Everyone else is ranking musicals so why can’t I? I chose my 25 absolute favorite musicals and then rated them completely objectively in four categories – their songs, their choreography, their stories, and their characters. So, while you may not agree with my 25 favorite movie musicals, there’s absolutely no way you can disagree with my ranking of them, there’s math to prove it!
Things I didn’t consider- Marx Brothers movies, Muppet movies, diegetic musicals. Marx Brothers and Muppet movies are definitely musicals but they feel like their own thing? Musicals where the songs are being performed diegetic, or in context of the movie, I’m not rating; maybe that’s a different article. So however, you rate things like Sing Street, Once, A Star is Born, and the Beatles movies I’m not considering them.
For honorable mention/26th place I’m declaring Fantasia/Bob Fosse Works/all the supposed best musicals I haven’t seen. Fantasia is a wonderful example of animation matched with classical music. Not sure how I would rate it compared to other musicals, especially since it’s basically an anthology. Cabaret is something I can’t remember how I feel on and I need to re-visit, and things like All That Jazz, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Funny Face, and It’s Always Fair Weather have been on my watchlist for some time now. Also, I just forget For Me and My Gal.
25. Let’s Make Love (1960)
Songs: 3
Choreography: 3
Story: 2
Characters: 3
Overall:11
So, objectively speaking Marilyn made two better musicals in Gentleman Prefer Blondes and There’s No Business Like Show Business (in Some Like It Hot the songs are in-universe), but this is my favorite. Probably because it’s the first movie I ever watched with my wife. It’s a rather flimsy plot where Yves Montand is a very rich man who, for reasons that don’t really matter, decides to pretend to be poor and join a New York stage production. Performing in the production is Marilyn Monroe, who of course he falls in love with. The songs are actually good being written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Huesen, along with one Cole Porter number. The Choreography is better than you would think, and indeed with more movement than some of the more classic musicals. And while the chemistry may not be great between Montand and Monroe, this is one of the sweetest characters Marilyn ever played.
24. On the Town (1949)
Songs:2
Choreography: 3
Story: 3
Characters: 3
Overall: 11
Featuring an absolute all-star cast and crew, this is a fun movie but you’d think they could achieve more. The memorable songs are a little repetitive and Gene Kelly is clearly holding back on the difficulty of his dancing for his co-stars. The plot is simply “sailors on shore leave”. What makes the movie is the chemistry between the stars Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin as the three navy buddies.
23. Bandwagon (1953)
Songs: 2
Choreography: 5
Story: 3
Characters: 3
Overall: 13
This might seem low, but consider this – pretty much all this movie has going for it is its amazing Fred Astaire dance numbers. None of the songs are memorable (except for Dancin’ in the Dark which is lyric less). The story and characters are re-treads; Astaire is tap dancer trying to make a comeback in a big show with Cyd Charisse brought in as the younger and more relevant ballet dancer. There are a lot of great dance numbers. And perhaps the most disturbing musical number of all-time – the “triplet babies with adult heads” sequence.
22. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Songs: 3
Choreography: 2
Story: 3
Characters: 5
Overall: 13
This may be my first “favorite” movie. I used to watch it over and over when I was very young. The songs are good, but the catchy ones can be grating. Except for “Toot Sweets” there’s no big dance numbers. The plot of the movie has some very uneven pacing. But it’s such a great set of characters. Dick Van Dyke plays Caractacus Potts a single father inventor struggling to take care of his family in the early 20th century; Lionel Jefferies is the eccentric grandfather, and Sally Ann Howes is Truly Scrumptious – the perfect potential step-mother; this is the kind of family that seemed like great fun to be in as a kid.
21. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Songs: 3
Choreography:1
Story: 5
Characters: 4
Overall: 13
By far the most interesting plot on this list, this is a trans coming-of-age story during the Cold War. Hedwig is the unabashed star and most interesting character. There are a couple of really good songs and some more forgettable numbers. The choreography of the movie is very limited though, even for rock songs the movement is hardly interesting.
20. Hairspray (2007)
Songs: 3
Choreography: 3
Story: 4
Characters: 4
Overall: 14
Just a solid movie musical all around, but nothing about Hairspray really knocks it out of the park. It’s fun though.
19. Everyone Says I Love You (1996)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 2
Story: 3
Characters: 5
Overall: 14
Okay, so the actors can’t really sing, but this is such a great batch of songs – a set of somewhat forgotten classic vocal jazz-pop songs. The story is the year in the life of one affluent New York City family. While that could come across as annoying, all the characters are charming and it’s a real murderer’s row of actors you will never see again in a musical. The choreography is pretty lacking, but it doesn’t matter, this movie is so much fun.
18. Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Songs: 3
Choreography: 3
Story: 5
Characters: 4
Overall: 15
A sort of Dogme 95 musical? Well, obviously not everything is diegetic if it’s a musical. The music is a batch of solid, but not top-shelf Bjork songs. The choreography of the songs aren’t dance movements but rather the camera following Bjork’s factory worker Selma as she goes about her day in rural Northwest United States in the 1960s. The story is more gripping than almost every other musical – Selma has to work more and more at the factory to support her young son, but she’s slowly losing her vision making it harder and harder to actually work safely. There are other characters in the movie but the movie is all on Bjork’s empathetic portrayal of Selma.
17. Mary Poppins (1964)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 2
Story: 4
Characters: 5
Overall: 15
Just some of the most indelible children’s musical songs – “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”,” Let’s Go Fly a Kite”, “A Spoonful of Sugar” and more, almost every song has a shot at being someone’s favorite. The mix of animation and live-action was more interesting than any of the actual dancing. But the story of Mary Poppins, the odd but effective nanny blowing in with the wind, helping to fix an English family’s problems, and then blowing back out with the wind is one of the more memorable of Disney’s live-action stories. Mary Poppins is easily the most interesting character in the film, but she’s surrounded by lots of fun supporting characters.
16. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 4
Story: 3
Characters:4
Overall: 15
I just love the songs in this movie – which are all reinvented mash-ups of pop hits. That along with Baz Luhrman’s kinetic and colorful directing doesn’t really fit 1890s Paris, but it does make for eye-popping visuals. The story and characters are yet another one of Luhrman’s takes on Romeo and Juliet but the actors and costumes really elevate the somewhat trite stereotypes.
15. Guys and Dolls (1955)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 3
Story: 3
Characters: 5
Overall: 16
Let’s just get this out of the way – swapping Sinatra and Marlon Brando’s characters would have made the film worse, not better. Sinatra is perfect as Nathan Detroit; a sort of everyman gambler and I just can’t see Brando doing anything but Sky Masterson in this musical (or any musical). The songs are all-timers starting right off the bat with “Fugue for Tinhorns”. Then later there’s “Rockin’ the Boat”, “If I Were a Bell”, and the Sinatra specific song “Adelaide”. The story and the choreography may just be average but these songs and characters are unforgettable.
14. Oliver! (1968)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 3
Story: 4
Characters: 5
Overall: 16
A musical adaption of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist somehow became a musical I watched over and over during my childhood and it still holds up today. While it’s an uneven set of songs, you can’t deny “Food, Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, and “I’d Do Anything”. They are the kind of old-fashioned musical numbers they don’t really make anymore, just all earnestness. While there are some big musical numbers and Carol Reed was a great director, he wasn’t a great director of musicals. The story and characters, being based on a Charles Dickens novel are excellent.
13.La La Land (2016)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 4
Story: 4
Characters: 4
Overall: 16
This is by far the newest entry on this list. This is actually a pretty straightforward musical about an aspiring actress, a wannabe jazz musician, and their relationship. Which would be pretty trite in the 20th Century, but this movie was made and set in the 21st. And everything about it is very good, even if nothing is particularly great. Director Damien Chazelle has clearly studied musical movement and color theory of the old Technicolor musicals. I really do love this movie even if it only really reaches great heights on the “Fools Who Dream” number.
12. South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut (1999)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 2
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 16
A filthy and irreverent South Park feature length musical. The thing is the songs are actually good, the characters are the classic kids from the series, and the plot – a new Terrance and Phillip’s new movie causes a parental panic – is actually a very good and relatively timeless satire.
11. 42nd Street (1933)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 4
Story: 4
Characters: 4
Overall: 16
This is definitely the Busby Berkeley movie that has aged the best (though only choreographed by Berkeley, Lloyd Bacon is credited as the director). There’s really only one weak song in the small set and of course the choreography is great, even if it’s not the pinnacle of overhead, over-the-top, group numbers Berkeley is known for (the Gold Diggers series were increasingly just about the musical sequences). And while the “Let’s put on a Show to save our jobs” is incredibly corny now, this is one of the first and best examples. And while they are stock characters, they are again good archetypes, and Ginger Rogers as the “bad girl” in smaller role is memorable. This is a fine introduction to Berkeley’s work, and without a doubt the best movie overall he worked on.
10. Meet Me in St Louis (1994)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 1
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 16
One of many Judy Garland classic musicals, this one is the tale of an American family in the early 20th Century. The big news/problem is they may have to move from their beloved St. Louis. While not every song is great, the best songs are in the pantheon – “Meet Me in St. Louis”, “the Trolley Song”, and of course “White Christmas”. Garland plays Esther, the second oldest daughter and main character. It’s a lovable family and despite the straightforwardness of the plot, it has endured for years. The only weakness is the choreography, the actors literally just stand there while they sing.
