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Along with the first movie in the animated franchise, there are plenty of movies like Sing 2 that capture the same magic that makes the family-friendly sequel such a gem. Much like its predecessor, Sing 2 is a jukebox musical and features a satirical look at the entertainment industry. This time around, Buster Moon and his friends are organizing another big show to impress a media mogul, which also includes convincing a reclusive rock star to come out of retirement and join them on stage.
The movie is an entertaining bit of fun for all ages, continuing the winning combination of popular music and adorable animal characters. While it has its own charm, there are some other great movies that share similarities fans may find interesting. Whether it is the celebration of underdogs showcasing their talents, the excitement of putting on a big show, or other animated movies with a musical energy, movies like Sing 2 are perfect for fans to watch next.
15 The Muppets (2011)
The Muppets Reunite For A Big Show
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When a businessman plans to demolish the Muppet Theater to drill for oil, die-hard Muppet fan Walter and his brother Gary set out to help Kermit the Frog reunite his disbanded group of friends in order to raise $10 million. The Muppets features the iconic characters alongside the voice talents of Jim Parsons, with Jason Segel, Amy Adams, and Chris Cooper starring.
Release Date November 23, 2011
Runtime 103 Minutes
Cast Eric Jacobson , Bill Barretta , Matt Vogel , Peter Linz , Steve Whitmire , Dave Goelz , David Rudman
Director Randall Einhorn
As lovable as Buster Moon and the other critters of Sing 2 are, it is hard to compete with the everlasting endearing quality of the Muppets. While there have been many Muppets movies over the years, this reboot was a successful way of bringing these timeless characters back to theaters after a long absence while also being a celebration of the franchise. It also captures the spirit of the Muppets as a group of performers which seems to have influenced Sing 2’s ensemble as well.
The movie stars Jason Segel as a human with a Muppet brother who embarks on a quest to reunite the iconic group to put on one more show in order to save the Muppet Theater from a greedy oil baron. Like Sing 2, the famous Muppets have fun singing some established songs, but The Muppets is also filled with original songs, even winning an Oscar for the tune “Man or Muppet.”
14 The Blues Brothers (1980)
Outlaw Brothers Reunite Their Old Band
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After being released from prison, Jake Blues (John Belushi) reunites with his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) to save a catholic home where they were raised together. To raise money, they put bring their old band back together and put on a show as "The Blues Brothers." Set in Chicago and based on Saturday Night Live characters, The Blues Brothers features several musical celebrity cameos such as Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown.
Release Date June 20, 1980
Runtime 133 minutes
Director John Landis
When it comes to Saturday Night Live sketches that were turned into movies, The Blues Brothers ranks among the best of all time. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd reprise their roles as Jake and Elwood, two brothers with rebellious and outlaw tendencies who embark on a mission “from God” to reunite their old R&B group in order to put on a show to save their old Catholic school from being shut down.
The movie’s profanity and action sequences make it too much for some of the younger Sing 2 fans, but it captures the fun and energy of the need to put on a show with a race against time. While Sing 2 uses some of the most popular pop songs in its musical adventure, The Blues Brothers brings in some iconic real-life artists, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Ray Charles.
13 A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
A Long-Running Radio Show Puts On A Final Performance
A Prairie Home Companion
Release Date June 9, 2006
Runtime 105 minutes
Director Robert Altman
It seems odd that a movie from legendary director Robert Altman would be compared to the animated family-friendly Sing 2, but A Prairie Home Companion is another immensely entertaining film about an ensemble of colorful characters putting on a show. The movie centers around the famous and popular radio show hosted by Garrison Keillor (playing himself) as they put on a final show with some of its most eccentric and spirited performers taking part.
While not as vibrant and energetic as Sing 2, A Prairie Home Companion is a charming and funny look behind the scenes of the show with all the interesting personalities involved as well as some entertaining on-stage performances. It also features an all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, and more.
