I Used to Be Famous is a British musical drama film that centres on the improbable friendship that develops between the two main characters, Vince and Stevie. Vince was a member of one of the most successful boy bands in the past, but these days he is a washed-up pop singer who lives by himself and is eager to receive a second opportunity at his profession. Therefore, in the expectation that an important figure in the business will hear him out, he begins performing in the streets. During one of these performances, the exceptionally talented drummer Stevie, who also has autism, engages in an impromptu session with him. An instant relationship between the two misunderstood musicians is sparked as a result of this event.
Eddie Sternberg, who also directed and co-wrote the movie that can be found on Netflix, explores a lot of intriguing topics in the film. Some of these topics include the transience of celebrity, the unpredictability of friendships, and the power of music to bring two people together. The presence of all of these aspects increases the likelihood that viewers will remain engaged for the entirety of the movie. Therefore, if you are interested in musical dramas, you may find that the selections that we have provided below are to your liking. You are able to view the majority of these films, including “I Used to Be Famous,” on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
7. Teen Spirit (2018)
The film ‘Teen Spirit,’ which was written by Max Minghella and directed by him, is a musical drama film that tells the story of an introverted young woman named Violet who has aspirations of becoming a famous pop icon, despite coming from a broken family and living in a small town. Teen Spirit was written and directed by Max Minghella. She receives guidance from an unlikeliest of strangers in order to get her through a singing competition, which puts her ability, determination, and honesty to the test. Both “I Used to Be Famous” and “Teen Spirit” share a same concept in which two unrelated individuals who are brought together by music and create an unexpected friendship with one another.
6. The Songs and Their Lyrics (2007)
The story of a former member of the band PoP! and a young aspiring writer who collaborate on writing a song for a duet is told in the film “Music and Lyrics,” which was written by Marc Lawrence and directed by him as well. The protagonist of this musical romantic comedy film is a former singer who teams up with another aspiring artist in the hopes of making a return in the music industry. The plot is quite similar to that of the movie “I Used to Be Famous.” In addition to the intriguing premise, what keeps you fascinated for the entirety of the movie are the riveting performances of the principal actors, Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.
5. The Peak of It All (2020)
The plot of “The High Note,” directed by Nisha Ganatra, centres on the famous singer Grace Davis and her overworked personal assistant Maggie. Nisha Ganatra is the show’s director. The latter is currently relegated to the role of acting as the singer’s personal assistant; nonetheless, she has not given up on her ambition of working in the music industry. Maggie and Grace devise a strategy that, if successful, will allow them to steer their lives in a different direction when they are given a choice. The fact that both “The High Note” and “I Used to Be Famous” are musical dramas isn’t the only thing that links these two films together; in both, the main characters have aspirations of being successful in the music business as well.
4. Yesterday (2019)
“Yesterday” is a musical romantic comedy film that will be released in 2019 and tells the story of the life of a struggling singer named Jack Malik. The film was directed by Danny Boyle. After being involved in an accident during a blackout, when he finally comes to, he discovers that he is the only person who remembers The Beatles. As a result, he decides to make the most of the circumstance and reintroduce the band’s songs in an effort to achieve fame. A struggling musician tries to build a name for himself and become a celebrity vocalist in the song “Yesterday,” which is quite similar to the storyline of the song “I Used to Be Famous.”
3. The Beat of Hearts Is Heard (2018)
“Hearts Beat Loud,” a musical comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Brett Haley and starring Nick Offerman, tells the story of a father, Frank, and his daughter, Sam, who spend the summer before Sam’s freshman year of college forming a band together. Frank is the lead singer of the band. However, when the duo’s song becomes a smashing sensation online, Frank finds himself in the difficult position of having to choose between pursuing his own aspirations and allowing his daughter to pursue hers. The unexpectedness of the band that Vince and Stevie form is comparable to the unexpectedness of the band that the father and daughter form, which is what connects the two movies to one another.
