There are two kinds of people in this world: those who hate musicals and those who love them. The naysayers argue that musicals are unrealistic, as people don’t randomly “break into song.” But those who do love a good musical may actually be inclined to spontaneously sing a familiar tune, or have their own moments of “musical stardom” in front of a mirror, hairbrush in hand, belting out “Don’t Rain on My Parade” or “All That Jazz” or “Singin’ in the Rain.” Love ’em or hate ’em, musicals have a rich history in Hollywood, dating back to the earliest days of sound, with a musical winning the second Best Picture Oscar ever given out.
Although it’s rather dated now, “The Broadway Melody” was also the first talking picture to win the top award at the Oscars, and was Hollywood’s first all-talking musical. Sound was a challenge for these early films, as it was pretty much a trial-and-error process finding the best recording quality, which was parodied in “Singin’ in the Rain” 20 years later. Once the technical issues were smoothed out, musicals became an escape for a Depression-weary country, with the extravagance of Busby Berkeley productions like “42nd Street” and romantic comedies like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers‘s “Top Hat” becoming hugely popular. Quality sound, spectacular Technicolor and imaginative special effects added to the fantasy and escapism of this genre.
During the WWII years, musicals remained a welcome distraction, with productions like “Yankee Doodle Dandy” bursting with patriotism. MGM rose to prominence in this genre, with people flocking to see stars like Judy Garland in “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Musicals became even grander in the 1950s and 1960s, with many stage productions receiving lavish big screen adaptations, and going on to win top honors at the Academy Awards. Between 1951 and 1968, six musicals won Best Picture, including “An American in Paris” and “West Side Story,” and two now legendary actresses won Best Actress for their screen debuts – Julie Andrews for “Mary Poppins” in 1964 and Barbra Streisand for “Funny Girl” in 1968. However, after “Oliver!” won in 1968, the popularity of musicals began to decline, and with few exceptions such as “Cabaret” and “Grease,” there were very few quality live action musicals made over the next 30 years. Then, as the century turned over, musicals had a resurgence that continues today.
Beginning in 2001, musicals such as “Moulin Rouge!” and “Chicago” proved that audiences were ready to be dazzled by these lavish productions again, with these movies earning big at the box office and gaining critical acclaim. In 2003, “Chicago” became the first musical in 34 years to win Best Picture, a feat which has not be repeated since – although “La La Land” came really, really close in 2017. However, the success of these and other musicals such as “Sweeney Todd” and “Dreamgirls,” and the buzz for “In the Heights” and Steven Spielberg‘s new version of “West Side Story,” hopefully means that musicals are here to stay.
We’ve ranked some of the best live-action musicals that have delighted audiences over the past ninety years. For the sake of this article, we didn’t included animated films, such as the highly acclaimed “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) and all the other Disney classics. We also do not include films with lots of music (like “Saturday Night Fever” and “Footloose”) where the performers don’t break into song. Tour our photo gallery featuring our rankings of the best 30 movie musicals ever, featuring other top stars such as Gene Kelly, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman, Emma Stone, Tim Curry, Prince, the Muppets, Gene Wilder, Elvis Presley and more.
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30. Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer The plot of this movie is. . . who cares? Elvis is a cool race car driver who competes for and woos the sexy Ann-Margret with a grin, a swagger and a little guitar-playing. The chemistry between the two leads is unmatched in any of his other films, and led to an infamous affair. The title track went on to be one of Elvis’s best-selling and most-enduring singles, the dance numbers are among the best in his films and the stars are icons of their era. Visually appealing and just plain fun – what better guilty pleasure is there?
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29. Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Barber Street (2007)
Image Credit: Peter Mountain A rare blend of black comedy, horror and musical all come together in this gripping macabre tale. It had to be a challenge to adapt this Stephen Sondheim Tony-winning musical to film, but who better to do so than the masters of the strange, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp? Depp, not known for his singing, steps up as the murderous barber bent on revenge, his grief and mental collapse conveyed through song and a dramatic score. A musical like no other, “Sweeney Todd” is a tragic love story that is disturbing and graphic, but also poetic. With a supporting cast that includes Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman, “Sweeney Todd” earned three Oscar nominations (winning for Art Direction) and won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical and Best Actor for Depp.
