The Wizard of Oz celebrates its 85th anniversary!
If you’ve got a song in your heart, we’ve got a list for your eyes: The best-reviewed musicals from Wizard of Oz to La La Land! With Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights finally making the leap from Broadway to screen, we’ve put together 100 showstoppers that’s all-singing, all-dancing!
Every expression of the musical movie is present in this cavalcade of the 100 best-reviewed: the classics (All That Jazz, The Sound of Music), the mostly moderns (La La Land, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Mary Poppins Returns), the MGMs (Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris), the Astaire & Rogers (Top Hat, Swing Time), intimate indies (Once, Dancer in the Dark), and stuff for the kids (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). We kept this countdown to live-action musicals, so nothing animated except for the partially so, like Mary Poppins.
And we picked movies where people break into song and dance, not ones where they just perform music; in other words, Crazy Heart, Bohemian Rhapsody, and the 2018 A Star Is Born don’t work for this list, but the Judy Garland A Star Is Born does. Recently, we’ve added Wonka, The Color Purple, and Flora and Son. Then, we sorted all the movies by Tomatometer, with Certified Fresh films first.
And now it’s time for the big showstopper: The 100 Best Musical Movies of All Time!
#1
Adjusted Score: 113466%
Critics Consensus: Clever, incisive, and funny, Singin’ in the Rain is a masterpiece of the classical Hollywood musical.
#2
Adjusted Score: 107883%
Critics Consensus: A glamorous and enthralling Depression-era diversion, Top Hat is nearly flawless, with acrobatics by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers that make the hardest physical stunts seem light as air.
#3
Adjusted Score: 111788%
Critics Consensus: A disarmingly sweet musical led by outstanding performances from Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien, Meet Me in St. Louis offers a holiday treat for all ages.
#4
Adjusted Score: 109456%
Critics Consensus: Look around, look around at how beautifully Hamilton shines beyond Broadway – and at how marvelously Thomas Kail captures the stage show’s infectious energy.
#5
Adjusted Score: 122141%
Critics Consensus: An absolute masterpiece whose groundbreaking visuals and deft storytelling are still every bit as resonant, The Wizard of Oz is a must-see film for young and old.
#6
Adjusted Score: 110557%
Critics Consensus: A Hard Day’s Night, despite its age, is still a delight to watch and has proven itself to be a rock-and-roll movie classic.
#7
Adjusted Score: 102864%
Critics Consensus: A Star is Born is a movie of grand scope and intimate moments, featuring Judy Garland’s possibly greatest performance.
#8
Adjusted Score: 102908%
Critics Consensus: The Young Girls of Rochefort pays colorful homage to classic Hollywood musicals while earning its own emotionally affecting place of honor in the genre.
#9
Adjusted Score: 103128%
Critics Consensus: A charming, captivating tale of love and music, Once sets the standard for the modern musical. And with Dublin as its backdrop, Once is fun and fresh.
#10
Adjusted Score: 111228%
Critics Consensus: Watermelons may go out of season, but in A Night at the Opera, the Marx Brothers’ daffy laughs are never anything less than uproariously fresh.
#11
Adjusted Score: 104715%
Critics Consensus: Jacques Demy elevates the basic drama of everyday life into a soaring opera full of bittersweet passion and playful charm, featuring a timeless performance from Catherine Deneuve.
#12
Adjusted Score: 103336%
Critics Consensus: A lavish modern fairy tale celebrated for its amazing special effects, catchy songs, and Julie Andrews’s legendary performance in the title role.
#13
Adjusted Score: 104325%
Critics Consensus: Clever, charming, and heartfelt, The Muppets is a welcome big screen return for Jim Henson’s lovable creations that will both win new fans and delight longtime devotees.
#14
Adjusted Score: 105260%
Critics Consensus: Sing Street is a feel-good musical with huge heart and irresistible optimism, and its charming cast and hummable tunes help to elevate its familiar plotting.
#15
Adjusted Score: 112227%
Critics Consensus: The plot may be problematic, but such concerns are rendered superfluous by Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron’s star power, the Gershwins’ classic songs, and Vincente Minnelli’s colorful, sympathetic direction.
#16
Adjusted Score: 105315%
Critics Consensus: George Cukor’s elegant, colorful adaptation of the beloved stage play is elevated to new heights thanks to winning performances by Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.
#17
Adjusted Score: 96658%
Critics Consensus: Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.
#18
Adjusted Score: 113092%
Critics Consensus: Lights up for In the Heights, a joyous celebration of heritage and community fueled by dazzling direction and singalong songs.
#19
Adjusted Score: 97173%
Critics Consensus: Beyoncé is King.
#20
Adjusted Score: 100236%
Critics Consensus: Barbara Streisand elevates this otherwise rote melodramatic musical with her ultra-memorable star turn as Fanny Brice.
