Knock on Wood

Musicals have certainly had their ups and downs over the years… well, decades, but it’s quite clear that musicals are experiencing a high water mark in entertainment spectacle and audience engagement. We’ve seen multiple musicals nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars since 2000, with even one taking home the top prize, and Moana 2 and Wicked are absolutely dominating the box office. Musicals are quite fetch (too bad the new Mean Girls was a bit of a letdown, Gretchen Wieners). But that brings us to an interesting thought experiment. Sure, musicals are enjoying a renaissance, but not all musicals are created equal. So let’s sift through all these films to find the best of the best. Since we’re now about 25 years into this new century, let’s call for a matching 25 movies that have left their mark on us. It’s time to countdown the Top Musicals of the 21st Century.

Before we get into the minutiae of the topic, some quick guidelines. We will only be looking at ‘traditional’ musicals for this list. What does that mean? Movie musicals where characters spontaneously burst into song, and often dance, as they live in a heightened reality where that’s completely normal behavior. As well, the lyrics to the songs are directly used to develop and grow characters, or deliver exposition and advance the narrative plot. So what does that look like? Unfortunately, it means terrific films like Straight Outta Compton, Once, A Star is Born, Pitch Perfect or Sing Street don’t work. These are movies about songs being recorded, performed on stage, in music videos, etc. Not people living in a heightened world of spontaneous songs that are about character and story structure. We might make a companion list to this one someday for these types of movies, because there’s a lot of great films like these, but that’s just a different type of movie. Lastly, we’re not going to include Disney+’s Hamilton, as that’s a recording of a stage performance. This list will be exclusively for film musicals developed as film musicals.

Now that the preamble is out of the way, let’s get this party started…

Honorable Mentions: The Color Purple, The Phantom of the Opera, The Princess and the Frog

25. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 80%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 66%
• IMDb: 6.6
• Letterboxd: 3.4
• Watch it on: Peacock

Although the original Mamma Mia! certainly has a vocal hardcore fanbase, the fact is quite simple – Here We Go Again is just a better movie. While I certainly enjoy the original for its over-the-top and bombastic nature, and I absolutely love me some crazy Meryl Streep, that movie suffers greatly due to how the stage book was adapted to the silver screen. Characters are paper-thin, and the plot is almost non-existent. Here We Go Again takes everything that the original accomplished and amplifies it. There’s much greater characterization, the story is told with much more depth and creativity, there’s even more evocative emotion, and even the performances are better. Plus, we still have plenty of ABBA goodness here to enjoy, including the return of the biggest tent poles from the original in “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen.” If you want the best ABBA musical experience, this is the one to go with.

24. Frozen

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 89%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 85%
• IMDb: 7.4
• Letterboxd: 3.4
• Watch it on: Disney+

I cannot, in good conscience, make a list about the Best Musicals of the 21st Century and not include Frozen… even if we’re all sick to death of it. It’s just too good. The fact that we all have cultural whiplash from Olaf and young children horribly belting out “Let it Go” completely out-of-tune doesn’t change the fact that this is a good movie. When this hit theaters, it reminded us all of how great Disney Animation Studios movies can be. Evoking the Renaissance Era with its whimsy, fun, and memorable music, Frozen took audiences for a spin on its way to Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song Oscar wins. Yeah, if you’re over the age of 12, you’re probably done with this movie. If you’re a parent, we’re sorry for the amount of times you’ve had to suffer through this soundtrack while driving the kids around in the car. But this was a phenomenon for a reason, and there’s no way it doesn’t make this list.

23. The Greatest Showman

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 56%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 86%
• IMDb: 7.5
• Letterboxd: 3.4
• Watch it on: Disney+, Hulu, TBS, TNT, TruTV

If we’re being completely honest with ourselves, this might be the greatest soundtrack we come across on this entire list. While the songwriting duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul certainly took home more accolades for their work on La La Land (more on that later), this stands as the commercial apex of their careers to date. Bangers like “The Greatest Show,” “Never Enough,” and “From Now On,” helped this soundtrack go platinum two times over. The show-stopping anthem “This is Me” likely would’ve won Best Original Song at the Oscars if Coco’s “Remember Me” hadn’t made all of us bawl our eyes out. On top of the amazing songs, there’s also a lot of eye-catching choreography here to appreciate. With the garish production design and elaborate costumes, it all makes for a visual feast. The plot of this flick is what really holds this back from placing higher. It’s just… not good, and also a complete lie. Seriously, P.T. Barnum was a horrible person, and making him out to be a hero here is, well, not great. But it’s undeniable that this was a box office success, all of these songs are bops, and you can definitely have fun with this movie despite its flaws.

