Movies provide escapism for their audience, and there’s nothing more escapist than a movie musical. Watching actors burst into song and dance on a big screen is a highlight of the medium.
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From stage adaptations to original musicals, the world of cinematic movie musicals has only grown in the past five years. Theatre composers, comedy songwriters, and even a handful of rock bands have helped expand the movie musical songbook in exciting new ways. The past five years have brought instant classics, new cult favorites, and under-the-radar gems for musical fans to savor.
1’Cyrano' (2022)
DirectorJoe Wrightis most well known for his sumptuous period dramas. His cinematic adaptation ofCyranois his first foray into the world of movie musicals. Featuring music fromErica Schmidtand the National, it’s the musical version of the classicEdmond Rostandplay about the titular lovesick poet (Peter Dinklage), his undying love for the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett), and his romantic mentorship/rivalry with the hapless soldier Christian (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.).
Schmidt’s script adaptation is beautiful, but it’s the National’s score that makes this version of the romance sing. Yearning love songs like Roxanne’s “Someone to Say” and Cyrano’s “Madly” stir the heart, but it’s “Wherever I Fall,” a heartrending trio sung by soldiers preparing to die on the battlefield that proves to be the most moving musical moment of the film.
2’Smallfoot' (2018)
From the trailers and meme-immortalized advertising, audiences going to see Sony Pictures Animation’sSmallfootwere led to believe the film was just a straightforward animated comedy. Turns out, the animated story of yeti Migo (Channing Tatum) — who discovers smallfeet (humans) are real — is indeed a movie musical.Wayne andKarey Kirkpatrick,the sibling writers of Tony-winning Broadway musicalSomething Rotten!, provide the screenplay, songs, and direction.
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The film’s beautifully animated musical numbers feel stage-ready just from watching them. From Migo’s cheery opening number, “Perfection,” to Meechee (Zendaya)’s big anthem, “Wonderful Life,” to Stonekeeper’s (Common) intense villain rap, “Now You Know,” the score is wonderfully varied in song styles. The gorgeous animation, great songs, and entertaining screenplay makeSmallfoota truly underrated musical gem.
3’Annette' (2021)
2021 was the year ofSparks. In addition toThe Sparks Brothers,Edgar Wright’s career-spanning musical documentary on the quirky genre-defying band, the world bore witness toAnnette,the duo’s bizarre and brilliant collaboration with French directorLeos Carax.The film tells the darkly funny, nearly-operatic tale of standup comic Henry McHenry (Adam Driver), opera singer Ann Desfranoux (Marion Cotillard), andtheir miraculous puppet baby, the titular Annette,whose stardom is set to eclipse them both.
The score by the Mael brothers is inventive, hypnotic, and downright catchy. Songs like “We Love Each Other So Much” and “So May We Start?” swirl in the mind, andSimon Helberg’s showstopping “I’m An Accompanist” is a bravura bit of character work in song form. Whenever Baby Annette sings, it’s truly unforgettable – there’s no movie musical quite like this one.
4’Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical' (2022)
The belovedRoald Dahlchildren’s bookMatilda,the story of the book-loving little girl who uses her psychic abilities to overcome the abuse she faces from her obnoxious parents and terrifying school headmistress, is no stranger to the screen. In 1996,Danny DeVitohelmed a beloved cinematic adaptation of the book. 2022’s new film adaptation is lovingly based on the award-winning stage musical by Australian musical comedianTim Minchinand book writerDennis Kelly, whimsically directed by stage helmerMatthew Warchus.
Minchin’s songs and lyrics are richly clever, and the cast delivers them brilliantly.Alisha Weir’s Matilda defiantly sings “Naughty,” and her “Quiet” is shatteringly powerful;Emma Thompson’s Trunchbull blows the roof off the room with her take on “The Smell of Rebellion;“Lashana Lynch’s “My House” is lovely; the kid cast triumphs on “Bruce” and TikTok-iconic “Revolting Children.” There is simply so much to love in this movie musical.
5’The Bob’s Burgers Movie' (2022)
Beloved Fox animated sitcomBob’s Burgersisno stranger to musical numbers.In its leap from small screen to large,The Bob’s Burgers Moviefinds the stakes higher and the musical numbers bigger. When a sinkhole opens up outside the restaurant, the Belchers must rally to save their business and home and solve a murder mystery in the process!
