Kaitlyn Murphy is an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University studying journalism. Her passion is covering the entertainment industry, especially the latest film and television releases. Kaitlyn’s values align with The Hollywood Insider because she believes in providing in-depth coverage of the entertainment world instead of relying on gossip. Her dream is to one day report live from the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, but for now she can usually be found watching a Disney movie or a cozy romantic comedy.
Jun 26, 2024
Table of Contents
“It’s the basic rule of musicals: characters sing when their emotions become so intense they can’t do anything else.”
That quote from Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning composer Tom Kitt perfectly sums up the experience of watching a movie musical. A genre arguably more expressive than any other, where dialogue is broken up by sporadic bursts into song and dance. Some movie musicals like ‘Hairspray’ or ‘Grease’ make the audience want to jump out of their seats and sing along to the lively songs, while others like ‘Les Miserables’ or ‘Cabaret’ might leave viewers in a puddle of tears. Many films in this genre were based on original Broadway productions and adapted for the big screen, which allows for bigger sets, Hollywood starpower and exposure to a wider audience.
While every movie musical has made an impact on the film industry in one way or another, these eight absolutely defined the genre and remain timeless reminders of the importance of theater.
Perhaps the most classic example of a genre-defining movie musical is ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’ Starring a 16-year-old Judy Garland sporting the iconic pigtails and blue gingham dress as Dorothy Gale, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ set a precedent for excellence in songwriting and production for movie musicals. The evergreen ‘Over the Rainbow’ has been sung thousands of times over the decades, and other songs like ‘Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead’ and ‘You’re Off to See the Wizard’ have been adored by generations of musical fans.
The film took home three Academy Awards at the 1939 ceremony, including Best Original Score, Best Original Song and the since abandoned Academy Juvenile Award for Judy Garland’s performance in both ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Babes in Arms.’ The magic and whimsy of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ accompanied by the timeless message of “there’s no place like home” make it one of the greatest movie musicals ever made.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Nobody solves a problem like Maria.
‘The Sound of Music’ was based on the 1959 Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical, and was named the fourth-greatest movie musical of all time by the American Film Institute in 1988. The story follows a young Austrian woman, Maria (Julie Andrews), as she becomes a governess for the retired naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), who has raised his children under strict military rule after the death of his wife. Maria approaches her new position with kindness and music, leading the children to become much more free-spirited.
The film took home five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, and the songs are among some of the most famous musical tunes of all time. Julie Andrews’ angelic voice on ‘My Favorite Things,’ ‘Do Re Mi’ and ‘The Hills are Alive’ cemented her as a movie musical legend that continues to impress with her skills.
‘Grease’ is another example of a movie musical based on a Broadway show, and is possibly the most well-known of all time. Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy’s (Olivia Newton-John) love story as high schoolers in the age of poodle skirts and drive-ins has been celebrated for both its triumphs and faults as a movie-musical — the songs are nothing short of genius, but everyone knows those actors were way too old to be playing high schoolers. Sandy’s transformation at the end has also been subject to debate over the years, but when looking at ‘Grease’ as a musical, it mixes together all the best ingredients.
‘Grease’ has vibrant costumes, endearing dance numbers and a heartthrob male lead in Travolta, who can deliver a passionate love ballad with ease. The film presents one of the best versions of the “good girl meets bad boy” trope, and it’s so much fun to see the stark differences between Danny and Sandy’s view of their relationship in ‘Summer Nights.’ But in the end, Danny and Sandy remind each other that they’re made for each other in ‘You’re The One That I Want.’
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
‘Moulin Rouge!’ is a very special case — the film actually inspired a Broadway show, not the other way around. Baz Luhrmann’s electric jukebox musical pulls songs from artists such as Elton John, David Bowie, KISS and more to tell the story of Christian (Ewan McGregor) a penniless writer who moves to Paris in search of inspiration. There, he is pulled into the intoxicating world of the Moulin Rouge, home to the beautiful courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman). Their love story has to remain a secret since Satine is supposed to be courting a duke, inspiring numbers like ‘Come What May’ and the fiery ‘El Tango de Roxanne.’
‘Roxanne’ is one of the most deliciously cinematic moments in any movie musical, with McGregor’s pained vocals as the background of a passionate tango dance routine. Kidman and McGregor deliver standout performances, especially as actors who had to learn how to sing and dance for the roles. ‘Moulin Rouge!’ was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. The Paris setting and inclusion of modern music makes ‘Moulin Rouge!’ a movie musical that’s hard to forget.