#21
Adjusted Score: 100598%
Critics Consensus: A smart re-imagining of fairy tale tropes that’s sure to delight children and adults, Enchanted features witty dialogue, sharp animation, and a star turn by Amy Adams.
#22
Adjusted Score: 101548%
Critics Consensus: Another music-fueled crowd-pleaser from writer-director John Carney, Flora and Son proves almost impossible to resist.
#23
Adjusted Score: 97684%
Critics Consensus: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical brings the classic story back to the screen with a delightful Emma Thompson, dazzling dancing, and a suitably irascible take on the source material.
#24
Adjusted Score: 112174%
Critics Consensus: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story presents a new look at the classic musical that lives up to its beloved forebear — and in some respects might even surpass it.
#25
Adjusted Score: 100744%
Critics Consensus: Hairspray is an energetic, wholly entertaining musical romp; a fun Summer movie with plenty of heart. Its contagious songs will make you want to get up and start dancing.
#26
Adjusted Score: 106487%
Critics Consensus: Buoyed by Robert Wise’s dazzling direction, Leonard Bernstein’s score, and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, West Side Story remains perhaps the most iconic of all the Shakespeare adaptations to visit the big screen.
#27
Adjusted Score: 95859%
Critics Consensus: Hedwig and the Angry Inch may very well be the next Rocky Horror midnight movie. It not only knows how to rock, but Hedwig’s story has an emotional poignancy.
#28
Adjusted Score: 98989%
Critics Consensus: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is strange yet comforting, full of narrative detours that don’t always work but express the film’s uniqueness.
#29
Adjusted Score: 98424%
Critics Consensus: Great performances and evocative musical numbers help Cabaret secure its status as a stylish, socially conscious classic.
#30
Adjusted Score: 114209%
Critics Consensus: La La Land breathes new life into a bygone genre with thrillingly assured direction, powerful performances, and an irresistible excess of heart.
#31
Adjusted Score: 97209%
Critics Consensus: While it’s plenty predictable and sentimental, The Sapphires also has an irresistible feel-good vibe, winning music and charming performances to spare.
#32
Adjusted Score: 96104%
Critics Consensus: Remixing Roger Corman’s B-movie by way of the Off-Broadway musical, Little Shop of Horrors offers camp, horror and catchy tunes in equal measure — plus some inspired cameos by the likes of Steve Martin and Bill Murray.
#33
Adjusted Score: 94093%
Critics Consensus: Dressed to the nines in exquisite production value and buoyed by Mike Leigh’s sardonic wit, Topsy-Turvy is rich entertainment that is as brainy as it is handsome.
#34
Adjusted Score: 93725%
Critics Consensus: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message.
#35
Adjusted Score: 100068%
Critics Consensus: Oliver! transforms Charles Dickens’ muckraking novel into a jaunty musical Victorian fairytale, buoyed by Ron Moody’s charming star turn and Onna White’s rapturous choreography.
#36
Adjusted Score: 91112%
Critics Consensus: Sunshine on Leith is a musical so charmingly good-natured that even viewers who don’t like musicals may find it difficult to resist.
#37
Adjusted Score: 110378%
Critics Consensus: It’s going to be a long, long time before a rock biopic manages to capture the highs and lows of an artist’s life like Rocketman.
#38
Adjusted Score: 102640%
Critics Consensus: Like a life-affirming rock anthem, Blinded by the Light hits familiar chords with confidence and flair, building to a conclusion that leaves audiences cheering for an encore.
#39
Adjusted Score: 92232%
Critics Consensus: The Lure adds a sexually charged, genre-defying twist to well-established mermaid lore, more than overpowering its flaws through sheer variety and wild ambition.
#40
Adjusted Score: 93990%
Critics Consensus: The Muppet Movie, the big-screen debut of Jim Henson’s plush creations, is smart, lighthearted, and fun for all ages.
#41
Adjusted Score: 93384%
Critics Consensus: A timeless and elegant musical feast, Funny Face thrives on the agile and vibrant performances from legendary screen titans Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire.
#42
Adjusted Score: 99921%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell’s sparkling magnetism, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a delightfully entertaining 1950s musical.
#43
Adjusted Score: 99455%
Critics Consensus: It may not be one of Vincente Minnelli’s best, but the charming and flawlessly acted Gigi still offers enough visual and musical treats to satisfy.
#44
Adjusted Score: 98044%
Critics Consensus: tick, tick… BOOM! makes musical magic out of a story focused on the creative process — an impressive feat for debuting director Lin-Manuel Miranda.
#45
Adjusted Score: 91310%
Critics Consensus: Director Bob Fosse and star Roy Scheider are at the top of their games in this dazzling, self-aware stage drama about a death-obsessed director-choreographer.
