Movies Like Show Boat

Ranked by shared directors, cast, themes, genre, and era — not just generic recommendations.

By Candlelight

1933·1h 10m·★ 6.7·James Whale

2 shared crewDir. James WhaleDP: John J. Mescall

Bride of Frankenstein

1935·1h 15m·★ 7.8·James Whale

2 shared crewDir. James WhaleDP: John J. Mescall

Magnificent Obsession

1935·1h 52m·★ 6.8·John M. Stahl

DP: John J. MescallStarring Irene DunneDrama & Romance

State Fair

1945·1h 40m·★ 7.0·Walter Lang

Fans also likedMusic & Comedy & RomanceStarring Charles Winninger

When Tomorrow Comes

1939·1h 32m·★ 6.7·John M. Stahl

DP: John J. MescallStarring Irene DunneDrama & Romance

Top Hat

1935·1h 39m·★ 7.7·Mark Sandrich

TMDB recommendsMusic & Comedy & Romance

Roberta

1935·1h 46m·★ 7.0·William A. Seiter

Both star Irene Dunne & Helen WestleyComedy & Music & Romance

42nd Street

1933·1h 29m·★ 7.3·Lloyd Bacon

TMDB recommendsComedy & Drama & Romance

Hairspray

2007·1h 57m·★ 6.7·Adam Shankman

TMDB recommendsComedy & Romance & Drama

The Red Cockatoo

2006·2h 8m·★ 6.7·Dominik Graf

TMDB recommendsComedy & Drama & Romance

Liberty's Secret

2016·1h 38m·★ 5.0·Andy Kirshner

TMDB recommendsComedy & Romance & Music

COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing

2025·1h 45m·★ 6.4·Hiroyuki Hata

TMDB recommendsMusic & Drama

Us Again

2021·7m·★ 7.8·Zach Parrish

TMDB recommendsDrama & Romance

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

1994·1h 43m·★ 7.5·Stephan Elliott

TMDB recommendsDrama & Comedy

Yankee Doodle Dandy

1942·2h 6m·★ 7.6·Michael Curtiz

TMDB recommendsDrama & Music

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

1989·1h 19m·★ 7.0·Aki Kaurismäki

TMDB recommendsComedy & Music

Ruth & Boaz

2025·1h 33m·★ 6.0·Alanna Brown

Fans also likedRomance & Drama & Music

High Strung Free Dance

2018·1h 43m·★ 6.8·Michael Damian

Fans also likedMusic & Romance & Drama

Pure Country

1992·1h 52m·★ 7.2·Christopher Cain

Fans also likedDrama & Music & Romance

The High Note

2020·1h 53m·★ 6.4·Nisha Ganatra

Fans also likedRomance & Comedy & Music & Drama

How Good Is Show Boat?

Ratings across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and TMDB, plus our verdict.