Skip to content

Movies like Escape from Luanda (2007)

The best movies like Escape from Luanda (2007) are Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020), The Last Repair Shop (2024) and Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022). If Escape from Luanda hooked you with its war and documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020)

    A portrait of singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes' life, chronicling the past few years of his rise and journey.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both music & documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  2. The Last Repair Shop (2024)

    In a warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain more than 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of this city.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  3. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)

    After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  4. Matangi / Maya / M.I.A. (2018)

    Drawn from a never before seen cache of personal footage spanning decades, this is an intimate portrait of the Sri Lankan artist and musician who continues to shatter conventions.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both music & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  5. ariana grande: excuse me, i love you (2020)

    Ariana Grande takes the stage in London for her Sweetener World Tour and shares a behind-the-scenes look at her life in rehearsal and on the road.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both music & documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  6. Music by John Williams (2024)

    His unforgettable scores are an essential part of some of the most beloved movies of our time, over a career that spans decades. See and hear maestro John Williams' own story, with insights from filmmakers, musicians, and others he has inspired, complete with rare behind-the-scenes looks at the making of movie history.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  7. Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)

    Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, Katy Perry: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Katy and her friends, and all-access footage of rehearsals, choreography, Katy’s signature style and more, Katy Perry: Part of Me reveals the singer’s unwavering belief that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  8. Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger (2026)

    Experience the meteoric rise of Oasis through rare footage and untold stories as the band reunites for Oasis Live '25, chronicling their journey from Manchester streets to global rock stardom.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  9. 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 · both music & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  10. Justin Bieber's Believe (2013)

    A backstage and on-stage look at Justin Bieber during his rise to super stardom.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Popcorn FlickMovies 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 · both music & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  12. Score: A Film Music Documentary (2017)

    Music is an integral part of most films, adding emotion and nuance while often remaining invisible to audiences. Matt Schrader shines a spotlight on the overlooked craft of film composing, gathering many of the art form’s most influential practitioners, from Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman to Quincy Jones and Randy Newman, to uncover their creative process. Tracing key developments in the evolution of music in film, and exploring some of cinema’s most iconic soundtracks, 'Score' is an aural valentine for film lovers.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both music & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  13. Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012)

    SOMETHING FROM NOTHING: THE ART OF RAP is a feature length performance documentary about the runaway juggernaut that is Rap music. At the wheel of this unstoppable beast is the film's director and interviewer Ice-T. Taking us on a deeply personal journey Ice-T uncovers how this music of the street has grown to dominate the world. Along the way Ice-T meets a whole spectrum of Hip-Hop talent, from founders, to new faces, to the global superstars like Eminem, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and Kanye West. He exposes the roots and history of Rap and then, through meeting many of its most famous protagonists, studies the living mechanism of the music to reveal 'The Art Of Rap'. This extraordinary film features unique performances from the entire cast, without resorting to archive material, to build a fresh and surprising take on the phenomenon that is Rap.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  14. John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky (2018)

    Film telling the untold story of John Lennon's 1971 album Imagine, exploring the creative collaboration between Lennon and Yoko Ono and featuring interviews and never-seen-before footage.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  15. The Who: The Kids Are Alright (1979)

    Through concert performances and interviews, this film offers us a comprehensive look at the British pioneer rock group, The Who. It captures their zany craziness and outrageous antics from the initial formation of the group in 1964 to 1978. It notably features the band's last performance with long-term drummer Keith Moon, filmed at Shepperton Studios in May 1978, three months before his death.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)

    A filmed version of David Byrne's Broadway show, a unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and to the global community.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both music & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  17. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006)

    This 2005 documentary film chronicles the life of Daniel Johnston, a manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist, from childhood up to the present, with an emphasis on his mental illness and how it manifested itself in demonic self-obsession.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  18. God Bless Ozzy Osbourne (2011)

    Featuring never before seen footage uncovered from the archives and interviews with Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee and others, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne is the first documentary to take viewers inside the complex mind of rock's great icon.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  19. Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy (2025)

