In Search of…An Epic Battle of the Bands Movie
Bandslam © Summit Entertainment, Walden Media, and Goldsmith-Thomas Productions
Battle of the bands movies are the best because they offer feel-good entertainment that can’t be beat. (See what I did there?!) This genre offers artistic competition flavored with good-natured rivalry, catchy tunes, high energy music performances, humor, and cool band aesthetics.
Another reason these stories rock (!) is that they feature relatable underdog characters. Everyday obstacles block their path to fame, whether it’s a lack of resources, music industry connections, or the whole dang band needed to win the contest. We get to root for characters who succeed based on their talent rather than connections, class status, or their ability to game the system. In essence, it’s a meritocracy fantasy.
School of Rock © Paramount Pictures
Battle of the bands stories also deliver happy endings. There’s something immensely satisfying about watching musicians achieve their ultimate dream. After all, they just want to entertain people. Yet winning the band battle isn’t always about money or fame; sometimes a character’s new self-confidence, personal growth, and the friendships they make along the way are enough of a win—both for them as well as the viewer.
These stories have neat tropes like villain bands whose members spout snappy dialogue and wear stylish outfits. In most cases, the competing bands are garden-variety rivals, but sometimes they’re literal supervillains. Talk about raising the stakes!
Our Shining Days © Edko Films, DCB Pictures/Tencent Pictures, Zee Studios
In case it’s not clear yet, I LOVE BATTLE OF THE BANDS MOVIES!
Many shows and films have a battle of the bands subplot, such as Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World, Richard Linklater’s School of Rock, Drumline, Our Shining Days, Blues Brothers 2000, Swerve, Up in Smoke featuring Cheech & Chong, and the Netflix reboot of Jem & the Holograms.
Unfortunately, these band battles don’t always deliver as promised. For example, in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, only one band plays in the climactic battle of the bands contest—and only for a few seconds—before Bill and Ted’s band Wyld Stallyns performed. A most heinous disappointment, dude.
My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks © DHX Media and Hasbro Studios
On the upside, battle of the bands are a popular trope, which means I’ve watched plenty of youth fare to get my fix. To wit: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls–Rainbow Rocks, Disney’s Freaky Friday reboot starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. I even watched Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands on Disney+. This cartoon episode features rock bands and Ghost-Spider doing her heroic thing, but no battles other than the superhero vs. villain kinds. I was like, drat.
I’m grateful for any battle of the bands crumbs I can eat, but I’m craving at least one truly epic movie with a story centered solely on the band battle—preferably during my lifetime. Pitch Perfect, Bandslam, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga were entertaining, but the mainstream (Hollywood) film industry has only scratched the surface of possibilities in this genre. There’s plenty of room to go bigger and with splashier visuals and special effects than any such movie has accomplished before.
Pitch Perfect © Gold Circle Films, Brownstone Productions, Universal Pictures
Who will step up to make an epic battle of the bands movie?
The odds are high that a studio will green light an exciting, big-budget battle of the bands movie and goodness knows plenty of obstacles stand in the way. The financial risk managers who populate risk-averse Hollywood would dictate that such a project requires experienced filmmakers, a compelling story, well-known actors, and a producer with the power to make it happen. Heck, they probably wouldn’t launch it at all unless it’s a reboot-friendly IP their studio already owns. Then there’s the luck factor. The chances of all those elements coming together at the right time are slim—but not impossible. Nor will the high odds stop me from begging for one.
Here’s something that may surprise you—I’ll happily watch a battle of the bands TV show! If a movie of this kind is beyond the interest of those currently in power, then TV is the way to go. Streamers, at least for now, seem like they’d be more willing to take chances on a battle of the bands show.
This genre easily lends itself to a limited series, which would mean plenty of time for meaty character development and other story aspects such as recruiting members for the main protagonist’s band. I assume at least one creator has pitched a battle of the bands show, and I’m rooting for them!
Drumline © Fox 2000 Pictures; 20th Century Fox
Big band battles equal big adventures
Battle of the bands movies and TV shows usually occur in contemporary settings, which means the time is ripe to explore this trope in other time periods and genres. As a longtime geek, I’m desperate for a battle of the bands with a science fiction/sci-fi romance flavor. Give me Afrofuturism and steampunk settings, please! Frankly, any kind of speculative angle will do. A story that takes itself seriously while also being fantastical in nature would be a truly amazing feat.
Here’s an idea: a (decolonized) space opera battle of the bands movie about folks from various planets in the Milky Way galaxy who compete to raise money for their favorite charities or some other social justice prize. Think Eurovision—in space.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga © Gary Sanchez Productions, Gloira Sanchez Productions, EBU, Netflix
A sci-fi or fantasy story about bands competing for a prize is great, but it’d be even better if they competed on behalf of a noble cause, such as eliminating a threat to humanity (e.g., an alien invasion, or they have to defeat a fascist tyrant right here on Earth), preventing climate breakdown, or taking a stand against a malicious corporation. Or the band itself could be the cause worth fighting for, with a ragtag, marginalized group of diverse band members competing against a bunch of homogenous villain bands from the dominant group.
Alien rock bands would be sweet, but aliens don’t equal diversity. Future battle of the bands stories also need 100% diversity to truly reflect our multicultural world. This genre is a perfect way to showcase people and music of all kinds from various cultures and subcultures. It also needs more queer characters, characters of color, body diversity, disabled characters, neurodivergent characters, and gender diversity. Clearly, studios ought to make dozens of battle of the bands films and shows so everyone has a chance to see themselves in this type of story. If anything has universal appeal, it’s music, so let’s throw the gates of this genre wide open, people!
We Are Lady Parts © Working Title Films
Side note: I’m looking forward to binging We Are Lady Parts, a British sitcom about a Muslim punk band that also streams on Peacock. With any luck, the show will eventually feature a battle-of-the-bands subplot. (Episode 1 of We Are Lady Parts is available to watch online for free if you don’t mind creating an account).
Basically, what this world needs is an inclusive, feel-good battle of the bands story that’s epic in scope, big on spectacle, and pure of heart. Fingers crossed, eh?
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Thanks for reading my post! Although I haven’t written any battle of the bands stories, gangs battling on the streets of Victorian London are among the many exciting scenes you’ll enjoy in my steampunk romance saga, A Villainous Affair.
Cover for Heather Massey’s steampunk romance A Tale of Two Thieves. Illustration by Elizabeth Peiró.
Supervillains, steampunk, and social justice rebels collide in an epic adventure about an unlikely pair of thieves who join forces to battle mobs, evil scientists, and a fascist regime for the control of a powerful aether invention. The outcome of their revolutionary mission will determine the fate of Victorian England—and beyond.
Meanwhile, this dynamic duo of the London underworld struggles to keep their fake marriage strictly professional at a time when they’re focused on achieving wide-scale social reform. But even their combined power of brains and brawn may not be enough to shield them from the siren’s call of love.
Heather Massey’s fantastical steampunk romance quartet mixes Birds of Prey girl gang energy with the political panache of V for Vendetta. It’s seasoned with high-octane action, fashion glow-ups, underworld intrigue, and infernal devices.
Inspired by lady supervillains, social justice movements, and the magic of science, A Villainous Affair will delight fans who love the worldbuilding prowess of Meljean Brook, the Victorian underworld characters of Sarah MacLean, and the resistance romances of Alyssa Cole.
Buy the first book, A Tale of Two Thieves, for only $.99.
