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Movies like Renilson: Life and Carnival (2026)

The best movies like Renilson: Life and Carnival (2026) are Paris Is Burning (1991), Howard (2018) and Live Aid (1985). If Renilson: Life and Carnival hooked you, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Paris Is Burning (1991)

    Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  2. Howard (2018)

    Though legendary lyricist Howard Ashman died far too young, his impact on Broadway, movies, and the culture at large were incalculable. Told entirely through rare archival footage and interviews with Ashman’s family, friends, associates, and longtime partner Bill Lauch, Howard is an intimate tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent and a rousing celebration of musical storytelling itself.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  3. Live Aid (1985)

    Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  4. Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026)

    Captured during Billie Eilish's sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  5. Queen: Days of Our Lives (2011)

    In 1971, four college students got together to form a rock band. Since then, that certain band called Queen have released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide. The popularity of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon is stronger than ever 40 years on. But it was no bed of roses. No pleasure cruise. Queen had their share of kicks in the face, but they came through and this is how they did it, set against the backdrop of brilliant music and stunning live performances from every corner of the globe. In this film, for the first time, it is the band that tells their story. Featuring brand new interviews with the band and unseen archive footage (including their recently unearthed, first ever TV performance), it is a compelling story told with intelligence, wit, plenty of humor and painful honesty.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  6. Ghost Elephants (2026)

    In Angola's mist-shrouded highlands, three KhoiSan master trackers embark on a spiritual quest to rediscover the legendary "ghost elephants" of Lisima, creatures presumed lost but remembered in ancestral trance, ritual, and memory.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  7. A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough (2026)

    Veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough tells the story of a remarkable group of gorillas, from his first encounter in the '70s to the present day.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  8. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025)

    The authorized documentary celebrating the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premiere. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with acclaimed Hollywood directors alongside Steven Spielberg, top shark scientists, and conservationists, the film uncovers the behind-the-scenes chaos and how the film launched the summer blockbuster, inspired a new wave of filmmakers, and paved the way for shark conservation that continues today.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  9. Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender (2012)

    Archive footage of interviews, concerts and personal material bring to light the solo performance work of Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  10. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

    Christopher Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  11. Western Stars (2019)

    The incomparable Bruce Springsteen performs his critically acclaimed latest album and muses on life, rock, and the American dream, in this intimate and personal concert film co-directed by Thom Zimny and Springsteen himself.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  12. Amazing Grace (2018)

    A behind-the-scenes documentary about the recording of Aretha Franklin's best-selling album finally sees the light of day more than four decades after the original footage was shot.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  13. Cameraperson (2016)

    As a visually radical memoir, CAMERAPERSON draws on the remarkable footage that filmmaker Kirsten Johnson has shot and reframes it in ways that illuminate moments and situations that have personally affected her. What emerges is an elegant meditation on the relationship between truth and the camera frame, as Johnson transforms scenes that have been presented on Festival screens as one kind of truth into another kind of story—one about personal journey, craft, and direct human connection.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  14. Any Day Now (2012)

    In the late 1970s, when a mentally handicapped teenager is abandoned, a gay couple takes him in and becomes the family he's never had. But once the unconventional living arrangement is discovered by authorities, the men must fight the legal system to adopt the child.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  15. Ronaldo (2015)

    Filmed over 14 months with unprecedented access into the inner circle of the man and the sport, this is the first official and fully authorised film of one of the most celebrated figures in football. For the first time ever, the world gets vividly candid and un-paralleled, behind-closed-doors access to the footballer, father, family-man and friend in this moving & fascinating documentary. Through in-depth conversations, state of the art football footage and never before seen archival footage, the film gives an astonishing insight into the sporting and personal life of triple Ballon D'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo at the peak of his career. From the makers of ‘Senna’ and ‘Amy’, Ronaldo takes audiences on an intimate and revealing journey of what it’s like to live as an iconic athlete in the eye of the storm.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. Being James Bond (2021)

    Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  17. Concert for George (2003)

    As a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his passing, The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 . Organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. A benefit for Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation, the all-star concert took place on the day of the first anniversary of his death. Proceeds from the film also went to the Material World Charitable Foundation. The film was shot using discreet cameras from over twelve locations.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  18. Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles (2021)

    Fresh off the heels of her brand-new album, "Happier Than Ever," this cinematic concert experience features an intimate performance of every song in the album's sequential order – for the first and only time – from the stage of the legendary Hollywood Bowl.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  19. Piece by Piece (2024)

    A unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music's most innovative minds.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  20. Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2018)

    A deliciously scandalous portrait of unsung Hollywood legend Scotty Bowers, whose bestselling memoir chronicled his decades spent as sexual procurer to the stars.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  21. All About My Mother (1999)

    Following the tragic death of her teenage son, Manuela travels from Madrid to Barcelona in an attempt to contact the long-estranged father the boy never knew. She reunites with an old friend, an outspoken transgender sex worker, and befriends a troubled actress and a pregnant, HIV-positive nun.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  22. Maybe... Maybe Not (1994)

    The heterosexual man Axel is thrown out of his girlfriends home for cheating and ends up moving in with a gay man. Axel learns the advantages of living with gay men even though they are attracted to him and when his girlfriend wants him back he must make a tough decision.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  23. Jarhead (2005)

    Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  24. Walk on Water (2004)

    Eyal, an Israeli Mossad agent, is given the mission to track down and kill the very old Alfred Himmelman, an ex-Nazi officer, who might still be alive. Pretending to be a tourist guide, he befriends his grandson Axel, in Israel to visit his sister Pia. The two men set out on a tour of the country, during which Axel challenges Eyal's values.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  25. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

    Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  26. Twelve Monkeys (1995)

    In the year 2035, convict James Cole reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time to discover the origin of a deadly virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth's population and forced the survivors into underground communities. But when Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990 instead of 1996, he's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital. There he meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly and the son of a famous virus expert who may hold the key to the Army of the 12 Monkeys; thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  27. 8 Mile (2002)

    For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and every moment… is another chance.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  28. Billy Elliot (2000)

    County Durham, England, 1984. The miners' strike has started and the police have started coming up from Bethnal Green, starting a class war with the lower classes suffering. Caught in the middle of the conflict is 11-year old Billy Elliot, who, after leaving his boxing club for the day, stumbles upon a ballet class and finds out that he's naturally talented. He practices with his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson for an upcoming audition in Newcastle-upon Tyne for the royal Ballet school in London.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  29. Boys Don't Cry (1999)

    A young transgender man explores his gender identity and searches for love in rural Nebraska.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  30. Snack Shack (2024)

    Inseparable best friends AJ and Moose decide to run the local pool's snack shack after their plan to sell home-brewed beer goes down the drain. Things take a turn when they meet Brooke, an effortlessly cool lifeguard who puts their big plans, and friendship, at risk.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style

    Worth the HypeMovies like this

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Renilson: Life and Carnival?

The closest matches to Renilson: Life and Carnival are Paris Is Burning (1991), Howard (2018) and Live Aid (1985). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Renilson: Life and Carnival?

Start with Paris Is Burning (1991), the closest match to Renilson: Life and Carnival.

What is the highest-rated movie like Renilson: Life and Carnival?

Queen: Days of Our Lives (2011), rated 8.1/10 by 201 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Renilson: Life and Carnival?

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Renilson: Life and Carnival?

Yes: Paris Is Burning (1991), Howard (2018) and Live Aid (1985).

How are movies similar to Renilson: Life and Carnival chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Renilson: Life and Carnival, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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