I’m not usually the biggest fan of musicals & I always think I should watch more of them to be all cultured & shit (movie musicals as well as actually going into London to watch more proper stage musicals). However, I do really like some of the ones I’ve seen. I sometimes hate them (Les Miserables and especially Into The Woods) but below are the musicals that I really enjoyed. Maybe some of you will have some recommendations for others I should check out based on what I like? 🙂
**I’ve had to make some rules with this one. When looking up “movie musicals”, a lot of movies that I really wouldn’t consider musicals came up. Also, every single Disney movie with at least one song in it came up. So these are movies that I’m excluding from this list:
– Anything animated and/or movies that are aimed mainly at kids (all Disney animated films, Yellow Submarine, Labyrinth, and things like the Muppet movies)
– Daft Punk’s Electroma, Phantom Of The Paradise, and Krush Groove (although they came up in a search for “musicals”, they really aren’t my definition of musicals. they’re awesome, though)
– Pitch Perfect 1 & 2 (again, not “musicals” to me but they wouldn’t make my top ten anyway)
So now, counting down from ten to my number one favorite, here are My Top Ten Movie Musicals:
10. TIE: Hello, Dolly! and The King & I
9. Annie
8. Grease
7. TIE: Mary Poppins & Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (okay, kind of aimed at kids but I felt they should be included)
6. Singin’ In The Rain
5. Across The Universe
4. Jesus Christ Superstar
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1. The Sound Of Music
Honorable Mentions:
West Side Story
Pink Floyd The Wall
Tommy
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Dancer In The Dark
Xanadu
A Chorus Line
Bugsy Malone
The Ones I Should Really Get Around To Watching Sometime:
The Jazz Singer
Rock ‘N’ Roll High School (is this a musical?)
The King & I
Fame
All The Beatles movies other than Yellow Submarine
**List updated 29/06/17 to add The King & I and Bugsy Malone**
Cinema Parrot Disco 
Not a genre I’m hugely fond of, but there are some great films in there.
Thanks, Alex! I certainly don’t enjoy all musicals but these are good ones. 🙂
White Christmas and Easter Parade are a couple of fun seasonal musicals – and this was a fun top 10!
Thank you! 🙂 I’ve not seen those. I know it’s bad I’ve not seen White Christmas….
I love that Across The Universe is in here. That’s one of my favorites too. (Along with Les Miserables, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hairspray the remake, Annie, God Help The Girl and Sweeney Todd)
Yay! Glad to know someone else likes Across The Universe. 🙂 Not seen Hedwig, Hairspray, or God Help The Girl. Want to see Hedwig. Also really liked Sweeney Todd – almost made the Top Ten. 🙂
Mine are Jesus Christ Superstar ( top 1 …. I’ve watched this a million times…. allt he singers are super good , especially the one who plays Jesus )
Sound of Music
Singing in the Rain ( especially the dance routine )
Beauty and the Beast ( the songs are excellent and memorable )
Yeah – the songs in Jesus Christ Superstar are great! That’s why I like that one so much. It’s super groovy! It looks like we like all the same ones. I also like Beauty & the Beast but had to leave out animated musicals as there are just too many. 🙂
The rest on your list are good too, and they do have exceptional songs. My only problem is, the exceptionally good song is sung repeatedly by different characters in different versions of it. It’s like there’s only one or two that are good, and they are sung again and again. Whereas in Sound of Music, for example ( and Beauty and the Beast ), all the songs are good, and they are sung just once. ( am I using the word sung correctly, ha ha ) It’s like the bench is deep. lol
Yes, you are. 🙂 I know what you mean about them being sung repeatedly in different versions. Agreed that The Sound Of Music and Beauty & The Beast feel different from a lot of the rest. Nothing beats the definitive version of those. 🙂
Wonderful. I’m still the only “The Sound of Music” fan in my household, but I remain steadfast. 😉
Really? You can’t get anyone else to like it?! How can anyone NOT love The Sound Of Music?!?! Lol 😉
Not one! Not the woman I married, nor the children we begot 😉
Lol. Their loss! 😉
Great list! I love most every musical you do. I would have added West Side Story and Chicago. Otherwise, perfect!
Thanks, Cindy! 🙂 I have West Side Story as an honorable mention but I didn’t really like Chicago all that much… It was okay but I didn’t really like those starring in it, I think.
Certainly fine! I loved everything about it. 🙂
Why isn’t Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life on this list?????
#divorce
Is there a lot of singing in that??? I only really know Holy Grail & Life Of Brian.
A ton of singing! It’s hilarious!
Hmmm. I should watch it. I actually really like Monty Python!
It’s awesome!