22. Across the Universe

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 53%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 82%
• IMDb: 7.3
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Fubo, Hoopla, MGM+, PlutoTV

One of the most unique and interesting jukebox musicals of the century so far, Across the Universe is likely going to stand as one of the more controversial picks on this list. It’s a very love/hate kind of flick. Frankly, I get it. This convoluted and incoherent plot is overly manipulated in an excuse to fit in as many Beatles songs as possible. I mean, what the hell is actually even going on with the drug-fueled “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” segment? So unnecessary…but still, it’s quite impressive how this jukebox musical uses these classic hits to heighten our experience and expound on our characters. You can look no further than the “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” scene about being drafted into the Vietnam War to unlock what this film is all about. Fantastic art direction, visual elements, and creative choices breathe new life and perspective into these beloved songs for a fully immersive and distinct viewing experience. Other noteworthy segments include “Let it Be,” “Across the Universe,” and “Hey Jude.” Terrific stuff. If you’re a fan of The Fab Four, this is a must-watch.

21. Encanto

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 92%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 93%
• IMDb: 7.2
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Disney+

Another Disney musical that set the world on fire. Encanto is a great film that delivers some exceptional cultural representation, whimsical magic, and mystery, and some terrific songs courtesy of the great Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hint: not his last appearance on this list) that you can’t help but have a good time. I mean, when you can pin almost an entire cultural phenomenon to a catchy tango in “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” you clearly did something right. And although many were upset that “Bruno” wasn’t even nominated for Best Original Song, at least the emotionally tear-jerking ballad “Dos Oruguitas” was, and the film as a whole won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Other bops like “Surface Pressure” and “What Else Can I Do?” help to round out a great soundtrack to a moving movie about family, finding your place in the world, and how we all bring something special to the table.

20. Dreamgirls

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 79%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 71%
• IMDb: 6.6
• Letterboxd: 3.6
• Watch it on: Fubo, Paramount+

Just five films in and we’re very quickly starting to get into some heavy hitters. Dreamgirls is an eight-time Oscar-nominated film, and two-time winner, including a Best Supporting Actress title for Jennifer Hudson. That’s one helluva pedigree, and it’s quite deserved. Based on a classic ’80s Broadway musical of the same name, Dreamgirls is a cherished representation of Black culture and R&B music, specifically the Detroit Motown and girl group scene of the ’60s and ’70s. This is not just a musically riveting film, but an emotionally evocative one, brought to life by the star-studded talents of Hudson, Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx. You can simply look at Hudson singing “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” to completely understand why this is such a captivating experience. It’s a little disappointing that a lot of the humor and fleshing out of some characters from the stage production was stripped away for the film, but this is still a great flick that’s worth your time.

19. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 93%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 72%
• IMDb: 7.0
• Letterboxd: 3.4
• Watch it on: Netflix

Easily the most underseen film on our list, and it’s a damn shame because this deserves more eyes on it. An adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation, this movie went straight to Netflix just a couple Christmases ago and hardly anyone was the wiser. But this little treasure is headlined by an impressively committed and inspired performance, under a lot of prosthetic makeup, by the ever-talented Emma Thompson that will knock your socks off. Originally this was going to go to Ralph Fiennes, but fans cried foul. And although I think Fiennes would’ve crushed it, Thompson is fantastic. Plus, you’ve got Lashana Lynch and Alisha Wier doing great work here too. This is just as whimsical and entertaining as you’d imagine, but made all the more joyous due to some incredible songs, fun lighting tricks, and silly choreography. There’s some underrated songs here, too, in “When I Grow Up” and “Revolting Children.” Simply put, this is a good time and more people should be watching this movie.

