A Fun List of the 20 Best Movie Musicals for Us to Debate

[lull89]

HitFix.com just posted this gallery of what they chose as the 20 best movie musicals of the past 50 years. Out of the films that I have seen I have a few issues (and find at least one notable omission from my taste), but I found their top few picks to be very strong. What say you all?


Top 20 Movie Musicals of the Last 50 Years

[qolbinau]

Sweeney Todd and Chicago not even on the list? meh

[Jordan Catalano]

It's an odd list but I don't think SWEENEY TODD deserves to be on it, thanks to the horrendous singing voices in it.

[fashionguru_23]

No West Side Story or The Wizard of Oz? Interesting...

[Jordan Catalano]

They weren't made in the last 50 years.

[broadwaydevil]

No The Jazz Singer ? Interesting...
No The Godfather ? Interesting...
No Jan Maxwell ? Interesting...

[ChanceEncounter]

Chicago deserves to be on there, but Sweeney Todd definitely not.

Glad to see 8 Femmes on the list. That's a wonderful and fun film.

[henrikegerman]

Oliver!, Chicago, and Funny Girl notably absent. But I'm also glad to see 8 Women included.

[Addison D.]

I'll add my huzzah for '8 Femmes'--one of my all-time faves. I'm also happy to see 'Hedwig' and Bjork on the list.

I might combine the Disney renaissance films into 1 entry to make room for 'Funny Girl', though. And I'm not sure that 'Moulin Rouge' deserves a spot more than 'Chicago'.

While I appreciate that rules are rules etc., I have to object to 'West Side Story' not making the list. IMDB lists the American, Japanese and Brazilian release dates as December, 1961 but worldwide release continued well into 1962.

[Kad]

It IS weird Chicago isn't on there, though I do like the inclusion of more off-beat things.

I think WSS being left off is more technicality. I would assume they're going by premiere dates. It's considered a 1961 film.

[Gothampc]

I'd drop Dancer in the Dark and replace it with Tommy. How can you not include Tina Turner's Acid Queen?

[RENT_is_Wicked2]

Chicago??????????????

I also enjoyed "Hello Dolly" as well.

[Addison D.]

Ugh. I forgot 'Tommy'. I'll give up 'Grease' for 'Tommy', but not 'Dancer'. 'Dancer' is difficult, but SO powerful. It's an important movie (for me).

Maybe--like combining 'Little Mermaid' & 'Beauty & The Beast' into a single Disney Renaissance spot on the list--we can sneak 'Funny Girl' and 'Dolly' in under a Streisand Period Costume Musical item.

I've never seen 'Phantom of the Paradise'--does it really belong on the list?

[StageManager2]

I think WSS being left off is more technicality. I would assume they're going by premiere dates. It's considered a 1961 film.

It's considered a 1961 film because it is from 1961. It was released on October 18, 1961, to be exact. The article is about the best musicals of the past 50 years. So 1962 would be the cut-off point.

[JP2]

They sure picked the right #1. :)


Though, I'd have taken 1-2 out and replaced with either Chicago or Hairspray.

[daisybeetle]

The Music Man (1962) should be there.

[degrassifan]

I don't know how I feel about The Sound of Music being number 5 and Mary Poppins being number 3. I think they should switch places. Also, I think Chicago should have been on the list, as well as (don't hurt me!!) Hairspray. If Dreamgirls made it, then these two should have made it as well. I'm glad The Little Mermaid was on the list. Usually, it's always Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King on these lists, but never TLM, so I'm glad it made it. Oh, and I'm surprised Oliver! didn't make the list.

[Gothampc]

Also, they didn't include any of the tv musicals?

Bette Midler Gypsy

Matthew/Kristin Music Man

Jason/Vanessa Bye Bye Birdie

Glennie South Pacific

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I'm with Chicago and Sweeney people. Both of those are personal favorites. I was glad to see Hedwig included. Fiddler on the Roof is a head-scratcher. I'm never sure what I think about it. I'll always be lukewarm on Dreamgirls, so I'd maybe question that one's inclusion.

All of the others are pretty reasonable.

[ChanceEncounter]

The sweeney movie was no good.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

You're no good!

[canmark]

Indiewire has a poll: Best Live-Action Movie Musical of the Last 75 Years

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/movie-musicals-top-20-of-all-time

[madbrian]

I'd also find room for A Hard Day's Night on the list of top musicals.

[ChanceEncounter]

You're no good!


i won't deny that

[EricMontreal22]

"I've never seen 'Phantom of the Paradise'--does it really belong on the list?"


Any list with Little Shop at the top (and I don't disagree with its placement) owes some debt to Paradise, so yes, I think it's justified.

[Addison D.]

OK Eric--you've never led me wrong; I'll stream it on Amazon later tonight...