#TheGalaxySong
I’ll watch it! I’ll take your advice. But just this once!!!! #willneverhappenagain lol
LOL
#Wanker
Awesome list! My favorite is Sound of Music. I used to watch it all the time with my dad. I’ve got a lot of fond memories attached to that movie.
Thank you! Yeah – I’ve loved that one since I was a kid. 🙂 Great songs AND story!
Nice list, i would give ‘The Last Five Years’ a go, and i always say ‘Repo The Genetic Opera’
Thanks! I have to check out The Last 5 Years as a few have mentioned it. 🙂 And I’m going to look up the other one as I definitely like the title!
What a great idea! You’ve listed some fine classics. Willy Wonka doesn’t receive enough credit for it’s musical side. I really like Singin’ in the Rain not just for the music but the script too!
Thanks! 🙂 Yep, love everything about both of those. Pure Imagination is one of the best songs in a movie ever! Willy Wonka does deserve more credit for the songs. 🙂
Cant say I’m an Across the Universe fan or JCS but rest I like. I love musicals. My favs include Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, Sound of music, Fiddler on the Roof and Singing in the Rain. I really liked this years The Last 5 Years but I love the broadway play (I love Broadway).
I should check out The Last 5 Years – a few have mentioned it. 🙂 Are the songs good? Because they weren’t in Into The Woods! What’s the point of a musical with boring songs like that??
I love them. They are kind of sing/talky, very natural feeling but I guess everyone has their own taste in music.
I like your list. I love “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and probably would have put it number one. I am a big fan of director Ken Russell, so I would have had “Tommy” on my top ten list of favorite musicals, if I were to write one.
Thank you! Yep, those are great. 🙂 I did put Tommy as an honorable mention. I always slightly preferred Pink Floyd’s The Wall but both are very good.
As we’ve discussed previously, Rock N’ Roll High School is essentially unwatchable.
Yeah but unwatchable “bad” or unwatchable “so bad it’s almost good”? I still need to someday anyway since I have the DVD! Somewhere….
There is something so magical about musicals.
Agreed! When the songs are actually good. 🙂 Wish I liked them more than I usually do!
I take pride in shouting from the rooftops that I’ve never seen The Sound Of Music. I’ve also avoided The Music Man. Now if we’re talking about movies with music I strongly recommend Still Crazy from 1998. Anyone who likes Spinal Tap must see this one.
Lol. But The Sound of Music is great! 😉 You know, I THINK I saw Still Crazy… I should really watch it again as I love This Is Spinal Tap. That would be number one if I considered it a musical. 🙂
I love Sweeney Todd (probably my favorite movie) and I also really like Moulin Rouge.
I really like Sweeney Todd too! 🙂 It almost made the ten. But I just don’t like Moulin Rouge for some reason… Knew it would get some mentions. 🙂
I haven’t seen most of these because musicals are kind of my kryptonite but I loved Moulin Rouge.
I knew you’d mention Moulin Rouge! 😉 I wish I liked that one more than I do… It just didn’t really work for me. Think I hated Kidman.
Moulin Rouge is definitely one of my favourites!
Ha. Yeah… I knew people would mention that one! 🙂 I just couldn’t get into it for some reason. I barely remember it now, though. Maybe I should give it another try?
Definitely! I just watched in January (just…) for the first time in years and it was still so great!
not the biggest fan of musicals, but my favorites are Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Sound of Music and Les Miserables. was disappointed when I rewatched both Annie and Grease recently because I thought they were both better
Never seen Fiddler on the Roof but didn’t really enjoy Les Misérables. Annie & Grease are definitely dated but the songs are still better than those in a lot of other musicals. I’m a sucker for songs that are actually GOOD, which is why I hated Into The Woods. 🙂
Completely agree! Have u ever heard the songs from fiddler?
Nope! Although Gwen Stefani did a version of one, didn’t she?? I liked THAT… Lol 🙂
She did? Which one?
Rich Girl! 😉
not even close…. 🙂
Good List. I would add Cabaret (love that movie), West Side Story (you mention it but it’s probably my number one) and I agree that Across The Universe is amazing. I would take out Mary Poopings Chocolate Factory & Annie (nails on a chalkboard for me… I was a child actor so everybody auditioned with THE SUN’LL COME OUT… blam! self-inflicted) also you do realize that you have eleven movies here and that having a tie for number seven means that you would have no number eight. (I’m splitting hairs. I apologize)
Thanks! 🙂 I’ve not seen Cabaret… Aw, I still like Annie! The songs are fun. Same as in Mary Poopings! Lol. You gotta admit the songs in Chocolate Factory are amazing, though. And you’ve confused me with your numbering system! 😉
I love The Rocky Horror Picture Show, we watched it the other night as it was on television.
