When I was a kid, my parents and I would watch old-school musicals like The Music Man and My Fair Lady. Watching these together became a core memory and sparked my life-long love for show tunes. The beauty of musicals is they can be light-hearted and silly, or dark and dramatic.
This underrated movie genre spans from High School Musical to The Wiz and Les Misérables. If you enjoy the razzle-dazzle of musicals too, these 41 films are a must-watch:
Les Misérables
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Based on one of the most iconic Broadway shows of all time, the 2012 film garnered three Oscars for its raw and breathtaking adaptation. It captures the heart of what makes Les Misérables beloved by so many and is full of emotional performances.
To this day, I think the RENT is one of the closest stage-to-screen adaptations. The movie features several cast members from the original Broadway production (looking at you, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Adam Pascal, and Anthony Rapp), so it's as close as you'll get to sitting front-row center.
The Phantom of the Opera
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You don't need a ticket to Broadway to bask in the epicness of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical. The Phantom of the Opera movie stays close to its source material and features a pre-300 Gerard Butler and a pre-Shameless Emmy Rossum. It's angst! It's theatrics! It's fabulous.
The Sound of Music
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Critics have deemed The Sound of Music to be one of the best movies in cinematic history, and we can thank Julie Andrews and the rolling hills of Salzburg for that. It's an impeccably beautiful film, proving that well-done musical movies can stand the test of time.
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Tim Burton's movie version of Sweeney Todd featureshis cast of usuals, from Johnny Depp to Helena Bonham Carter. Those who think musicals are all sunshine and roses will instead find a story filled with spooky songs (written by the legendary Stephen Sondheim), meat pies, and murder.
White Christmas
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As a lover of musicals, this movie is a tradition in my home during the holidays. It is the embodiment of Hollywood's golden era, with so many nostalgic tunes (*cue "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"*). Consider this one a cozy cup of hot cocoa for the soul.
La La Land
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La La Land reminded the world that musicals can be taken seriously. It rose to critical acclaim, winning six Oscars, and is known for its dazzling music and marvelous dance numbers. Plus, it'll break your heart.
Just a year after La La Land, another original musical arrived by way of The Greatest Showman. This whimsical and wholesome story about a man starting up a circus includes big dance numbers and ultra-catchy songs that will play on repeat in your head for weeks.
Cinderella
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This 1997 made-for-TV movie lives rent-free in my mind. Whitney Houston is the fairy godmother to Brandy's Cinderella in Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical retelling of the classic fairytale.
Chicago
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Set in Cook County Jail during the 1920s, this musical is all murder, mayhem, and jazzhands.
Singin' In The Rain
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Singin' in the Rain is another movie with many accolades. Released in 1952, this film stars Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, and has become a beloved masterpiece due to its perfect musical performances and old-school Hollywood charm. (The "Good Morning" scene is notably filmed in one three-minute shot!).
Barbra Streisand rose to fame playing Fanny Brice in the 1968 movie, Funny Girl. This one is a personal favorite. Barbra slays with fabulous outfits and belting ballads. 10/10.
Beauty and the Beast
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If you were a '90s kid like me, Disney movies were a core part of your existence. We grew up during Disney's heyday, with some of the best animated musicals to date coming out of this era. Beauty and the Beast is most certainly one of them; with music by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Rather than taking inspiration from Broadway like many other movie musicals, Beauty and Beast later adapted to the stage.
Like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King took to the stage after its movie success. With songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score composed by Hans Zimmer, The Lion King is one of the best movie musicals to date.
The Color Purple
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Remember Fantasia Barrino from American Idol? Her performance of "I'm Here" in The Color Purple is show-stopping and one of the many reasons to watch the 2023 movie.
The Little Mermaid
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Who didn't spend their childhood singing "Part Of Your World" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls"? The Little Mermaid is another golden-age Disney movie that has remained beloved due to its music.
Mary Poppins
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Julie Andrews is practically perfect in every way as Mary Poppins, and the movie gave us songs like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." Enough said.
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This famous re-telling of Romeo & Juliet has some of the coolest choreography in cinema. The original West Side Story movie was the highest grossing film in 1961 and went on to win 10 Oscars.
Dreamgirls
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Any movie featuring Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé is bound to be epic. It's all stellar vocals in this one.
Mamma Mia!
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I will go to my deathbed saying that Mamma Mia! is an underrated movie and jukebox musical done right. Set to ABBA songs, and starring Meryl Streep, it's actually one of the best things to experience in this life.
Hairspray
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The 2007 adaptation of Hairspray was a romp Starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, and other big names. Its catchy tunes ranged from "Good Morning Baltimore" to "Run And Tell That."
Grease
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Speaking of John Travolta... Grease also made its mark on movie musical history.
In The Heights
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Before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights saw the Broadway stage. The 2021 movie version stars Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera and chronicles the story of a Washington Heights community.
Moulin Rouge!
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Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman star in Baz Luhrmann's trippy 2001 film that features renditions of songs by Elton John, Madonna, The Police, and more. The movie inspired a Broadway musical of the same name, though the stage adaptation includes different popular songs.
Moana
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With several songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, it's no wonder Moana is one of the most notable Disney films in the last few years. "How Far I'll Go" is a certified bop.
Frozen
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Yes, we're all still recovering from "Let It Go" overload, but the music in Frozen really does hit. Disney gave us Broadway theater talent aplenty for this one, from Idina Menzel to Jonathan Groff.
Into the Woods
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Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods shows classic fairytale characters in a darker light. Disney's 2014 movie stars Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, James Cordon, Anna Kendrick, Johnny Depp, and Meryl Streep.
Cabaret
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Directed by Bob Fosse, Cabaret has Liza Minnelli in the role of Sally and Joel Grey in the role of the master of ceremonies. A must for musical theater lovers.
Anastasia
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Transformed into a stage musical years later, Anastasia is an animated treasure that includes songs such as "Journey to the Past" and "Once Upon A December."
A Star Is Born
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Grab your tissues because Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are exceptional in the modernized version of A Star Is Born.
High School Musical
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Don't come at me for this one... you loved it too.
Tick, Tick... Boom!
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Andrew Garfield stars in Tick, Tick... Boom!, the story of playwright and composer Jonathan Larson (best known for creating the RENT musical). The film is directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Garfield earned an Oscar nomination for his performance.
Meet Me In St. Louis
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If nostalgic and whimsical musicals are your vibe, put Meet Me In St. Louis, starring Judy Garland, on your movie list.
Fiddler on the Roof
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This timeless musical features some of the most beloved show tunes from "If I Were a Rich Man" to "Tradition" and "Matchmaker, Matchmaker".
The Prince of Egypt
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The legendary Hans Zimmer composes music for this epic re-telling of the Biblical story of Moses. The Prince of Egypt has an all-star cast and some pretty amazing musical sequences. For an animated movie, it's got Broadway caliber.
The Music Man
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Nominated for Best Picture in 1963, The Music Man embodies the nostalgia of old Hollywood with quirky characters, lavish musical numbers, and endearingly cheesy romance.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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Do the time warp and visit Dr. Frank-N-Furter's lab in this eclectic journey of song and dance.
The Wiz
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Diana Ross plays Dorothy Gale in this epic musical re-telling of The Wizard of Oz. Based on the '70s Broadway show, The Wiz features an all-Black cast and amazing music.
My Fair Lady
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While Audrey Hepburn doesn't provide vocals for her role as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, her performance is still utterly iconic. This timeless story of a working-class woman and upper-class professor originates from the Broadway stage and is considered by many to be one of the best musicals of all time.
Enchanted
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If you need a pick-me-up, Enchanted embodies joy and everything good.
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