With Wicked: For Good hitting screens this weekend, fans of the the movie adaptation will see the epic conclusion of the story following Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), now the Wicked Witch of the West, defying the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), while also providing closure for the friendship between her and Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande), now Glinda the Good.

Last year, Wicked became a critical and box office sensation, while also gaining considerable awards attention, which made it stack up with some of the best movie musicals to hit the big screen. It’s never easy to adapt a stage musical for moviegoers, but many have tried to varying degrees of success. As Elphaba and Glinda prepare for a huge box office windfall this weekend, it’s time to look back at the ten best movie musicals that have been known to make fans burst out a glorious tune.

Honorable Mention: Rent (2005)

This entry may cause some controversy because the movie adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s 1996 Broadway musical of the same name was met with mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, with me being one of those fans who was left disappointed. However, I must say, this is one of those films where time away from the hype of it hitting the big screen has done it some justice because I now can’t help but be swept up by its heart and surprisingly effective emotional depth.

Directed by Chris Columbus, Rent follows a group of bohemians living in the East Village of New York City as they struggle with paying their rent, sexuality, and life’s other obstacles as the AIDS epidemic takes hold from 1989 to 1990. Whether or not this was a wise choice, given their ages, is up for debate, but the film features six of the eight original cast members who brought the Broadway show to life, which helps in large part to give the movie some emotional resonance it may have lacked.

As most know, Larson, who wrote Rent, died of aortic dissection the morning of the first off-Broadway preview performance of Rent, and the original cast dealt with that turmoil as they powered through to put that show on in his honor. Their dedication to Larson is felt throughout the film version as well, and it’s aided by the two new cast additions, who bring vitality to their roles as if they were there the whole time. Rosario Dawson’s Mimi (replacing Daphne Rubin-Vega) and Tracie Thoms’ Joanne (replacing Fredi Walker) are powerhouses in their own right, with Dawson bringing undeniable screen presence and Thoms blowing the roof off with some of her powerhouse vocals.

As a cast, the movie ensemble finds a groove that sells the story well, and the emotional core of the narrative isn’t sacrificed. It remains a poignant tale looking at the themes of community and love in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic while also staging some energetic musical numbers (“Rent,” “Out Tonight” and “La Vie Boheme” remain showstoppers while “Light My Candle” and “I’ll Cover You (Reprise)” offer softer, but emotionally effective moments). Look, it doesn’t hit the heights of the original Broadway show, but its heart and spirit are in the right place, and it gets better with subsequent viewings. It should be noted that the film’s soundtrack has gained a bit of a cult following itself, with some preferring it to the original Broadway recording.

10. The Greatest Showman (2017)

The Greatest Showman turned out to be quite the surprise when it was released in late 2017 because it appeared the musical was D.O.A. The movie opened softly during the holiday season, debuting to just $9 million over its first three days, but it soon became a word-of-mouth phenomenon that would ultimately spend 219 days in release, going on to gross $174.3 million domestically and $435 million worldwide on an $84 million budget.

Directed by Michael Gracey from a screenplay by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon, The Greatest Showman offers up a fictionalized telling of the life of P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman), who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus. It’s easy to see why The Greatest Showman connected with audiences, despite mixed reviews from critics (56 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). The original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a musical orchestral score composed by John Debney and Joseph Trapanese, are energetic, poppy, and instantly catchy. Combined with robust choreography sequences, it’s hard not to be enamored by the film’s musical numbers that are effectively performed by the film’s immensely talented cast, including Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Keala Settle, and more. Numbers such as “The Greatest Show,” “This Is Me,” and “Rewrite the Stars” remain highlights, and it all culminates in a story that represents honoring outcasts who may not normally be noticed. It’s really a story of acceptance that proves no matter how different you might feel, everyone has their place in 

9. Hairspray (2007)

Arguably the most fun movie musical on this list, 2007’s Hairspray comes to life on the big screen with a sense of vibrancy due in large part because you can tell that director Adam Shankman, who also choreographed the numbers in the film, has such love for the source material. Written by Leslie Dixon, Hairspray is based on the 2002 stage musical by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, which was based on the 1988 film from director John Waters. The film follows the wholesome Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, as she tries to achieve her dreams of being a dancer on a local television show while also fighting against racial segregation.