18. Wonka

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 82%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 91%
• IMDb: 7.0
• Letterboxd: 3.2
• Watch it on: Max, Tubi

Paul King, may I just take a moment to apologize to you…from all of us? After coming off two absolute family masterpieces in Paddington and Paddington 2, we should have never doubted you, because Wonka is exceptional. While Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory will always reign supreme as the best Wonka movie, a solid argument could be made that Wonka captures the magic of Willy’s world better than anything that has ever been made. Existing in King’s vision, and this magical world, is a blast. Add fun costumes, visual delight, a great ensemble cast headlined by Timothée Chalamet, a moving tale about found family, and catchy songs like “A Hatful of Dreams,” “You’ve Never Had Chocolate Like This,” and “A World of Your Own,” and this movie is cooking. This will put a smile on your face, and may even bring a tear to your eye. I know I was crying when they hit us with “Pure Imagination” at the film’s conclusion.

17. Dancer in the Dark

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 70%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 91%
• IMDb: 7.9
• Letterboxd: 4.2
• Watch it on: The Roku Channel, Tubi, Plex

In terms of quality of film, this should probably be higher; it’s almost undeniable. This is an exceptional film, but it’s also a very painful film. A tragic tale about putting your trust in the wrong people, and the consequences of being betrayed and misunderstood. This is one of those movies I don’t even like to recommend to people, because it’s a viewing experience that only brings heartache, even if Björk does a great acting job, and some of the industrial songs produced from natural sounds are quite creative. The problem comes from what you would expect to get out of a musical. It’s not necessarily a requirement that musicals be fun and exciting, but that is generally considered one of their greatest attributes. When you consider that this movie is anything but warm and fuzzy, and that the interesting musical and fantasy elements don’t even start until the 40-minute mark (the early part is an intense drama), it’s hard to rank this all that high on a list of best musicals. Honestly, it also kinda hurts that most people probably remember Björk’s iconic swan dress at the Oscars more than this movie itself these days. So while it’s an exceptional film, on a list of best musicals, it’s got to be a bit lower on the list despite its quality.

16. Hairspray

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 92%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 84%
• IMDb: 6.7
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Digital rental

One of the few examples of a film where the remake is just seemingly better than the original. Don’t get me wrong, the John Waters classic is still a great film, but this musical stage adaptation improved on that film, and this film feels like the definitive version of that story. With insanely catchy songs such as “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Ladies’ Choice,” and “Without Love,” as well as committed performances from an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Christopher Walken, and Queen Latifah (among many more), this is firing on all cylinders. Let’s not forget you also have John Travolta absolutely crushing it as Edna Turnblad, making this the umpteenth film that revived his career for a temporary span of time. Combine all this with thematic relevance about important social issues such as division, race, and community, and  some genuinely great choreography, best exemplified in the show stopping finale “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” and this is some of the most fun you can possibly have watching a musical.

15. Tangled

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 89%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 87%
• IMDb: 7.7
• Letterboxd: 4.0
• Watch it on: Disney+

That’s right, we’ve got another Disney classic here. Is this a classic at this point? If not, it will be soon. That’s because this is one damn good movie musical. Bringing the fairy tale of Rapunzel to the animated Disney princess catalog, Tangled is anchored by an exceptional Mandy Moore performance that perfectly encapsulates a naïvely innocent youth that wants to explore the big world, while also lending her excellent singing talents to terrific tracks such as “When Will My Life Begin?” and “I See the Light.” When you also have the Tony award-winning Donna Murphy here as the excellent Mother Gothel, giving us another great track in “Mother Knows Best,” life’s really good. Sprinkle in some fun Disney shenanigans and you can see how this movie is almost single-handedly responsible for Disney turning the corner into the Revival Era from the largely awful Experimental Era/Post-Renaissance Era of film that we suffered through during the 2000s. This is a terrific musical experience that seemingly never gets old.

14. Chicago

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 87%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 83%
• IMDb: 7.2
• Letterboxd: 3.9
• Watch it on: Fubo, Paramount+

Teased at the very top, we’ve finally reached the lone musical that won Best Picture at the Oscars! Let’s just…completely ignore the Weinstein of it all, shall we? The real-life 1924 court case of a Mrs. Beulah Annan, over the murder of her then-boyfriend, served as the original inspiration after numerous adaptations of adaptations. Led by the likes of Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah (back on the list again!), and an Oscar-winning turn from Catherine Zeta-Jones, this sensational cast delivers a crime comedy that perfectly lives in delusional fantasy. Set in the seedy underbelly of Chicago during the 1920s Jazz Age, this is a wildly entertaining tale about obsession over fame and stardom. Brought to life through spectacular song and choreographed dance, catchy and memorable numbers like “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango” are deliciously wicked. When you look at the creativity in a number like “We Both Reached for the Gun” this movie becomes all the more fascinating. While many feel Chicago didn’t deserve Best Picture, myself included, that doesn’t change the fact that this is definitely one of the great musicals of this century.

