Dynamic Watchlist Hub: Apr 15, 2026

10 Best Movies Like The American

If you loved The American, we've curated the perfect watchlist for you based on shared genres, themes, and directorial style.

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Expert Review & Ratings

See our full critical analysis and audience score for The American.

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#1
The White Crow

The White Crow

2018★ 6.6

Why watch this? A perfect follow-up to The American for fans of Drama. It captures a similar emotionally gripping atmosphere.

The story of Rudolf Nureyev, whose escape to the West stunned the world at the height of the Cold War. With his magnetic presence, Nureyev emerged as ballet’s most famous star, a w...

#2
Black Swan

Black Swan

2010★ 7.7

Why watch this? A perfect follow-up to The American for fans of Drama. It captures a similar spine-chilling atmosphere.

The story of Nina, a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired balleri...

#3
Limelight

Limelight

1952★ 7.9

Why watch this? A perfect follow-up to The American for fans of Drama. It captures a similar emotionally gripping atmosphere.

A fading music hall comedian tries to help a despondent ballet dancer learn to walk and to again feel confident about life....

#4
Mao’s Last Dancer

Mao’s Last Dancer

2009★ 6.6

Why watch this? A perfect follow-up to The American for fans of Drama. It captures a similar emotionally gripping atmosphere.

At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, ...

#5
The Red Shoes

The Red Shoes

1948★ 8.0

Why watch this? A perfect follow-up to The American for fans of Drama. It captures a similar emotionally gripping atmosphere.

A fledgling ballerina falls in love with a brilliant composer, but the jealous head of the ballet company plots to drive them apart....

#6
Birds of Paradise

Birds of Paradise

2021★ 6.5

Why watch this? A perfect follow-up to The American for fans of Drama. It captures a similar emotionally gripping atmosphere.

Two dancers at an elite ballet academy in Paris must compete for a contract to join the highly coveted Opéra National de Paris as they confront their competitive nature, sexual awa...

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