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28. Hairspray (2007)
Image Credit: David James/newline.wireimage.co John Waters’s 1988 film about “pleasantly plumb” teenager Tracy Turnblad fighting racism with song and dance in 1962 Baltimore initially wasn’t a success. However, it went on to become a cult classic, and 14 years later was adapted into a Tony-winning Broadway musical, which was in turn made into this critically acclaimed film version that features a mix of both the original film and the musical. Featuring Nikki Blonsky as the optimistic, confident Tracy, the cast also includes John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer, who were, ironically, in “Grease” and “Grease 2,” respectively. Energetic and vibrant with catchy tunes, “Hairspray” manages to be fun while also addressing racism, and is the perfect blend of its two predecessors.
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27. The King and I (1956)
Image Credit: Courtesy of 20th Century-Fox Based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical (which was based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens), this lavish production is full of charm, humor and sensuality. King Mongkut (Yul Brynner) hires English schoolteacher Anna to tutor his numerous wives and children in Siam, often resulting in a clash of cultures between the headstrong Eastern King and the equally headstrong Western woman. Sexual tension simmers between the two in numbers such as “Shall We Dance?,” in which Kerr, in an enormous but gorgeous ballgown, teaches the barefoot king such western customs as ballroom dancing, courting, “et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.” The film received numerous accolades, including nine Academy Award nominations (with five wins, including Best Actor for Brynner and Best Music Scoring) and four Golden Globe nominations (with wins for Kerr and Best Picture, Comedy or Musical).
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26. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Possibly the most patriotic musical ever made, this biopic stars James Cagney in his Oscar-winning portrayal of George M. Cohan, “the father of American musical comedy.” Upon receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, Cohan recounts his life to President Roosevelt, beginning with his birth on the Fourth of July, his life growing up in vaudeville and his success as one of the most prolific contributors to Broadway. Remembered now more for his gangster roles, Cagney lights up the screen as the legendary song-and-dance man, capturing his signature stiff-legged dancing style to tunes like “Yankee Doodle Boy,” “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “Over There.” The film won three out its eight nominations; besides Best Actor for Cagney, it won for its sound and score.
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25. Dreamgirls (2006)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Jennifer Hudson won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her film debut in this musical inspired by the history of Motown Records. The story revolves around a girl group, “The Dreamettes” (inspired by The Supremes), chronicling their rocky road to stardom and their equally rocky romances. Eddie Murphy gives one of his best performances, earning a Best Supporting Actor nod, as Jimmy “Thunder” Early, an outrageous soul singer involved in an affair with one of the Dreamettes and battling drug abuse as his star starts fade. But it’s Hudson who dominates the film, belting out “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” in a powerful performance. “Dreamgirls” led in Oscar nominations with eight, and walked away with two.
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24. The Muppet Movie (1979)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image A banjo-playing frog, a beauty-pageant-queen pig and a joke-telling bear are just a few of the Muppets who take us on their journey to becoming “rich and famous.” The creative genius of Jim Henson had already been delighting television audiences for over a decade before the Muppets made their big screen debut, with full-body activity of the famous puppets a technical marvel at the time. Full of corny (but hilarious) one-liners, cameos from dozens of stars – including Orson Welles, Mel Brooks, Steve Martin and Milton Berle – and music from Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher (including the unforgettable “Rainbow Connection”), the Muppets sing and dance their way into Hollywood history – and, indeed, become “rich and famous.”
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23. Gigi (1958)
Image Credit: Courtesy image Leslie Caron is delightful as the title character, a young French woman being groomed as a courtesan for the womanizing Gaston (Louis Jourdan). Of course, the dashing rogue ends up falling in love with the tomboy who’s turned into an elegant young woman, all in tune to lively music and played out in gorgeous turn-of-the-20th-century Paris. Maurice Chevalier provides two of the most charming and memorable numbers, “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” and “I Remember It Well” (with Hermione Gingold). The film won a recording-breaking nine Oscars (which “Ben-Hur” broke the following year) and held the record for the highest clean sweep at the Academy Awards until 2004. Among its wins were Best Picture, Best Director for Vincente Minnelli, Best Score of a Musical and Best Song for “Gigi.”
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22. Top Hat (1935)
Image Credit: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures Quite possibly the most successful romantic pairing in musical film history, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made a total of ten films together, with “Top Hat” being the most successful of their pairings and the most enduring. Their films typically follow one plot: boy falls for girl at first sight, but through a series of comic misunderstandings, he must work extra hard to win her affection while she tries to resist, and the two flirt through song and dance. With music by Irving Berlin and choreography by Astaire and frequent collaborator Hermes Pan, “Top Hat” features some of their most iconic numbers: the flirtatious “Isn’t This a Lovely Day (to be Caught in the Rain),” the infamous “Cheek to Cheek” with the feather dress and Astaire’s highly celebrated tap solo during “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.” The film received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Song for “Cheek to Cheek.”