    Never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews celebrate the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  20. The Sound of 007 (2022)

    Pull back the curtain on the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, from Sean Connery’s Dr No through to Daniel Craig’s final outing in No Time to Die.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & music

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  21. Hrana – 4 filmy o Marekovi Brezovskom (2014)

    The film is a testimony to the short but extremely dynamic life of one of the most talented Slovak composers of the new era – Marek Brezovský. He died of a heroin overdose at the age of 20. The film is also a report on an entire generation that came of age in the chaotic post-revolutionary period of the first half of the 1990s. A generation for whom Marek Brezovský's music became their essential cry and sounds like a hymn in their hearts. The film about Marek Brezovský is an attempt to reconstruct one human life. A life that was dramatically short, but incredibly intense and fruitful. Marek Brezovský is perhaps the first Slovak artist to become famous after his death.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both music & documentary

  22. Klangwütig - Ein Jahr an der Karajan-Akademie (2022)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary & music

  23. Racismo: Uma Descolonização Em Curso (2025)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  24. Raise Your Voice (2004)

    A coming-of-age story centered around a small-town singer brokenhearted by the death of her brother in a car crash, who had secretly submitted her for a summer session at a performing arts academy in Los Angeles. In the academy, she experiences a whole new way of life in the big city, far from the small town lifestyle she's used to.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both music

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  25. NBC White Paper: Angola – Journey to a War (1961)

    An investigative documentary on the Angolan conflict, filmed on location in Portuguese-controlled Africa by Robert M. Young and first broadcast in 1961. (Note: Originally broadcast as an episode of NBC’s White Paper series (1961), but listed separately due to its independent documentary production, hazardous field filming, major journalistic impact, and sustained scholarly treatment as a standalone documentary work.)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  26. Resonance (2019)

    The film follows three renowned vocal coaches and their students during private lessons. As the pupils prepare for their upcoming final evaluations, perfect technique is expected to produce impeccable results. Listening primarily to their voices, we feel intensity and intimacy arise between teachers and students – an atmosphere in which transcendence is being built.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  27. Blood Diamonds (2006)

    Blood Diamonds is a made-for-TV documentary series, originally broadcast on the History Channel, that looks into the trade of diamonds which fund rebellions and wars in many African nations. The program focuses primarily on two nations: Sierra Leone and Angola. Diamonds which are traded for this purpose are known as blood diamonds.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  28. Rostov-Luanda (1998)

    Sissako visits a war-torn Angola after thirty years of war in search of a friend and thereby through interviews reflects on the lost utopias of a generation of Africans who experienced the liberation struggles. His camera is witness to the dislocation and despair of those he encounters living in Angola, however he also discovers the resilient spirit of Africa and optimism for its future in unexpected ways.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  29. Letters to Angola (2012)

    Brazil and Angola while on either side of the Atlantic Ocean have the same language, a common colonial past and many shared stories. In this film, correspondence is exchanged between these two places – some people are longtime friends, others have never met. Their stories intertwine and tell about migration, nostalgia, belonging, war, prejudice, exile and distance. The search for identity and flow of memory are driven by the line of affection that binds the seven pairs of speakers presented in this documentary, people whose life stories are traced between Brazil, Angola and Portugal.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  30. La fuga (2024)

    In a retirement home for former professional musicians, a newcomer convinces some of his mates to embark on an exciting adventure that will change their lives.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both music

Like Escape from Luanda and something else?

Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Escape from Luanda?

The closest matches to Escape from Luanda are Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020), The Last Repair Shop (2024) and Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Escape from Luanda?

Start with Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020), the closest match to Escape from Luanda.

What is the highest-rated movie like Escape from Luanda?

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022), rated 8.4/10 by 624 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Escape from Luanda?

Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger (2026) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Escape from Luanda?

Yes: Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020), The Last Repair Shop (2024) and Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022).

How are movies similar to Escape from Luanda chosen?

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

↑ ↓ to move · Enter to open · Full search page