‘Hairspray’ is undoubtedly one of the best cast movie musicals of all time, with an ensemble composed of John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifa, Zac Efron and more. With newcomer Nikki Blonsky taking on the starring role of Tracy Turnblad, a perky teenager in 1960s Baltimore who dreams of starring on The Corny Collins Show, a popular dance program. Tracy has always been dismissed by her peers for her weight, but Corny notices her dance skills and adds her to the show.
The musical not only advocates for body positivity, but also racial equality in a time when African-Americans were not included in programs like the fictional Corny Collins Show. Show-stopping numbers like ‘Good Morning Baltimore,’ ‘I Can Hear The Bells,’ and ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’ will never go out of style, and are all performed on a scale that couldn’t be achieved on one stage. Every actor absolutely shines in their roles, especially James Marsden as the charismatic Corny Collins and Zac Efron as dreamy Link Larkin.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Set on a gorgeous Greek island with crystal blue water and cobblestoned streets, ‘Mamma Mia!’ is the feel-good movie musical of the century. Soundracked to the music of European pop group ABBA, ‘Mamma Mia!’ seamlessly weaves the story around the songs that fans have loved for decades. Similar to ‘Hairspray,’ ‘Mamma Mia!’ has an A-list cast of actors that may not be the strongest singers (looking at you, Pierce Brosnan), but who clearly had such a fun time making the film that it translates to the audience. Meryl Streep, Julie Waters and Christine Baranski are a dynamic trio with unrivaled chemistry in songs like ‘Chiquitita’ and ‘Dancing Queen.’
‘Mamma Mia!’ is also somewhat of a romantic comedy, with Meryl Streep’s character Donna reconnecting with three past lovers that might be the father to her daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who is getting married. The drama unfolds as Sophie’s wedding night draws nearer, but everything is resolved in the end. ‘Mamma Mia!’ is the perfect movie musical for people looking to get into the genre. It feels like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day — refreshing, sweet and lifts your spirits to the sky.
When looking for a film with the complete opposite effect of ‘Mamma Mia!’ look no further than the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel ‘Les Misérables.’ It’s a story that’s been told for generations — a fictional account of the anti-monarchist insurrection called the June Rebellion in 1832 France. Criminal Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is released from a 19-year prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread and assumes a new identity, becoming a factory owner and mayor. His story is the central one of the musical, intertwining with others such as Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a poor mother of an illegitimate child forced to turn to prostitution, and Javert (Russell Crowe), a ruthless prison guard turned chief of police.
While the film may never live up to the stage productions, ‘Les Misérables’ managed to take the most poignant moments of the novel and adapt them for the big screen. Anne Hathaway’s haunting rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ is a highlight, as well as the triumphant ‘One Day More’ with the entire cast. ‘Les Misérables’ is not for the faint of heart, as the tragedy of the story is overwhelming.
Tick, Tick…BOOM! (2021)
Before there was Jonathan Larson’s hit musical ‘Rent,’ there was the semi-autobiographical tale of his life story called ‘Tick, Tick…BOOM!’ The film adaptation of this musical was directed by ‘Hamilton’s’ Lin Manuel-Miranda and stars Andrew Garfield as Larson himself. ‘Tick, Tick, BOOM!’ is a love letter to Larson’s early work and creative mind that was lost far too soon. Miranda’s extensive experience with theater greatly enhanced the musical numbers like ‘No More’ with energetic dance breaks and costumes, but also for more tender moments like ‘Johnny Can’t Decide’ where Larson ponders what direction he’s going in life.
Garfield gave the performance of his career in ‘Tick, Tick…BOOM!’ earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and was also nominated for an Academy Award. He portrays the depth of Larson’s genius, but also how he struggled with maintaining personal relationships when his work took up most of his mind. ‘Tick, Tick…BOOM!’ is a must-watch for fans of ‘Rent’ and anyone who ever wonders — how the heck do people write musicals?
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Kaitlyn Murphy is an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University studying journalism. Her passion is covering the entertainment industry, especially the latest film and television releases. Kaitlyn’s values align with The Hollywood Insider because she believes in providing in-depth coverage of the entertainment world instead of relying on gossip. Her dream is to one day report live from the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, but for now she can usually be found watching a Disney movie or a cozy romantic comedy.
Kaitlyn Murphy is an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University studying journalism. Her passion is covering the entertainment industry, especially the latest film and television releases. Kaitlyn’s values align with The Hollywood Insider because she believes in providing in-depth coverage of the entertainment world instead of relying on gossip. Her dream is to one day report live from the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, but for now she can usually be found watching a Disney movie or a cozy romantic comedy.
