Movies Like The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978

If you liked The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978 (1986), a movie, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)
★ 7.4/10
The individual journeys of the four members of the band, as they move through the music scene of the 1960s, playing small clubs throughout Britain and performing some of the biggest hits of the era, until their meeting…
2
The Filth and the Fury (2000)
★ 6.9/10
Julien Temple's second documentary profiling punk rock pioneers the Sex Pistols is an enlightening, entertaining trip back to a time when the punk movement was just discovering itself. Featuring archival footage…
3
24 Hour Party People (2002)
★ 7/10
Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his…
4
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001)
★ 8/10
Celebrating the 30 year anniversary of Michael Jackson's solo career, this legendary performance took place on September 10, 2001.
5
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)
★ 6.1/10
An all-girl rock band moves to Hollywood in the hope of achieving success, only to fall into a whirlpool of wickedness and decadence.
6
For the Boys (1991)
★ 6.4/10
Talented USO entertainer Dixie Leonard and comedian Eddie Sparks deal with their relationship over the course of 5 decades from World War II to the Vietnam War era to their twilight era in the 90's.
7
Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles (2021)
★ 7.8/10
Fresh off the heels of her brand-new album, "Happier Than Ever," this cinematic concert experience features an intimate performance of every song in the album's sequential order – for the first and only time – from the…
8
El Cantante (2006)
★ 7.1/10
The rise and fall of salsa singer, Héctor Lavoe (1946-1993), as told from the perspective of his wife Puchi, who looks back from 2002.
9
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live (2015)
★ 8.4/10
Filmed in front of 76,000 fans at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia, "The 1989 World Tour Live" captures Taylor Swift's entire performance while also mixing in behind-the-scene, rehearsal, and special guest footage…
10
Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium (1986)
★ 8.5/10
One of the world's biggest bands returns to the scene of their Live Aid triumph (one year earlier in 1985) to play all their greatest hits in front of a packed Wembley Stadium.
11
TINA (2021)
★ 7.7/10
Tina Turner overcame impossible odds to become one of the first female Black artists to reach a mainstream international audience. Her road to superstardom is an undeniable story of triumph over adversity. It’s the…
12
Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl (2022)
★ 7/10
Step into Casa Madrigal for a special concert spectacular as the original voice cast of Disney Animation's Oscar®-winning "Encanto," Stephanie Beatriz, Adassa, Carolina Gaitán, Jessica Darrow, Diane Guerrero, Mauro…
13
Danny Collins (2015)
★ 6.7/10
An ageing hard-living 1970s rock star decides to change his life when he discovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon.
14
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)
★ 6.1/10
The now estranged bandmates of Spinal Tap are forced to reunite for one final concert, hoping it will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll.
15
Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy (2025)
★ 8.8/10
Never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews celebrate the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band.
16
King of Jazz (1930)
★ 6.5/10
A large-scale revue musical built around Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, presenting a series of musical performances, sketches, and staged tableaux in early two-color Technicolor, emblematic of Hollywood’s early…
17
The Rose (1979)
★ 6.7/10
Rock-and-roll singer Mary Rose Foster's romantic relationships and mental health are continuously imperilled by the demands of life on the road.
18
A Mighty Wind (2003)
★ 6.8/10
Three eclectic, never-quite-famous folk bands come together for the first time in decades following the death of their manager to put on an reunion concert in his honor, at the request of his son.
19
Elton John: Never Too Late (2024)
★ 6.6/10
Sir Elton John looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in this emotionally charged, full-circle journey. As he prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium…
20
The Last Waltz (1978)
★ 7.7/10
Martin Scorsese's documentary intertwines footage from The Band's incredible farewell tour with probing backstage interviews and featured performances by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, and other…