#46
Adjusted Score: 95269%
Critics Consensus: A rousing and energetic adaptation of the Broadway musical, Chicago succeeds on the level of pure spectacle, but provides a surprising level of depth and humor as well.
#47
Adjusted Score: 95379%
Critics Consensus: Full of pith and Grand Guignol grossness, this macabre musical is perfectly helmed and highly entertaining. Tim Burton masterfully stages the musical in a way that will make you think he has done this many times before.
#48
Adjusted Score: 97719%
Critics Consensus: Uneven yet ultimately hard to resist, Joe Wright’s Cyrano puts a well-acted musical spin on the oft-adapted classic tale.
#49
Adjusted Score: 91709%
Critics Consensus: Closer to the source material than 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is for people who like their Chocolate visually appealing and dark.
#50
Adjusted Score: 93370%
Critics Consensus: Unapologetically sweet and maybe even a little corny, The Sound of Music will win over all but the most cynical filmgoers with its classic songs and irresistible warmth.
#51
Adjusted Score: 89122%
Critics Consensus: Spiritedly performed by a groovy cast and imaginatively directed by Milos Forman, Hair transports audiences straight to the Age of Aquarius.
#52
Adjusted Score: 100637%
Critics Consensus: With director Paul King at the helm and some solid new songs at the ready, the warmly old-fashioned Wonka puts a suitably sweet spin on the classic character while still leaving some room for the source material’s darker undertones.
#53
Adjusted Score: 88942%
Critics Consensus: Chi-Raq is as urgently topical and satisfyingly ambitious as it is wildly uneven — and it contains some of Spike Lee’s smartest, sharpest, and all-around entertaining late-period work.
#54
Adjusted Score: 89361%
Critics Consensus: Brian De Palma’s subversive streak is on full display in Phantom of the Paradise, an ebullient rock opera that rhapsodizes creativity when it isn’t seething with disdain for the music industry.
#55
Adjusted Score: 95373%
Critics Consensus: Building on the legacy of the previous film adaptation while incorporating elements of the stage musical, The Color Purple is a crowd-pleasing testament to resilience in the face of trauma.
#56
Adjusted Score: 90084%
Critics Consensus: A bird may love a fish — and musical fans will love this adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, even if it isn’t quite as transcendent as the long-running stage version.
#57
Adjusted Score: 89429%
Critics Consensus: While it may not reach the delirious heights of The Muppets, Muppets Most Wanted still packs in enough clever gags, catchy songs, and celebrity cameos to satisfy fans of all ages.
#58
Adjusted Score: 83096%
Critics Consensus: Guy Maddin perfectly recreates the look and feel of a 1930s in this bizarre picture.
#59
Adjusted Score: 85175%
Critics Consensus: Rocky Horror Picture Show brings its quirky characters in tight, but it’s the narrative thrust that really drives audiences insane and keeps ’em doing the time warp again.
#60
Adjusted Score: 100195%
Critics Consensus: Mary Poppins Returns relies on the magic of its classic forebear to cast a familiar — but still solidly effective — family-friendly spell.
#61
Adjusted Score: 94163%
Critics Consensus: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again doubles down on just about everything fans loved about the original — and my my, how can fans resist it?
#62
Adjusted Score: 87574%
Critics Consensus: Dreamgirls‘ simple characters and plot hardly detract from the movie’s real feats: the electrifying performances and the dazzling musical numbers.
#63
Adjusted Score: 82862%
Critics Consensus: Featuring some of the best French actresses working today, 8 Women is frothy, delirious, over-the-top fun.
#64
Adjusted Score: 81864%
Critics Consensus: It may be too sweet for some, but this unabashedly sentimental holiday favorite is too cheerful to resist.
#65
Adjusted Score: 81582%
Critics Consensus: It may not be the finest version of Charles Dickens’ tale to grace the screen, but The Muppet Christmas Carol is funny and heartwarming, and serves as a good introduction to the story for young viewers.
#66
Adjusted Score: 81872%
Critics Consensus: While it’s arguably more interesting on a visual level, Labyrinth provides further proof of director Jim Henson’s boundless imagination.
#67
Adjusted Score: 79520%
Critics Consensus: A likable, infectious musical, Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You is sometimes uneven but always toe-tapping and fun.
#68
Adjusted Score: 84798%
Critics Consensus: A love-it-or-hate-it experience, Moulin Rouge is all style, all giddy, over-the-top spectacle. But it’s also daring in its vision and wildly original.
#69
Adjusted Score: 81804%
Critics Consensus: Too over the top for its own good, but ultimately rescued by the cast’s charm, director John Landis’ grace, and several soul-stirring musical numbers.
#70
Adjusted Score: 101826%
Critics Consensus: Oftentimes nostalgic and extremely charming, French Cancan is a breathtaking homage to Moulin Rouge.
