Last updated March 2024
Want to watch sensationally awesome Best Musical Movies? We assembled 30 marvelous Best Musical Movies with universal acclaim from revered IMDB critics and our own legion of discerning users. Available for instant viewing, these world-class titles are as jaw-droppingly good as entertainment gets. Help fellow fans uncover buried treasures by voting for the titles you feel are keepers. We appreciate members who take the time to pay it forward with great recommendations!
The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)
Plot Summary:
A disfigured musical genius, hidden away in the Paris Opera House, terrorises the opera company for the unwitting benefit of a young protégée whom he trains and loves. The 25th anniversary of the first public performance of Phantom of the Opera was celebrated with a grand performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London
Duration: 137 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Musical, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: unfulfilled love, theater, obsession, disfigurement, destructive relationship, opera singer, musician, singer, love and romance, tragic hero, couples, tragic love, danger, lifestyle, musician's life, woman in danger, performer's life, dancing, live performance, stage musical, love triangle, opera, phantom of the opera, kidnapping, backstage
The Lion King (1994)
Plot Summary:
A young lion cub named Simba can't wait to be king. But his uncle craves the title for himself and will stop at nothing to get it
Duration: 88 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: jungle, lion, friendship, betrayal, love, good versus evil, tragedy, pride and honor, exile, hyena, uncle, rivalry, revenge, murder, king, father son relationship, loss, talking animal, redemption, prince, journey, hopes, post traumatic stress, cheating death, loss of father
Hamilton (2020)
Plot Summary:
Presenting the tale of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, this filmed version of the original Broadway smash hit is the story of America then, told by America now
Duration: 160 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 109000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: hip hop, friendship, american history, death, murder, father son relationship, george washington, violence, biopic, revolutionary war, broadway, dancing, revenge, distopia, music, writers, experiment, friends, president, orphan, theater, adoption, british empire, revolution, election
Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (1967)
Plot Summary:
In this comic but dated story, nerdy Shurik travels to Caucas in search of native legends and folklore. But what he finds is a beautiful girl whom, due to intoxication and deceit of the local "gang", he ends up literally stealing for the local deceitful governor. All the time Shurik thinks that it is all just a one old Caucasian custom. When he, finally, realizes what he did he goes out in search for the girl of his dreams. Written by Ptah Hoteb
Duration: 82 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: Soviet Union
Plot tags: student, corrupt official, couple relations, kidnapping, love affair, love and romance, human relationship, social relations, criminal gang, summer, caucasian, iron curtain, drunkenness, farce, save the lady, bear, hiking, rescue, truck driver, chase, research, nerd, summer vacation, vigilante, tradition
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Plot Summary:
Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of the nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raids the village to steal all the Christmas things. The village is sure to have a sad Christmas this year
Duration: 26 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: christmas, holiday, dog, winter, obsession, snow, christmas eve, social misfits, imaginary, fish out of water, xmas, change of heart, christmas season, materialism, new year, saving christmas, swing, happiness, vacation, heart, child, surrealism, hobo, compassion, generosity
You Don't Get Life a Second Time (2011)
Plot Summary:
Mumbai-based Kabir Dhiman, who comes from a wealthy building construction family, proposes to his long-time girlfriend, Natasha, much to the delight of both their respective families. He then gets together with one of two of his close friends, Imran Habib, a writer by profession, and they contact their London-based financial broker friend, Arjun, to remind him of a pact of traveling to Spain. The trio commence their long overdue trip not fully realizing that Arjun has still not forgiven Imran for his break-up with Sunani, while he himself regrets being dumped by Rohini, and must also compete with Imran for the affections of gorgeous Deep Sea Diving Instructor, Laila; Kabir struggles to accept life as Natasha's husband; and Imran must ready himself to meet his biological father, Salman, who had abandoned him at birth
Duration: 155 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 84000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: India, Spain
Plot tags: friendship, adolescence vs adulthood, extreme sport, travel, friends, friendship between men, hindu, obsessive quest, free spirited, self discovery, fall in love, youth, wedding preparations and rituals, escapades, young man, buddies, engaged, male bonding, road trip, vacation, painter, fiance fiancee relationship, on the road, poet, absent father
Swades (2004)
Plot Summary:
Set in modern day India, Swades is a film that tackles the issues that development throws up on a grass root level. It is to this India, which is colorful, heterogeneous and complex that Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan), a bright young scientist working as a project manager in NASA, returns on a quest to find his childhood nanny
