Movies like The Exploding Boy (2023)
The best movies like The Exploding Boy (2023) are Sing 2 (2021), UglyDolls (2019) and Sing (2016). If The Exploding Boy hooked you with its comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedSing 2 (2021)7.8/10 from 4,956 votes
- NewestIdhayam Murali (2026)Released 2026
Sing 2 (2021)
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 Crystal Entertainment offices, run by the ruthless wolf mogul Jimmy Crystal, where the gang pitches the ridiculous idea of casting the lion rock legend Clay Calloway in their show. Buster must embark on a quest to find the now-isolated Clay and persuade him to return to the stage.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisUglyDolls (2019)
In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weirdness is celebrated, strangeness is special and beauty is embraced as more than meets the eye. After traveling to the other side of a mountain, Moxy and her UglyDoll friends discover Perfection -- a town where more conventional dolls receive training before entering the real world to find the love of a child.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSing (2016)
A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBetter Nate Than Ever (2022)
13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams but there’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. When his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to the Big Apple for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside-down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSneakerella (2022)
When El, an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens, meets Kira King, the fiercely independent daughter of legendary basketball star and sneaker tycoon Darius King, sparks fly as the two bond over their mutual affinity for sneakers. With a little nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic, El finds the courage to use his talent to pursue his dream of becoming a ‘legit’ sneaker designer in the industry.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisHappy Feet Two (2011)
Mumble the penguin has a problem: his son Erik, who is reluctant to dance, encounters the Mighty Sven — a penguin who can fly! Things get worse for Mumble when the world is shaken by powerful forces, causing him to bring together the penguin nations and their allies to set things right.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRock Dog 2: Rock Around the Park (2021)
When Bodi and his band 'True Blue' leave Snow Mountain to tour with pop sensation Lil' Foxy, they learn that fame comes at a price.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022)
As a new school year begins, Greg is subject to relentless teasing from his brother Rodrick. Will Greg manage to get along with him? Or will a secret ruin everything?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRock Dog (2016)
When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician, setting into motion a series of completely unexpected events.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTrolls Band Together (2023)
When Branch's brother, Floyd, is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains, Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHarvey (1950)
The story of Elwood P. Dowd who makes friends with a spirit taking the form of a human-sized rabbit named Harvey that only he sees (and a few privileged others on occasion also.) After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, a comedy of errors ensues. Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for a family mending its wounds and for romance blossoming in unexpected places.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBlue's Big City Adventure (2022)
When Josh gets the opportunity of a lifetime to audition for Rainbow Puppy’s Broadway musical, Josh and Blue skidoo to NYC for the very first time where they meet new friends and discover the magic of music, dance, and following one’s dreams.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCats Don't Dance (1997)
An ambitious singing and dancing cat in 1939 Hollywood overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAlvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)
As Alvin struggles with nightmares involving werewolves, the school play of Jekyll & Hyde is in jeopardy when the lead, Alvin, is suspended. In an attempt to boost his confidence, the principal suggests Theodore, who's suddenly going through some canine changes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisArlo the Alligator Boy (2021)
Upon learning that he is from New York City, a wide-eyed boy, who is half human and half alligator, decides to leave his sheltered life in the swamp and search for his long lost father. A musical adventure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBartok the Magnificent (1999)
Albino bat Bartok – former sidekick to the wicked Grigori Rasputin – ventures to prove his true worth on a new quest to defeat the legendary Russian witch Baba Yaga.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCaptain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)
Based on the bestselling book series, this outrageous comedy tells the story of George and Harold, two overly imaginative pranksters who hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s an enthusiastic, yet dimwitted, superhero named Captain Underpants.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
The owner of a bank (Miss Bitterman) wants to own the Muppet Theatre so she can build a nightclub over it. After she tricks Pepe into giving her the only copy of the contract between her father and the Muppets, she changes it so the Muppets have very little time to pay a debt they owe. Meanwhile, the Muppets are trying to put on a Christmas show. After the Muppets are confronted by Bitterman, they make a lot of sacrifices to save up so they can keep the Theatre.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Muppet Show (2026)
Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos is bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with their very special guest, Sabrina Carpenter!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEncino Man (1992)
High school misfits Stoney and Dave discover a long-frozen primeval man buried in their backyard. But the thawed-out Link—as the boys have named him—quickly becomes a wild card in the teens' already zany Southern California lives. After a shave and some new clothes, Link's presence at school makes the daily drudgery a lot more interesting.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Thing About Harry (2020)
Two high school enemies, uber-jock Harry and out-and-proud Sam, are forced to share a car ride to their Missouri hometown for a friend's engagement party on Valentine's Day. Things take a turn when Sam learns Harry has come out.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEXAMSTRESS (2026)
Examstress is a short student film created for college, year 2/2. This film is about the stress of exams and typical student mental health during this time. It follows Penn, a procrastinating student, as they work towards their final major project.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Regular Guys (1996)
Christoph, cop and self-confident macho, has trouble with his fiance. After a long night he wakes up in the arms of Edgar, a good-looking, gay auto-mechanic. His live gets more and more troublesome after his girl friend throws him out of their apartment and as last resort he moves to Edgars place. Working together with a new, good-looking, very self-confident, female collegue, but living with a good-looking gay guy makes him pretty uncertain about his sexuality and his role as a cop. Written by Konstantin Articus
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
The Wedding Banquet (1993)
A Taiwanese-American man is happily settled in New York with his American boyfriend. He plans a marriage of convenience to a Chinese woman in order to keep his parents off his back and to get the woman a green card. Chaos follows when his parents arrive in New York for the wedding.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisJingle All the Way (1996)
Howard Langston, a salesman for a mattress company, is constantly kept busy at his job, disappointing his son. After he misses his son's karate exposition, Howard vows to make it up to him by buying an action figure of his son's favorite television hero for Christmas. Unfortunately for Howard, it is Christmas Eve, and every store is sold out of Turbo Man. Now, Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find a Turbo Man action figure.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBeautiful Girls (1996)
During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Sure Thing (1985)
Gib, a beer-guzzling slob, and Alison, an uptight Ivy-Leaguer, are an unlikely duo stuck together on a cross-country trip during Christmas break. At first they get on each other's nerves but, as time passes, they find their divergent natures complement each other. Now they need to realize what they've already found before it's too late.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIdhayam Murali (2026)
A young man navigates the complexities of unrequited love, finding that even as years pass and life takes unexpected turns, certain emotions remain deeply embedded in his heart.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Em 97 Era Assim (2016)
A 15 year-old boy and his friends want to lose their virginity.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Bel Ami (2025)
In a frozen town unwilling to stagnate, a middle-aged man meets true love and decides to come out of the closet. A lesbian couple decides to look for a gay man to marry and have a child. Behind their fiery love stories is an absurd drama of identity politics. The ghost of communism often wanders around the lonely souls.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Exploding Boy?
The closest matches to The Exploding Boy are Sing 2 (2021), UglyDolls (2019) and Sing (2016). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Exploding Boy?
Start with Sing 2 (2021), the closest match to The Exploding Boy.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Exploding Boy?
Sing 2 (2021), rated 7.8/10 by 4,956 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Exploding Boy?
Idhayam Murali (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The Exploding Boy?
Yes: Sing 2 (2021), UglyDolls (2019) and Sing (2016).
How are movies similar to The Exploding Boy chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Exploding Boy, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.