Top 10 Movie Musicals

Musicals are an appeal that is lost on the likes of me. Prancing around in an unrealistic and pretentious fashion is anything but plausible, even if some of the films on this list manage to substitute this for some well executed scenes. To qualify for this list the film doesn't necessarily have to be a musical production, only that there are multiple songs performed by the cast that integrate themselves into the narrative. Don't expect 'The Beatles' or 'The Who' to make an appearance either, since I've deliberately excluded any concept albums that were adapted into films.

#10 West Side Story (1961) (5/10)

It took centuries, but finally somebody managed to make the story of 'Romeo and Juliet' actually interesting. The result was still far from being a perfect story, but where the acting and choreography let the film down there's always a masterful score to fall back on in all its gay and glorious form. It's hard to believe a heterosexual ever had a say on anything creative during the whole production thanks to cheesy love stories, outrageous clothing choices and the shittest gang rivalry ever conceived. Elton John could only dream of being this level of camp. There may be some serious themes being thrown around the place to try and make some of the story at least a little relatable, but in reality the whole film is just an excuse to have some of the most over-exaggerated dance sequences it's possible to imagine. It's an ethos that a person like myself just loves to hate, but all I can muster up is the thought that this production would have taken a lot of effort to pull off.

Audiences must have loved it though, as to this day this is one cool film to admit liking. Criticising the film in relation to musicals is almost a capital punishment in the more diverse areas of society, but it's easy to see why. The score is, as you would expect with a large budget musical, nothing short of excellent, and the choreography is mindblowingly complex. I guess that's why 'West Side Story' ended up winning ten Oscars for some reason. It's really not that good, and tends to get annoying quite fast, so what separates this musical from other musicals is still a big mystery to me. Still, at least it makes the work of William Shakespeare bearable in the modern age, and I would much rather watch this in an English lesson that those dreadful modern reenactments.


#9 My Fair Lady (1964) (6/10)

'My Fair Lady' will almost certainly be most notable to many for the now iconic performance of Audrey Hepburn, whose beautiful singing voice was actually dubbed rather disappointingly. Despite this manipulation there is no doubt that Hepburn's role as the innocent cockney girl whose life is beautifully transformed into a member of the upper classes is one for the ages. Rex Harrison also pulls his weight in the supporting role, and together these two create the atmosphere of a Victorian parlor game rather than the unsophisticated rabble that most musicals manage. 'My Fair Lady' is a film that would encourage you to gawp at the elaborate costumes rather than enjoying any of the songs, and although that's a brave thing to do in a musical, there is always an underlying love of musical theater that runs deep throughout the whole of this film.

The actual premise of the film is kept rather similar to the origins of a sophisticated George Bernard Shaw piece, which is an interesting reason to burst into song, but one that doesn't just shit on any literary heritage. In reality this serious formula shouldn't work, but as audiences discovered this is far more enthralling that what it might suggest on paper. At the time of release there may have been many who would of rather seen the much more talented Julie Andrews in the lead role, but Hepburn has a charm that can much more easily integrate into the well composed score and sweet narrative. A planned remake was thankfully shelved that would have seen Keira Knightly in the iconic role. A cancellation that would have pleased many in making sure that Hollywood decided against ruining an absolute classic.


#8 Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (6/10)

The film adaptation to the classic 1960's Broadway musical. 'Fiddler on the Roof ' is rather more serious than the conventional musical, clocking in at over three hours long and tackling social themes that other musicals would just show with a crappy dance instead. Surprisingly this musically derived film actually delivers as a decent serious drama, which although broken up with some tedious dancing and singing still creates a memorable narrative that rarely feels pretentious at all. The acting and directing are on par with many serious films of the same subject matter, which is a pleasant surprise from a musical that would usually translate itself into a ridiculous spectacle. For once a musical deserved its three Oscars. Not often do you get a film packed with fun and well written songs that only occasionally ends up becoming an absurdity. It's the least 'musically' musical on this list, and that's exactly why I like it so much.


