Movies like California Skin (1996)
The best movies like California Skin (1996) are Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008), Scooby Goes Hollywood (1979) and Burlesque (2010). If California Skin hooked you, these 20 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedGrease (1978)7.4/10 from 7,918 votes
- NewestThe Beach Boys (2024)Released 2024
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008)
When fluffy, bubble gum movie star Megan Valentine suddenly finds herself broke and humiliated in the public eye, she wanders from the wreckage of a car accident and witlessly enlists in the U.S. Army hoping in vain that it will change her life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisScooby Goes Hollywood (1979)
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo quit their Saturday morning TV series in pursuit of Hollywood stardom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBurlesque (2010)
Ali leaves behind a troubled life and follows her dreams to Los Angeles, where she lands a job as a cocktail waitress at the Burlesque Lounge, a once-majestic theater that houses an inspired musical revue. Vowing to perform there, she makes the leap from bar to stage, helping restore the club's former glory.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPalo Alto (2014)
A lack of parental guidance encourages teens in an affluent California town to rebel with substance abuse and casual sex.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAmerican Graffiti (1973)
A couple of high school graduates spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBones Brigade: An Autobiography (2012)
When six teenage boys came together as a skateboarding team in the 1980s, they reinvented not only their chosen sport but themselves too – as they evolved from insecure outsiders to the most influential athletes in the field.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisHannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
When Miley Stewart (aka pop-star Hannah Montana) gets too caught up in the superstar celebrity lifestyle, her dad decides it's time for a total change of scenery. But sweet niblets! Miley must trade in all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for some ol' blue jeans on the family farm in Tennessee, and question if she can be both Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGrease (1978)
Australian good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance despite their eccentric friends?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBarbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 (2012)
Merliah Summers, a mermaid from Oceana, travels to Australia for a surfing competition. But when she learns that the evil Eris is planning to take over her kingdom, she must stop her at any cost.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThat's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time including comedy and drama as well as classic musical numbers.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEcho in the Canyon (2019)
A look at the roots of the historic music scene in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon featuring the music of iconic music groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas and the Papas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLovelace (2013)
Story of Linda Lovelace, who is used and abused by the porn industry at the behest of her coercive husband, before taking control of her life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Fluffer (2001)
Self-effacing, boyish Sean moves to LA to pursue a career in movies but finds it tougher than he imagined. He stumbles onto porn star Johnny Rebel - a handsome, muscled dream of men and women alike - who awakens Sean’s deep obsession.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like thisReturn of the Gunfighter (1967)
A gunfighter and a cowboy help a Mexican girl avenge the land-related murder of her parents.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNorth to Alaska (1960)
After striking gold in Alaska, the romantic George sends his womanizing partner Sam to bring his fiancée up from Seattle. When Sam finds that she has already married, he returns instead with Angel, a dancer originally from France.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBack to the Beach (1987)
A former beach boy and his wife go to California to visit their daughter and become part of the new beach scene.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like thisYouth in Revolt (2009)
As a fan of Albert Camus and Jean-Luc Godard, teenage Nick Twisp is definitely out of his element when his mother and her boyfriend move the family to a trailer park. When a pretty neighbor named Sheeni plays records by French crooners, it's love at first sight for frustrated and inexperienced Nick. Learning that she is dating someone, Nick launches a hilarious quest to find his way into Sheeni's heart -- and bed.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBarbie as the Island Princess (2007)
Young Rosella is saved by a few kind animals after a shipwreck. Now called Ro, she learns to talk to animals. One day, she saves the life of a prince and returns to civilisation to discover her past.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Beach Boys (2024)
A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPlaying It Cool (2014)
A young man meets and instantly falls in love with an engaged woman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like California Skin?
The closest matches to California Skin are Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008), Scooby Goes Hollywood (1979) and Burlesque (2010). Below are 17 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after California Skin?
Start with Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008), the closest match to California Skin.
What is the highest-rated movie like California Skin?
Grease (1978), rated 7.4/10 by 7,918 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like California Skin?
The Beach Boys (2024) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like California Skin?
Yes: Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008), Scooby Goes Hollywood (1979) and Burlesque (2010).
How are movies similar to California Skin chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside California Skin, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.