12 School Of Rock (2003)
A Wannabe Rock Forms A Band Out Of Music Students
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Directed by Richard Linklater, School of Rock stars Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who poses as a substitute teacher in order to get a job at a local prep school. With no teaching experience. Dewey subsequently begins to organize his students into a rock band in order to enter a music competition. Besides Black, Joan Cusack, Sarah Silverman, and Miranda Cosgrove also star.
Release Date March 22, 2004
Runtime 109 minutes
While Buster Moon makes for a charming protagonist in Sing 2 as the passionate leader who assembles the talents for the show, it is hard to top School of Rock’s eccentric band leader Dewey Finn. School of Rock is a hilarious comedy starring Jack Black as Dewey, a wannabe rocker who fakes his way into a substitute teaching job at a private school. Learning that his stuffy new students have genuine musical talent, he decides to form a rock band with them.
It all caps off with an energetic, crowd-pleasing performance fitting for Sing 2 fans.
Black delivers a hilarious performance in the lead role while also showing his genuine love for rock music. There is a lot of humor in the movie, but like Sing 2, it is also a story about these young kids finding confidence in themselves and showcasing their talent to the world. It all caps off with an energetic, crowd-pleasing performance fitting for Sing 2 fans.
11 Ratatouille (2007)
A Rat Pursues His Culinary Dreams
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Remy the rat dreams of becoming a great chef despite the world's anti-rodent bias. After moving to Paris to follow his dream, he teams up with kitchen assistant Linguini and shows off his culinary skills in a professional kitchen. But can the pair convince the world's most notorious food critic that anyone can be a chef?
Release Date June 29, 2007
Runtime 111 Minutes
Cast Patton Oswalt , Ian Holm , Lou Romano , Brad Garrett , Peter O'Toole , Janeane Garofalo , Brian Dennehy , Peter Sohn , Will Arnett
Ratatouille may not be an animated movie with a lot of musical numbers like Sing 2 but it is another story about people getting a chance to show their talents to the world after being overlooked and undervalued for their whole lives. At the center of this story is a rat named Remy. While his community eats whatever garbage they can find, Remy discovers a passion and a skill for fine dining. Partnering with a dedicated yet hapless young chef at a French restaurant, Remy gets a chance to live his dream.
The silly premise gives way to one of the best Pixar movies of all time. Ratatouille is a beautifully animated movie that is filled with funny moments and entertaining sequences. However, it is also a deeply moving story about the power of art and how it can truly impact people.
10 Son Of Rambow (2007)
Two Young Friends Make A Movie Together
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Son of Rambow is a coming-of-age film about two boys, Will and Lee, who bond over making a homemade action film inspired by Rambo. Set in the 1980s, it explores themes of friendship, creativity, and childhood escapism amidst personal and family challenges.
Release Date January 22, 2007
Runtime 96 minutes
Director Garth Jennings
Before Sing and its sequel, writer/director Garth Jennings directed the British coming-of-age comedy Son of Rambow. As is evident from the title, the movie deals with two young boys, played by Will Poulter and Bill Milner, who get obsessed with the Rambo movies and decide to direct their own Rambo-style adventure one summer. The ensuing drama tests their friendship further, showcasing the differences in their background, while also celebrating their ability to be themselves around each other.
Much like Sing 2, Son of Rambow proves that Jennings' humor is perfectly suited for family-friendly viewings. The protagonists of Son of Rambow are much like Sing's Johnny. In both cases, the characters start out as purposeless youngsters who end up pursuing an artistic passion. While the former are involved in making amateur films, the latter resorts to singing.
9 Eddie The Eagle (2016)
An Underdog Sports Story Starring Taron Egerton
Starring Taron Egerton in the titular role, Eddie The Eagle is inspired by the true story of Olympic ski jumper Michael Edwards. Even though Edwards never won a medal, he held the British record for a few years and became a local legend. The biopic chronicles his journey to the Olympics and his relationship with his coach, Bronson Peary, played by Hugh Jackman.
In this sense, both protagonists have similar personality traits along with sharing the same voice actor.