#7 The Jungle Book (1967) (7/10)

A classic Disney film that manages to nicely combine some cheesy child friendly songs with some of that good old 'Disney magic'. 'The Jungle Book' is a childhood favorite of mine, and only seems to get better with age. As a musical based on a Rudyard Kipling novel this film should never contain any fun or excitement, but in traditional Disney style they forgot about the brutality of the original novel and took a more lighthearted approach to add a bit of cheer to a very dark concept. The result is a family favorite that features some of the most catchy and infectious songs Disney has ever come up with, sung by an eclectic mix of characters that are full of life and personality. Okay the songs aren't technical perfection, but for a big kid like myself they do an excellent job and never get in the way of the essential narrative. In reality I should hate Disney for butchering classic literature and for portraying an ecosystem were orangutans and tigers can coalesce, but for the last film that Walt Disney ever worked on the company managed to encapsulate what everyone loves best about Disney, plus a few little songs as a bonus.   


#6 Singin' in the Rain (1952) (7/10)

'Singin' in the Rain' is a film that contains some of the most notable and iconic musical sequences in history. Gene Kelly literally singing in the rain has become a symbol for the energy and charisma required to pull off a successful musical, even if the song's originally lovely message has been tainted by the likes of Stanley Kubrick over the years. To this day 'Singin' in the Rain' is a classic that astounds viewers with its bubbly charm and well executed sequences. The effort that goes into each musical number is astounding, as is the choreography that even by today's standards looks totally polished and professional. This film is a charming romp through the world of classic Hollywood, at times feeling like a newborn puppy with bundles of energy and character that you can't hate despite numerous annoying downfalls. This classic is now regarded as one of the greatest American films of all time by many, and that's impressive for a musical that only found moderate success in its original run.


#5 The Lion King (1994) (9/10)

One of Disney's finest ever films that brought back the magic to a company that hadn't produced a properly good musical in decades. Admittedly the focus in this film is the drama, but the narrative is combined with multiple musical numbers to appeal to any human of any age. The score and musical composition were handled by the powerhouse duo of Elton John and Hans Zimmer, who by themselves are legends in film, yet alone when they worked together. The original plan was to have ABBA perform the music, but I'm glad they didn't. Would this film really have the same effect if the songs were just cheesy and camp pop songs recycled from the 1970's? Zimmer and John are phenomenal together and somehow manage to make the musical aspects of this epic just as memorable as the strong narrative, and despite many creative reshuffles before filming started the end products of both the music and animation are sublime by even Disney's high standards.

Some may argue that this film should be excluded from the list as there isn't an emphasis on musical numbers, but for me the narrative still revolves around the various memorable songs, even if they aren't present in every key scene. Elton John even claimed that the songs he wrote were widely accessible to all age ranges and were all inspired by 'The Jungle Book', and this similar style shows. At no point were any of the songs ever annoying, boring, meaningless, or in any way pretentious despite being pop songs aimed at appeasing children. This is an example of how an epic musical score can complement an epic film, so much so that the album has actually been certified diamond, which is an amazing achievement for an animated film. Disney is famed for including great songs within their classic films, but this was the one that really hit the mark.


#4 The Sound of Music (1965) (7/10)

Arguably the most famous musical on this list, thanks in part to a timeless performance from Julie Andrews who with this film cemented her role as the premier lead actress in any musical, especially if that musical revolves around the work of Rogers and Hammerstein. From the opening sequence, which may just be the most famous of any film ever, and through the variety of songs the cast and production team create an instant classic that borrows many aspects from older musicals and then takes them to the next level. The charming tale of the Von Trapp family, which in reality is actually really fucking dark, is brought to life with some innocent looking children and some orgasmically pretty shots of The Alps that take the focus of this musical away from the Nazis and more towards musical theater.

The thing is that upon first release this film wasn't at all popular with the critics, with some even claiming that the film was 'sentimental' and 'corny', which are actually fair points. Despite this backlash from critics the public loved it and it soon became the highest grossing film of all time, making 2.3 billion dollars at the box office when adjusted for inflation. Of course the film is now regarded as one of the most important films in cinema history, and that too was the reaction from the public at the time. This was the first American film to be completely dubbed in a foreign language, and the film was in such demand that the original release lasted for four and a half years. These astonishing statistics prove that this classic not only stood the test of time but became one of the all time greats in the process. Still, in my opinion there are far better musicals than this.


