10 Movies That Give Big Taylor Swift ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Energy
Taylor Swift‘s album The Life of a Showgirl has been changing lives even before its release date. After the iconic spectacle that was the Eras Tour, Swifties everywhere have all been chanting “more” wanting to hear more about Taylor’s process and how she sees herself as an artist. This is where The Life of a Showgirl comes in. The album promises to explore Taylor’s self-concept as she’s spent years crafting her showgirl persona.
For those who can’t get enough of Taylor’s music, and who are looking to enhance The Life of a Showgirl experience, there are several movies that explore similar themes to those Taylor has delved into throughout her career. Some movies focus on characters who reconcile having showgirl personas that differ greatly from the version of themselves they present every day. Other movies serve as a reminder that, underneath the glitz and glam of the most beautiful performances, there are always human beings.
1
‘Sister Act’ (1992)
Sister Act stars Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer who witnesses a mob crime and has to go into witness protection. To keep her safe, the police hide her in a San Francisco convent under the alias Sister Mary Clarence. After she initially struggles to adapt to her new life, she finds her place in her new community by revitalizing the choir and using her own talents to bring out the best in her fellow sisters.
At the beginning of the story, Deloris Van Cartier is larger than life, sequins, glitter and all. Both she and Taylor Swift are show business professionals who blend vulnerability and strength to connect with their audiences. Deloris goes from outsider to leader, using her performance skills to uplift others. Taylor’s career leading up to The Life of a Showgirl is also marked by reinvention. Sister Act is campy without ever being shallow, just like Taylor has always been.
2
‘Crossroads’ (2002)
Crossroads is a coming-of-age road trip movie that introduces Lucy (Britney Spears), a sheltered and studious teenager who reconnects with her two childhood best friends, Kit (Zoë Saldaña) and Mimi (Taryn Manning). The three each face challenges in their lives, and use the road trip as a way to process the issues they’re facing in their respective lives. The movie captures the joys and challenges of growing up together, and being on the cusp of new adventures.
Lucy’s emotional journey, in particular, highlights how loss can lead to transformation. Similarly, Taylor Swift’s showgirl persona has been forged in adversity and highlights her capacity for growth. Crossroads is about a literal journey and about learning to take up space. This is peak Taylor Swift, who reminds us all that the sequins, the show, the tears, the reclaiming of one’s story in the spotlight are all part of the human experience.
3
‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ (2016)
Florence Foster Jenkins stars Meryl Streep as the titular character, who was a New York heiress and socialite who pursued a career as an opera singer. The movie highlights the fact that Jenkins never once let the fact that she famously had a terrible singing voice get in the way of pursuing her dream. Florence Foster Jenkins highlights Jenkins’ delusional but passionate dreams of achieving musical success while her manager, St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), works tirelessly to shield her from ridicule.
Florence Foster Jenkins and The Life of a Showgirl are about the performance of the self, and how meaningful performing through heartbreak can be. Florence sings not because she’s talented, but because it brings joy and meaning to her life. To her core, Florence Foster Jenkins embodies The Life of a Showgirl energy, not because she’s perfect, but because she’s bold, ridiculous, sincere, dressed in tulle, and absolutely unbothered by your opinion of her voice.
4
‘Dreamgirls’ (2006)
Dreamgirls is a musical drama inspired by the rise of Motown. The movie introduces the Dreamettes, who are based on the Supremes. Together, Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles), and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) navigate fame, ambition, and betrayal in the 1960s and ’70s music industry. They eventually get their big break, and are transformed into a polished pop act by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who pushes Deena to the spotlight while sidelining Effie.
Dreamgirls and The Life of a Showgirl are both about the women behind the glitter, the heartbreak behind the hair, and the loneliness behind the lights. Dreamgirls is steeped in wigs, sequins, makeup, and reinvention, which are all tools used to sell an image. But beneath it, there’s real emotion and sacrifice. Similarly, Taylor’s showgirl phase seems like it will similarly explore the idea of putting on a show while holding back tears, owning femininity not just as a look but as a way of life.
5
‘Burlesque’ (2010)
Burlesque is a glitzy musical drama that introduces Ali (Christina Aguilera), a small-town girl with big dreams. She moves to Los Angeles, where she comes across a struggling burlesque lounge run by the glamorous and fierce Tess (Cher). Ali climbs the lounge’s ladder, and starts as a cocktail waitress before becoming a star performer. Burlesque follows Ali as she fights to make a name for herself and to be recognized as the powerhouse she is.