Duration: 210 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 96000
Genere: Drama, Musical
Country: India, USA
Plot tags: poverty, discrimination, village, human spirit, journey, follow your dream, self discovery, social differences, homecoming, change of heart, obsessive quest, immigrant, social issues, friendship, fall in love, society, social problems, redemption, culture clash, idealism, hopes, patriot, scientist, hindu, indians
Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
Plot Summary:
A son deals with the death of his father and examines how their relationship influences him through growing up, romance, tragedy and adventure
Duration: 169 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Action, Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: India
Plot tags: tragic love, fall in love, family relations, parents and children, couples, coming of age, youth, love and romance, father son relationship, love, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, marriage, loss of father, loss of loved one, drug addiction, dual role, in love, fight club, fictional biography, drug abuse, kidnapping, death, son, flashback, real life father and son playing father and son
Hridayam (2022)
Plot Summary:
Arun and Darshana are first-year engineering students and they fall in love soon after their college begins. And just as how things work generally in teenage, the road ahead isn't too easy for them. Life offers many twists and turns that they least expect
Duration: 172 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: India
Plot tags: college, relationships, romantic relationship, grownups, male female relationship, lifestyle, college student, college life, adolescence vs adulthood, love affair, journey, love story, malayalam
Flames of the Sun (1975)
Plot Summary:
A Police Officer, whose family was killed by a bandit named Gabbar Singh, decides to fight fire with fire and recruits two convicts, Jai & Veeru, to bring Gabbar Singh to jail alive, but will they succeed in their mission and get their reward? Come and watch the action-packed super-hit Sholay to find out!!
Duration: 204 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 58000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Thriller, Western
Country: India
Plot tags: vengeance, fight, revenge, bandit, martial arts, partner, police officer, villain, bounty hunter, friendship between men, best friend, widow, death of friend, flashback, harmonica, redemption, criminal heroes, village, police, murder, indians, hindu, criminal's revenge, gunslinger, rebel
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
Plot Summary:
Lagaan tells the tale of the Indian village Champaner, beset by drought and British colonialism in the year 1893. Without a drop of rain in months, the worried villagers of Champaner decide to ask the local authorities for a temporary repeal of their taxes -- the hated lagaan. Led by the heroic Bhuvan (Indian superstar Aamir Khan) they bring their plight to the military governor, Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne). But the sadistic Russell threatens to raise the lagaan threefold, unless the villagers can beat his men at a game of cricket, in which case he'll lift taxes on the entire province for a period of three years. Bhuvan accepts the challenge, but there's a problem -- no one in Champaner knows how to play cricket. A band of misfits come to the rescue, coached by Russell's soft-hearted sister Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley), and the race is on to be ready in three months' time. An epic reworking of Victory with eye-popping song-and-dance routines
Duration: 224 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 119000
Genere: Drama, Musical, Sport
Country: India, USA
Plot tags: village, love triangle, patriotism, british raj, sikh, cricket, caste system, colonialism, friendship, jealousy, self esteem, poverty, unrequited love, patriot, ambition, underdog, hindu, resistance, indians, imperialism, racism, indian history, dancing, musician, music
Anand (1971)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Bhaskar Bannerjee struggles with his patients' suffering and the darkness and poverty he confronts daily. He treats cancer patient Anand , who upon learning of his impending death, determines to use the time he has left to the absolute fullest
Duration: 122 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Drama, Musical
Country: India
Plot tags: doctor, charity, indians, cancer, meaning of life, beach, hospital, rebel, hindu, nurse, life lesson, self awareness, friendship, friends, human spirit, changing lives, diary, optimism, doctors and patients, bittersweet, untimely death, hopes, unfulfillment, power relations, death
The Sound of Music (1965)
Plot Summary:
Film adaptation of a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical based on a nun who becomes a governess for an Austrian family
Duration: 172 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 253000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Family, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Plot tags: world war two, nanny, love story, love, love and romance, convent, mischievous children, beautiful scenery, nun, children, dancing, broadway, catholic, childhood, nazi, music, family relations, opposites attract, child, family life, parents and children, family values, single father, dance, stepmother
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Plot Summary:
Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who's been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all -- that true beauty comes from within
Duration: 84 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 474000
