The Best Musical Movies of All Time

In the cinematic world, few genres are as controversial as musicals. You either love them or you hate them. And while some people may think that music doesn't go well with movies, there are always some films that prove us wrong. Below, check out the best musical movies of all time, according to this author, to brighten up your day.

The Best Musical Movies of All Time

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) 

Directed by Howard Hawks, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes follows dancers Lorelei Lee, played by Marilyn Monroe, and Dorothy Shaw, played by Jane Russell, on a trip to Paris as they are followed by a secret investigator hired by the disbelieving rich father of Lorelei's fiancé. 

West Side Story (1961) 

In Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise's West Side Story, an adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Maria and Tony, two teenagers from rival New York gangs, fall in love as tensions between their groups rise to the edge.

Grease (1978) 

Set in the '50s, Grease centers on good girl Sandy Olson, played by Olivia Newton-John, and Danny Zuko, played by John Travolta, who discover after a summer affair that they are attending the same high school. Can they rekindle their romance while navigating the social boundaries of their respective subcultures - Danny, the leader of the T-Birds, a group of black leather jacket-wearing boys, and Sandy, a member of the Pink Ladies, a group of pink-wearing girls?

Moulin Rouge! (2001) 

Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge! tells the story of a young bohemian, played by Ewan McGregor, who falls in love with Satine, played by Nicole Kidman, a performer at the local Moulin Rouge in Montmartre, Paris.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004) 

In Joel Schumacher's The Phantom of the Opera, Christine, a performer played by Emmy Rossum, ends up becoming the obsession of a disfigured and murderous musical mastermind, played by Gerard Butler, who lives underneath the Paris Opera House.

Mamma Mia (2008)

At its core, the plot of Mamma Mia is: A mother. One daughter. Three possible fathers. All set in Greece, with an ABBA soundtrack.

La La Land (2016)

Damien Chazelle's La La Land follows pianist Sebastian, played by Ryan Gosling, and actress Mia, played by Emma Stone, as they search for career opportunities and love in high-stakes Los Angeles.

Wicked (2024) 

Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, follows the unexpected friendship between two opposites and their conflict after an encounter with the Wizard of Oz.