9. Newsies (1992)
Songs: 4
Choreography: 3
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 17
It may seem like an odd choice to make a movie musical about the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899 but this works surprisingly well. It’s a more interesting setup than the typical backstage romance and there are multiple memorable newsboys, led by Christian Bale’s Jack Kelly. And the main adult roles are played by Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall, and Ann Margaret which elevates the acting overall. There are a couple of really memorable numbers, including the one that became every sensitive boy’s audition song “Santa Fe”. And while we’re clearly out of the golden age of musicals and not quite yet into the more modern re-imaginings of movement, the big dance numbers are pretty big if the individual moves aren’t impressive.
8. My Fair Lady (1964)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 2
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 17
This story is such a classic and Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle are such timeless characters that this tale has been parodied, referenced, and tributed time and time again. Every song has become a musical theater classic. There is some dancing during the numbers but not really any camera movement.
7. Swing Time (1936)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 5
Story: 4
Characters: 4
Overall: 18
The plot of this Fred Astaire – Ginger Rogers collaboration is paper-thin, it’s a story of mistaken identity where Astaire’s Lucky and Roger’s Penny are in love with each other even though Lucky is engaged to someone else. But it moves so briskly, it integrates the musical numbers so well, and the characters we meet are all so fun I’m putting it down as one of the better musical plots. Being an Astaire-Rogers title of course there are plenty of great songs and numbers. Just classic songs written by the legends of Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields – “Pick Yourself Up”, “the Way You Look Tonight”, and a “Fine Romance” are the melodies that have endured but the rest of the songs aren’t bad either. While this may be the best overall and most fun Astaire- Rogers collab (Top Hat being the only other one even in the running), their technical wizardry doesn’t quite reach the heights it does is some of their other movies.
6. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 3
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 18
Not just an all-time classic musical, just an all-time American movie classic period. Judy Garland as Dorothy, the Kansas farm girl who journeys through the magical world of Oz is Garland’s most beloved role. And the story has endured for years, pretty everyone knows about the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Wicked Witch, the Good Witch, and the man behind the curtain. The characters and story are so well-known they’ve even become phrases in American English. And the songs are also timeless – “Over the Rainbow” might be the most essential song of any musical. It’s only weakness – they could have been more imaginative with the dancing, movement, and camera angles.
5. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 4
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 19
The first animated feature of Disney’s Renaissance, this is probably Disney’s best feature length animation if you’re judging them as movie musicals. A slight tweak to the Hans Christen Andersen tale to make it more palatable for children ended up making it more memorable. And Disney’s own invented sidekicks, villains, and other added characters are some of the best in their catalog. The songs need little introduction, “Part of Your World” is one of the great longing songs. And the syncopation between the rhythm of the music and the movements of the animated characters in “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girls” is the epitome of the Renaissance.
4. Chicago (2002)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 4
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 19
The crown jewel of songwriting duo Kander and Ebb’s musicals, this is just banger after banger of musical theater songs. Director Rob Marshall modernizes the story and made it more realistic by having all the songs take place inside the characters’ heads. While that may not work for every re-imagining it works great here. And this is just a fun, memorable plot with characters that are both examples of and comments on the musical theater role archetypes. Renee Zellweger’s Roxie Hart shoots her lover and then is the subject of sensational trial in jazz-era Chicago. The dance numbers are both a continuation of existing Broadway choreography and a more modern and sleek re-interpretation of it.
3. West Side Story (1961)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 5
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 20
We’ve now gotten to the elite, the musicals with almost no weaknesses in story, characters, choreography, or songs. The only complaint to lever against this 20th Century retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is it’s kinda of silly that these “tough gang youths” are constantly doing ballet at each other as part of their rumbles. But every song and every dance is a musical theater standard now – a display of the talents of musical titans Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Jerome Robbins (Director and Choreographer), and Stephen Sondheim (Lyricist). Natalie Wood’s Maria, Rita Moreno’s Anita, and Richard Beymer’s Tony characters have all ascended to icon status. Another way to look it is this – this movie musical adaptation is so good Stephen Spielberg’s attempt to create it came across as a pale imitation.
2. Easter Parade (1948)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 5
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall: 20
The best testament to the timelessness of this movie is this, every Easter people watch this and are still laughing at the same jokes and characters, and still frustrated when the romantic leads don’t realize the obvious right away. The only film Astaire and Garland were co-leads in, they have great chemistry despite the age gap. And the setup of the plot – Astaire is a vaudevillian singer and dancer who’s partner dumps him so he replaces her with Garland, is a perfect setup for classic song after classic song. And while there’s not much dancing in most of the other songs, the virtuoso display of Astaire’s solo dancing, group choreography, and camera tricks in “Stepping Out With my Baby” easily pushes the movement marks up to 5.
1. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Songs: 5
Choreography: 5
Story: 5
Characters: 5
Overall:20
Well obviously. The objectively Best Musical of all time. It would work even if was just a series of songs strung together. It would work even if was a romantic comedy with the all the songs excised. It would work with a worse script strictly on the charisma of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor. In every category it can’t be beat. All together it’s often considered “the one musical even people who hate musicals love”.