I watched Dancer In The Dark and it really stayed with me. I coudn’t stop thinking about it for a long time after.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is definitely one of the best. 🙂 Dancer In The Dark is certainly one that stays with you… SO dark! What a depressing film. Very good, though.
Excellent list. Glad to see Jesus Christ Superstar and Willy Wonka and Hello, Dolly! I’d also recommend My Fair Lady and two guilty pleasures of mine, the High School Musical films (some hate them, I love ’em) and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, one of those cheesy, so-bad-it’s-good movies with all Beatles songs (no actual Beatles but an all-star cast).
Thanks! 🙂 I believe I did see My Fair Lady as a kid – I’d have to watch it again. Not sure about the High School Musicals…. 😉 But I’m a fan of The Beatles so it’s really bad that I’ve not seen their films! (Other than Yellow Submarine, which I love…)
I pretty much detest musicals, but I do genuinely love Grease, Bugsy Malone, Oliver! and Chicago. They’re the only ones I can think of that I like a lot.
I hate The Wizard of Oz (except the scenes with the Cowardly Lion – he’s hilarious) and I hate Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Especially the latter.
I enjoyed Les Mis and Sweeney Todd, but only to watch once. I’d never watch them again. But I was glad I watched Les Miserable in the cinema, it was a pretty “epic” film (if unintentionally hilarious in places!!)……West Side Story is okay too.
Right, I’ll stop babbling now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great post Miss Mutant!!!! 🙂
Thanks, Emma! I’ve not seen Bugsy Malone… I really should! But…. Emma! How can you hate The Wizard of Oz & Willy Wonka! I don’t know if I can talk to you anymore!! Lol 😉 I still laugh at Russell Crowe biting it in Les Miserables. It was just so unintentionally funny!
OMG that is the bit where I almost lost it and I’m not kidding!! When Russell Crowe intentionally falls to his death? I was cracking up!! (that’s so weird we both did! How great are we?!)
I know, everyone says that. Willy Wonka I’ve never liked just because it was so far from the book, which was one of my favourites. It’s nothing like it. The Tim Burton remake was far more true to the book. And I’m not even a Tim Burton fan.
I should like The Wizard of Oz, I know I should! But I just….don’t. It’s boring! (I know I’m saying sacrilege type stuff here). But I mentioned the Cowardly Lion because he is effing hilarious and the only thing I love in the film!
“put ’em up, put ’em up!”
I wish you’d been with, then, when I saw Les Miserables with my hubby & my friend (she dragged us to it). He cracked a joke at the Russell Crowe bit and I totally cracked up and couldn’t stop for the rest of the movie. My friend was SO mad at us! It’s probably why she doesn’t talk to me anymore…. Lol! Oh man – I admit I’ve not read the book but I HATE Burton’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory SO MUCH! Okay – you seriously have to stop trashing The Wizard of Oz on my blog, though…. 😉
Interesting collection.
I agree with what you’ve mentioned above. Today anything with a song is considered a musical. While in reality a musical is a movie that tells a story through it’s songs.
And here are some musicals I like, that’s not mentioned anywhere here- in your Top Ten/Honorable Mentions/The ones you want to watch.
My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, De-Lovely, Ray, Chicago, Nine, Dreamgirls and Meet me in St. Louis, to name some.
From your superb list of 10 (rather 11), Jesus Christ Superstar is the only I’ven’t seen, but would love to.
Thanks! 🙂 Of those, I did see Chicago but didn’t really love it. Know I really should try to watch the rest! Especially classics like Fiddler on the Roof. Jesus Christ Superstar has songs I really like, so that’s why it’s high. It’s very… Groovy. Lol. Very dated but I love that era. 🙂
The lack of “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” makes me a sad panda… 😦
Lol. I’ve never seen it! 😉
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttt? 😮
You should rectify this ASAP! It is the greatest musical ever with the best dance scene ever! 😀
Lol. Really?!? Okay – I’ll add it to my (very long) Watchlist. Promise! 😉
You’d better…. <_<
I already have! 😉
Good! 😛
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This list is awesome!
I freaking LOVE The Rocky Horror Picture Show 😀 😀 😀
Also, I am a fan of Sweeney Todd, and Little Shop of Horrors (are we classifying that as a kids film??).
Thanks! Looks like a lot of people love musicals. 🙂 Kids film? Nah… Not animated! 😉 I do like Sweeney Todd a heck of a lot too – almost put it in the ten. A more recent Burton that actually managed to be good…
YASSSS! Then I vote for that hahahahahaha. Right?! It was one of the last few really good ones that he did. Pity, too, because I really used to love his work.
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