Much like Tracy’s optimism, there is something so infectiously sweet about this adaptation, and it never loses its sense of fun throughout, despite also not sidestepping its poignant story about hopes of solidarity during a time of racial segregation. From top to bottom, the cast brings the film’s energetic musical numbers to life with a soulfulness and charisma that makes every moment of their showcase pop off the screen. Blonsky turned out to be quite the find as Tracy, then a high school student scoring her first role in a motion picture, and she more than holds her own alongside the likes of John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Queen Latifah while matching her more established younger co-stars like Zac Efron, Brittany Snow, and Amanda Bynes, pitch for pitch. It’s hard not to be enamored by the film’s charms, making it a movie musical that gets better and better with each viewing.

8. In the Heights (2021)

Before delivering the Wicked movie adaptation, director Jon M. Chu took on the Quiara Alegria Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights and likely proved he could take on a much bigger movie musical endeavor. In the Heights closely follows the musical by focusing on a corner in a predominantly Dominican community of the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City, as everyone is chasing their dreams in search of a better life.

What makes In the Heights work is that it feels like a callback to movie musicals of the past, and Chu gives every number a sense of power and urgency. One of he hardest things for a movie musical, since it doesn’t get the benefit of being a live show, is that it sometimes can’t replicate that feeling on the big screen, but In the Heights made that energy transcend the format, making the movie audience feel like they’re watching a stage show (albeit with bigger production values).

In the Heights’ arrival on the big screen worked in its favor but also proved to be a detriment. Originally intended to be released in 2020, the film was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t hit screens until June 2021. Released by Warner Bros, the movie had a day-and-date release in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service, which likely played a part in its sub-par box office performance despite its joyous reviews ($45.2 million worldwide on a $55 million budget). However, for those who saw the magic, the movie became a bright light during a time that it was needed, as everyone was social distancing and feeling the emotional weight of the pandemic. With stellar performances from Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, and more, alongside the vibrancy of its musical numbers, In the Heights feels like a movie musical that is still in search of the audience it so richly deserves.

7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Who else better to direct a gothic musical slasher movie based orignated by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler than Tim Burton? Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street becomes the perfect blend of director and subject matter as the film’s distinct and dark themes are perfectly in line with Burton’s distinct and dark visual motif as a filmmaker.

From a screenplay by John Logan, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is based on the stage musical of the same name by Sondheim and Wheeler, which was itself based on the 1970 play Sweeney Todd by Christopher Bond. The film follows Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp), an English barber who also happens to be a serial killer seeking revenge on Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), who wrongfully convicted and exiled him sixteen years before he arrived in London to steal his wife Lucy Barker (Laura Michelle Kelly). Benjamin adopts the alias “Sweeney Todd” to further his revenge and soon begins murdering his customers to process their remains as meat pies with the help of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter).

It all sounds so complicated and loony, but it’s also right up Burton’s alley, which allows the film to tackle its blend of horror and humor with ease. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Depp and Carter standing out due to their effortless chemistry and, despite not being classically trained singers, their ability to tackle Sondheim’s difficult music. The musical score isn’t easy by any means to take on, but the cast can do it justice without sacrificing the intensity of their performances delivery of the music. It’s blood-soaked, funny, and off the wall, but Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street does it all with a twisted elegance that only Burton could deliver.

6. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a celebration of camp, and its themes have been embraced by those who have felt marginalized for years, which is why this movie musical continues to engage across generations. Directed by Jim Sharman from a screenplay he wrote with Richard O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is based on the 1973 stage production The Rocky Horror Show, for which O’Brien also wrote the book, music, and lyrics. The film follows a young couple named Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) and Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick), whose car breaks down in the rain. While seeking help, they stumble upon a castle inhabited by strangers in elaborate costumes, throwing one hell of a party led by Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite alien scientist.

