Music and film go hand-in-hand — both have the power to move people, set the mood, and turn moments into memories. Over the years, movies and TV shows have also introduced us to unforgettable bands and musicians who, despite being fictional, feel just as real as the artists on our playlists.
These on-screen groups often do more than just provide a soundtrack. They help carry storylines, shape characters, and sometimes even outgrow the screen itself. From sitcom favorites to Disney Channel staples and of course, those animated hitmakers, here are our top 10 favorite fictional bands that made a very real impact.
Mouse Rat, Parks and Recreation
Andy Dwyer, the lovable goofball played by Chris Pratt on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, is known for being the lead singer and guitarist of Mouse Rat. The fictional four-piece band makes several appearances throughout the series, introducing the audience to hit songs like “The Pit” and “5,000 Candles In The Wind (Bye Bye Lil’ Sebastian).” Even though the band is fictional, they did release an LP, The Awesome Album, in 2021. Mouse Rat even saw their merch come to life in retail stores like Hot Topic, Amazon, and Etsy.
School of Rock, School of Rock
In the 2003 comedy School of Rock, Jack Black secretly creates a rock band of the same name comprised of his students while he’s posing as a substitute teacher at a prep school. The film also starred a young ensemble cast of real-life musicians, many of whom performed their own instruments on screen. The film was the highest-grossing musical comedy before Pitch Perfect, and was so successful that it spawned a musical and TV adaptation. Following the show, The Broadway musical premiered in 2015 with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the story later expanded into a Nickelodeon TV series that aired from 2016 to 2018.
Pink Slip, Freaky Friday
Another popular 2003 comedy, Freaky Friday also featured the popular non-band band Pink Slip. Featuring Anna Coleman, played by Lindsay Lohan, as the band’s guitarist and backup singer, the group went from playing their original songs in the Colemans’ garage to a packed crowd at House of Blues (and even a wedding). The fictional band recently made a reappearance in the 2025 sequel, Freakier Friday.
Josie and the Pussycats, Riverdale
The CW teen drama’s version of Josie and the Pussycats is the most recent iteration of the fictional girl group, which originated in 1970 as part of an animated series. However, the characters themselves first debuted in Archie Comics in 1963 before being adapted into the (then) animated show. The band performed several times throughout the Riverdale series, in between battling mob bosses, serial killers, cult leaders, gangs, and more.
Boyz4Now, Bobs Burgers
First introduced in Bob’s Burgers, Boyz4Now is a fictional boy band that quickly becomes the obsession of Tina, Gene, and Louise Belcher. The group is known for its over-the-top pop ballads and dramatic performances, poking fun at classic boy band tropes. With rotating members like Boo Boo, Allen, Griffin, and Matt, the band’s constantly shifting lineup becomes part of the joke throughout the series. While played for laughs, Boyz4Now’s songs have become cult hits among fans of the show, proving that even animated parody bands can produce genuinely catchy pop moments.
HUNTR/X, K-Pop Demon Hunters
Probably the most popular fictional band of 2025, HUNTR/X is a fictional girl group made up of characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who use their singing voices to create a magical barrier to protect humans from demons. The band appears in the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, which blends K-pop aesthetics with fantasy and action storytelling. The overwhelming success of the film, which features chart-topping hits like “Golden,” has fans clamoring for the voice actors behind the characters (Ejae, May Hong, and Ji-Young Yoo) to become a real group, mirroring the real-world crossover success seen with other animated and fictional pop acts.
Connect 3, Camp Rock
Audiences and music fans first met the fictional Connect 3 in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock and its sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. The band quickly became a standout of the films, with songs like “Play My Music” and “Introducing Me” becoming fan favorites and staples of late-2000s Disney soundtracks. Despite the internet being sold that the trio are brothers, the band—made up of Shane, Nate, and Jason—merely met at camp. While Connect 3 may be fictional, the actors are also brothers in a real band—the Jonas Brothers, whose mainstream popularity surged alongside the success of the films. Connect 3 is set to reunite again in the third installment of the Camp Rock series, which premieres in 2026.
The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls
If you grew up watching Disney Channel in the 2000s, you were probably a fan of The Cheetah Girls. The girl group was featured in the 2003 film along with its two sequels, creating songs like “Cinderella” and “Strut.” The movies helped launch the careers of actresses and singers like Raven-Symoné, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Sabrina Bryan, who all performed as part of the group. The fictional group was so popular that they became a real group, releasing multiple studio albums, going on international tours, and performing live at events like the Walt Disney World Resort and on Disney Channel’s concert specials throughout the 2000s.
Scrantonicity, The Office
In season two of The Office, Jim and Pam discover that their coworker, Kevin, is the lead singer and guitarist in a Police cover band called Scrantonicity. The band is a recurring gag throughout the series, highlighting Kevin’s surprisingly musical side compared to his often goofy office persona. Later in the series, the band performs at another Dunder Mifflin employee’s wedding, performing several Police hits like “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” and more. Scrantonicity’s performances were popular with fans, with the band even making cameo appearances in webisodes and online specials connected to the show.
Powerline, A Goofy Movie
For anyone who grew up in the late ’90s, Powerline is the ultimate animated pop star. Featured in Disney’s 1995 film A Goofy Movie, Powerline is the electrifying stage persona of a larger-than-life musician who becomes the obsession of Goofy’s son, Max. The character, voiced by Tevin Campbell, performs iconic songs like “Stand Out” and “I2I,” which helped cement Powerline as a cult favorite among Disney fans. Though entirely fictional, Powerline’s concerts in the movie are pivotal to the plot, inspiring Max to reconnect with his dad and embrace his own identity. The character has remained popular in pop culture, with fans recreating his performances, songs appearing on Disney soundtracks, and Powerline-themed merchandise still circulating decades later.
