What Are the Best Movie Musicals?
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What Are the Best Movie Musicals?
10 Best Movie Musicals to Sing Along to!
by Rebecca Murray, ThoughtCo, Updated March 07, 2017
From about 1980 to 2000, Hollywood mostly neglected movie musicals. Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film Moulin Rouge was a worldwide hit that gave the genre new life and showed that audiences will fill theaters seats if they're offered an entertaining musical. After the success of Moulin Rouge, director Rob Marshall brought the hit stage show Chicago to the big screen. Chicago won six Academy Awards and further promoting the resurgence of the genre.
Here's a selection of some of my personal recommendations for movie musical fans looking for something decent to watch on video/DVD:
01 of 10
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Considered by some to be the greatest movie musical ever made, Singin' in the Rain features spectacular choreography, uplifting songs, and incomparable acting from stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor. Connor's backflip after running up a wall is unquestionably one of the most creative dance movements in movie history.
02 of 10
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Legends Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra headline an outstanding cast in this 1955 classic musical about gangsters, gamblers, and the women who love them. One of the most memorable songs is "Luck Be a Lady," which became one of Sinatra's standards -- although Brando's character actually sings it in the film!
03 of 10
West Side Story (1961)
United Artists
This movie musical transplanted the story of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to then modern-day New York City and includes memorable songs like "Maria," "America," and "I Feel Pretty." West Side Story won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (shared by co-directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins).
04 of 10
My Fair Lady (1964)
Warner Bros.
The winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, My Fair Lady stars Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison in two of their finest roles. Adapted from the George Bernard Shaw play, Pygmalion, My Fair Lady's unforgettable soundtrack ("I Could Have Danced All Night," "Get Me to the Church on Time," "The Rain in Spain") combined with superb acting, help make it one of the best all-time movie musicals.
05 of 10
The Sound of Music (1965)
20th Century Fox
A timeless classic starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, the Sound of Music has continued to entertain audiences for generations with its memorable songs like "My Favorite Things" and "Do-Re-Mi." It won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Robert Wise -- just four years after he shared the Best Director Oscar for another movie musical, 1962's West Side Story.
06 of 10
Paint Your Wagon (1969)
Paramount Pictures
My husband insisted this one had to be on this list. Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin in a musical? It's too good to pass up. This enjoyable film features singing, drinking, gambling, and gold mining.
07 of 10
Grease (1978)
Paramount Pictures
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta capture the 1950s era well, and the film's soundtrack is one of the most enjoyable movie soundtracks of any year or genre, including the title track, "Summer Nights," "You're the One that I Want" (which wasn't in the original stage musical), and "Greased Lightnin'."
08 of 10
Moulin Rouge (2001)
20th Century Fox
Unlike most of the other musicals on this list, Moulin Rouge didn't begin its life as a stage musical. Nevertheless, Moulin Rouge was one of the best films of 2001, and one of the best movie musicals to emerge in years. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor have amazing chemistry - and their vocal talents aren't too shabby, either.
09 of 10
Chicago (2002)
Miramax
Chicago won six Oscars and helped reinforce the fact that audiences will turn out for big screen musicals if they're given a quality product. (Starred Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere)
10 of 10
Rent (2005)
Columbia Pictures
The Broadway hit made its way to the big screen in 2005 complete with many of the original members of the Broadway production. Despite the fact that it played to sold-out audiences for years, the film version failed to ignite audiences. But it's a fantastic musical that deserves attention, so pick it up on DVD if you haven't yet experienced it.
Edited by Christopher McKittrick
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Those are the author's choices, not necessarily mine. I would have put Fiddler on the Roof and Evita on my list. I saw Rent on stage, but I can't recall much about it other than it had a script that made me think of La Boheme. Moulin Rouge was quite a weird movie.
What would you have chosen?
Hey officer Krupke, Krup you.
I am incapable of making a list of ten, but of the ones I have seen this is my list.
1. Sound of Music
2. West side story
3. Grease
4. Singing in the rain
5. White Christmas (If it qualifies)
7. Mary Poppins
8. My fair lady
9. Paint your wagon...
If I had seen Moulin Rouge, I think I could complete a top 10.
Got a lot of catching up to do around NT, but still tied up with life. Didn't you have a Casablanca article recently?
You must be thinking about this one:
Yes, thank you Buzz.
Unfortunately, a literature professor in Oregon claimed that this wonderful musical is "racist".
https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/entertainmentmovies/mary-poppins-branded-racist-by-us-academic-for-blacking-up-in-iconic-sweeps-rooftop-scene/ar-BBT6Tpa?fbclid=IwAR0VELjQeJhqKh27qAYrId4RMpSZ3jDKysI-INR3_QNwA5cVReYtdYKCaos
He can kiss my ass.
