The 10 Best Choir Movies, From "Sister Act" to "The Fighting Temptations"

Chloe Bailey has made a name for herself in the music industry as one half of the musical sibling duo Chloe x Halle and her recent solo album “In Pieces.” Now in her latest film “Praise This,” the “Grow-ish” star’s music is merging with her burgeoning acting career, as she plays an up-and-coming singer named Sam who dreams of one day getting her big break. However, her plan goes off track when her father forces her to move from Los Angeles to Atlanta to live with her cousin Jess (Anjelika Washington). But after joining Jess’s praise team, Sam realizes the group could be her ticket to stardom if she helps them win a national championship competition.

The film, which premieres on Peacock on April 7, seems like it will easily join the list of iconic choir movies alongside the likes of “The Fighting Temptations” and the “Sister Act” franchise. If you love feel-good movies about music and harmony, then here are 10 of the best choir films that are sure to make you feel inspired.

The Best Choir Movies

1. “Praise This” (2023)

“Praise This” stars Bailey as a young singer named Sam, who dreams of making it big in the music industry, but sensing his daughter may be getting involved with the wrong crowd, her father sends her to live in Atlanta with her cousin Jess, who is part of a struggling praise team. Jess believes Sam can transform the group in time to win the national championship competition. Although joining a praise team wasn’t what she had in mind, Sam agrees to participate in the competition in hopes that it can get her recognized.

2. “Sister Act” (1992)

After witnessing her boyfriend commit a murder, lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) is forced to go into a witness protection program and join a convent disguised as a nun, Sister Mary Clarence. At first, she has trouble adjusting to her new lifestyle, but she soon begins befriending the other nuns and eventually helps them transform their church choir. The movie’s sequel, “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit,” saw Deloris use her skills to lead a youth choir with students portrayed by a young Lauryn Hill and Brittany Murphy.

3. “Pitch Perfect” (2012)

“Pitch Perfect” stars Anna Kendrick as a college freshman named Beca Mitchell, who aspires to be a DJ. When a fellow student hears her singing in the shower and urges her to audition for the school’s all-female a cappella group, the Barden Bellas, Beca gives it a shot and soon finds herself a member of the choir. She puts her DJ skills to use by helping the group perform unexpected mash-ups, which could be the key to them winning the national music competition. The movie spurned two sequels and a television spinoff called “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin,” which follows standout character Bumper (Adam Devine) following his pop star dreams to Berlin.

4. “The Fighting Temptations” (2003)

When Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is fired from his advertising job, he learns his Aunt Sally has died and moves back to his Georgia hometown to collect his inheritance. However, there’s a catch: Darrin must first help a church choir win a Gospel music competition before he can get his money.

5. “Military Wives” (2019)

Based on a true story, “Military Wives” is about a group of women whose partners are serving in Afghanistan. In order to help them bond, the women form a choir, which attracts attention from all around the globe.

6. “Joyful Noise” (2012)

In “Joyful Noise,” Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah) and G. G. Sparrow (Dolly Parton) initially fight for control over their town’s church choir, but when budget problems threaten to shut the choir down, the women set aside their differences and work together to save it. To do so, they must lead their choir to victory in the Joyful Noise music competition.

7. “The Choir” (2007)

“The Choir” is a documentary about a prison inmate named Jabulani Shabangu, who is fighting to survive in Leeukwop Prison – South Africa’s largest prison. He bonds with his fellow inmates by joining the prison choir, and together, they hope to win the National Prisoner Choir Competition.

8. “Song for Marion” (2012)

“Song for Marion” centers around a man named Arthur (Terence Stamp) who looks after his terminally ill wife, Marion. Despite her health deteriorating, Marion insists on continuing to go to choir practice. Arthur initially fails to understand why his wife enjoys choir so much, but after she dies, he decides to continue her work in the choir and learns to cope with Marion’s passing through music.

9. “Boychoir” (2014)

“Boychoir” tells the story of a 12-year-old boy named Stet (Garrett Wareing) whose father sends him to a prestigious music academy following the death of his mother. Stet struggles to fit in at the school, but after his choirmaster, Mr. Carvelle (Dustin Hoffman), notices Stet’s remarkable singing abilities, he helps Stet come out of his shell in order to become one of the school’s best singers.

10. “Young@Heart” (2007)

“Young@Heart” documents a chorus made up of senior citizens as they prepare to put on a concert in their hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts. With only a few weeks to prepare, the group must learn new songs by artists like Coldplay, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince before the big day arrives.

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The 10 Best Choir Movies, From “Sister Act” to “The Fighting Temptations”