Movies like A Damsel in Distress (1937)
The best movies like A Damsel in Distress (1937) are Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937) and Roberta (1935). If A Damsel in Distress hooked you with its music and comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedTop Hat (1935)7.2/10 from 354 votes
- NewestRoyal Wedding (1951)Released 1951
Swing Time (1936)
Lucky is tricked into missing his own wedding to Margaret and has to make $25,000 so her father will allow him to marry her. He and business partner Pop go to New York where they run into dancing instructor Penny. She and Lucky form a successful dance partnership, but romance is blighted by his old attachment to Margaret and hers for Ricky.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both romance & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShall We Dance (1937)
Ballet star Petrov arranges to cross the Atlantic aboard the same ship as the dancer and musical star he's fallen for but barely knows. By the time the ocean liner reaches New York, a little white lie has churned through the rumour mill and turned into a hot gossip item—that the two celebrities are secretly married.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRoberta (1935)
Football player John Kent tags along as Huck Haines and the Wabash Indianians travel to an engagement in Paris, only to lose it immediately. John and company visit his aunt, owner of a posh fashion house run by her assistant, Stephanie. There they meet the singer Scharwenka (alias Huck's old friend Lizzie), who gets the band a job. Meanwhile, Madame Roberta passes away and leaves the business to John and he goes into partnership with Stephanie.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCarefree (1938)
Dr. Tony Flagg's friend Steven has problems in the relationship with his fiancée Amanda, so he persuades her to visit Tony. After some minor misunderstandings, she falls in love with him. When he tries to use hypnosis to strengthen her feelings for Steven, things get complicated.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both music & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDancing Lady (1933)
Janie lives to dance and will dance anywhere, even stripping in a burlesque house. Tod Newton, the rich playboy, discovers her there and helps her get a job in a real Broadway musical being directed by Patch. Tod thinks he can get what he wants from Janie, Patch thinks Janie is using her charms rather than talent to get to the top, and Janie thinks Patch is the greatest. Steve, the stage manager, has the Three Stooges helping him manage all the show girls. Fred Astaire and Nelson Eddy make appearances as famous Broadway personalities.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTop Hat (1935)
Showman Jerry Travers is working for producer Horace Hardwick in London. Jerry demonstrates his new dance steps late one night in Horace's hotel room, much to the annoyance of sleeping Dale Tremont below. She goes upstairs to complain and the two are immediately attracted to each other. Complications arise when Dale mistakes Jerry for Horace.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both music & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFollow the Fleet (1936)
When the US Navy fleet docks at San Francisco, sailor Bake Baker tries to rekindle the flame with his old dancing partner, Sherry Martin, while Bake's buddy Bilge Smith romances Sherry's sister, Connie. But it's not all smooth sailing—Bake has a habit of losing Sherry's jobs for her and, despite Connie's dreams, Bilge is not ready to settle down.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Gay Divorcee (1934)
Seeking a divorce from her absentee husband, Mimi Glossop travels to an English seaside resort. There she falls in love with dancer Guy Holden, whom she later mistakes for the corespondent her lawyer hired.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Broadway Melody (1929)
The vaudeville act of Harriet and Queenie Mahoney comes to Broadway, where their friend Eddie Kerns needs them for his number in one of Francis Zanfield's shows. When Eddie meets Queenie, he soon falls in love with her—but she is already being courted by Jock Warriner, a member of New York high society. Queenie eventually recognizes that, to Jock, she is nothing more than a toy, and that Eddie is in love with her.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both music & romance
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)
An all-star revue featuring MGM contract players.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Waltzes from Vienna (1934)
In Vienna, aspiring composer Johann Strauss Jr. clashes with his domineering father, who wants him to abandon music for a steady job in a bakery. Torn between his love for the baker’s daughter, Resi, and the encouragement of a wealthy countess, Strauss finds inspiration that leads to the creation of "The Blue Danube."