13. Les Misérables

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 70%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 79%
• IMDb: 7.5
• Letterboxd: 3.6
• Watch it on: Peacock

Let’s get this out of the way – Is this as good as the stage production? Absolutely not. Is Russell Crowe a talented singer? No, and he looks even worse when standing next to his Broadway headlining co-star, Hugh Jackman. Does the live-singing really work? Outside of Anne Hathaway, not really. It’s quite inconsistent. Does that mean this is a bad movie? In no way shape or form. Les Misérables works due to the excellence of the book of the acclaimed stage production, and its powerfully moving and exuberant story rich with theme and purpose. When the cast comes together for “One Day More” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?” it brings a tear to the eye. This story about the power of the human spirit and the generational-spanning revolution doesn’t let you down. And we can’t say enough about Hathaway. Her heartbreaking rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” is solely responsible for her winning an Oscar, and is worth the price of admission to see this flick in and of itself.

12. Moulin Rouge!

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 75%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 89%
• IMDb: 7.6
• Letterboxd: 3.8
• Watch it on: Hulu

The Jukebox Musical to end all jukebox musicals. This movie is so well constructed that you would almost think that these songs were written for the movie because of how seamlessly they integrate with these characters and this story. But the fact that they are generational show-stoppers that most of us know and love makes this such a profoundly entertaining experience. While Baz Luhrmann’s stylings certainly aren’t for everyone, if you do connect with them, his zany editing and kinetic energy makes for one of the most unique viewing experiences on this list. The quirky humor, garish costumes, and over-the-top performances only serve to bring a smile to your face. Plus, it’s yet another film on our list that was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

11. Enchanted

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 93%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 80%
• IMDb: 7.1
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Disney+

It’s about that time where we give live-action Disney some love. No, that doesn’t mean Mary Poppins Returns. This is a list meant for the best movies. It’s time to talk about Enchanted. A brilliant, satirical subversion of the classic Disney tropes that made the studio famous, this is a magnificent film highlighted by a fully committed performance from Amy Adams. Mixed with some fantastical visual elements, including a blending of hand-drawn animation, elegant costume work, and fun art direction, this delights in letting us relive childhood wonderment while still acknowledging the silliness of the genre itself. This romp was nominated for not one, not two, but three different Best Original Songs at the Oscars in “Happy Working Song,” “So Close,” and the hyper-energetic and catchy “That’s How You Know.” Adding some exceptionally creative and fun choreography to the mix, and you’re bound to have a great time with this flick.

10. The Muppets

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 95%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 80%
• IMDb: 7.1
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Disney+, Hulu

I know what you’re thinking, and I hear you. “This is way too high!” you’re screaming. But you know what, it’s not. For one, this is my list, so I’m going to do what I want. But for two, this is an exceptional film that deserves all the love, respect, and admiration that you could possibly heap on to it. A legacy sequel that doesn’t feel offensively like a cash grab, this film recognizes the unique appeal and creativity of the Muppets while redefining what the Muppets look like for a new generation. The Muppets is clearly helped by the fact that there were passionate people behind-the-scenes making things come together, most notably Jason Segel. The wholesome tale about reconnection, found family, and finding your place in the world is only elevated by songs like “Life’s a Happy Song,” “Me Party,” and the Oscar winning “Man or Muppet.” Combined with fun cameos, as the franchise is known for, committed, goofy performances, great family humor, and the tear-jerking return of “Rainbow Connection” during the finale, it’s impossible not to love this Muppetventure.

9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 86%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 81%
• IMDb: 7.3
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Fubo, Paramount+ with Showtime

If Tim Burton was ever meant to direct a musical, this one was surely it. Delighting in the macabre, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a morbid and dour musical that stands the test of time as one of the best you could ever see. Based on a Sondheim Broadway musical, Burton brings along his regular gang of Depp and a darkly tragic tale that is not for the faint of heart. This bleak look at love, corruption, and mortality is highlighted by beautifully painful tracks like “Poor Thing,” “Johanna,” “A Little Priest,” and the tragic “Not While I’m Around.” As a side note, if you want to genre-blend, this is probably the best option on this list as you could easily just watch this as a dedicated horror experience, and that certainly makes for a fun time. If you want a unique musical experience, with grim and grisly visual aesthetics, this is definitely for you.

