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Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of cannibalism, drug use and sexual assault.Musical fans have likely seen all the biggest, most enduringly popular hits fromGreaseandRenttoLa La Land,but the musical world doesn’t stop there. In fact, some audience-favorite musicals that have achieved cult status are unusual films that defy contention—and may even please people who think they don’t like musicals.
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Musicals can be about anything, from cannibals to the dangers of marijuana. There are plenty of wacky, wild and truly out-there musicals that are must-sees for fans of the genre and beyond. Musical lovers who are in search of zany, bizarre dance numbers and songs you would never hear anywhere else should look no further than these weird and over-the-top musicals.
Updated on January 18th, 2023, by Hannah Saab:
With the recent success of instant classics like 2022’sThe Bob’s Burgers Movie,Spiritedand, of course,RRR, it’s clear that the genre continues to be a favorite among fans and critics alike. There’s no shortage of more unique and weirder musical films worth checking out for those who want a taste of something truly different.
‘Tommy’ (1975)
Based onThe Who’s albumTommy, the musical centers around a boy named Tommy, played by The Who’s frontmanRoger Daltrey. He is a “deaf, dumb, and blind kid” who “sure plays a mean pinball.” Tommy’s life is darkened by abuse, drug use and harassment but soon finds himself a pinball champion and a religious leader.
It’s possibly one of the strangest anddarkest musicals ever made, and invokes a lot of trippy 70s visuals. There are iron maidens, a 12-foot-tallElton John, cults, drugs and rock and roll. The musical features the entire Who album, and is a must-watch for fans of the band.
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)
1975 saw the release of another cult classic musical, in fact,thecult classic musical,The Rocky Horror Picture Show.The movie centers around Brad and Janet played byBarry BostwickandSusan Sarandon.The newly engaged couple finds themselves in the middle of nowhere on a dark rainy night with a flat tire. They look for help and find themselves at an ominous castle where they soon meet Dr. Frank N.Furter (Tim Curry).
Things quickly take a turn for the weird as Frank N.Furter reveals his newest invention and everything starts to go off the rails. The musical is filled with murder, aliens, sex, and betrayal. For generations, fans of the film have watched it ritualistically, even dressing up to see it in theaters with props and cues that they participate in, such as throwing toast at the stage. It’s the longest-running movie in history.
‘Shock Treatment’ (1981)
Six years after the initial release ofTheRocky Horror Picture Show,the film had a follow-up that not everyone knows about.Shock Treatmentdidn’t gain nearly as much success asTheRocky Horror Picture Show, and it didn’t see Tim Curry reprise his role as Dr.Frank N.Furter. The musical still features Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as Brad and Janet and still has plenty of wild and unique songs.
Shock Treatmentcatches up with Brad and Janet as they are going through marital problems and are forced to be participants in a TV game show called “Marriage Maze” to save their relationship. The entire film takes place in a town called Denton, which is a TV set complete with an interactive live audience. The commentary on the power of reality TV was ahead of its time, and everyRocky Horrorfan shouldn’t miss it.
‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ (2001)
Hedwig and the Angry Inchis a story about love, gender, sexuality and rock and roll. The film was adapted from an off-Broadway musical and was made into a movie, before also being turned into a Broadway musical.
The story centers on Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell) a queer East German rock singer who fled Europe shortly before the Wall came down. Hedwig married a US soldier to escape, but since gay marriage wasn’t an option, Hedwig was forced to undertake a botched gender-reassignment surgery. After her former partner and bandmate, Tommy (played byMichael Pitt),steals her music and becomes a rock star himself, Hedwig and her band shadow Tommy’s tour as she tells her story.
‘Cry-Baby’ (1990)
Directed by the King of Filth,John Waters, and starring a youngJohnny Deppas the titularCry-Baby, the movie is a tribute to the corniness as well as the cool styles of the 50s. The zany film captures the spirit of teenage rebellion in the 50s and delivers fantastic characters such as “Hatchet Face” played by the lateKim McGuire.
The movie focuses on a group of rebellious teens and the prim and proper schoolgirl, played byAmy Locane, who goes against her mother’s wishes when she dates the motorcycle-riding juvenile delinquent, Cry-baby. It’s a weird and wildly entertaining movie that is an absolute must-watch.
‘Rock ‘n’ Roll High School’ (1979)
Rock ‘n’ Roll High Schoolis another musical that focuses on the theme of teenage rebellion. This time, set in 1980. It’s all about having fun and sticking it to the establishment, and of course, rock ‘n’ roll. The movie features iconic rock songs by artists such asAlice CooperandThe Ramones.
The movie plays out like a Ramones fanfiction, starringP.J. Solesas Riff Randell, a Ramones fan who wants to meet the band to show them the song she wrote for them, but when their tyrannical principal confiscates the concert tickets, Riff and her friends have to find another way to get to the show.
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‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986)
The off-Broadway musicalLittle Shop of Horrorsbecame a cinematic hit featuringSteve Martinas a twisted, sadistic dentist, and follows the plot of a flesh-eating venus flytrap. The film is a dark comedy as well as a tale of romance. It also has a line of chorus girls adding 1960s doo-wop to the musical.
The movie is about Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), a nerdy orphan working in a flower shop on Skid Row. He has a crush on his co-worker Audrey Fulquard (Ellen Greene), despite her having an overbearing, abusive boyfriend. One day, Seymour finds a mysterious unidentified plant which he affectionately names Audrey II. The plant seems to crave more than just water, blood is what it needs to survive.
‘Anna and the Apocalypse’ (2017)
Anna and the Apocalypseis a British Christmas zombie musical based onRyan McHenry’s 2010 BAFTA-nominated shortZombie Musical. Thisfunny horror comedy moviehas everything you wouldn’t expect in a film, from candy-cane lawn ornaments used as weapons to the flesh-eating zombies and campy musical numbers, this movie is thoroughly entertaining and utterly bonkers from start to finish.
When zombies start to overrun the sleepy town of Little Haven, Anna and her friends have to fight, sing and dance to survive the undead. The teens fight their way through zombified snowmen, Santas, elves, and Christmas shoppers to get across town to the high school, where they’ll be safe. The movie is like ifShaun of the Deadwas a Christmas-themed musical.
‘Cannibal: The Musical’ (1993)
Trey ParkerandMatt Stoneare known for their projects such asSouth ParkandThe Book of Mormon. Before their famous TV show and musical, they also made the low-budgetCannibal: The Musical.The movie is based on the real-life case ofAlfred Packer, the only person convicted of cannibalism in America. After Packer (Parker) is the sole survivor of a deadly trip, he shares his story with a news reporter, Polly Pry (Toddy Walters), as he awaits his execution.
The movie features some pretty twisted subject matter, however, Parker and Stone manage to deliver some hilarious musical numbers such as an uplifting song about building a snowman as Packer and his men freeze and starve to death.
‘Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical’ (2005)
Reefer Madnessis a parody of the 1936 anti-weed propaganda film also calledReefer Madness.The original film warns how one puff of pot can turn people into satanic addicts, and the musical takes this threat and runs wild with it, resulting in a debaucherous, wild and over-the-top satire.
The musical starsKristen BellandChristian Campbellas a virtuous couple who are lured into a world of satanism, sex and murder thanks to marijuana. Along the way they encounter Jesus himself, but still find themselves in the clutches of the Reefer Man.
