Movies Like 「The Laughing Salesman」 THE STAGE

If you liked 「The Laughing Salesman」 THE STAGE (2021), a movie directed by Kensaku Kobayashi, 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
The Piano Forest (2007)
★ 7.1/10
Shuhei Amamiya transfers to Moriwaki Elementary filled with hope and ambition. But it doesn't take long before he gets picked on by the class bullies, and gets involved in a dare to play the mysterious piano in the…
2
The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
★ 7.6/10
A young girl had her voice magically taken away so that she would never hurt people with it, but her outlook changes when she encounters music and friendship. Will Naruse be able to convey the anthem of her heart?
3
COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing (2025)
★ 8.2/10
Ichika is a high school musician who can enter a mysterious place called “SEKAI,” where she and her friends express their innermost emotions through music alongside Hatsune Miku. One day after giving a live…
4
Tokyo Tribe (2014)
★ 6.5/10
In an alternate Japan, territorial street gangs form opposing factions collectively known as the Tokyo Tribes. Merra, leader of the Wu-Ronz tribe of Bukuro, joins forces with heavy-hitting gangster Buppa of Buppa Town…
5
Your Lie in April (2016)
★ 7/10
Arima Kousei won numerous piano competitions while under the strict watch of his mother. He was known as the human metronome during that time. Since the death of his mother, Kousei has been unable to hear the sound of…
6
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Earth Symphony (2024)
★ 6.8/10
When a malevolent entity intent on eradicating music from the world surfaces, Nobita and his friends must unite with supernatural companions to safeguard the planet.
7
Blue Giant (2023)
★ 7.8/10
High school student Dai Miyamoto has his life is turned upside down the day he discovers jazz. Picking up a saxophone and leaving his sleepy hometown for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, Dai will find that the life of…
8
UglyDolls (2019)
★ 6.6/10
In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weirdness is celebrated, strangeness is special and beauty is embraced as more than meets the eye. After traveling to the other side of a mountain, Moxy and her UglyDoll…
9
Inu-Oh (2022)
★ 7.5/10
A cursed dancer and a blind musician — both ostracized by society — become business partners and inseparable friends as their larger-than-life concerts propel them to stardom in 14th century Japan.
10
The Liar and His Lover (2013)
★ 7.6/10
Set within music field, this film depicts a love story between a 25-year-old sound engineer and 16-year-old high school student Riko, who posessess a gifted voice. 25-year-old sound engineer Aki is a member of popular…
11
Barbie and the Diamond Castle (2008)
★ 7.5/10
Liana and Alexa are best friends who share everything, including their love of singing. Upon meeting a girl inside a mirror, the duo embark on a journey that will put their friendship to the ultimate test.
12
Emma (1996)
★ 6.6/10
Emma Woodhouse is a congenial young lady who delights in meddling in other people’s affairs. She is perpetually trying to unite men and women who are utterly wrong for each other. Despite her interest in romance, Emma…
13
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014)
★ 6.2/10
Dorothy wakes in post-tornado Kansas, only to be whisked back to Oz to try to save her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man, and Glinda, from a devious new villain, the Jester. New comrades Wiser the Owl…
14
The Colors Within (2024)
★ 6.9/10
Totsuko is a high school student with the ability to see the 'colors' of others. Colors of bliss, excitement, and serenity, plus a color she treasures as her favorite. Kimi, a classmate at her school, gives off the…
15
Perfect Blue (1998)
★ 8.3/10
Rising pop star Mima Kirigoe quits singing to pursue a career as an actress. After she takes up a role on a popular detective show, her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt…
16
Sing a Bit of Harmony (2021)
★ 7.4/10
Satomi is fine being alone until an AI named Shion joins her class with a song and a promise to make her happy. While Shion’s musical numbers and princess gowns don’t quite pass as human, her antics bring Satomi closer…
17
Dou kyu sei – Classmates (2016)
★ 8.3/10
Rihito Sajo, an honor student with a perfect score on the entrance exam and Hikaru Kusakabe, in a band and popular among girls, would have never crossed paths. Until one day they started talking at the practice for…
18
Liz and the Blue Bird (2018)
★ 7.5/10
In their last year of high school, two girls in the brass band club perform a song inspired by a fairy tale that parallels their friendship.
19
Barbie: Princess Adventure (2020)
★ 6.9/10
With new friends in a new kingdom, Barbie learns what it means to be herself when she trades places with a royal lookalike in this musical adventure.
20
Fantasia 2000 (2000)
★ 7/10
Blending lively music and brilliant animation, this sequel to the original 'Fantasia' restores 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' and adds seven new shorts.