The best way to describe The Rocky Horror Picture Show is absolutely fearless, and the ensemble cast more than understood the assignment of bringing their fearlessness to the screen. It’s all about being uninhibited and being fiercely proud of who you are, no matter what the masses might say about you. It’s “don’t dream it, be it” themes of acceptance are expertly mixed into this hodgepodge homage to science fiction and B movies that aid in the film’s out-of-this-world aesthetic. The ensemble is excellent, but it’s Curry’s performance that becomes an all-timer, which helped solidify the film’s status in pop culture.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show was initially ignored by critics and was considered a flop until it cemented its cult status by becoming the longest-running theatrical release in history, thanks to the live amateur performance shows that play over the film and encourage audience participation. The film remains in limited release today and remains a testament to the power of outsiders finding their tribe and a space to be themselves without judgment, giving this movie musical an importance that goes beyond its engaging musical numbers and catchy songs.

5. Wicked (2024)

Following In the Heights, director Jon M. Chu chose to tackle adapting the 2003 stage musical Wicked for the big screen, and proved that he was up for the challenge of tackling such an endeavor. Written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, the film adapts the first act of the stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, and is set in the Land of Oz as it explores the beginnings of the relationship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Ariana Grande), who will become Glinda the Good.

Chu’s take on Wicked is visually enriching as he brings some of the musical’s signature numbers to life with an energy that makes the audience feel like they’re getting the full live experience. There have been complaints that his color palette is a bit too dark or bland, but with the aid of effective production design, Chu brings the Land of Oz to life in a way that takes the audience’s imagination to new heights. With the expansion of the story from the stage musical, the characters are given a bit more depth, which heightens the amazing performances of Erivo and Grande, who own their roles effortlessly, and cement a chemistry that gives the movie much of its heart.

Songs like “Popular” remain fun and vibrant, while “Defying Gravity” soars to grandiose levels thanks to Erivo’s emotive and transformative vocals. The scope of it all feels so big but Chu handles it all with the skill of a pro and even though Wicked: For Good, which completes the story, isn’t receiving a similar critical reception, this adaptation of the show’s first act is a masterclass in how to adapt a popular stage musical without losing any of the vitality that made it such a hit with fans.

4. Grease (1978)

While movie musicals such as Singin’ in the Rain or West Side Story are highly lauded (as they should be), I’ve never quite had a big connection to them because I didn’t grow up with them extensively in my life. On the other hand, the one that has been around me since childhood is 1978’s Grease, which continues to take me back to my childhood in the best way possible.

Directed by Randal Kleiser, making his feature directorial debut here, from a screenplay by Bronte Woodard, Grease is based on the 1972 stage musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The movie follows a greaser named Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and an Australian transfer student named Sandy Olsson (Oliva Newton-John) who find romance during a summer together but face opposition from his greaser friends, the T-Birds, and her girls’ group she has just met, known as The Pink Ladies. Grease remains the word today because not only is it a solid movie musical, but it also blends genres by also being an effective teen romantic comedy that oozes with charm and heart.

When movie fans talk about escapism, Grease represents escapism at its finest because while it’s grounded in some reality (save the car taking off into the sky at the end) it’s wrapped in a pleasant blanket of fantasy and nostalgia that allowed the film to be an immediate hit the moment it was released and allows it to continue captivate viewers across generations to day. The music ranges from fun and energetic (“Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Born to Hand Jive,” “You’re the One That I Want”) to emotionally resonant (“Hopelessly Devoted to You,” which was written for the film and received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song). It’s not meant to be life-changing by any means, but Grease never fails to put a smile on my face, and its charms are certainly undeniable.

3. Chicago (2002)

Chicago may forever be looked at with some disdain for winning the Best Picture Oscar over the likes of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but there is no denying that, in terms of execution and staging, it’s simply one of the best movie musical adaptations. Directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay by Bill Condon, Chicago is based on the popular 1975 stage musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The film follows two murderers named Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) and Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who end up in jail together and are awaiting trial in 1920s Chicago while also fighting for fame and celebrity during a time of scandal and corruption.

