Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga is a musical comedy starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as an Icelandic singing duo. Eurovision parodies the European song contest of the same name that made stars out of artists like ABBA. All jokes aside, several former contestants of the contest also make special appearances along with an ensemble consisting of Pierce Brosnan, Demi Lovato, and Dan Stevens. The film was initially meant to release theatrically right around the time of this year’s edition of Eurovision but it received a Netflix release with the contest being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are a few similar films that would match viewers’ interests if they enjoyed Eurovision Song Contest.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
In this over-the-top satirical take on the music industry, Andy Samberg plays a dim-witted, narcissistic pop star called Conner4Real. His Lonely Island partners Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer star as Conner’s old bandmates. Shot in a mockumentary style, the film details Conner’s journey as a star covering his highs and lows.
While Samberg’s overacting might seem silly and some might watch it just for the tons of celebrity cameos it features, Popstar does seem to be a reality check in today’s times. After all, many artists these days going viral on social media for their bizarre antics and offstage personality rather than their actual music, just like Samberg’s character.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Rob Reiner revolutionized the mockumentary genre with this tour film on Spinal Tap, a fictional band that heavily portrays hard rock outfits like Led Zeppelin. It’s remarkable to note that This Is Spinal Tap was mostly an improvised effort by its director and actors during shooting.
The band in focus is portrayed as a British group preparing for their American comeback and eventually failing at it. It was not only appreciated by critics and audiences but the film’s satirical take on rock bands resonated with several rockers themselves like Jimmy Page and Ozzy Osbourne.
Sing (2016)
The animated film Sing takes place in a Disney-like world of talking animals in the middle of which is a closing theatre. Then the theatre’s owner, an optimistic koala (played by a highly entertaining Matthew McConaughey), decides to host a singing contest for bringing audiences to his venue.
The rest of the singing cast includes stars like Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, and Taron Egerton playing the contestants, each of whom enters the contest for their own hopes and aspirations. Sing might not be a trailblazer in the animated genre but still makes for a kid-friendly, smartly-written insight into showbiz.
7 Days In Hell (2015)
Andy Samberg has been involved in several parodies, 7 Days In Hell being one of the best ones. Produced by HBO, the film parodies tennis tournaments as Samberg plays the adopted tennis-playing brother of Serena and Venus Williams. After much disgrace, he decides to make his comeback at Wimbledon playing against a sheltered, timid British player portrayed by Kit Harrington.
However, their match is filled with so many interruptions and unexpected gameplay that it ends up lasting for an entire week. The film is a tour de force in the mockumentary genre, poking fun at sports documentaries, interviews, and sportspersons themselves.
Rock Of Ages (2012)
An adaptation of the musical of the same name, Rock of Ages might not completely do justice to its source material but it still makes for an entertaining film with some great musical renditions. The film exposes the glitz and the glamour and the challenges that artists need to face in the music industry as two lovers and singers try to pave their own path to success.
Country singer Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta star as the leads along with a star-studded ensemble. The film’s soundtrack features covers of classic Glam Rock artists like Scorpions, Journey, Guns N’ Roses, and Bon Jovi. A standout musical moment from the film has to be a shirtless Tom Cruise singing Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me. That very scene emulates the high energy present throughout the film.
The Rutles (1978)
The Rutles (alternatively known as All You Need Is Cash) is a lesser-known predecessor to This Is Spinal Tap sharing several similarities in its approach to parody The Beatles. The film recreates The Beatles’ career in a humorous way interspersed with several comedic sketches and interviews that features celebrities like John Belushi, Bill Murray, and even Beatles guitarist George Harrison.
The soundtrack parodies several iconic songs from The Beatles’ discography, with all the songs written by Neil Innes, who had previous experience with Monty Python and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Innes himself acted and performed in The Rutles. The film’s band even went on to pursue a musical career beyond the film with several tours and two album releases.
School Of Rock (2003)
Richard Linklater’s music-themed comedy stars actor and Tenacious D frontman Jack Black as a down-on-luck musician who accidentally ends up being a substitute teacher at an elite conservative school. However, when he discovers serious musical potential from the students, he plans to defy the school’s strict academic system and turns them into a band.
The film’s feel-good premise and Black’s captivating energy as the lead are enough reasons for viewers to check out this modern comedy classic. School of Rock's musical legacy even inspired a musical adaptation on Broadway in 2015.
Pitch Perfect (2015)
The film that brought acapella to the mainstream revolves around the rise of an all-girls acapella group while delving deep into the collegiate acapella subculture. Anna Kendrick plays Beca, a new student at the Barden University, and unintentionally gets dragged into the college’s singing group that is competing with their male rivals for a coveted competition.
Functioning as a light-hearted rom-com too at parts, Pitch Perfect is an interesting take on an artistic phenomenon that many audiences never took seriously before. It’s no silly parody but a well-intentioned comedy that was fresh, original, and boasted of a diverse soundtrack.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Will Ferrell’s usual collaborator John C Reilly stars in this fictional biopic with the Rockstar Dewey Cox being a satirical version of several artists like Johnny Cash, Jim Morison, and Bob Dylan. As is subtly evident from its title, the film also plays on the themes present in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line.
The film is a smart take on its subject matter and also pays tributes to the musical styles of greats like David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Brian Wilson. Walk Hard opened to critical acclaim but failed at the box office although now it enjoys a cult status amongst fans of music-themed films.
David Brent: Life On The Road (2016)
David Brent: Life On The Road might seem to be quite a bizarre film for those unacquainted with the British series The Office and its lead character David Brent (portrayed by Ricky Gervais). But for fans of the iconic mockumentary sitcom, this film does offer a lot of delights on the road.
The film’s narrative is set 12 years after Brent’s job at the office. Now, he dons the role of a traveling salesman. But deep down, he still harbors his dreams of being a rockstar. He engages in a self-financed UK tour to finally turn his dreams into a reality.