The underdog story of a meek and mild-mannered hero is reminiscent of Egerton's role of Johnny in Sing 2. By the sequel, Johnny realizes that he should just give his best in his singing instead of focusing on anything else. In this sense, both protagonists have similar personality traits along with sharing the same voice actor. Egerton's charming willingness to ignore the naysayers and follow his dream makes for an endearing hero.
8 Danny Collins (2015)
An Aging Singer Takes The Stage Again
Sing 2 is a celebration of people overcoming their insecurities and self-imposing restrictions in order to share their talents and Danny Collins is a movie that proves there is no age limit on such things. One of Al Pacino's lighter movies, Danny Collins revolves around a washed-out musician who seeks to reinvent his career after he discovers an old letter that Bob Dylan wrote to him. The comedy functions as an interesting "coming-of-age" tale of a man who has already lived his best years.
The character of Danny Collins can be used as a parallel against Bono's Clay Calloway in Sing 2. The U2 frontman voices an aged lion whose career received a setback after his wife's death. Now, with Buster Moon expanding his operations, Clay attempts to make a comeback like Collins. Pacino's titular character is another aging musician who is called back to the stage, reuniting him with his love of performing.
7 Pitch Perfect (2012)
Misfits Form An A Capella Group
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Pitch Perfect is a musical comedy film directed by Jason Moore, starring Anna Kendrick as Beca, a college freshman who reluctantly joins her school's all-female a cappella group, the Barden Bellas. The Bellas strive to win the national competition in the male-dominated world of collegiate a cappella by reinventing their dated repertoire with new, dynamic arrangements. The cast also includes Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow.
Release Date September 28, 2012
Runtime 112 minutes
Director Jason Moore
While the story and characters are a lot of fun, Sing 2 proves there are some movies made more enjoyable thanks to the covers of pop songs. The film that popularized a cappella singing all over the world, Pitch Perfect is centered upon a college a cappella team as they compete against groups considered way ahead of them. Gathering a bunch of misfits, the Barden Bellas emerge as an underdog team as they must unite and get over their differences.
Even in Sing 2, Buster Moon's musical ensemble comprises singers with different musical preferences and personalities. Despite the mismatched nature of their peers, each singer must be accepting enough to pull off a memorable show. Pitch Perfect is another movie that plays into the sense of community and friendship that comes with these people coming together.
6 Zootopia (2016)
Animals Find Common Ground In The Big City
Sing 2 is one of the many animated movies to feature "talking animals." Perhaps one of the best examples in recent times within this subgenre is Zootopia. The Disney animated movie functions as a mystery thriller as well as a buddy cop movie. The cop rabbit Judy joins forces with the con artist Nick as they unleash a conspiracy that involves the disappearance of predator animals in the city of Zootopia.
However, the real magic of Zootopia is its message about not judging people and giving them a chance to prove themselves.
Much like Sing 2, Zootopia deals with animals living together in an urban landscape. Nick's sly nature is also comparable to the street-smartness of Buster Moon, the central character of Sing 2. However, the real magic of Zootopia is its message about not judging people and giving them a chance to prove themselves. Sing 2 is filled with characters who have been dismissed by the world only to be given a chance to show there is more to them than others assume.
5 Trolls World Tour (2020)
The Trolls Learn About New Music
While the first Trolls movie was musical enough, Trolls World Tour doubles up on the musicality with a premise, perhaps leaning into what made the Sing movies so popular. The sequel follows Poppy and Branch as they discover other troll tribes with their own distinct and special genres of music. However, when the Queen of the "Rock Tribe" seeks to destroy all other genres of music, it is up to the titular trolls to restore musical balance in the world.
The DreamWorks animation movie is similar to Sing 2 in terms of humor and music and also features a star-studded ensemble that includes singers like Anderson Paak, Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J Blige, and J Balvin. It presents the ideal family-friendly viewing options in which all ages can sing along to the catchy tunes while enjoying the colorful world.
