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20 Best Ballet Movies and TV Shows to Binge Right Now
The best ballet TV shows, movies, and dance documentaries to binge, from Black Swan to Bunheads. Your next dance-night watchlist, all in one place.
Looking for something to watch that actually feeds your dance brain? Good news: there’s a whole world of ballet TV shows, dance movies, and documentaries out there, and most of them are one click away. Here’s your watchlist, sorted so you can pick by mood. Grab a snack and let’s get into it.
We’ve split these into three easy piles: TV shows you can binge, movies for a proper dance night, and documentaries when you want the real behind-the-scenes stuff. Twenty picks total.
Ballet and dance TV shows to binge
Want something you can sink into for a whole weekend? Start here.
Bunheads
Written by Gilmore Girls showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino, Bunheads follows a Las Vegas showgirl who moves to her new husband’s quiet hometown and ends up working at her mother-in-law’s dance studio. It’s warm, fast-talking, and easy to lose an afternoon to. You can stream it on Hulu.
- Why watch it: cozy comfort-watch energy with real dance woven through.
Dance Academy
An Australian teen drama set at a dance high school, which is basically a perfect way to unwind after a grueling class. Big feelings, big dreams, and a lot of rehearsal-room drama. You can stream it on Netflix.
- Why watch it: teen drama plus actual dance training storylines.
Breaking Pointe
A reality series about Salt Lake City’s Ballet West and the very real cost of chasing perfection in the dance world. If you like knowing what actually happens inside a company, this one’s for you.
- Why watch it: real dancers, real stakes, no script.
Ballet and dance movies
Movie night. These range from tearjerker classics to full-on thrillers, so pick your mood.
Billy Elliot
A classic for a reason. Billy Elliot is the heartwarming story of a young boy in England who wants to be a ballet dancer, against his dad’s wishes. Bring tissues, honestly.
- Why watch it: the underdog dance movie everyone should see once.
Center Stage
The 2000 film follows a group of young dancers at a fictional ballet academy in New York City. If you loved the high school drama of Dance Academy, this is your next pick.
- Why watch it: ballet-school drama with dance sequences you’ll rewatch.
The Red Shoes
A true classic. The Red Shoes came out in 1948 and centers on a young dancer, Victoria Page, as she takes the lead in a new ballet based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, “The Red Shoes.” One of those films every ballet fan eventually watches.
- Why watch it: essential ballet cinema, and it still holds up.
White Nights
A 1985 film that looks at dance against the backdrop of Cold War global politics. It mixes ballet, tap, and more, so you get a lot of range in one movie.
- Why watch it: ballet and tap in the same film, with real stakes.
Black Swan
If you like psychological thrillers with your ballet, this is the one. Darren Aronofsky’s film stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis and dives into the pressure of chasing perfection. Great, but maybe not the one to watch alone at midnight.
- Why watch it: ballet as a full-blown psychological thriller.
The Company
This one focuses on Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet and a relationship involving one of the dancers, played by Neve Campbell. Mostly, though, it’s about the day-to-day dynamics of the company, and it’s played by actual members of the Joffrey Ballet.
- Why watch it: real company members, real company life.
Strictly Ballroom
Baz Luhrmann’s romantic comedy takes you into the glittery world of ballroom dancing. Whether you’re a ballet dancer or you’d rather foxtrot, it’s a fun way to keep your dance brain busy on a rest day.
- Why watch it: sparkly, silly, and a total mood-lifter.
Ballerina (Leap!)
Called Leap! in the US, this is your pick when you’re in the mood for something animated. It follows a young orphan in the 1800s who dreams of becoming a ballerina. Sweet, easy, and great for a younger sibling too.
- Why watch it: the feel-good animated one for a low-key night.
Fame
A teen arts academy drama that follows a group of teens from all kinds of arts backgrounds at a performing arts high school in New York City. Watch the 1980 classic, then compare it to the 2009 remake if you’re up for a double feature.
- Why watch it: the original performing-arts-school story.
Hairspray
Need a night away from ballet? Both the original and the musical versions of Hairspray are all about the power of dance. Watch the original John Waters film, or put on the movie musical and sing along. No wrong choice.
- Why watch it: pure joy, and you’ll be dancing on the couch.
Chicago
Chicago isn’t about ballet, but it’s a dance-driven movie musical that won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2003. Expect a world of crime, celebrity, and cabaret, with choreography front and center.
- Why watch it: Best Picture-level dance numbers.
An American in Paris
A 1951 movie musical built on George Gershwin’s score, centered on a love triangle in post-World War II Paris. Fun fact: the famous final ballet sequence runs 17 minutes and cost around half a million dollars to shoot.
- Why watch it: that legendary 17-minute ballet finale.
Dance documentaries
When you want the real thing (real dancers, real training, real competition nerves), these are the ones to queue up.
First Position
One of the most well-known ballet documentaries out there. The 2011 film follows several young dancers as they prepare to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix. If you’ve ever wondered what the road to a company actually looks like, start here.
- Why watch it: the gold-standard young-dancer documentary.
Ballet 422
Dreaming of choreographing one day? Ballet 422 walks you through the day-to-day life of a young choreographer, Justin Peck, as he works his way up at New York City Ballet.
- Why watch it: a rare look at how a new ballet gets made.
Jig
Here you’ll follow a group of young Irish dancers as they compete in the Irish Dancing World Championships. Think curly wigs, big dreams, and a whole lot of heart chasing that shiny trophy.
- Why watch it: competition nerves, Irish-dance edition.
A Ballerina’s Tale
This one features Misty Copeland, the first African-American ballerina to become a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Copeland narrates, and the film blends archival and recent footage.
- Why watch it: an inspiring, milestone-making story told in her own words.
Mad Hot Ballroom
This 2005 documentary follows a group of 11-year-olds in New York City through a ballroom dance program, all building toward a city-wide competition between the students. It’s charming and genuinely fun.
- Why watch it: ballroom, kids, and the sweetest competition arc on the list.
Know of a ballet TV show, movie, or documentary that belongs on this list? Tell us in the comments. We’re always looking for the next thing to binge.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ballet TV shows?
For bingeable ballet TV, start with Bunheads (a comedy-drama from the Gilmore Girls creator), Dance Academy (an Australian teen drama set at a dance high school), and Breaking Pointe (a reality series that follows the real dancers of Ballet West). Between the three you get comfort watching, teen drama, and behind-the-curtain reality.
What are the best ballet movies?
The big ones are Billy Elliot, Center Stage, Black Swan, The Red Shoes, White Nights, and the animated Ballerina (called Leap! in the US). If you want dance without the strict ballet focus, Strictly Ballroom, Chicago, Fame, Hairspray, and An American in Paris are all packed with it.
What is the best ballet documentary?
First Position is the one most people mean, following young dancers as they prep for the Youth America Grand Prix. A Ballerina's Tale (about Misty Copeland) and Ballet 422 (about choreographer Justin Peck at New York City Ballet) are both worth your night too.
What should I watch if I love ballet but want a thriller?
Black Swan. Darren Aronofsky's film stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis and leans all the way into the pressure of chasing perfection. It's ballet, but it's also a proper psychological thriller, so save it for when you want the intense one.
Which dance movies follow real competition dancers?
First Position follows several young dancers competing at the Youth America Grand Prix, and Jig follows kids competing at the Irish Dancing World Championships. Mad Hot Ballroom does the same for New York City 11-year-olds in a ballroom program.
What's a good dance movie for a night off from ballet?
When you want dance without the ballet studio, go for Hairspray, Chicago, Strictly Ballroom, or Fame. Same big feelings and great choreography, zero pointe shoes required.