Movies About Ballet

Updated May 1, 2024

For Movies About Ballet, there are so many films who explored this idea. Here are 21 of the top ones.

The Red Shoes (1948)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, starring Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann
Rated Not Rated

The Red Shoes follows the story of a young dancer, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer), as she joins the world-famous Ballet Lermontov and strives to become a prima ballerina. Along the way, she must navigate the rivalries among her fellow dancers as well as the demanding artistic vision of the company's impresario, Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). As she tries to balance her love for the company's conductor Julian Craster (Marius Goring), her dedication to her craft, and her loyalty to her mentor, Victoria finds herself pulled in all directions. Eventually, a fateful performance of the ballet "The Red Shoes" forces Victoria to make a difficult decision between her dream career and her true love.

Black Swan (2010)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Rated R

Black Swan is a psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel. The film follows the story of Nina, a talented but emotionally fragile ballerina who is cast in the lead role of the ballet production of Swan Lake. As Nina immerses herself in her role, she becomes increasingly paranoid and her fragile mental state is further pushed to its breaking point. Her rivalry with a rival ballerina and her own personal demons eventually lead her to a breaking point, where reality and fantasy start to merge together. With the stakes raised, Nina must struggle to maintain her sanity in order to perform the perfect ballet and keep her grip on reality.

Ballets Russes (2005)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Directors: Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine, starring Irina Baronova, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, Yvonne Chouteau, Yvonne Craig
Rated Not Rated

Ballets Russes is a 2005 documentary film directed by Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine. It focuses on the three companies, Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, Ballet Russe de L'Opera de Paris, and Original Ballet Russe, which brought ballet to the global stage in the 20th century. The film chronicles their rise to fame, featuring interviews with many of the dancers, choreographers, and designers who were integral to the companies' success. It also tells the stories of the lives of the dancers, and how their careers as artists evolved. The film looks at the legacy of the companies, which is still felt today, and it also examines the current state of the art form.

Flesh and Bone (2015)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Stars: Sarah Hay, Ben Daniels, Emily Tyra, Irina Dvorovenko, starring
Rated TV-MA

Flesh and Bone is a 2015 drama set against the backdrop of the world of professional ballet. The story follows a troubled young dancer, Claire (Sarah Hay), who joins the prestigious American Ballet Company in New York City. Despite her immense talent, Claire struggles to fit in with the other dancers, who are all more experienced and better-trained than her. As she navigates the dark and often cutthroat world of professional ballet, she is forced to confront her painful past. With the help and support of a kind mentor (Ben Daniels) and a fellow dancer (Emily Tyra), Claire is able to come to terms with her fears and traumas and find her place in the company.

Dancer (2016)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Steven Cantor, starring Sergei Polunin, Galyna Polunina, Galina Ivanovna, Larysa Lavrikova
Rated Not Rated

Dancer is a 2016 documentary film directed by Steven Cantor that follows the life of Ukrainian-American ballet dancer Sergei Polunin. Through interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and a look into his personal life, the film paints a portrait of a young man struggling to reconcile his incredible talent with his inner demons. As a child prodigy, Polunin was catapulted to fame at a young age, eventually becoming the youngest-ever principal dancer at the British Royal Ballet. But his meteoric rise was met with a rapid fall, as he quit the ballet world in the middle of a performance, unable to cope with his newfound fame and the pressure of perfection. The film follows Polunin's journey to make sense of his life, find redemption of sorts, and make peace with his choices.

Billy Elliot (2000)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Stephen Daldry, starring Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven
Rated R

Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and written by Lee Hall. The film follows 11-year-old Billy, who trades in boxing gloves for ballet shoes. Despite opposition from his father and the coal miner's union, Billy practices ballet in secret, hoping to become a professional dancer. His passion and determination lead him to the Royal Ballet School in London and the fulfillment of his dream. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about friendship, family and finding the courage to be himself.