Get ready to tap your feet and sing along! We're counting down the most iconic movie musicals that everyone should experience at least once. From classic Hollywood spectacles to modern jukebox hits, these films have captivated audiences with their unforgettable songs, dazzling choreography, and timeless stories.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic musicals
00:13ever committed to film.
00:14If we bring a little joy into your humdrum life, it makes us feel as though our hard
00:21work ain't been in vain for nothing.
00:25Number 10.
00:26Hairspray
00:27Hairspray began its journey as a low-key 80s comedy and was adapted into a Broadway musical
00:32in 2002.
00:33The show was showered with Tony Awards, and the big-screen treatment soon followed.
00:52With its stellar cast, fast and funny screenplay, and fantastic song and dance numbers, this
00:57movie musical is definitely one for the bucket list.
01:00Set against a backdrop of racial segregation in 1960s Baltimore, it's a coming-of-age tale
01:05about growing up, falling in love, and learning to stand up and fight.
01:24All of the actors are on their A-game, and we can't even pick a favorite song as there's
01:28not a dud among them.
01:29If you're looking for a proper feel-good film, your search stops here.
01:44Number 9.
01:45Fiddler on the Roof
01:46The 1970s may not have been the golden age of the movie musical, but the good ones from
01:50this decade really stand out.
01:59Fiddler on the Roof was based on a Broadway musical about a Jewish father in 18th-century
02:03Ukraine, played in the movie by the Israeli actor Topol.
02:07He's on a mission to marry off his daughters and hold on to his way of life, which is under
02:11threat from the changing times and growing political tension.
02:29The movie explores themes of family, tradition, and prejudice, described by The New Yorker
02:34as, quote, the most powerful movie musical ever made.
02:38There's a healthy dose of romance, too, and some very catchy songs.
02:41The film received eight Oscar nominations and won three.
02:51Number 8.
02:52Moulin Rouge
02:53Movie musicals had fallen out of fashion by the new millennium, but with Moulin Rouge,
03:14Baz Luhrmann brought the genre back up to date and ushered in the popularity of the
03:18jukebox musical.
03:19He cites La Boheme, Bollywood movies, classic Hollywood, and vaudeville theater as his inspirations.
03:30This riot of color and sound is the director at his most Baz Luhrmann-y, so it might not
03:35be everyone's cup of tea, but Moulin Rouge should still be on your watch list, if only
03:39for the movie's iconic musical moments.
03:42If you've never seen the Elephant Love Song medley or El Tango de Roxanne all the way
03:46through, then you're definitely missing out.
03:57Number 7.
03:58Chicago
03:59Musicals have a reputation for being all sunshine and happy endings, but a surprising number
04:04are actually very dark.
04:06Chicago is based on a Broadway musical which was originally criticized for being too cynical
04:11and subversive, but that went down a treat with 21st century audiences.
04:22The movie won six Academy Awards and became the first musical to win Best Picture since
04:26Lionel Bart's Oliver.
04:28Chicago boasts an all-star cast at the top of their game and is packed with memorable
04:32song and dance numbers.
04:49It's a hugely atmospheric movie with style as well as substance, seamlessly adapted from
04:54the stage by screenwriter Bill Condon and directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall.
05:00If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?
05:16Number 6.
05:17Greece
05:18Set in the 50s and released in the 70s, Greece remains one of the most successful and beloved
05:23movie musicals of all time.
05:30Critics weren't bowled over, and there's plenty here that's problematic for contemporary audiences,
05:35but the characters feel true to life, the performances are great, and the songs are
05:39hard to beat.
05:51Greece is a potent cocktail of feel-good musical numbers, teen drama, and romance.
05:56Nostalgia has always played a part in its success, but the movie has never lost its
06:00appeal and those pink lady jackets will always be iconic.
06:04Whether or not you're a musicals aficionado, this is an established classic that's too
06:08much fun to resist.
06:18Number 5.
06:19Mary Poppins
06:20Author P.L. Travers may not have liked this all-singing, all-dancing adaptation of her
06:24popular children's novels, but she was pretty much the only one.
06:28With a star turn from Julie Andrews and those infectious Sherman Brothers songs, this whimsical
06:33movie musical is practically perfect in every way.