8. Moana

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 95%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 89%
• IMDb: 7.6
• Letterboxd: 3.7
• Watch it on: Disney+

We’ve reached the pinnacle of Disney on our list. While Moana 2 might be raking in the big bucks at the theaters, and is (kind of) a decent film in its own right, it’s nowhere near the quality of the original, which feels like an all-time classic at this point. This tale about the Polynesian people, their culture, and gods is so fascinating, especially combined with classic adventure tropes that allow the audience to have a blast on this journey to secret lands and across oceans. Add in the incredible music of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the tremendous singing voice of Auli’i Cravalho, and you’re destined to fall in love with this experience. The insane catchiness of songs like “Shiny” and “How Far I’ll Go,” and particularly the rap verse of “You’re Welcome,” regardless of how poorly the Rock sings it, make this a damn fun time. When we get to the emotional climax of the film with Moana walking through the parting ocean to soothe the soul of an angry volcano god, all you can do is weep because of the gorgeous animation, emotional catharsis, and sheer entertainment quality of this masterful film.

7. Rocketman

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 89%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 88%
• IMDb: 7.3
• Letterboxd: 3.7
• Watch it on: TBS, TNT, TruTV

Our next two films might be a little bit controversial, as they bleed into that element of stage performance we specifically said up top we weren’t going to include. But while there are certainly some stage performance aspects to Rocketman, a large swath of the musical numbers are heavily infused with fantasy. People literally levitate off the ground, orchestras appear in bedrooms, walls fall off the sides of buildings as we walk out of a bar and into a carnival. So while there might be some stage elements, this is still a heightened musical experience, especially because this musical biopic about the life and struggles of Elton John so smartly structures its story and songs to enhance the narrative and develop character. This is a remarkable piece of filmmaking. If you’re a fan of Elton you’ll feel like you’re floating on the clouds while watching this. Credit to Taron Edgerton for absolutely crushing it with an incredibly powerful performance that includes authentic, real singing. Damn you, Bohemian Rhapsody, for completely poisoning the well for this film. Had you not unjustly been nominated for so many awards, including Best Picture, and had Rami Malek not won Best Actor the year prior, this vastly superior film would have gotten the recognition it rightfully deserved.

6. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 92%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 93%
• IMDb: 7.7
• Letterboxd: 4.0
• Watch it on: Digital rental

Another one that’s a bit borderline, just like Rocketman before it, based on our previous rules, but there are still enough fantastical aspects to this movie, and people breaking out into spontaneous song, for this to qualify. An iconic piece in the history of LGBTQ+ cinema and trans representation, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a powerfully evocative film that stands tall as one of the best musicals you could ever see. The central performance from John Cameron Mitchell is endlessly moving. The raw pain that they exude instantly connects you to the story in a way that few others on this list ever do. This tale of gender expression and self-identity, fused with bombastic glam rock, is simultaneously so powerful and entertaining. With incredibly catchy songs like “The Origin of Love,” “Angry Inch,” “Wig in a Box,” and “Midnight Radio,” you’ll get the sense real quick that this is one of the best musicals you could ever, and a tremendous work of art.

5. tick, tick… BOOM!

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 87%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 96%
• IMDb: 7.5
• Letterboxd: 3.8
• Watch it on: Netflix

While Jonathan Larson can be an acquired taste, and I totally get that rock opera songs aren’t for everyone, it’s undeniable that Rent was a cultural phenomenon and, for a very short span of time, he was the biggest name on Broadway. Seeing his lesser-known ‘rock monologue,’ brought to us by the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda in his directorial debut, feels like a behind-the-scenes memoir into Larson’s creative process and unstable life. An articulately and beautifully performed, Oscar-nominated turn from Andrew Garfield is the centerpiece of this profound musical experience. A unique framing device that transports the audience between a self-reflective stage performance and a series of flashbacks used to illustrate Larson’s emotional turmoil makes for a powerful emotional engine of empathy. And while not all the songs here work (most notably “Play Game”) songs like “30/90,” “Therapy,” “Sunday,” and “Why” will knock you on your ass, and probably even have you swimming in tears. This moving look at the creative process, relationship struggles, and cultural challenges easily makes tick, tick… BOOM! an all-timer.