The series' musical episodes always provide memorable tunes, and the movie is no exception. Though it only has a few numbers, the cast makes all of them count. “Sunny Side Up Summer” is a delightful Disney-style opener, and the rest of the soundtrack is fizzy fun. Be sure to watch the movie before diving into the soundtrack: it is spoiler heavy.
6’The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage!' (2019)
The SpongeBob Musical,a two-hour filmed capture of the Broadway musical, essentially functions as a live-action musical episode. If it could count as an episode of the show, it’d be one of the best of the entireSpongeBob Squarepantsfranchise. The impending eruption of Mount Humongous threatens Bikini Bottom and its way of life, so it’s up to SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy to save the day — while Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Pearl, and Plankton have their own hopes, dreams, and schemes to get through the crisis.
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The SpongeBob Musicalis brilliantly written byKyle Jarrowand a team of superstar songwriters (including a contribution from the lateDavid Bowie), designed gorgeously byDavid Zinn, and directed with endless imagination byTina Landau. The human cast (led by Tony nomineeEthan Slateras SpongeBob) brings the cartoon to vibrant life, andhavingTom Kennyswing by to play Patchy the Pirateadds an extra layer of love to this valentine to the series. It may sound bizarre on paper, but this ever-inventive musical could be the series' crowning achievement.
7’Everybody’s Talking About Jamie' (2021)
Based on a true story made into a popular documentary, the joyous musicalEverybody’s Talking About Jamiebecame a West End sensation and, in 2021,became a deeply underrated movie musical. This musical tells the story of Jamie New (Max Harwood), a British teen who dreams of being a drag queen. With help from his supportive mum (Sarah Lancashire), best friend Pritti (Lauren Patel), and local drag queen Hugo/Loco Chanelle (Richard E. Grant), Jamie finds the courage to stand up to his abusive father, fight the school bully, and truly shine as the star he’s meant to be.
The movie positively glows. The score byDan Gillespie SellsandTom MacRaeis full of absolute bops. One new addition to the score, Hugo’s nostalgic anthem, “This Was Me,” is especially breathtaking, illuminating the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis.
8’Over The Moon' (2020)
Glen Keaneknows a thing or two about great animated musicals. Like theAlan Menken/Howard AshmanDisney Renaissance movies he worked on in the 1980s and 1990s, his gorgeous musical for NetflixOver the Mooncombines beautifully animated storytelling and Broadway-ready tunes by theatre writersHelen Park(KPOP)andChristopher Curtis(Chaplin).The film tells the story of Fei Fei (Cathy Ang), an adventurous girl who builds a rocket to the moon in hopes of meeting Chang’e, the Moon Goddess (Phillipa Soo).
The musical numbers makeOver the Moonout of this world. Fei Fei’s “I want” song “Rocket to the Moon” is joyful and inspiring; Chang’e’s “Ultraluminary” is a pop masterpiece; and their climactic duet “Love Someone New” is a tearjerker in every sense of the word. This Oscar-nominated animated musical adventure is sure to make anyone’s heart soar.
9’Mary Poppins Returns' (2018)
The Disney classicMary Poppinshas stood the test of time since its debut in 1964. Its utterly underrated sequel,Mary Poppins Returns, has a charming new story to tell. The Banks children have grown up, and with children of their own and money troubles looming, the Bankses are visited once again by their beloved magical nanny (Emily Blunt) to help bring some wonder back into their lives and make things right again.
The new songs byMarc ShaimanandScott Wittman(writers ofHairsprayand NBC’sSmash) are wonderful pastiches of the classicSherman Brotherssound from the original. The top performances by Blunt andLin-Manuel Miranda(as friendly lamplighter Jack) are wonderful without being carbon copies ofJulie AndrewsandDick Van Dyke. And a surprise cameo byAngela Lansburyties this whole heartwarming movie musical together.
10’Inu-Oh' (2022)
Masaaki Yuasa’s anime always tips toward the weird and wonderful. His Golden Globe-nominated historical rock opera folklore epicInu-Ohstands out in the animation and movie musical fields. This edgy riff on a Japanese folktale tells the tale of a blind priest and a disfigured outcast who make incredible music together.
The visuals inInu-Ohare astounding throughout, nowhere more so than in the truly over-the-top musical numbers. Mystical and hard-rocking, its musical sequences are dizzyingly imaginative.Inu-Ohis a wholly unorthodox, fabulous anime rock opera explosion that defies mere explanation.
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