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21. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) doles out morality lessons in this old-fashioned fantasy based on Roald Dahl’s celebrated children’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Impoverished Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) is one of five children who finds a Golden Ticket in a chocolate Wonka bar, winning a tour of the mysterious factory. While there, the Oompa Loompas teach the children that “if you’re not greedy, you will go far; you will live in happiness too; like the Oompa Loompa Doompety do.” Colorful, imaginative and filled with vivid and funny lessons on what greed and selfishness can lead to, “Willy Wonka” endures as one of the most beloved children’s films of all time.
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20. Purple Rain (1984)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image “Purple Rain” is arguably THE soundtrack of its generation. The plot is thin – rising rock star The Kid (Prince) is struggling with an abusive home life, a new rocky romance and strife within his band – and the acting is not exactly award-worthy. But Prince is electric in this film, and the accompanying soundtrack is one of the greatest albums of all time, with songs such as “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry” and the moving and poetic title track. Prince won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.
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19. An American in Paris (1951)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image In Paris, struggling American painter Jerry (Gene Kelly) is caught between his older benefactress (Nina Foch), who isn’t just interested in his art, and a young French cabaret singer (Leslie Caron, in her film debut), who is already involved with someone else. Also featuring real-life concert pianist Oscar Levant, at his best with his signature sardonic wit, the film is loaded with some of George Gershwin’s most cherished songs, including “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You” and “‘S Wonderful.” The film ends with one of the most magnificent ballet sequences ever put on film, 17- minutes of French-artists-inspired fantasy set to the Gershwin composition that inspired the title of the film. The film won six out of eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Scoring of a Musical.
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18. All That Jazz (1979)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Famed choreographer and director Bob Fosse directed this semi-autobiographical account starring Roy Scheider as Joe, a famed choreographer obsessed with perfection and death. As Joe pops pills and womanizes while frantically trying to edit his latest Hollywood film and at the same time stage his newest Broadway musical, his girlfriend, wife and daughter love and support him, while also admonishing him. When he’s hospitalized after his heart gives way to the stress and boozing, he directs extravagant musical dream sequences in his head starring the three women who love him. Fosse’s real-life girlfriend Ann Reinking costars as Joe’s girlfriend, and is spectacular in numbers like “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.” Full of ego, energy and signature Fosse “razzle dazzle,” “All That Jazz” is a one-of-a-kind film from a one-of-a-kind creative genius. The film received nine Oscar nominations, winning for Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design and Editing.
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17. Chicago (2002)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones tear up the screen as the infamous Jazz-era murderesses Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. Loaded with cynical humor and featuring a cast that includes Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly and Christine Baranski, “Chicago” is full of energy and with its dark undertones, appeals to a wider audience than a typical musical. Credited as one of the films that brought the musical genre back after a multi-decade lull, “Chicago” received 13 Academy Award nominations, winning six, and was the first musical to win Best Picture since “Oliver!” in 1968.
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16. The Greatest Showman (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Hugh Jackman stars as P.T. Barnum in this very loose adaptation of the great showman’s creation of Barnum’s American Museum. “Showman” is good, clean family fun – visually stunning with catchy tunes. There’s romance, drama, spectacle – all the elements Barnum would appreciate in entertainment. Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya delight audiences with nine original songs, the best of which is sung by “the bearded lady” (Keala Settle). “This Is Me” won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, was nominated for the Oscar and has become an anthem for people who are “marching on to the beat (they) drum.”
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15. West Side Story (1961)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Conflicts between the Jets and the Sharks leads to a tragic romance between Maria (Natalie Wood) and Tony (Richard Beymer) in this modern musical take on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” From the opening scene, incredible choreography propels the action, including some of the most poetic dance/fight sequences ever captured on film, and the energetic and technically difficult “America.” The film won 10 of 11 Academy Awards, making it the musical with the most Oscar wins, including Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins), Best Supporting Actor (George Chakiris), Best Supporting Actress (Rita Moreno) and Best Scoring of a Musical.
