washington.
Stream, at publication, with MGM+; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
10+ THINGS LIKE ‘ÉTOILE’: SIMILAR FILMS AND SHOWS TO WATCH! A list of things to watch if you binge watched #Étoile! What else would you add? #TVList #FanList #TVShows Share on XSHALL we DANCE?, film
This follows a businessman who, while feeling bored with his life signs up for a ballroom dance class. The film is interesting and doesn’t fall into the trap most movies like this would which I have mad respect for. Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere lead the cast.
Stream, at publication, on Paramount+; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
SPELLBOUND
Another series from Hulu, this is one I haven’t seen. The concept follows a teenager from small town USA who travels to Paris in order to follow her dreams of ballet. Only while there, she uncovers a magical family spells book!
Stream, at publication, with Hulu
STEP UP, films
Soapy, yes, but I really do have a soft spot for Step Up. The first film has Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan (this is reportedly how the once married in real life couple met) and is a charming love story about a raw talent in Tyler and the classically trained Nora. It’s a kind of Romeo and Juliet scenario set in the world of modern dance and bonus, we don’t have to cry buckets of tears in the end. There are four films (I think, don’t quote me!) that came after this, usually all following new characters and none really rose to the level of love that the original did.
Stream, at publication, Step Up (2006) on Hulu; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video. (Find the other titles on places like Paramount+, Plex or Tubi; and movies two and three are also on Hulu.)
TAKE the LEAD, film
A dedicated teacher takes on a group of detention students, hoping that teaching them ballroom dance will inspire them all to live up to their wonderful potential.
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
TINY PRETTY THINGS
A Netflix series with one season, I never watched this, but my sense is, it’s dark and kind of tragic. In fact, part of the description says it’s about dancers who are “on the verge of greatness or ruin.” Still, if dance stories interest you, this may be one work giving a fair chance too. It’s also inspired by a novel of the same name which may interest anyone who has read it.
Stream, at publication, on Netflix
How many of these 10 things like Etoile do you recommend? What types of shows would you say are 10 shows to watch if you like Etoile? Which ones did we miss? Comment all of your thoughts below. Let’s talk.
Photos: Alamy
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