06:36What's that?
06:38It's much too long?
06:46Who cares when it's this charming?
06:48And anyway, what could you possibly cut?
06:50So when the cat has got your tongue, there's no need for dismay, just summon up this word
06:55and then you've got a lot to say, but better use it carefully or it can change your life.
07:00Every set piece is a must-watch in its own right, from the dancing chimney sweeps to
07:04Uncle Albert and the laughing gas.
07:06There are some spectacular dance scenes to excite the senses, but there's also plenty
07:10of tender moments that make this movie a stellar comfort watch.
07:14Goodbye, Mary Poppins.
07:16Don't stay away too long.
07:28West Side Story began life as a Broadway musical in 1957, created as a contemporary reimagining
07:34of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
07:36Set in New York, it follows two rival street gangs and two teenagers from different sides
07:40of the divide, whose love affair leads to tragedy.
07:43Hold my hand and we're halfway there, hold my hand and I'll take you there.
07:57When the musical hit the big screen in 1961, it was a sensation, and it's not difficult
08:02to see why.
08:03The story tackles issues of racism and gang warfare and hits all the emotional beats,
08:08although it's the music and dancing that really set it apart.
08:11Leonard Bernstein's accompanying music remains one of the most beautiful musical theater
08:15scores of all time.
08:17The 2021 remake is pretty special, too.
08:35The Sound of Music
08:36From The King and I to Carousel and Oklahoma, the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein have
08:41enjoyed great success.
08:42But the duo's most beloved creation has got to be The Sound of Music.
09:01A love story, a family drama, and a wartime thriller by turns, it's more than just nuns
09:07and Nazis.
09:08Julie Andrews shines as leading Lady Maria, and Christopher Plummer makes a dashing Captain
09:13Von Trapp.
09:14However, the real stars of the show are those songs and that scenery.
09:17The kids put in a solid performance, too.
09:20The movie has been criticized as sickly sweet, but it smashed box office records and bagged
09:38five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
09:41At almost three hours long, it's an afternoon's commitment, but it's worth every minute of
09:46your time.
10:02Number 2.
10:03The Wizard of Oz
10:13Although based on the beloved children's books by L. Frank Baum, the success of this 1939
10:18film has made The Wizard of Oz synonymous with Judy Garland and her ruby slippers.
10:22Beginning in sepia tones and bursting into glorious technicolor once Dorothy gets to
10:27Oz, the movie is a feast for the eyes and full of memorable characters and songs.
10:32Garland's performance of Over the Rainbow is a must-see moment for musical fans.
10:52For lovers of the contemporary musical, 2024's Wicked brings all the magic from the stage
10:57to the screen effortlessly.
10:59It's popular, all right.
11:06Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:10Mamma Mia!
11:11This jukebox ABBA musical has become an institution.
11:22The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
11:24Don't dream it, watch it.
11:29And see what's on the slab.
11:33I see you shiver with anticipation.
11:39My Fair Lady.
11:41Audrey Hepburn is an enchanting Eliza Doolittle.
11:56Cabaret.
11:57Liza Minnelli gives a star turn in this musical black comedy.
12:14Little Shop of Horrors.
12:16Killer plants and killer songs from Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
12:27And strong.
12:29You eat blood, Audrey, too, let's face it.
12:31How am I supposed to keep on feeding you?
12:33Kill people?
12:35I make it worth your while.
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12:53Number 1.
12:54Singing in the Rain.
12:55If there's one movie musical that's guaranteed to cheer you up, it's Singing in the Rain.
13:07Technically, this 50s classic is a jukebox musical, but it still feels like one of a
13:12kind, often recreated but never bettered.
13:15Gene Kelly's routine in the rain is one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time,
13:19and the dancing throughout the film is unmatched.
13:25If you're not tempted to sign up for tap lessons after your first viewing, you'll at
13:39least have seen something to make you smile.
13:41The brilliant dancing is combined with catchy songs, an engaging storyline, and a lot of
13:46humor, making Singing in the Rain a movie musical to watch not just once, but over and
13:52over again.
13:56Which movie musical do you think should be required viewing?
14:07Let us know in the comments.
14:15Do you agree with our picks?
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14:25We'll see you next time.