50 Movies Like The School of Rock (2003) You Need to Watch Next
Updated August 2026
View The School of Rock details →Richard Linklater's 2003 comedy follows Dewey Finn, a broke, recently fired guitarist who bluffs his way into a substitute teaching job at a strict private school. Instead of lessons, he secretly drills his straight-A fifth graders in the finer points of rock and roll and the joy of defiance, molding them into a band as the stern principal grows suspicious and the Battle of the Bands nears. Warm, funny and bursting with energy, it celebrates music and self-belief without cynicism. Families, music lovers and anyone who enjoys an underdog crowd-pleaser will find it irresistible. Best for viewers wanting a joyful, feel-good ride with genuine heart and rhythm.
If you loved The School of Rock (2003) by Richard Linklater, here are 50 movies that share its content DNA. iRankMovies measures real similarity using cosine similarity across eight weighted dimensions — genre (50%), tone (12%), pace (10%), structure (8%), era (7%), theme (6%), audience (4%) and narrative perspective (3%) — not just the rating. The closest matches according to our analysis are Pitch Perfect 3, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, The Muppets. Every title is ranked by how closely it matches and backed by the iRank Score, a composite of IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and TMDb across 12,000+ analysed titles.
The Best Movies Similar to The School of Rock
Selected for their real similarity in content, these are the movies that share the most with The School of Rock in terms of theme, narrative tone, and cinematic style. Every recommendation goes beyond genre — we evaluate the type of conflict, pacing, dramatic context, and the experience they create for viewers.
Pitch Perfect 3
2017 · Trish Sie
After the highs of winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to
In common: Comedy · Music
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
1993 · Bill Duke
Deloris Van Cartier is again asked to don the nun's habit to help a run-down Catholic school, presided over by Mother Superior. And if trying to reach out to a class full of uninterested students wasn
In common: Comedy · Music
The Muppets
2011 · James Bobin
When Kermit the Frog and the Muppets learn that their beloved theater is slated for demolition, a sympathetic human, Gary, and his puppet brother, Walter, swoop in to help the gang put on a show and r
In common: Comedy · Family · Music
Pitch Perfect 2
2015 · Elizabeth Banks
The Bellas are back, and they are better than ever. After being humiliated in front of none other than the President of the United States of America, the Bellas are taken out of the Aca-Circuit. In or
In common: Comedy · Music
Sister Act
1992 · Emile Ardolino
When lively lounge singer Deloris sees her mobster beau commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, she proceeds to upend the quiet lives
In common: Comedy · Music
The Chorus
2004 · Christophe Barratier
In 1940s France, a new teacher at a school for disruptive boys gives hope and inspiration.
In common: Comedy · Music
Pitch Perfect
2012 · Jason Moore
College student Beca knows she does not want to be part of a clique, but that's exactly where she finds herself after arriving at her new school. Thrust in among mean gals, nice gals and just plain we
In common: Comedy · Music
Sing 2
2021 · Garth Jennings
Buster and his new cast now have their sights set on debuting a new show at the Crystal Tower Theater in glamorous Redshore City. But with no connections, he and his singers must sneak into the Crysta
In common: Comedy · Family
Sing
2016 · Garth Jennings
A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition.
In common: Comedy · Family
The Blues Brothers
1980 · John Landis
Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.
In common: Comedy · Music
Drumline
2002 · Charles Stone III
A talented street drummer from Harlem enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band's drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world, before realizing that it tak
In common: Comedy · Music
Coyote Ugly
2000 · David McNally
Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanford heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives
In common: Comedy · Music
The Idea of You
2024 · Michael Showalter
40-year-old single mom Solène begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it is
In common: Comedy · Music
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
2015 · Walt Becker
Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in New York City - and dump them. They have three days to get to hi
In common: Comedy
American Reunion
2012 · Jon Hurwitz
The characters we met a little more than a decade ago return to East Great Falls for their high school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn’t, and that t
In common: Comedy
Accepted
2006 · Steve Pink
A high school slacker who's rejected by every school he applies to opts to create his own institution of higher learning, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, on a rundown piece of property near
In common: Comedy
American Pie Presents: Beta House
2007 · Andrew Waller
Erik, Ryan, and Cooze start college and pledge the Beta House fraternity, presided over by none other than legendary Dwight Stifler. But chaos ensues when a fraternity of geeks threatens to stop the d
In common: Comedy
Mr. Bean's Holiday
2007 · Steve Bendelack
Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love, among other things.
In common: Comedy · Family
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
2009 · Betty Thomas
Pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore end up in the care of Dave Seville's twenty-something nephew Toby. The boys must put aside music super stardom to return to school, and are tasked with saving
In common: Comedy · Family
Get Hard
2015 · Etan Cohen
When millionaire hedge fund manager James is convicted of fraud and sentenced to a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him one month to get his affairs in order. Knowing that he won't survive more
In common: Comedy
The Change-Up
2011 · David Dobkin
Lifelong friends Dave and Mitch are envious of the other's life. Mitch thinks Dave has it all: a beautiful, loving family and a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. But Dave thinks Mitch’s stres
In common: Comedy
Step Brothers
2008 · Adam McKay
Brennan Huff and Dale Doback might be grown men. But that doesn't stop them from living at home and turning into jealous, competitive stepbrothers when their single parents marry. Brennan's constant c
In common: Comedy
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
2011 · Mike Mitchell
Playing around while aboard a cruise ship, the Chipmunks and Chipettes accidentally go overboard and end up marooned in a tropical paradise. They discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems
In common: Comedy · Family
Bad Teacher
2011 · Jake Kasdan
A lazy, incompetent middle school teacher who hates her job and her students is forced to return to her job to make enough money for a boob job after her rich fiancé dumps her.