Genere: Animation, Family, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: princess, love and romance, beast, beauty and the beast, castle, imaginary, opposites attract, power of love, transformation, villain, prince, female protagonist, disney princess, magic, father daughter relationship, fall in love, village, wilhelm scream, stockholm syndrome, horse, mirror, race against time, animate object, childhood, love story
Aladdin (1992)
Plot Summary:
Princess Jasmine grows tired of being forced to remain in the palace, so she sneaks out into the marketplace, in disguise, where she meets street-urchin Aladdin. The couple falls in love, although Jasmine may only marry a prince. After being thrown in jail, Aladdin becomes embroiled in a plot to find a mysterious lamp, with which the evil Jafar hopes to rule the land
Duration: 90 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 455000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: princess, desert, genie, love, arabian nights, disney princess, friendship, magic, unlikely couple, poverty, rags to riches, aladdin, wilhelm scream, happy ending, street urchin, prince, good versus evil, kids and family, palace, cheerleader, stealing food, talking animal, tiger, mythology, love story
La La Land (2016)
Plot Summary:
Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart
Duration: 128 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 645000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music, Musical, Romance
Country: USA, Hong Kong
Plot tags: music, jazz, dancing, love, musician, audition, bigger dreams, jazz club, love story, traffic jam, pianist, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, filmmaking, actress, trumpet player, aspiring actress, jazz musician, destiny, rags to riches, dance, drummer, concert, meet cute, singing, music and dance
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Plot Summary:
This lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the-century Czarist Russia. Nominated for eight Academy Awards
Duration: 181 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 47000
Genere: Drama, Family, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Plot tags: judaism, dance, wedding, tradition, village, dancing, jewish culture, father daughter relationship, breaking the fourth wall, milkman, anti semitism, arranged marriage, broadway, tradition versus modernity, love, dream, exile, rabbi, forbidden love, tailor, immigration, culture clash, music, ghost, religion
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Plot Summary:
Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his glowing nose, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudoph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks over Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea
Duration: 47 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Canada, Japan
Plot tags: stop motion, christmas, holiday, reindeer, imaginary kingdom, winter, toys, xmas, christmas season, island, snow, misfit, good versus evil, dentist, yeti, runaway, happy ending, saving christmas, happiness, north pole, snowman, community, giant creature, christmas wish, friendship
Tomorrow May Never Come (2003)
Plot Summary:
Naina is a very serious girl with a very serious life. But one day, her soul is awakened by the happy-go-lucky Aman, who teaches her that life is meant to be lived. Naturally, she falls in love with him. But Aman is harboring a secret that keeps him from reciprocating Naina's love. But he cannot stand having her live a life without love, so he sets off on a mission to fill her life with someone else's love - someone she already knows
Duration: 186 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 74000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: India, Canada
Plot tags: terminal illness, love triangle, neighbor, young woman, secret, diary, family life, best friend, unfulfilled love, tragic event, depression, family relations, parents and children, young man, family problems, starting over, family tradition, human nature, death in the family, character change, tragic love, urban, brother sister relationship, gay slur, hindu
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Plot Summary:
Jake Blues is just out of jail, and teams up with his brother, Elwood on a 'mission from God' to raise funds for the orphanage in which they grew up. The only thing they can do is do what they do best – play music – so they get their old band together and they're on their way, while getting in a bit of trouble here and there
Duration: 133 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 210000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Music, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: music, chase, blues, road trip, buddy, rock and roll, car chase, police chase, on the road, carsploitation, prison, race against time, twists and turns, mission from god, car, lack of money, rock, nothing goes right, obsessive quest, criminal heroes, driving, pig, on the run, reckless driving, musician
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Plot Summary:
Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack's rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans
Duration: 76 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 368000
Genere: Animation, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: holiday, christmas, halloween, stop motion, good versus evil, imaginary, goth, imagination, objects come to life, music, imaginary kingdom, fantasy world, magic, holiday horror, pumpkin, dream, loneliness, ghost, villain, skeleton, supernatural, scientist, mayor, magical, love
Thiruchitrambalam (2022)
Plot Summary:
A guy-next-door tries to find romance in his life while also dealing with his personal problems. How long will it be before he realises what he is looking for is right next to him?