Burlesque and The Life of a Showgirl radiate the same high-voltage, rhinestone-studded energy, not just in terms of aesthetics, but in their shared themes of reinvention, resilience, and the performance of identity in a world that demands perfection. For Ali, the burlesque stage becomes a place of liberation, where she can express herself fully, powerfully, and sensually. Both the movie and The Life of a Showgirl frame performing as identity work that’s both protective and entertaining.
6
‘Pitch Perfect’ (2012)
Pitch Perfect introduces Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick), a rebellious college freshman who reluctantly joins the Barden Bellas, an all-female a cappella group. As the Bellas prepare to compete against their all-male rivals in a national championship, Beca pushes the group to modernize their sound and take creative risks. Pitch Perfect follows the Bellas as they navigate conflicting personalities and the challenge of performing under pressure.
In Pitch Perfect, Beca starts off guarded, keeping her talents and feelings behind headphones. Through music and connection, she learns to show up as herself fully. Taylor’s The Life of a Showgirl seems poised to reflect a similar truth, which is that stepping into the spotlight means shedding fear, not just sequins. Both the movie and the album remind everyone that one doesn’t have to sing like everyone else to be unforgettable.
7
‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ (2009)
Hannah Montana: The Movie continues the story of Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), a teenager who’s been living a double life as an ordinary high school student by day and a pop star by night. In this chapter of Miley’s story, her secret is almost revealed by a tabloid reporter who catches up with Miley after a concert. In the movie, Miley reconnects with her family after being told that she’s allowed her career to come before them.
Miley is a showgirl just at the beginning of her career. At a young age, she learns the importance of cultivating a showgirl persona so she can keep her personal life private. Hannah Montana: The Movie solidifies the fact that Miley has always been in search of this balance. Similarly, Taylor has lived that arc in real time leading up to The Life of a Showgirl. Taylor and Miley have navigated public opinion, media storms, and industry battles as artists, all while trying to stay true to themselves. Plus, there’s even a cameo of Taylor performing “Crazier.”
8
‘The Last Showgirl’ (2024)
The Last Showgirl follows Shelly Gardner (Pamela Anderson), a veteran Las Vegas showgirl who’s spent over 30 years headlining a classic revue. She faces an uncertain future when the revue faces closure. Shelly is ultimately forced to confront the harsh realities of aging in an industry obsessed with youth, beauty, and spectacle. The Last Showgirl is a poignant reflection on what it means to age in an industry that can be so unforgiving.
As the title says, Shelly is truly the last showgirl. She exemplifies what it means to be a performer who has endured, evolved, and outlived expectations. Both The Last Showgirl and The Life of a Showgirl invite people to see the people behind these compelling, glitzy performances rather than simply getting caught up in the chaos. For both Shelly and Taylor, the showgirl persona isn’t simply a character. Instead, it’s a symbol of survival.
9
‘Judy’ (2019)
Judy is a biographical drama that follows the later life and career of Judy Garland (Renée Zellweger). Set in 1968, the movie focuses on Garland’s residency at a London nightclub, where she struggles with the demands of performance, declining health, and the emotional scars left by a lifetime in the spotlight. Ultimately, Judy is a look at how a lifetime of being in the limelight takes its toll, and how stars this iconic struggle to reconcile their identity.
In Judy, we see the toll of a lifetime spent in the spotlight. Judy Garland is so deeply tied to her stage persona that she struggles to exist outside of it. Taylor Swift has explored this idea throughout her career. She has openly explored her own complex relationship with fame, perfectionism, and the exhausting need to maintain a public image. Judy and The Life of a Showgirl are both love letters to the stage as well as reminders that there are human beings behind the performers.
10
‘Funny Girl’ (1968)
Funny Girl is a musical biopic based on the life and career of Fannie Brice (Barbra Streisand), a New York comedian, and her tumultuous relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif). The movie follows Fanny’s rise from a Brooklyn teenager with big dreams and bigger talent to a Broadway sensation, all while navigating a passionate and ultimately heartbreaking romance. The movie presents a woman whose light could never be dimmed, regardless of the challenges she faced.
Fannie Brice is the ultimate showgirl, and, in many ways, The Life of a Showgirl is a continuation of this legacy. She uses humor, glamour, and over-the-top flair and is never frivolous. She uses them to take control of how she’s perceived. The movie and The Life of a Showgirl are about artists stepping confidently into the next chapters of their careers and showing how much they’ve grown. They both celebrate innovation, and the ability to put on a show while staying true to oneself.
Funny Girl
- Release Date
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September 19, 1968
- Runtime
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155 Minutes
- Director
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William Wyler
- Writers
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Isobel Lennart