In common: Comedy
Zoolander
2001 · Ben Stiller
Clear the runway for Derek Zoolander, VH1's three-time male model of the year. His face falls when hippie-chic Hansel scooters in to steal this year's award. The evil fashion guru Mugatu seizes the op
In common: Comedy
Easy A
2010 · Will Gluck
Olive, an average high school student, sees her below-the-radar existence turn around overnight once she decides to use the school's gossip grapevine to advance her social standing. Now her classmates
In common: Comedy
Twins
1988 · Ivan Reitman
Julius and Vincent Benedict are the results of an experiment that would allow for the perfect child. Julius was planned and grows to athletic proportions. Vincent is an accident and is somewhat smalle
In common: Comedy
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
1993 · Mel Brooks
Robin Hood comes home after fighting in the Crusades to learn that the noble King Richard is in exile and that the despotic King John now rules England, with the help of the Sheriff of Rottingham. Rob
In common: Comedy
Dennis the Menace
1993 · Nick Castle
Mr. Wilson's ever-present annoyance comes in the form of one mischievous kid named Dennis. But he'll need Dennis's tricks to uncover a collection of gold coins that go missing when a shady drifter nam
In common: Comedy · Family
Ri¢hie Ri¢h
1994 · Donald Petrie
Billionaire heir Richie Rich has it all, including Reggie Jackson as a batting coach and Claudia Schiffer as a personal trainer -- but no playmates. What's more, scoundrel Laurence Van Dough is schemi
In common: Comedy · Family
Bachelor Party
1984 · Neal Israel
On the eve of his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, unassuming nice guy Rick is dragged out for a night of debauchery by his friends.
In common: Comedy
The Wedding Ringer
2015 · Jeremy Garelick
Doug Harris is a loveable but socially awkward groom-to-be with a problem: he has no best man. With less than two weeks to go until he marries the girl of his dreams, Doug is referred to Jimmy Callah
In common: Comedy
No manches, Frida
2016 · Nacho G. Velilla
After being released from prison, Zequi, a bank robber, sets out to recover money buried by his accomplice; but is horrified to learn that a high school gymnasium is now over the site where the loot i
In common: Comedy
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
1989 · Jeremiah S. Chechik
It's Christmastime, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsen
In common: Comedy
Anger Management
2003 · Peter Segal
After a small misunderstanding aboard an airplane escalates out of control, timid businessman Dave Buznik is ordered by the court to undergo anger management therapy at the hands of specialist Dr. Bud
In common: Comedy
Young Frankenstein
1974 · Mel Brooks
A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young
In common: Comedy
Good Boys
2019 · Gene Stupnitsky
A group of young boys on the cusp of becoming teenagers embark on an epic quest to fix their broken drone before their parents get home.
In common: Comedy
The Great Outdoors
1988 · Howard Deutch
It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley, along with his wife, Connie, and their two kids, Buck and Ben. But a serene weekend of fishing at a Wisconsin lakeside cabin gets crashed by C
In common: Comedy
Booksmart
2019 · Olivia Wilde
Two academic teenage superstars realize, on the eve of their high school graduation, that they should have worked less and played more. Determined to never fall short of their peers, the girls set out
In common: Comedy
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
2013 · Adam McKay
With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.
In common: Comedy
Horrible Bosses 2
2014 · Sean Anders
Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme.
In common: Comedy
MouseHunt
1997 · Gore Verbinski
Down-on-their luck brothers, Lars and Ernie Smuntz, aren't happy with the crumbling old mansion they inherit... until they discover the estate is worth millions. Before they can cash in, they have to
In common: Comedy · Family
Coming 2 America
2021 · Craig Brewer
Prince Akeem Joffer is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America – a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his royal father's dying wish
In common: Comedy
Why Him?
2016 · John Hamburg
A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter's young rich boyfriend.
In common: Comedy
Bottoms
2023 · Emma Seligman
Unpopular best friends PJ and Josie start a high school self-defense club to meet girls and lose their virginity. They soon find themselves in over their heads when the most popular students start bea
In common: Comedy
The Little Hours
2017 · Jeff Baena
Garfagnana, Italy, 1347. The handsome servant Masseto, fleeing from his vindictive master, takes shelter in a nunnery where three young nuns, Sister Alessandra, Sister Ginevra and Sister Fernanda, try
In common: Comedy
KPop Demon Hunters
2025 · Chris Appelhans
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.
In common: Comedy
The Hangover
2009 · Todd Phillips
When three friends finally come to after a raucous night of bachelor-party revelry, they find a baby in the closet and a tiger in the bathroom. But they can't seem to locate their best friend, Doug –
In common: Comedy
Scary Movie 5
2013 · Malcolm D. Lee
Home with their newly-formed family, happy parents Dan and Jody are haunted by sinister, paranormal activities. Determined to expel the insidious force, they install security cameras and discover thei
In common: Comedy
The Hangover Part II
2011 · Todd Phillips
The Hangover crew heads to Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the disaster of a bachelor party in Las Vegas last year, Stu is playing it safe with a mellow pre-wedding brunch. However, nothing goes as
In common: Comedy
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The Owl House
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Luz, a self-assured teenage human girl, accidentally stumbles upon a portal to a magical new world where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and an adorably tiny warrior, King.
Fighting Spirit
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Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years lik
Kamisama Kiss
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Nanami was just a normal high school girl down on her luck until a stranger’s lips marked her as the new Land God and turned her world upside down. Now, she’s figuring out the duties of a deity with t