Duration: 131 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: India
Plot tags: fall in love, in love, love, mother, father, tamil, guilty pleasure
24 (2016)
Plot Summary:
A scientist invents a time machine but his evil twin brother is after it and will go to any lengths to get the device in his hands
Duration: 164 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: India
Plot tags: time travel, brother, time loop, brother brother relationship, time warp, fight for supremacy, revenge, fight, time machine, scientist, battles, brothers, time jump, dysfunctional family, rivalry, twin brother, relationship problems, family problems, time portal, showdown, time, genius, parallel world, twins, entertainment
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Plot Summary:
Selma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma learns to cope through her love of musicals, escaping life's troubles - even if just for a moment - by dreaming up little numbers to the rhythmic beats of her surroundings
Duration: 140 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 115000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Musical
Country: Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, USA, UK, France, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway
Plot tags: factory worker, life is a bitch, blindness, death sentence, immigrant, destiny, tragedy, secret, hanging, tragic hero, dancing, music, death, existentialism, disability, storytelling, murder, blind character, fighting illness, human spirit, friendship, young woman, self sacrifice, daydreamer, financial problem
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Plot Summary:
Eccentric candy man Willy Wonka prompts a worldwide frenzy when he announces that golden tickets hidden inside five of his delicious candy bars will admit their lucky holders into his top-secret confectionary. But does Wonka have an agenda hidden amid a world of Oompa Loompas and chocolate rivers?
Duration: 100 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 218000
Genere: Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: chocolate, children, teacher, overweight child, mischievous children, childhood, tour guide, child protagonist, surrealism, factory, grandfather grandson relationship, inventor, poverty, child's point of view, wealth, contest, river, greed, gluttony, dance, birthday, boat, tunnel, girl, wish fulfillment
Mary Poppins (1964)
Plot Summary:
A magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father
Duration: 139 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 183000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: magic, nanny, female protagonist, imagination, mischievous children, kite, child, dancing, child's point of view, dog, childhood, children, boy, maid, brother sister relationship, levitation, heartwarming, dance, happy ending, family values, bird, horse race, fox, bank, girl
Cabaret (1972)
Plot Summary:
Inside the Kit Kat Club of 1931 Berlin, starry-eyed singer Sally Bowles and an impish emcee sound the clarion call to decadent fun, while outside a certain political party grows into a brutal force
Duration: 124 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 58000
Genere: Drama, Music, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Plot tags: nazi, gay, gay interest, world war two, cabaret, decadence, fascism, dancing, bisexual man, broadway, closeted homosexual, visceral, dance, politics, lgbt, culture clash, lgbtq, musician, political unrest, chorus line, german politics, nazism, music, glbt, transgender
Yash Chopra's Veer-Zaara (2004)
Plot Summary:
The story of the love between Veer Pratap Singh, an Indian, and Zaara Hayaat Khan, a Pakistani...a love so great it knows no boundaries
Duration: 192 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 56000
Genere: Drama, Family, Musical, Romance
Country: India
Plot tags: forbidden love, impossible love, muslim, rescue, love affair, social differences, false accusation, against the odds, uncover truth, destiny, life is a bitch, prison life, legal, haunted by the past, hopes, society, family disapproval, dishonesty, love, hindu, stranded, unrequited love, love story, politics, fall in love
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
Plot Summary:
This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant
Duration: 91 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: France, West Germany
Plot tags: love, love triangle, unfulfilled love, young lovers, marriage, teenage girl, separation, pregnancy, relationships, first love, family relations, love and romance, unfulfillment, couple relations, bicycle, algerian war, dancing, music, passion, great ending, single mother, mother daughter relationship, class differences, marriage of convenience, bittersweet
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Plot Summary:
A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future
Duration: 85 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 67000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: christmas, ghost, holiday, muppets, childhood, puppetry, scrooge, christmas carol, greed, time travel, christmas season, puppet, xmas, kids and family, storytelling, talking animal, change of heart, escapades, friendship, nothing goes right, fish out of water, encounter, goofy hero, christmas spirit, snow