Marshall’s work with Chicago is exceptionally excellent as he’s able to make all of the film feel like it’s being delivered live on stage while also making it look decidedly cinematic. From “All That Jazz” to “Cell Block Tango” to “We Both Reached for the Gun,” every musical number gives the authenticity of the Broadway stage while being aided by stellar cinematography by Dion Beebe, Oscar-nominated for his work here, and impeccable art direction and editing, with John Myhre, Gordon Sim and Martin Walsh winning Oscars for their contributions in those fields. In addition to high-wattage production values, the film is littered with powerhouse performances, most notably from Zeta-Jones (who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work), Zellweger (Oscar-nominated), Queen Latifah (Oscar-nominated), and Richard Gere, whose scene-stealing turn also deserved more awards attention. Chicago is a true technical achievement, blending excellence and performance effortlessly to bring this classic show to life on the big screen.

2. La La Land (2016)

Writer and director Damien Chazelle brought all of his love for movie musicals, the nostalgia of Hollywood, and romance to La La Land, with all of that love brimming across every frame of the film. The film follows a struggling jazz pianist named Sebastian “Seb Wilder (Gosling), who hopes to open his own jazz club, and an aspiring actress named Amelia “Mia” Dolan (Emma Stone), who doesn’t want to stop following her dreams. In the midst of this, the pair fall in love under the stars, hopes and dreams of a Los Angeles landscape, but learn that their hopes for the future might not be in line with their growing love for each other.

La La Land is a beautiful achievement in many regards. Linus Sandgren’s cinematography, for which he won an Academy Award, is vibrant in its visuals that offer a blend of nostalgia while also staying remarkably modern as it captures a very optimistic version of Los Angeles. Chazelle’s direction, which also earned him an Oscar, is assured as it creates a completely all-encompassing world for the characters to live and breathe in. Then there is the score and music, which also scored Oscar love, that blends a love for jazz and traditional movie musicals, with the Oscar-winning “City of Stars” remaining a cornerstone of any movie musical for my money. On top of all of this is an effortless chemistry between Gosling and Stone, who bring this enchanted world to life that leads us to an ending that, while bittersweet, is honest for the material and lingers with the audience. La La Land is just pure magic that continues to deliver almost a decade later.

1. Moulin Rouge (2001)

Moulin Rouge lands on top because I had never seen anything like it when I first saw it, and its originality continues to resonate with me today. Directed by Baz Luhrmann from a screenplay he co-wrote with Craig Pearce, Moulin Rouge is a jukebox musical that follows Christian (Ewan McGregor), an English poet who falls in love with a cabaret actress named Satine (Nicole Kidman), who is the star of the Moulin Rouge. The film is a visual feast, with beautiful set and costume design (Catherine Martin, Brigitte Broch, and Angus Strathie all won much-deserved Oscars for their work) that pop with intricate detail and bring the time period to life with an additional flair that only Luhrmann could deliver.

There is also the jukebox nature of the film, using variations of popular songs, which makes the story more accessible and yet never loses any of its emotional connection. All of the music chosen adds to the emotion of the story, and it’s effortlessly added to the narrative without ever feeling like a distraction. At its heart, the film is a compelling love story that ranges from the feelings of finding true love to the tragedy of losing it due to outside forces. Kidman and McGregor are stellar here, with the former giving one of her best performances while they both exhibit vocal talent that matches the power and extravagance of the story (It’s hard not to get the feels during “Your Song,” “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” “Elephant Love Medley,” and “El Tango de Roxanne”). The movie isn’t for everyone, as I’ve learned when I consistently express love for it, but Moulin Rouge is a perfect storm of direction, performances, and production values if you allow yourself to be caught up in its magic.

Wicked: For Good hits theaters nationwide this Friday.

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