4. In the Heights

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 94%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 94%
• IMDb: 7.3
• Letterboxd: 3.5
• Watch it on: Max

Speaking of Lin-Manuel Miranda, let’s talk about him yet again, but this time about one of his personal creations, In the Heights. A Tony Award-winning Best Musical on the stage, the talented Jon M. Chu adapts and delivers one of the most progressive and modern film musical experiences ever. Utilizing his experience directing the two best Step Up movies, he gives us a fascinating musical with sincere storytelling about culture, community, systemic issues, and the optimistic hope for change. When we take into account the incredible music with songs like “In the Heights,” “No Me Diga,” “Alabanza,” and “Carnaval del Barrio,” and jaw-dropping levels of insanely good choreography, particularly with “96,000,” mixed with a stellar ensemble cast of clearly talented dancers and singers, you’re going to fall in love with this. From the bright bright colors, booming sound, and excellent representation, this is everything you could want in a modern musical.

3. La La Land

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 91%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 81%
• IMDb: 8.0
• Letterboxd: 4.1
• Watch it on: Hulu

Another Best Picture winner at the Oscars! At least, it was for about three minutes. La La Land is undeniably one of the lynchpin musical experiences of the past 25 years. After bursting onto the scene with Whiplash, Damien Chazelle gave us his love letter to jazz, a realistic look at Hollywood as an industry, and a powerful look at a different type of endless love. It’s engaging, thought-provoking, and wildly entertaining. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are absolutely spectacular as our co-leads, with Stone earning an Oscar for her tremendous work, and fun, colorful, and beautiful songs like “Another Day of Sun,” “Someone in the Crowd,” “City of Stars,” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” will leave you breathless. While this did end up losing to Moonlight back in 2016, this would have certainly been a deserving Best Picture winner in its own right.

2. West Side Story

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 91%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 93%
• IMDb: 7.1
• Letterboxd: 3.6
• Watch it on: Disney+, Fubo, FXNOW

A solid argument could be made that a Best Picture winner probably doesn’t ever need to be remade. But another solid argument could be made that if anyone could remake a Best Picture winner, and do so in such a respectful and innovative way, it’s probably none other than the legendary Steven Spielberg. Case in point, Spielberg’s West Side Story stands as a shining example of what musical cinema can look like at its peak. There’s an edge to this film that adds to the griminess of 1950s New York that makes everything feel so intense. Sweeping camera shots with stunning cinematography, committed performances, particularly from Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist, and newcomer Rachel Zegler, and progressive changes like calling out the attempted rape of Anita for what it was, and solidifying Anybodys as a trans man, serve to heighten the stakes and add realism to the story. Combined with the terrific choreography of “Mambo” and “Gee, Officer Krupke,” and the fantastic performances of classic songs such as “Tonight,” “America,” “María,” and “One Hand, One Heart,” this is musical art at its finest.

1. Wicked

• Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 89%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audiences: 96%
• IMDb: 8.0
• Letterboxd: 4.0
• Watch it on: In theaters now

Is this recency bias? Maybe. Honestly, probably not. Wicked is everything a Hollywood musical should be. An adaptation of a much beloved Broadway musical that takes full advantage of its transition to the big screen by expanding the story to fit the medium and letting us live in the magical and fantastical with a grand scale epic that evokes memories of the Golden Age of Hollywood. There’s a reason this is exploding at the box office, and there’s a reason it will be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, amongst numerous other nominations (and wins?) to come. The art direction, costumes, and makeup jobs are phenomenal. If that wasn’t impressive enough, you have two tremendous co-leading performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that both deliver humor and heart with powerful songs like “The Wizard and I,” “Popular,” and the tear-inducing “Defying Gravity.” The only genuine criticism surrounds the frustrating lighting decisions that mute the color palette, but outside of that, this is simply a masterpiece that leaves us teeming with excitement and anticipation for Wicked Part Two coming out next year. This is the definition of what we crave out of our movie musicals.

So there it is! The Best 25 Musicals of the Last 25 Years! I’m sure we could all quibble about one or two placements, but hopefully, at a bare minimum, this list provides you with new movies to check out and add to your watchlist. Because that’s what it’s really all about: loving and enjoying the movies. We’ll see you next time! Maybe I’ll get around to that companion list about non-traditional musicals…