#3 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) (8/10)

Okay I might be including a film that isn't really a musical at all on this list, but I thought the songs in this one were integrated brilliantly in what I consider an all time classic. Gene Wilder was a far better Willy Wonka than any Johnny Depp character, chiefly because Wilder has the ability to carry some epic numbers like the one featured above. Songs like that make Wonka seem like an eccentric genius, and the music helps the audience to enter this absurd fantasy land inhabited by lunacy around every corner. The score varies from morbidly dark to peculiar as does the content of the film, but this diversity adds to the intrigue around the whole premise. It's a film that's more mature than the traditional musical, one that substitutes cheap thrills for pure fantasy. It's a film that the child in me still remembers watching for the first time, and although it may have been disowned by original author Roald Dahl, it's still a film to make a song and dance over.


#2 The Wizard of Oz (1939) (8/10)

How could this delightful classic not make it into a high position on this list? 'The Wizard of Oz' has become an institute in Western popular culture over the last few decades despite originally being a disappointment at the box office. It didn't help that the film became the most expensive production at the time of release, but money it didn't make back during its original run has soon been made up for with its now immense popularity. Okay on paper it still looks a bit shit, but where the 1930's visuals don't impress the film makes up for with a bucketload of charm and colorful images. The lush landscapes are combined with some cheery and colourful songs that are almost timeless to the modern viewing public, even if they make you feel like an 80 year old in the process. I honestly don't care though. Huge orchestras make the film seem like a grand occasion upon every watch, which I suppose it very much is considering its lasting impact.

The film turned out to be so good that Pink Floyd decided to coincide their masterpiece 'Dark Side of the Moon' with the entirety of this film. Of course that's a hotly debated topic on a place called the internet, as is the common rumour that in the 'tin man sequence' there is a shot of a munchkin committing suicide in the background. Turns out the rumours surrounding this musical are actually just as mysterious as the magical landscape of 'Oz'. At the end of the day when you have a film with Judy Garland, a wicked witch, and enough LSD inspired bollocks to leave you scratching your head, it becomes a film that's impossible not to love, especially if you're a homosexual that idolises the story and musical theater in general. I wouldn't say this was the greatest example of cinematic perfection, but as musicals go they don't get much better than this all time classic.


#1 Oliver! (1968) (8/10)

I wasn't aware that a Charles Dickens novel could ever be converted into anything even slightly entertaining, but then that was before I saw what has to be one of the most entertaining films in history. But this is more than a film to put a smile on your face; it's also one that does it in bags of style. Somehow the quite brutal story of 'Oliver Twist' that centers on child labour in Victorian England is turned into a mesmerising concept set in a fantasy world that never at any stage feels unrealistic despite everyone breaking into song every now and then. The whole film is a con, filmed in middle class Surrey and containing some of the most lavish and extravagant scenes for even a musical, yet still manages to feel as realistic as a documentary. Unlike the monotonous work of Charles Dickens this film is packed with catchy numbers and interesting characters that vary from the frighteningly gripping Bill Sykes to the innocent charm of the protagonist.

For once a musical managed to ignore the memo about making every musical as cringey and absurd as possible, and instead leave some areas morbidly empty from any song and dance. The great narrative is coupled with musical masterpieces that instantly bring a smile to anyone's face, especially when you realise that the story is pretty top notch as well. Musicals in cinema never get this balance of a strong narrative and strong musical sequences, which although is certainly worthy of praise, is not worthy of a 'Best Picture Oscar'. That for me was going too far, but there's no doubting that this highly acclaimed musical is way ahead of its competitors on both scale and execution. The whole thing is like reading a Charles Dickens novel whilst on laughing gas, and that for me is what makes this production much better than iconic films such as 'The Wizard of Oz'.