Movies like The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest (1974)
The best movies like The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest (1974) are Pumping Iron (1977), Miss Congeniality (2000) and Dumplin' (2018). If The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest hooked you, these 20 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedAthlete A (2020)7.5/10 from 299 votes
- NewestMagazine Dreams (2025)Released 2025
Pumping Iron (1977)
Amateur and professional bodybuilders prepare for the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests as five-time champion Arnold Schwarzenegger defends his Mr. Olympia title against Serge Nubret and the shy young Lou Ferrigno.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMiss Congeniality (2000)
When the local FBI office receives a letter from a terrorist known only as 'The Citizen', it's quickly determined that he's planning his next act at the Miss America beauty pageant. Because tough-as-nails Gracie Hart is the only female agent at the office, she's chosen to go undercover as the contestant from New Jersey.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDumplin' (2018)
To prove a point about measuring up and fitting in, Texas teen Willowdean “Dumplin’” Dickson enters a local pageant run by her ex-beauty queen mom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGirl Model (2011)
A documentary on the modeling industry's 'supply chain' between Siberia, Japan, and the U.S., told through the experiences of the scouts, agencies, and a 13-year-old model.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAthlete A (2020)
Follow the Indianapolis Star reporters that broke the story about USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar's abuse and hear from gymnasts.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSmile (1975)
It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRisky Business (1983)
Meet Joel Goodson, an industrious, college-bound 17-year-old and a responsible, trustworthy son. However, when his parents go away and leave him home alone in the wealthy Chicago suburbs with the Porsche at his disposal he quickly decides he has been good for too long and it is time to enjoy himself. After an unfortunate incident with the Porsche Joel must raise some cash, in a risky way.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisStick It (2006)
Haley is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush with the law, a judge sentences her to an elite gymnastics academy run by a legendary, hard-nosed coach. Once there, Haley's rebellious attitude wins her both friends and enemies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMagazine Dreams (2025)
Aspiring bodybuilder Killian Maddox struggles to find human connection in an exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisShampoo (1975)
On Election Day, 1968, irresponsible hairdresser and ladies' man George Roundy is too busy cutting hair and dealing with his girlfriends and mistress Felicia Karpf, whose husband Lester is having an affair with his ex-girlfriend Jackie.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisConnie and Carla (2004)
After accidentally witnessing a mafia hit in the Windy City, gal pals Connie and Carla skip town for L.A., where they go way undercover as singers working the city's dinner theater circuit ... disguised as drag queens. Now, it's not enough that they become big hits on the scene; things get extra-weird when Connie meets Jeff -- a guy she'd like to be a woman with.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like thisMiss Juneteenth (2020)
Turquoise, a former beauty queen turned hardworking single mother, prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the “Miss Juneteenth” pageant, hoping to keep her from repeating the same mistakes in life that she did.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Notorious Bettie Page (2006)
Bettie Page grew up in a conservative religious family in Tennessee and became a photo model sensation in 1950s New York. Bettie's legendary pin-up photos made her the target of a Senate investigation into pornography, and transformed her into an erotic icon who continues to enthrall fans to this day.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGirls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)
Janey is new in town. She soon meets Lynne, a classmate who shares her passion for the local show 'Dance TV'. When a competition is announced to find new Dance TV performers, Janey and Lynne are determined to audition. The only problem is that Janey's father doesn't approve of that kind of thing.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Last Summer (2019)
Standing on the precipice of adulthood, a group of friends navigate new relationships, while reexamining others, during their final summer before college.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTropic Thunder: Rain of Madness (2008)
A behind-the-scenes mockumentary of Tropic Thunder.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRonnie Coleman: The King (2018)
Ronnie Coleman is known as "The King" and for good reason. He is the 8x Mr. Olympia champion in the world of bodybuilding - sharing the world record for most Olympia wins. Now retired, he has undergone over 6 surgeries leaving him unable to walk without crutches but his desire to train like a pro bodybuilder has not dissipated. Exploring the history of his career as a bodybuilding legend and following his journey to recovery; for the first time ever discover the true man behind The King.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNever Been Kissed (1999)
Josie Geller, a baby-faced junior copywriter at the Chicago Sun-Times, must pose as a student at her former high school to research contemporary teenage culture. With the help of her brother, Rob, Josie infiltrates the inner circle of the most popular clique on campus. But she hits a major snag in her investigation -- not to mention her own failed love life -- when she falls for her dreamy English teacher, Sam Coulson.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGLOW: The Story of The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012)
The year is 1986. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) is about to burst onto the scene as the first ever all-female wrestling show on television. By 1989, the GLOW girls were an international phenomenon, attracting over seven million viewers worldwide, touring the nation and making big bank for the show's producers. One year later, GLOW was gone. GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING chronicles the rise and fall of this hit television show through the stories of those who lived it. For some, the show was a brief foray into acting and a short-lived adventure. For others, their time in GLOW would impact and influence their lives for years to follow. For all of the women, working on GLOW was a unique and exciting experience that will bond them forever.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Neon Demon (2016)
When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest?
The closest matches to The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest are Pumping Iron (1977), Miss Congeniality (2000) and Dumplin' (2018). Below are 17 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest?
Start with Pumping Iron (1977), the closest match to The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest.
What is the highest-rated movie like The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest?
Athlete A (2020), rated 7.5/10 by 299 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest?
Magazine Dreams (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest?
Yes: Pumping Iron (1977), Miss Congeniality (2000) and Dumplin' (2018).
How are movies similar to The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The First Annual Miss Illinois Bikini Contest, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.