#71
Adjusted Score: 100083%
Critics Consensus: Driven by a fantastic lead turn from Julie Andrews, Blake Edwards’ musical gender-bender is sharp, funny and all-round entertaining.
#72
Adjusted Score: 100172%
Critics Consensus: A witty spoof of medieval swashbuckler movies, The Court Jester showcases Danny Kaye at his nimble, tongue-twisting best.
#73
Adjusted Score: 99275%
Critics Consensus: Bubsy Berkeley does it again in 42nd Street, a brilliant depression-era romp with stellar musical numbers and impeccable choreography.
#74
Adjusted Score: 98384%
Critics Consensus: Brought to life by the Marx Brothers’ charming anarchy, The Cocoanuts is a groundbreaking musical romp.
#75
Adjusted Score: 95383%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#76
Adjusted Score: 98638%
Critics Consensus: Overflowing with infectious enthusiasm, On the Town is an exhilarating musical ride across the real streets of New York featuring another graceful performance from Gene Kelly.
#77
Adjusted Score: 97865%
Critics Consensus: Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire are brilliant in Swing Time, one of the duo’s most charming and wonderfully choreographed films.
#78
Adjusted Score: 96579%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#79
Adjusted Score: 95339%
Critics Consensus: Vintage MGM musical stuff, characterized by Stanley Donen’s fleet direction and some amazing dance performances from star Fred Astaire.
#80
Adjusted Score: 93749%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#81
Adjusted Score: 94307%
Critics Consensus: An escapist and inventive cinemascope delight, Guys and Dolls glistens thanks to the charm of its ensemble.
#82
Adjusted Score: 95297%
Critics Consensus: James Cagney deploys his musical gifts to galvanizing effect in Yankee Doodle Dandy, a celebration of patriotic fervor as much as it is a biopic of George M. Cohan.
#83
Adjusted Score: 91598%
Critics Consensus: Buoyed by crowd-pleasing tunes and charming performances, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers makes a successful transition from Broadway to screen that’s sure to please the whole family.
#84
Adjusted Score: 89731%
Critics Consensus: Ann-Margret keeps Elvis on his toes and together they elevate Viva Las Vegas into a naughty and rockin’ mild delight.
#85
Adjusted Score: 90037%
Critics Consensus: Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay! The critics are sayin’ you’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma! Oklahoma, O.K.!
#86
Adjusted Score: 89010%
Critics Consensus: A poppy satire on pop music, Bye Bye Birdie is silly, light, and very, very pink.
#87
Adjusted Score: 89191%
Critics Consensus: Monty Python’s the Meaning of Life is rude, ribald, and unafraid to take comedic risks — which is to say it should more than satisfy fans of the titular troupe.
#88
Adjusted Score: 89136%
Critics Consensus: Help! finds the Fab Four displaying their infectious charm and humor in an enjoyably madcap adventure.
#89
Adjusted Score: 86773%
Critics Consensus: If it’s not quite as sharp as The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan is still a smart, delightfully old-fashioned tale that follows the formula established by the first two movies — a madcap adventure assisted by a huge group of human stars.
#90
Adjusted Score: 84812%
Critics Consensus: A modern musical with old-fashioned charm, Better Nate Than Ever hits heartwarming high notes with its joyous message of self-acceptance.
#91
Adjusted Score: 85195%
Critics Consensus: A complicated little musical, Pennies from Heaven is a dazzling, tragic spectacle.
#92
Adjusted Score: 87755%
Critics Consensus: Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald are eminently likable, and film is pleasantly sentimental, but Going My Way suffers from a surplus of sweetness.
#93
Adjusted Score: 84346%
Critics Consensus: Just because Fame is a well-acted musical doesn’t mean it flinches against its surprisingly heavy topics.
#94
Adjusted Score: 80103%
Critics Consensus: Breezy, colorful, and suffused with joy, Hipsters offers audiences an engaging Cold War musical told from the other side of the Iron Curtain.
#95
Adjusted Score: 82059%
Critics Consensus: Delightfully bizarre, Bugsy Malone harnesses immense charm from its cast of child actors playing wise guys with precocious pluck.
#96
Adjusted Score: 79181%
Critics Consensus: The Wayward Cloud may baffle more literally minded viewers, but its surreal pleasures will resonate with fans of thoroughly unique cinema.
#97
Adjusted Score: 82983%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#98
Adjusted Score: 79975%
Critics Consensus: The Great Muppet Caper is overplotted and uneven, but the appealing presence of Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang ensure that this heist flick is always breezily watchable.
#99
Adjusted Score: 77199%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#100
Adjusted Score: 76729%
Critics Consensus: John Waters’ musical ode to the teen rebel genre is infectious and gleefully camp, providing star Johnny Depp with the perfect vehicle in which to lampoon his pin-up image.