Films like Whiplash
11 picks with a similar feel
What defines Whiplash, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Expect a serious, moving music film, fresh rather than familiar. Best if you like stories that hit hard. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of self-destruction, troubled leads and coming of age, plus tags such as public humiliation, jazz and young adult.
Here are 11 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Whiplash (2014).
- 1
Climax (2018)
Film7.1More intricate
Why it's like Whiplash: Also emotional and weighty, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads.
- 2
Black Swan (2010)
Film7.6
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and emotional, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads. Common ground: obsession.
- 3
Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)
Film8.0More intricate
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and inventive, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads.
- 4
A Star Is Born (2018)
Film7.5
Why it's like Whiplash: Also emotional and weighty, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads.
- 5
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Film7.4More intricate
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and emotional, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads. Common ground: obsession.
- 6
Taxi Driver (1976)
Film8.2Darker
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and dark, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads. Common ground: obsession.
- 7
Moonlight (2016)
Film7.4
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and emotional, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads.
- 8
Rocketman (2019)
Film7.4Warmer in tone
Why it's like Whiplash: Also emotional and weighty, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads.
- 9
Film7.3Slower burn
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and inventive, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads. Common ground: obsession.
- 10
Phantom Thread (2017)
Film7.3
Why it's like Whiplash: Also weighty and emotional, with themes of self-destruction and troubled leads. Common ground: obsession.
- 11
Sound of Metal (2020)
Film7.8
Why it's like Whiplash: Also emotional and inventive, with themes of an all-consuming quest.
Boxlist compares Whiplash with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Whiplash?
- Picks with a similar feel include Climax, Black Swan, Pink Floyd: The Wall and A Star Is Born. Each shares part of Whiplash's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 11 films.
- How are these films like Whiplash chosen?
- Boxlist compares Whiplash with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.