The Top 50 Movie Musicals of the Past 25 Years : #25 - #11
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Since 2000, we’ve seen musicals revive the genre, reinvent it, and sometimes wreck it. We’ve seen movie stars try to sing, theater kids become movie stars, and animated characters do it all better than either. The highs have been soaring, the flops have been… fascinating, and the passion from fans and critics alike has never been louder.
Let’s get one thing straight: narrowing this list down to 25 was a joke. I tried. I really did. But the last two decades have given us way too many bold, beautiful, brilliant movie musicals to pretend that 25 could possibly cover it. So I gave in. We’re going Top 50.
Now, not every movie with a killer soundtrack qualifies. For this list, I’m only including films that are actual movie musicals, which means they either classify as a musical, are adaptations of Broadway shows, or are animated musicals. Background music? Great. But if nobody’s singing their feelings, it’s not making the cut. Also, we’re going to stick with theatrical cuts as opposed to Made-for-TV ones, sorry High School Musical fans…
So here it is: Part 2 of the Top 50 Movie Musicals Since 2000—a mix of critical darlings, audience favorites, hidden gems, and the ones I just couldn’t stop rewatching. Click on the links below to read the other rankings because there was just to much to say about these to fit in one piece!
25. Mamma Mia! (2008)
Get used to seeing Meryl Streep pop up on this list—it's kind of a theme. Mamma Mia! is chaotic, campy, and completely irresistible. The ABBA songs slap, the cast is all-in, and Streep’s “The Winner Takes It All” is a moment. Amanda Seyfried is a total natural, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are comedy gold, and even Pierce Brosnan gives it his earnest best. It’s joyful, ridiculous fun—and sometimes, that’s exactly what a movie musical should be.
24. Enchanted (2007)
Enchanted could’ve easily been a forgettable parody—but instead, it’s a joyful, clever, and wildly charming love letter to Disney musicals. Amy Adams is pitch-perfect, balancing satire and sincerity like it’s nothing, and the Menken/Schwartz score is packed with gems (hello, “That’s How You Know”). But beyond being fun, I honestly think Enchanted helped kick off the next Disney Renaissance—both live-action and animated. It reminded everyone how magical musicals can be when they’re done right. Smart, heartfelt, and totally rewatchable, it earns its place on this list with ease.
23. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
There’s blood everywhere—and it’s glorious. Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd is dark, stylized, and totally committed to the gothic madness of Sondheim’s masterpiece. Sure, the vocals are a little uneven (no one’s calling Johnny Depp a tenor), but the mood? Impeccable. The whole thing drips with atmosphere, and Helena Bonham Carter brings just the right amount of weird to Mrs. Lovett. It’s a rare movie musical that dares to be this bleak, this bold, and this beautiful. Creepy, tragic, and weirdly elegant—it carves out its own unforgettable place in the genre.
22. The Prom (2020)
I still can’t believe we actually got a movie adaptation of The Prom—but we did, and it’s fantastic. It’s big, glittery, unapologetically Broadway, and somehow Ryan Murphy nailed the tone. Meryl Streep is living her best life, Andrew Rannells steals scenes, and Jo Ellen Pellman is an absolute find. The message is heartfelt, the jokes land, and the songs pop. It’s campy, it’s joyful, and it knows exactly what it is: a sparkly, queer, feel-good celebration with real heart underneath.
21. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Surprised? Don’t be. Walk Hard didn’t just spoof music biopics—it ended them. After this, you can’t watch another tortured musician rise-fall-rise story without thinking of Dewey Cox tripping on acid with The Beatles. But here’s the real kicker: the songs are actually incredible. “Let’s Duet”? “Beautiful Ride”? Bangers. It’s hilariously written, brilliantly performed (John C. Reilly is all in), and sharper than most of the films it parodies. Beneath the absurdity is real musical craft—and that’s what makes it stick.
20. Encanto (2021)
Encanto is Disney firing on all cylinders—visually stunning, musically rich, and emotionally layered. The songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda are ridiculously catchy (“Surface Pressure” deserves just as much love as “Bruno”), but what really makes it shine is its heart. A story about family, pressure, and finding your worth without needing to be “special”? That hits. Hard. Every member of the Madrigal family feels real, and the film’s message lingers long after the music fades. It’s pure animated magic.