2. In This Place, a Star (2018)
The musical romantic drama film “A Star Is Born” is directed by Bradley Cooper, who also plays the role of Jackson “Jack” Maine in the film alongside Lady Gaga, who plays Ally Maine. This is the fourth time the eponymous short story written by William Wellman, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker, and Alan Campbell has been adapted for the big screen. The story focuses on Jack, a well-known musician, and Ally, a teenage vocalist who is working her way up the music industry ladder with the assistance of Jack. In the meantime, Jack’s drunkenness continues to drag his career farther and further into the gutter. Both “A Star Is Born” and “I Used to Be Famous” are about musicians who collaborate with one another in order to make the most of their abilities and achieve fame. This is the common thread that ties these two movies together.
1. Begin Again (2013)
In the film “Begin Again,” which was directed by John Carney, the protagonists are an aspiring singer-songwriter named Gretta and an unsuccessful record label executive named Dan. By a stroke of good fortune, the two run into each other and make the spontaneous decision to work together on an album by recording the tracks in various public places spread throughout the city of New York. Both “I Used to Be Famous” and “Begin Again” share a number of similarities, including the depiction of a fortuitous meeting between two artists, one of which is an aspiring artist while the other is a struggling one, and the successful collaboration that results from their meeting.
Begin Again-Plot
Dan Mulligan, a formerly successful record label executive who now resides in New York City and is split from his wife Miriam, finds it difficult to keep up with the rapidly evolving music business. He binges on alcohol after getting fired, which brings him to a pub on the Lower East Side where he meets Gretta James.
Gretta, a young, fiercely independent composer from England, recently called it quits with Dave Kohl, her longstanding companion in songwriting and boyfriend. He is a young, successful musician who slept with a production assistant. Gretta initially declines Dan’s request to sign her to his former record label since he is mesmerised by her music, but she changes her mind and accepts.
Saul, Dan’s business partner and co-founder of the record label, meets with Dan and Gretta, but he does not see the same promise in her and rejects her. Undeterred, Dan suggests that they collaborate to create their own album, which will be live-recorded during the summer at various public spaces throughout the city. Dan sets out to create an album that will be released by gathering a group of skilled musicians, including Steve (a busker and an old best friend of Gretta’s). Dan and Gretta develop a close personal and professional relationship during this time, and she mentors Violet, his adolescent daughter and a budding guitarist, and pushes her to contribute to the record.
When Gretta witnesses Dave accepting an award on television, she accuses him of caving in to the music business. With Steve’s assistance, she records a song on Dave’s voice message in which she airs her complaints with him. Back in New York promoting his new album, a repentant Dave answers her call and requests to meet with her. She chooses to meet with him after giving it some thought, and they discuss one other’s albums.
Gretta feels deceived by Dave’s overtly marketed performance of “Lost Stars,” a love song she wrote and performed for him as a Christmas gift, and thinks the song’s original intent has been corrupted. He claims that the crowds are enthusiastic and that they enjoy the way he plays it. He thinks that sharing music with others is what it’s all about, but Gretta argues that’s not what she had in mind when she wrote that song. However, Dave encourages her to attend his performance of the song at the Gramercy Theatre that weekend so she can observe the reactions of his followers.
When the record is complete, Dan, Gretta, and Saul re-connect. Saul is quite pleased with their teamwork. She seeks Dan’s job back from Saul in exchange for a larger cut of the profits. Without coming to a decision, they part ways, but Dan is certain that Saul will finally agree to marry Gretta. Later, after much thought and after receiving a text message from Dave reminding her of his show, Gretta makes it to the venue in time to see Dave perform her original arrangement of the song.
Greta is first pleased to hear their music as she had imagined it as she listens to him play, but as the song reaches its conclusion and the audience begins to applaud, she realises that too much has changed. As a disappointed Dave continues to sing, the woman exits the concert and cycles through the city with a sense of newfound optimism and closure.
After making peace with his wife, Gretta pays Dan a visit at his apartment as he gets ready to return home. She tells him that she prefers to sell her record online for $1 rather than have him release it. Dan returns to work with Saul, but he permits Gretta to distribute the album online and aids in its promotion. The following day, Saul jokingly fires Dan for supporting Gretta’s album and tells him that it had 10,000 first-day sales.