12 Movies Like Rivals You Need to Watch
Craving more drama, rivalry, and chemistry after Rivals? Explore 12 picks spanning romance, sport, history, comedy, and tense character battles.
If you finished Rivals and want more shows with sharp rivalry, messy relationships, and big personality, this list is built for you. The picks below blend drama, comedy, history, romance, and sport, so you can jump from the backstage energy of GLOW to the period tension of The Rainbow without losing the vibe that made Rivals so addictive. You’ll also find newer standouts like Aema and Say Nothing, plus relationship-driven favorites such as Firefly Lane and Dirty Lines. Whether you want ambition, scandal, or characters constantly pushing against each other, these selections keep the same fast-moving spirit in fresh settings.
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01
Aema
comedy · drama · history
In 1980s Korea, a movie star and a starlet defy male-dominated industry rules and backstage corruption while filming the provocative "Madame Aema."
Directed by Lee Hae-youngCast Lee Hanee, Bang Hyo-rin, Jin Seon-kyu, Cho Hyun-chul, Hyun Bong-sikNetflix -
02
Dirty Lines
drama · history
The story of Dirty Lines starts in 1987's Amsterdam, at a time when Dutch society was changing rapidly. Psychology student Marly Salomon takes on a side job working for a brand new firm: Teledutch - a company started by two brothers, Frank and Ramon Stigter, who established Europe’s first erotic telephone lines. Frank and Ramon become rich overnight and Marly finds herself immersed in this wild and rapid transformation. The final years of the Cold War sparked a sense of hope and inspired a new generation to celebrate life to its fullest. Amsterdam became the center of that cultural revolution with a radically new form of music: house and a new love drug: XTC. The erotic phone lines offer the opportunity to experience anonymous sex in a new way, changing the morality of its consumers, but also very much the people creating it.
Directed by Tomas Kaan, Pieter Bart Korthuis, Anna van der HeideCast Joy Delima, Minne Koole, Chris Peters, Charlie Chan Dagelet, Abbey HoesNetflix -
03
Firefly Lane
drama · romance
For decades, childhood best friends Kate and Tully have weathered life's storms together -- until a betrayal threatens to break them apart for good.
Directed by Vanessa Parise, Michael Spiller, Fred Gerber, Peter O'Fallon, Lee RoseCast Katherine Heigl, Sarah Chalke, Ben Lawson, Ali Skovbye, Roan CurtisNetflix -
04
GLOW
comedy · drama · sport
In 1980s LA, a crew of misfits reinvent themselves as the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.
Directed by Jesse Peretz, Lynn Shelton, Claire Scanlon, Mark A. Burley, Phil AbrahamCast Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Britt Baron, Sydelle Noel, Kate NashNetflix -
05
The Rainbow
drama
Ursula Brangwen is the beautiful, naive daughter of a wealthy country squire, one of five children living in the Nottinghamshire mining heartland at the turn of the century. From wide-eyed sixteen-year-old to fully grown woman, the drama follows Ursula through the trials and tribulations of her burgeoning personal relationships in her quest to find fulfilment for her developing passionate and sensual nature. Adaptation of DH Lawrence's novel.
Directed by Stuart BurgeCast Imogen Stubbs, Jane Gurnett, Colin Tarrant, Clare Holman, Tom BellFreevee -
06
Say Nothing
drama · history · thriller
Through the eyes of various Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, explore the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, the long shadow of radical violence for both victims and perpetrators, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence.
Directed by Michael Lennox, Anthony Byrne, Mary Nighy, Alice SeabrightCast Lola Petticrew, Hazel Doupe, Emily Healy, Maxine Peake, Rylee Neilly-LargeHulu -
07
Power Book III: Raising Kanan
crime · drama
Set in South Jamaica, Queens, in 1991, this prequel to "Power" revolves around the coming of age of Kanan Stark.
Directed by Rob Hardy, Monty DeGraff, Mario Van Peebles, Eif Rivera, Hernán OtañoCast Patina Miller, London Brown, Hailey Kilgore, Mekai Curtis, Malcolm M. MaysAmazon Prime VideoStarz -
08
Lady Love
drama
A young woman from a small town in Poland, who once hoped to live as a nun, flees to West Germany and ends up in the sex industry. She was modest by nature and dreamed of a different life, but circumstances led her to a path she never anticipated.
Directed by Bartosz KonopkaCast Anna Szymanczyk, Clemens Schick, Lise Risom Olsen, Adam Woronowicz, Anna KrotoskaMax -
09
Supersex
biography · drama · history
Inspired by true events, this is the story of how Rocco Siffredi escaped a humble life and emerged as the world's greatest porn star.
Directed by Matteo Rovere, Francesco Carrozzini, Francesca MazzoleniCast Alessandro Borghi, Jasmine Trinca, Adriano Giannini, David Kammenos, Linda HardyNetflix -
10
Oviri
biography · drama
Chronicling a period of time in Paul Gauguin's life, this film follows him through his struggles in love and the financial problems caused by the inability to sell his artwork.
Directed by Henning CarlsenCast Donald Sutherland, Max von Sydow, Jean Yanne, Sofie Gråbøl, Valeri GlandutFreevee -
11
Candy
biography · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Candy Montgomery is a 1980s housewife and mother who did everything right — but when the pressure of conformity builds within her, her actions scream for just a bit of freedom. Until someone tells her to shush. With deadly results.
Directed by Michael Uppendahl, Jennifer Getzinger, Ben Semanoff, Tara Nicole WeyrCast Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, Timothy Simons, Raúl EsparzaHulu -
12
Love Story
biography · drama · romance
An anthology of sweeping true love stories that captured the world’s attention.
Directed by Jesse Peretz, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Gillian Robespierre, Anthony Hemingway, Max WinklerCast Sarah Pidgeon, Paul Anthony Kelly, Grace Gummer, Ben Shenkman, Alessandro NivolaHulu
Wrapping Up
This roundup gives you a solid mix of rivalry, ambition, emotion, and style, all in one place. From the sports-world spark of GLOW to the historical edge of Say Nothing, each title brings a different angle while still scratching that same itch. Save this page and come back when you want another recommendation, because it is updated regularly as new releases arrive and older favorites keep finding new fans. If you are building a watchlist around the energy of Rivals, this is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Rivals?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 9, 2026