Obviously ignorant of history as that is what a chimney sweep of the time and era would look like. It had nothing to do with the Americas and and fit the story very well.
GREASE !
"GREASE" is THE word !
Loved that movie. Never get tired of watching it !
"There aint no danger we can go too far
We start believin now that we can be who we are
Grease is the word"
Grease II ……. Sucked !
MOVIE OPENER:
Not in any order:
West Side Story
South Pacific
The King and I
Fiddler on the Roof
The Sound of Music
The Man of LaMancha
I know I am missing some
I missed a lot. These comments remind me of all the ones I missed.
Not a big fan of musicals but I'm crazy about "The Wizard of Oz". One other musical I will watch over and over is "Victor/Victoria"
I like a musical that's not all music all the time and allows for some dialogue. "Into the Woods" sorely disappointed me because there was hardly any dialogue and so I had no idea what the damn movie was about.
Then I'd recommend The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It's a romp.
I've seen it. It's awesome
I agree. Whenever I get blue, I pop in the DVD. Great music, good performances and beautiful scenery.
I like Terrance Stamp in whatever movie he's in. Yesterday I watched "Collector".
Les Miserables has dialogue along with great songs (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables) as well. The author only noted more recent musicals - Wizard of Oz was long before her list.
I tried watching that one, too, just couldn't get thru it
I've seen a few "Musicals" on stage (probably off topic, but wonderful to see) too !
Jekyll and Hyde was my Fav. !
Linda Eder was GREAT !
One that I haven't seen on anyone's list is Jesus Christ Superstar.
Or Tommy.
Both good choices.
oh there are so many it's hard to do a top 10. Some times it also depends on what you're in the mood for.
For easy fun I don't wanna think days...
For days when I want a little more class in my life...
There are so many good musicals...
Absolutely.
It's kind of a long lost movie category these days.
My list:
"My Fair Lady" - the cream of the crop
"Oklahoma"
"Singing in the Rain" - has the greatest single musical scene
"Gigi"
"Guys & Dolls" - Damon Runyon knew as many gamblers as I have
"West Side Story" - Rita Moreno was perfection - should have been Maria
"Showboat" - from 1951
"Moulin Rouge"
"Cabaret"
"Carousel"
I would have to say Hair.
Rent was live on tv the other day. I didn't see it.
Gypsy (I don't know if this qualifies but.....it's Natalie Wood and she's my favorite)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Auntie Mame (I don't know if this qualifies either but they sing in it gosh darn it!)
Fiddler on the Roof
Funny Girl
The King and I
Geese, where does one start.....
MY list, there are two at the top, all the rest fall below them somewhere...
The King and I, Yul Brinner at his VERY VERY best and Deborah Kerr at the prime of her carreer......
The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews at her absolute best and an absolutely wonderful performance from Christopher Plummer..... (his final rendition of Edelweis brings tears to my eyes even today)
In context, shortly after the Anschlauss, (the Nazi take over of Austria) Captain von Trapp sings this (Austrian National anthem) to an audience in the venue that has the leading local Nazi's in the front row..... He almost can't make it through being overcome with emotion when Maria comes on to the stage and gives him the strength to finish.... The Austrian audience comes to his support when all of them except the Nazi's start singing it with him..... Makes the Nazi's very uncomfortable....
One of the most powerful scenes in any musical ever made.
When I was 16 years old my parents took me to NYC and I saw Yul Brynner in the original Broadway show of The King and I, and also saw the Broadway production of Guys and Dolls, with Stubby Kaye - "I got the horse right here, its name is Paul Revere..."
Memories...
Fast Forward
Lot of great musicals. To me it comes down to the music.
It's Guys And Dolls
GUYS AND DOLLS - Bobby Darin (from Guys And Dolls)
IF I WERE A BELL - Ella Fitzgerald (from Guys And Dolls)
LUCK BE A LADY - Seal (from Guys And Dolls)
Fugue for Tinhorns
I can still remember being sixteen years old in NYC, watching Stubby Kaye and the original cast of Guys and Dolls on Broadway singing that fugue. The melody still runs through my head.
I love ''Fiddler on the Roof''...
Fiddler on the Roof - One of my favourites for many reasons.
Zoot Suit with James Edward Olmos as ''El Pachuco'' was excellent. A true story of the ''Sleepy Lagoon Murders'' in Los Angeles in the 1940's.
The costuming and music was excellent. Perhaps you had to be living on the west coast or involved in the culture at the time to appreciate it to it's fullest.
Living in ELA at 4th and Chicago at the time it was a stage play in LA...
The last I saw of Olmos was in the TV series West Wing when he was the nominee of POTUS Jeb Bartlet (Martin Sheen) to be the first Latino Justice of the SCOTUS, Mr. Justice Mendoza.
He was nominated for Best Actor for ''Stand and Deliver''...