19. Les Misérables (2012)
Say what you want about the live singing and occasional vocal rough patches—Les Misérables is a gorgeous film that looks exactly the way so many fans always dreamed it could. It’s big, sweeping, and fully committed to the emotion of the material. Anne Hathaway’s “I Dreamed a Dream” alone is worth the price of admission. Tom Hooper leans into close-ups and grit, giving the story a raw intensity. It may not be perfect, but it absolutely feels like Les Mis should feel.
18. In the Heights (2021)
In the Heights bursts off the screen with joy, heart, and rhythm. Jon M. Chu’s direction is electric, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s score is full of life and longing. Anthony Ramos leads a stellar cast with charm and soul. It’s a love letter to community, culture, and chasing dreams—and it delivers big emotional payoffs without ever losing its sense of fun.
17. Dancer in the Dark (2000)
This one’s brutal—but unforgettable. Dancer in the Dark isn’t your typical movie musical. It’s raw, devastating, and anchored by a fearless, gut-wrenching performance from Björk. The musical numbers feel like fleeting moments of escape from a crushing reality, which makes them hit even harder. It’s not easy to watch, but it’s powerful, bold, and unlike anything else on this list.
16. West Side Story (2021)
Look, nothing will ever beat the 1961 original—but Spielberg’s West Side Story remake comes a lot closer than anyone expected. It’s gorgeous, passionate, and full of life. Spielberg made smart choices: grounding the story more in realism, casting actual Latinx actors, and letting the choreography feel raw and alive. Oscar-Winner Ariana DeBose is a force and Rachel Zegler shines. It’s not trying to replace the original—it’s honoring it, with just the right amount of reinvention.
15. The Muppets (2011)
The Muppets is exactly what a comeback should be—funny, heartfelt, self-aware, and totally joyful. It captures everything we loved about these characters while giving them a fresh, smart update. The original songs by Bret McKenzie are absolute gems (“Man or Muppet” is an instant classic), and the whole movie radiates love for the franchise. Jason Segel’s passion shows in every scene. This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a great musical and a great return to the Muppet magic we all missed.
14. Frozen II (2019)
Yes, I ranked Frozen II above the original—and no, I’m not sorry. The score is that much better. It’s deeper, more mature, and emotionally richer across the board. “Into the Unknown” is a vocal mountain, but songs like “Show Yourself” and “The Next Right Thing” hit on a whole other level. The animation is next-level stunning, and the themes of identity, legacy, and grief make this more than just a sequel—it’s a full-on evolution. This one sticks with you.
13. La La Land (2016)
La La Land is pure movie musical magic—nostalgic without being stuck in the past. Damien Chazelle’s love letter to dreamers lands thanks to a gorgeous score, stunning visuals, and two deeply human performances from Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” still wrecks me. It’s bittersweet, beautiful, and unafraid to break your heart. Say what you will—it reminded Hollywood that original musicals can be big, bold, and box office gold.
12. Into the Woods (2014)
Say what you want about movie musicals adapting Sondheim—Into the Woods pulls it off way better than it had any right to. Rob Marshall balances the fairy tale charm with the emotional weight underneath, and the cast is stacked. But let’s be real: Meryl Streep is, as always, incredible as the Witch. Her “Last Midnight” is pure fire and “Stay With Me” brings me to tears everytime. And Chris Pine? Shockingly great—his “Agony” is hilarious, self-aware, and weirdly perfect. The film trims a bit, sure, but it still delivers a dark, smart, beautifully sung take on a Broadway classic.
11. Cyrano (2021)
Cryano is one of the most underrated movie musicals of the last decade. Peter Dinklage gives a soulful, heartbreaking performance, and the original songs by The National are haunting, poetic, and deeply emotional. It’s a quieter kind of musical—romantic, aching, and beautifully staged—but it hits hard. The cinematography is stunning, the choreography feels like movement pulled from feeling, not formula, and the whole thing just aches in the best way. More people need to see this film.