Mother Mary — the new A24 drama starring Anne Hathaway as a pop star facing an existential crisis and Michaela Coel as Hathaway’s old friend and fashion designer — has just released its first trailer.
The film, which features original music by Charli xcx, Jack Antonoff, and FKA twigs (who also acts in the movie), will join an elite pantheon of other films about fictional pop stars that includes both Oscar winners and cult classics.
Ahead, see some of the other best movies from this low-key iconic genre before Mother Mary hits theaters Spring 2026.
A Star Is Born
This is the defining film series about the foibles of fame. First released in 1937 with actress Janet Gaynor, A Star Is Born tracks a young ingenue's path from anonymity to superstardom (alongside her belabored romance with a famous beau). It has since been remade for almost every generation with a new superstar. There was the 1954 remake with Judy Garland, the 1976 version with Barbara Streisand, and, of course, the 2018 rendition with Lady Gaga. You can stream that latest version on Hulu, but we also recommend watching this iconic performance from Judy Garland.
Vox Lux
Natalie Portman stars as a pop star who finds fame after surviving a school shooting as a teenager and writing a song that captures the pain of her community. The darkly epic film is the debut feature of Brady Corbet, who was nominated for a 2025 Oscar for his film The Brutalist starring Adrien Brody. Vox Lux is available to stream for free on Tubi.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
This nostalgic Hilary Duff flick finds the Disney Channel star reprising her role as high schooler Lizzie McGuire. The story tracks McGuire's adventures in Rome, where she meets an Italian pop star Paolo Valisari, whose musical partner is McGuire's doppelgänger. After the two musicians fall out, McGuire has to step in and become a pop performer herself. The movie produced a zeitgeist-defining finalé with the early-aughts anthem, "What Dreams Are Made Of." You can stream The Lizzie McGuire Movie on Disney+.
Smile 2
The sequel to the surprise 2022 horror hit focuses on a pop star, Skye Riley (played by actress and musician, Naomi Scott), who finds herself facing the spectre of a disturbing and deadly curse. The film features the low-key bop, “New Brain.” Smile 2 is streaming now on Amazon Prime and Paramount+.
Lurker
This darkly comic thriller tells the story of a super fan (Théodore Pellerin) who breaches ethical barriers to break into the inner circle of a rising superstar, Oliver (played by Archie Madekwe). The movie features a score and original music by Kenneth Blume (fka Kenny Beats), who created some potent fictional pop moments, like the standout track, "Love and Obsession."
Josie and the Pussycats
The 2001 live action version of the 1970 cartoon (a spinoff of the Archie comics) features an all star cast of early aughts icons (Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson star as The Pussycats) who contend with a nefarious global plot hatched by their manager, Wyatt Frame (Alan Cumming). The high camp cult classic has some iconic pop punk moments and performances and is available to purchase on all major rental platforms.