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both romance & music
SnoozefestMovies like thisFlying Down to Rio (1933)
An American bandleader woos a Brazilian beauty who is already engaged to his employer. His friends try to help him, while learning the local dance, The Carioca. The first pairing of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, and their only pre-Code film.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
In 1911, minor stage comic, Vernon Castle meets the stage-struck Irene Foote. A few misadventures later, they marry and then abandon comedy to attempt a dancing career together. While they're performing in Paris, an agent sees them rehearse and starts them on their brilliant career as the world's foremost ballroom dancers. However, at the height of their fame, World War I begins.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both music & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRoad to Morocco (1942)
Two carefree castaways on a desert shore find an Arabian Nights city, where they compete for the luscious Princess Shalmar.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOne Hour with You (1932)
Andre and Colette Bertier are happily married. When Colette introduces her husband to her flirtatious best friend, Mitzi, he does his best to resist her advances. But she is persistent, and very cute, and he succumbs. Mitzi's husband wants to divorce her, and has been having her tailed. Andre gets caught, and must confess to his wife. But Colette has had problems resisting the attentions of another man herself, and they forgive each other.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAnimal Crackers (1930)
The well-known explorer and hunter Captain Spaulding has just returned from Africa, and is being welcomed home with a lavish party at the estate of influential society matron Mrs. Rittenhouse when a valuable painting goes missing. The intrepid Captain Spaulding attempts to solve the crime with the help of his silly secretary Horatio Jamison, while sparring with the anarchic Signor Emanuel Ravelli and his nutty sidekick The Professor.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHoliday Inn (1942)
Lovely Linda Mason has crooner Jim Hardy head over heels, but suave stepper Ted Hanover wants her for his new dance partner after fickle Lila Dixon gives him the brush. Jim's supper club, Holiday Inn, is the setting for the chase by Hanover and his manager.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRoad to Utopia (1946)
While on a ship to Skagway, Alaska, Duke and Chester find a map to a secret gold mine, which had been 'stolen' by thugs. In Alaska to recover her father's map, Sal Van Hoyden falls in with Ace Larson, who secretly wants to steal the gold mine for himself. Duke, Chester, the thugs, Ace and his henchman chase each other all over the countryside—for the map.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHorse Feathers (1932)
Quincy Adams Wagstaff, the new president of Huxley U, hires bumblers Baravelli and Pinky to help his school win the big football game against rival Darwin U.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBuck Privates (1941)
Petty con artists Slicker Smith and Herbie Brown mistakenly join the Army evading the cops. The cop chasing them winds up as their drill instructor. A rich young man and his former working class chauffeur are not only in the same unit, they're vying for a pretty girl who seems attracted to both.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShow Boat (1936)
Sheltered beauty Magnolia Hawkes takes over as the leading lady on a Mississippi riverboat show when mixed-race Julie and her white husband are forced out of town by a prejudiced sheriff. Charismatic opportunist Gaylord Ravenal wins Magnolia's heart, but his gambling losses threaten to ruin their chances for a happy marriage.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both music & romance
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOne Hundred Men and a Girl (1937)
The daughter of a struggling musician forms a symphony orchestra made up of his unemployed friends and through persistence, charm and a few misunderstandings, is able to get Leopold Stokowski to lead them in a concert that leads to a radio contract.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Babes in Arms (1939)
Mickey Moran, son of two vaudeville veterans, decides to put up his own vaudeville show with his girlfriend Patsy Barton. But child actress Rosalie wants to make a comeback and replace Patsy both professionally and as Mickey's girl.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Big Store (1941)
A detective is hired to protect the life of a singer, who has recently inherited a department store, from the store's crooked manager.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGoing My Way (1944)
Youthful Father Chuck O'Malley led a colorful life of sports, song, and romance before joining the Roman Catholic clergy. After being appointed to a run-down New York parish, O'Malley's worldly knowledge helps him connect with a gang of boys looking for direction, eventually winning over the aging, conventional Parish priest.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAt the Circus (1939)
Jeff Wilson, the owner of a small circus, owes his partner Carter $10,000. Before Jeff can pay, Carter's accomplices steal the money so he can take over the circus. Antonio Pirelli and Punchy, who work at the circus, together with lawyer Loophole try to find the thief and get the money back.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNaughty Marietta (1935)
In order to avoid a prearranged marriage, a rebellious French princess sheds her identity and escapes to colonial New Orleans, where she finds an unlikely true love.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both music & romance
A Day at the Races (1937)
Doctor Hugo Hackenbush, Tony, and Stuffy try and save Judy's sanitarium by winning a big race with a finicky horse owned by Judy's boyfriend Gil. There are a few problems. Hackenbush, who was recently put in charge of the sanitarium, isn't really a doctor, he's a veterinarian.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & music
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Mikado (1939)
In a small Japanese town, Ko-Ko is appointed to the unenviable position of executioner. Knowing he must successfully perform before the appearance of the Mikado in a month's time, Ko-Ko finds a suitable victim in Nanki-Poo, who is distraught over his unrequited love for the maiden Yum-Yum. Nanki-Poo agrees to sacrifice his life if he is allowed to spend his remaining days with Yum-Yum, who is betrothed to Ko-Ko.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both romance & comedy
Royal Wedding (1951)
A brother and sister dance act encounter challenges and romance when booked in London during the Royal Wedding.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both music & comedy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like A Damsel in Distress?
The closest matches to A Damsel in Distress are Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937) and Roberta (1935). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after A Damsel in Distress?
People who watched A Damsel in Distress most often go on to Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937) and Roberta (1935).
What is the highest-rated movie like A Damsel in Distress?
Top Hat (1935), rated 7.2/10 by 354 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like A Damsel in Distress?
Royal Wedding (1951) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like A Damsel in Distress?
Yes: Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937) and Roberta (1935).
How are movies similar to A Damsel in Distress chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside A Damsel in Distress, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.