Isn’t it true, that when the screen bursts into song, it’s pure magic? We certainly think so. Movie musicals have a way of lifting your spirits and turning a simple story into a memorable spectacle. The world of movie musicals is vast, and so, the many options available for streaming can make finding the right one a bit difficult. Need to know which hits all the right notes? This list will help.
Here, in this definitive guide, we present the top 10 movie musicals of all time and reveal a celebration of the genre. We don’t just include movie musicals of the timeless Broadway adaptation genre, though. Here, you also get modern hits and beloved family films. By reflecting on the viewing public’s reviews and what’s trending, we offer a ranking that points you in the direction of top feel-good movie to help you start streaming the best movie musicals.
What are the best movie musicals to watch?
Here at Compare TV, we pride ourselves on providing trustworthy and expertly-curated content – so much so that we simply do not choose movie musicals at random. Analysing what’s trending across popular streaming platforms and gauging public sentiment from a range of reliable sources is how compiled our rankings – and it shows exactly what viewers are loving right now.
We want to make your viewing experience as easy as possible. That’s why we include various key details in the list. It’s more than a title and the runtime – in fact, we provide information on its genre, the director, a brief synopsis, the main cast and which streaming service you can find it on.
Yesterday
Romance •Comedy •Music •Fantasy •Musical
Overview
A struggling musician realizes he’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate reality where the group was forgotten.
Duration
112 minutes
8 Mile
Drama •Music •Musical
Overview
For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit’s vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice – and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and every moment… is another chance.
Duration
111 minutes
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Music •Comedy •Musical •Crime •Action •Adventure
Overview
Exploring every facet of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like ‘Eat It’ and ‘Like a Surgeon’ to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle, this biopic takes audiences on a truly unbelievable journey through Yankovic’s life and career, from gifted child prodigy to the greatest musical legend of all time.
Duration
108 minutes
Step Up
Musical •Drama •Crime •Music •Romance
Overview
Tyler Gage receives the opportunity of a lifetime after vandalizing a performing arts school, gaining him the chance to earn a scholarship and dance with an up and coming dancer, Nora.
Duration
104 minutes
Bob Marley: One Love
Music •Drama •Musical •History
Overview
Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley overcomes adversity to become the most famous reggae musician in the world.
Duration
104 minutes
Sing
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Family •Music •Musical
Overview
A pig, a mouse, a porcupine, a gorilla, an elephant and other animals gather at a koala’s theatre for a singing competition.
Duration
103 minutes
Trolls
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Fantasy •Family •Music •Musical •Action •Adventure
Overview
After the monstrous Bergens invade Troll Village, Princess Poppy, the happiest Troll ever born, and overly-cautious, curmudgeonly outcast Branch set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.
Duration
89 minutes
Pitch Perfect 3
Musical •Comedy •Music
Overview
After the highs of winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.
Duration
89 minutes
The Sting
Comedy •Drama •Crime •Music •Musical
Overview
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
Duration
129 minutes
Billy Elliot
Drama •Music •Musical •Comedy
Overview
County Durham, England, 1984. The miners’ strike has started and the police have started coming up from Bethnal Green, starting a class war with the lower classes suffering. Caught in the middle of the conflict is 11-year old Billy Elliot, who, after leaving his boxing club for the day, stumbles upon a ballet class and finds out that he’s naturally talented. He practices with his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson for an upcoming audition in Newcastle-upon Tyne for the royal Ballet school in London.
Duration
110 minutes
Frequently asked questions
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Benefits
Using songs and dance to tell the story itself, movie musicals are totally different to regular movies with songs, and there are a few other reasons for this – the characters’ emotions and the plot often progress through musical numbers. But, in a regular movie with songs, the music might be in the background or performed by a band – but, remember, it’s not the main way the story is told.
Yes, live-action is popular – and that’s because some of the most memorable musicals are visual spectacles. Like grand dance numbers? Prefer colourful emotionally resonant on-screen action? They’re all waiting to be discovered in this genre and are incredibly popular, providing a chance to escape from real life.
The world of musicals is full of iconic films, that’s why we are selective and use a process based on what’s currently trending as opposed to just personal views. But, at Compare TV we just know that our selection represents what audiences are loving right now.
The best thing about our guide? Every single best movie musical on our list is available on a major Australian streaming service – we know this because we check the availability so you can start watching right away. Audiences can even learn exactly where each musical is streaming. Sit back and enjoy the show!
Modern hits and classic movie musicals are just a couple of sub-genres that are taking the world by storm – but these are also among other genres like original Broadway adaptations that set the stage for all of today’s great musicals, as well as fairytale musicals and folk musicals.
That Broadway adaptation you are interested in is a film version of a stage show, with a director who uses post-production editing to determine how the story is viewed, while the original movie musical you are intrigued by is created specifically for the big screen. Both are fantastic, and you’ll find a mix of both on our list.
Underrated gems that appeal to audiences are, without a doubt, worth watching, for a few key reasons – they provide unique stories and never-heard-before music that is unique and, often, very mesmerising. We love the lesser-known musicals as they open up a whole new and exciting performance that surprises us and keeps us fully engaged.
Our website is the perfect place to search for other movies by genre or cast as we offer a universal search that helps you find content across multiple streaming platforms.
