Movies Similar to Eurovision: Pop and Politics

Eurovision at 60(2015)

Hosts and competitors tell the behind-the-scenes story of 60 years of Eurovision, the greatest and maddest song contest on earth.

Sounds Like Teen Spirit(2009)

A 2008 documentary and debut feature film of Bafta-Award nominated director Jamie Jay Johnson. It follows the lives of the participants of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007, specifically the entrants from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Georgia. The film sees them proceed from the national finals that saw them crowned the representatives of their country through to the international song festival itself held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands where they each compete against 16 other acts.

Daði og Gagnamagnið(2021)

A two-part documentary about Daði & Gagnamagnið, introducing viewers to the band’s story since first taking part in the Icelandic national competition for Eurovision in 2017.

The Punk Voyage(2017)

In December 2016 a remarkable chapter in music history was closed as the Finnish punk rock band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN) retired. Punk Voyage is a feature length documentary film about the last years of the band, with all the ups and downs included. After becoming celebrities in Finland, this incredible quartet continued to conquer new fans around the World. In its seven years run PKN played nearly 300 gigs in 16 countries. In 2015 the band was selected to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, where they played to over 100 million television spectators. However, the busy traveling and success created a lot of pressure within the band: Kari struggled with the temptations and responsibilities brought by publicity; Sami extended his territory to politics and religion; Toni's and the band's roadie Niila's crush to the the same girl caused conflicts; and Pertti, tired of this all, decided to retire.

The Apple(1980)

In a pseudo-futuristic 1994, a square couple enter the corrupt world of the music industry, and subsequently a maze of drugs, sex, and temptation.

ABBA Forever: A Celebration(2019)

This definitive music documentary, featuring a greatest hits soundtrack and bounty of classic performance clips, provides an inside look into how Swedish pop group ABBA's music was made, as the former members and various colleagues tell their story from pre-ABBA days onward.

A Song Called Hate(2021)

The pro-Palestinian, anti-capitalist, BDSM-provocative, techno-punk performance art ensemble Hatari unsurprisingly drew attention to themselves with their performance at the Icelandic qualifiers for the Eurovision Song Contest. So much so that they won and therefore were allowed to perform at the main event in Tel Aviv. But what now? Should they boycott the event, swallow their idealism, or use their airtime to criticise the host country for their illegal occupation of Palestine? The Icelandic director Anna Hildur joins the boys in the band all the way to the fateful final.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga(2020)

Two small-town singers chase their pop star dreams at a global music competition, where high stakes, scheming rivals and onstage mishaps test their bond.

La Grande Histoire de l'Eurovision(2020)

ABBA: How They Won Eurovision(2024)

Celebrating 50 years since ABBA won Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo, through the extraordinary and entertaining story of how international stardom almost didn't happen for the group.

Olly Alexander's Road to Eurovision '24(2024)

Documentary following singer Olly Alexander as he prepares to represent the United Kingdom at the long-running celebration of music, the Eurovision Song Contest. Cameras follow the Years and Years singer on the promotional circuit as he releases his song Dizzy, juggles press attention, performs at European parties in Madrid and London and prepares for the event itself

Rise Like A Phoenix(2023)

Eurovision aka the Gay World Cup. A poetic documentary about Eurovision Song Contest fans. The film hears the intimate testimonies of what the contest means to them.

En un mundo nuevo(1972)

Karina arrives to a mansion to work as a governess of a group of singing children. She must take care of their education, and she decides to use music to teach them. Meanwhile, the record company where the children work is busy with another project. Their biggest star, Marta, is getting ready a song to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971. Carlos, the composer of the song, titled "En un mundo nuevo" ("In a new world") meets Karina in the mansion and starts feeling affection to the girl, something Marta, who is Carlos' girlfriend doesn't like at all. She is also jealous of Karina for her musical abilities, and when one day Marta catches Karina with Carlos singing a song composed for the governess, she gives him an ultimatum, if Karina doesn't leave the mansion at once, she will break her contract with the record company and won't sing "En un mundo nuevo" in the Eurovision Song Contest...

Det svenska schlagerkriget(2024)

After ABBA won Eurovision in 1974 Sweden was tasked with hosting it the next year. This documentary tells the story of that production and places it in the social and political context of Sweden in 1975 and a music scene that was anything but supportive of the endeavour.

Worst Kept Secret: The Subwoolfer Documentary(2023)

It started with a writing camp and a banana... and became a phenomenon that captivated Eurovision fans across the world. But who could possibly be behind the masks? Worst Kept Secret tells the story of Subwoolfer - Norway's iconic Eurovision entry in 2022 and the first ever anonymous yellow wolves from space to grace the Eurovision Song Contest stage. Finally the identities of Jim and Keith have been revealed... but not everything was always as it seemed.

The Secret History of Eurovision(2011)

A television documentary charting the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and its impact on European political and social structure.

Herreys  - guldbröderna(2024)

A nostalgia trip back to the 80s when the Herrey brothers created hysteria with their win in Eurovision 1984 with the song Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. It's about what it was like to deal with the fans, the press and the sudden celebrity. This year marks 40 years since their breakthrough, and it's time to make new music and get on the stage again.

Eurovision Calling: Jason and Chelcee’s Ultimate Guide(2023)

Comedian Jason Manford and singer-songwriter Chelcee Grimes present Eurovision Calling: Jason and Chelcee’s Ultimate Guide. This entertainment programme will see the pair explore why the Eurovision Song Contest is the greatest show on Earth. Using a mix of fascinating archive footage and revealing interviews with fans, experts and competitors, this one hour film will delve into the story of how the Contest has become the world’s largest live music event, creating global superstars and leaving an impact on the lives of many.

Eurovision: Everyone's a Winner(2023)

From Liverpool's world-famous waterfront, Fleur East presents a special Top 20 Eurovision Countdown - songs that missed out on the big prize but still went on to become monster hits. Compiled by combining worldwide online streaming and viewing figures, Fleur reveals the Eurovision entries watched and listened to in their millions.

Eurovision 2008: ATH - HEL - BEL(2008)

Behind the scenes documentary of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest