The Best Musical Films
Disclaimer - These movies are the best in my opinion. Please don’t come for me if you disagree because the truth is that I love most if not all musical films, I just picked a select few for the piece of writing you are about to read. This is an utterly selfish selection, and I would love for you to tell me what you would have chosen instead!
Who doesn’t love bursting into song when you feel at the height of your emotions. No? Just me? Oh okay then, well there is an entire genre of film dedicated to those who love random introductions of music to the most intense moments in the lives of characters that we become deeply invested in and some of these songs stay with us as we grow up. New musical films are being made or remade constantly like 2019’s Cats (sorry, I had to mention it!) and the upcoming 2021 movie version of the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Music unites people, which is why movie musicals tend to draw people in from far and wide - here are some of my favourites.
Oliver - 1968
Released in 1968, Oliver is the endearing story of a dear orphan boy who escapes a perilous home life to old London town (attempt your best cockney accent if you dare) and gets taken in by criminal mastermind (lol jokes) Fagin and his crowd of young tea-leaf *apprentices* (*Thief if your cockney rhyming slang isn’t up to scratch).
It’s a story of love, loss and the meaning of family with some comedy moments and songs thrown in. Considered one of the best British musicals ever created, this movie is a definite candidate. I have watched this film every Christmas for as long as I can remember, the whole family singing along to ‘Consider Yourself’ with an oomf that would make the Artful Dodger proud. This film grossed approximately $77.4 million dollars and with Academy Awards and Golden Globes for Best Picture it isn’t hard to prove how good it is.
Rent - 2005
Based on the 1996 Broadway musical of the same name, the 2005 movie musical Rent showcased beautifully how many minutes there is in a year (525,600 if you didn’t know) and the pitfalls of a group in the East Village of New York in 1989/90 who are dealing with some of life’s greatest problems like sexuality, drug addiction and financial problems and living under the shadow of AIDS.
This movie grossed $31.6 million in the box office and is a great introduction to the gritty musical which is one of the favourites on Broadway and the west end. Starring the cast of the original Broadway production it is easy to see why it is a favourite, with songs like ‘Seasons of Love,’ ‘La Vie Boheme,’ and my shower-belter ‘Take Me or Leave Me.’ This is a dramatic story about real heavy problems which is why I love it so much and you should definitely add it to your watchlist.
Hairspray - 2007
Now, this is a film that I have watched since I was a young teenager and truly is one of the best in my eyes. Based on the 1988 film by John Waters and the 2002 stage musical, Hairspray the movie was a firm favourite in the eyes of all theatre lovers and became a box office smash amongst its release with an approximate gross of $203.5 million.
The story follows the curvaceous and talented dancer Tracy Turnblad in 1962 Baltimore as she rises in fame as a television dancer during an era of fight against racial segregation. Boasting an all-star cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pheiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow (Jeez, I’m out of breath now) this huge budget production brought in people of all ages and stances.
It’s a big number with some big hit songs that I totally didn’t perform as a one woman show in my bedroom with a hairbrush. Totally didn’t.
Chicago - 2002
In the sexy world of celebrity, scandal and corruption (and Jazz. I bloody love jazz.) lies Chicago. Set in the roaring 20’s where liquor and jazz is all the rage and you could even say it inspires rage as we are introduced to housewife Roxie and a vaudevillian, Velma who are both placed in prison with other murderesses for killing in cold blood.
With another star-cladded cast of Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah it is a wild ride from the start as the movie goes back and forth from realism based scenes to a stage production similar to the 1975 stage show of which the film is based.
Winning an Academy Award for Best Picture (the first musical to win since Oliver) it is not hard to see why this film grossed $306.8 million. There’s sex, death (not at the same time obvs), legal corruption and fabulous flapper dresses to boot and let’s face it, All That Jazz may just be one of the best songs ever. Fact.
Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975
I have to finish off with perhaps my one true love of musical movies. Tim Curry in a sexy outfit singing ‘Sweet Transvestite’ is probably one of the true icons of cinematic history. Dancing to ‘Time Warp’ dressed as Magenta at a party is a highlight of my life and it really has to be said that there is no film quite like this.
It grossed $170 million at its time of release and has become a cult sensation since, even being selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2005 for being ‘culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.’
Anyone who loves this movie can even feel part of it thanks to the ‘midnight movie’ showings in theatres and cinemas alike in which audiences are encouraged to dress up as characters, shout back at characters and sing the songs at the top of their lungs. I wouldn’t even consider this a movie, more of a life experience. Not that I’m biased or anything.
So there you have it folks, my top picks for the best musical films of all time. I could bore you for days if I listed all of the musical films that I grew up with, that have made me laugh or cry, that I sing my heart out with and that gets me through the hard times. The truth of it is that everybody connects with music and most of us love a good film night, that is why movies like this are loved by so many.
Written by Hannah Stait
Hannah is a writer from South Wales. She has her Bachelor's degree from Cardiff University in English Literature and Creative Writing. She is an advocate for animal rights, mental health and sexual well being and writes poetry and short stories in her spare time. She performs in a local theatre group in her hometown also. Her socials are @hannahisfragile