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14. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Loew's, Inc. The affluent Smith family is anticipating the 1904 World’s Fair when Mr Smith reveals that he has taken a position in New York, and the family will have to leave before the greatly anticipated event, devastating his wife and five children. This is one of Judy Garland’s best films, and has become something of a Christmas staple for classic film lovers, as it introduced “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in an especially poignant moment. It also introduced Garland’s iconic songs “The Boy Next Door” and the Oscar-nominated and extremely catchy “The Trolley Song.” Expertly directed by Garland’s future husband Vincente Minnelli, “Meet Me in St. Louis” is a visually vibrant work of art that became one of MGM’s most profitable films and earned four Oscar nominations.
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13. 42nd Street (1933)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Loew's, Inc. Depression-Era audiences flocked to Busby Berkeley musicals to escape reality, as there was no more spectacular escape than the legendary choreographer’s elaborate production numbers that included complex geometric patterns with kaleidoscope effects formed by dozens of scantily-clad showgirls. “42nd Street” is the most memorable, with Ruby Keeler starring as a young, naive chorus girl who unexpectedly ends up with the starring role in a stage musical. The title number and “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” remain two of the most spectacular musical numbers in film history, and Berkeley’s influence on the medium has endured for almost 100 years.
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12. Funny Girl (1968)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image “Hello, gorgeous!” Reprising her Broadway role, Barbra Streisand exploded onto screens in her film debut loosely based on the life of comedian Fanny Brice and her tumultuous relationship with gambler Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif). Streisand cracks jokes and belts out numbers such as “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” as naturally as she had been acting in film for years. Funny, energetic and filled with show-stopping tunes, “Funny Girl” is an epic musical that launched an epic career. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, the sole winner was Streisand for Best Actress, tying with Katharine Hepburn for “The Lion in Winter.”
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11. Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Image Credit: 20TH CENTURY FOX Quite possibly the most iconic cult classic of all time, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” has been turned into an audience-participation film like no other. Almost 50 years after its initial release, it’s still shown in theaters around the country, especially at Halloween, making it the longest-running theatrical release in film history. People come dressed as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Janet, Brad, Riff Raff, or Magenta to do “The Time Warp” again and again, and to throw various objects at the screen. “RHPS” is weird, crazy and fun – and there is absolutely no other film like it.
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10. La La Land (2016)
Image Credit: Summit Entertainment Reality and musical fantasy collide in this bittersweet tale that pays homage to the grand musicals of the Golden Era of Hollywood. Aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and struggling jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) fall in love while each also faces disappointment pursuing their careers. From the massive opening number “Another Day of Sun” shot on an L.A. freeway to the romantic and symbolic dance under the planetarium stars between Mia and Sebastian to Mia’s poignant solo “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” to the Oscar-winning “City of Stars,” “La La Land” is a rarity today: an original musical written directly for the big screen. And it was a huge success, both at the box office and on the awards circuit, raking up a record-tying 14 Academy Award nominations, and winning six, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle and Best Actress for Stone.
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9. My Fair Lady (1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Adapted from the stage play “Pygmalion,” “My Fair Lady” is one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Rex Harrison stars as snobbish Professor Higgins, who bets a colleague he can turn cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) into a lady. Oscar-winning lavish sets and costumes make it a visual masterpiece, and songs like “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” and “Get Me to the Church on Time” contribute to its lively pace. The film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, with eight wins that included Best Picture, Best Actor for Harrison and Best Director for the legendary George Cukor, who finally won on his fifth nomination. And although she lost out on the Oscar, Eliza became one of Hepburn’s most iconic roles.
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8. Cabaret (1972)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Bob Fosse is the only individual to win an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony in the same year, and his Academy Award Best Director statue was for this musical – and he beat out Francis Ford Coppola for “The Godfather.” Hitting on topics that were still largely taboo at the time, such as abortion and homosexuality, “Cabaret” is a bawdy, raucous musical like no other made before it. The image of Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles, in garters with a bowler hat perched upon her head, gyrating on a chair while singing “Mein Herr,” is one of the most memorable dance sequences ever put on film. By 1972, musicals had become passé, but “Cabaret” was not only huge at the box office but it tied with “The Godfather” for most Oscar nominations at ten – with “Cabaret” winning eight and “The Godfather” winning three. Minnelli’s career soared, and she won the Best Actress statue, while Joel Grey won Supporting Actor for his memorable turn as the Master of Ceremonies.