4 Rocketman (2019)
Taron Egerton Stars In Elton John's Biopic
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A biopic about legendary British rockstar Elton John, Rocketman is a somewhat romanticized chronicle of John's life, from his childhood and turbulent homelife to his first foray into music and how stardom effected him. The film is centered around John's journey to sobriety, with the narrative framed by John telling his life story in an AA meeting during his time in rehab. Taron Egerton stars as John, with a cast that includes Richard Madden, Jamie Bell, and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Release Date May 31, 2019
Runtime 121 Minutes
Director Dexter Fletcher
While there are some iconic artists whose songs are brought to life in Sing 2, Rocketman is a reminder that it can also be thrilling to hear an artist's songs alongside their incredible journey to success. The musical biopic takes a look at the life and career of Elton John, exploring his upbringing, his early career success, his battle with addiction, and his redemption. Of course, Rocketman uses some of the best Elton John songs that can delight both new fans as well as seasoned veterans.
The musical would be a perfect watch for fans of Sing 2 as both movies reveal the musical prowess that Taron Egerton yields. It is a Herculean task to sound like Elton John and yet Egerton effortlessly sinks his teeth into his character. Similarly, in Sing 2, Egerton gives his spin to classics like Prince's "Let's Go Crazy," and U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name."
3 Coco (2017)
A Young Boy Explores His Love Of Music In The Land Of The Dead
While it is easy to get swept up in the fun of the Sing 2 soundtrack, it is also a movie about celebrating music in a meaningful way. That is a message shared by another animated gem. Pixar's Coco deals with a 12-year-old boy who accidentally gets teleported to the Land of the Dead. Encountering the ghost of his guitar-playing ancestor, Miguel tries to not only get back to the world of the living but also to revert a lifetime ban on music in his family.
The dreamy Miguel is a character that can be easily compared to Johnny from Sing 2. Both tirelessly pursue their musical passion even though their family strictly forbids it. While Miguel's musical gift succeeds at saving his family from a curse, Johnny emerges as a pop star and an asset for Buster's shows.
2 Happy Feet (2006)
A Penguin Explores His Love Of Dance
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Happy Feet is an animated musical film centered on Mumble, a young emperor penguin who has a unique talent for tap dancing in a community where singing is essential for finding a mate. Directed by George Miller and released in 2006, the film explores themes of individuality and acceptance as Mumble's unusual skill ultimately helps him find his place among his peers.
Release Date November 16, 2006
Runtime 108 minutes
Director George Miller , Warren Coleman , Judy Morris
It might come as a surprise that before returning to the Mad Max movie franchise, George Miller directed a family-friendly and light-hearted animated movie about dancing penguins. In Happy Feet, the young penguin known as Mumble discovers that he has a gift for tap dancing, a unique trait that is not present among other penguins. With his brethren exiling him for this, Mumble must make the decision of either sticking around with his kind or following his heart.
Be it Rosita or Johnny, the characters of Sing 2 also share the rebellious nature that is reminiscent of Mumble. Their past might prevent them from pursuing their musical dreams but they fight all odds to keep the show going on. Happy Feet is another movie that combines adorable animated animals with pop songs, as well as featuring an all-star voice cast, including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and Robin Williams.
1 The Idol (2016)
A Wedding Singer Overcomes The Odds
While there are a lot of well-known and popular animated movies and comedies that capture the spirit of Sing 2, there are also some underseen gems that fans of the animated sequel should seek out. The Idol is the uplifting story of Mohammed Assaf, a young wedding singer, and refugee from Gaza who went on to win the reality series, Arab Idol. As seen in this Palestinian movie, the singer crosses borders and overcomes panic attacks to become the star that he is.
While the animated musical journeys of the Sing 2 cast are far removed from the socio-political realities shown in The Idol, such feel-good movies ultimately show how music can change the world and offer hope to people. It offers musical fun and a crowd-pleasing feeling of Sing 2 while perhaps digging into a deeper story that could really strike a chord with audiences.
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