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7. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Contemporary music and a turn-of-the-20th-century Paris cabaret collide in a spectacular spectacle of song, dance and romance. Nicole Kidman stars as Satine, the ill-fated star of the Moulin Rouge who is torn between fame provided by a rich duke (Richard Roxburgh) or true love with the poor writer Christian (Ewan McGregor). Oscar-winning costume design and art direction set the stage for tales of passion, debauchery and sacrifice in this visually stunning film. Although these were the only two wins out of eight Academy Award nominations, the film was well-acclaimed and is credited as one of the films to make musicals popular once again.
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6. Grease (1978)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image The movie that brought the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds to the big screen remains one of the most popular movies of all time – and it’s because it’s just plain fun. From the T-Birds restoring “Greased Lightin'” to the Pink Ladies making fun of “Sandra Dee” to Sandy and Danny’s rocky romance ending with them finally realizing that the other is “The One That I Want,” people love to sing and dance along to these tunes. No, it didn’t win a lot of awards, although “Hopelessly Devoted to You” did get an Oscar nom, but it won the hearts of generations of moviegoers, and continues to find new fans.
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5. A Star Is Born (1954)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image There are heated opinions on which of the four “A Star Is Born” adaptations is best, but the 1954 Judy Garland vehicle is her best performance and the definitive version of the tragic love story – despite drastic cuts made to shorten the run time. The love story is well-known: aspiring young star (Garland) falls in love with alcoholic matinee idol (James Mason). As her star rises, his battle with the bottle takes its toll on his career and their relationship, and when he learns that she is willing to give up her promising career for him, he makes the ultimate sacrifice. Garland’s ability to show a wide range of emotions, not only in dialogue but in song, is never more evident than in her rendition of “The Man That Got Away,” and in her final scene, as she proudly declares, “This is Mrs. Norman Maine.” The film earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Garland (who famously lost to Grace Kelly) and Best Actor for Mason, and both received Golden Globes in those categories for a comedy/musical film.
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4. Mary Poppins (1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company From the time Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) arrives on a gust of wind clutching her umbrella to the very end when Mr. Banks and his children go fly a kite, this film is like a spoonful of sugar. With its whimsical mix of live action and animation, fantastical dance numbers like “Step in Time” and catchy tunes, “Mary Poppins” is, quite simply, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” It won five out of 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Andrews’s film debut and Best Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” and remains Walt Disney’s most beloved live action film of all time.
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3. The Sound of Music (1965)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image This holiday staple broke box office records upon its release and has become one of the most beloved films of all time, with memorable songs that propel the story along at a steady pace. From the opening scene with Maria’s (Julie Andrews) arms outstretched, belting that “the hills are alive with the sound of music,” to Liesl (Charmian Carr) leaping about the gazebo declaring she’s “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” to a stern father reconnecting with his children in “Edelweiss,” to Maria and the Captain (Christopher Plummer) gazing lovingly at each other as they confess their feelings in “Something Good,” every musical number has a purpose and is memorable. The epic musical won five out of ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Heartwarming, inspiring and sweetly romantic, “The Sound of Music” is a timeless story destined to entertain for generations to come.
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2. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image For generations of children before VHS tapes and DVDs, “The Wizard of Oz” was an annual staple on CBS. The story of Dorothy Gale’s venture “over the rainbow” and her efforts to return home with the help of The Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), The Tin Man (Jack Haley) and The Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) continues to delight audiences of all ages. These characters, as well as the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) and her flying monkeys and Glinda the Good Witch (Billie Burke) and her munchkins, are permanently ingrained into our pop culture. Although it took over a decade for the film to make a profit, this was due more to high production costs than lack of public interest, and the film did very well at the box office and with the critics, making Garland a star. “Oz” is now a beloved film, ranking high on many lists of “greatest movies ever made” and being one of the most-quoted films of all time. It received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, winning two – most notably for the song “Over the Rainbow”, which was almost cut, but became Garland’s signature song. According to the Library of Congress, it is the most watched movie of all time, and was one of the first 25 movies added to the National Film Registry in 1989.
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1. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image This simple little film has every element that makes for a great musical: catchy songs like the title song and the lively “Good Morning,” complicated dances that Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’ Connor and Cyd Charisse make look easy and comedy like O’Connor’s incomparable “Make ‘Em Laugh” number. And then there’s one of the most iconic images from any musical: Kelly, giddy as he splashes through puddles and twirls his umbrella, singin’ and dancin’ in the rain. It didn’t win either Academy Award it was up for, but it’s largely considered one of the greatest films ever made, and was among the first 25 films chosen for the National Film Registry in 1989.
