The 30 Best Movie Musicals for Teens
Nothing makes you feel quite as good as a musical. The singing, the dancing, and the sheer absurdity of breaking into song at completely random times have us hooked. We rounded up the 30 best movie musicals that you have to see at some point. From '60s classics like West Side Story to modern masterpieces like La La Land, these movies are some of the most iconic musicals of all time.
1/30The Wizard of Oz (1939)
What can we say about the enduring classic *The Wizard of Oz * that hasn’t been said before? It’s one of the most beloved movies of all time, basically — and given that it was released in 1939, that's saying something. Dorothy and her besties defeat a witch and find what they’re looking for (a heart, a home, some brains, courage) because of their friendship. Turn it on whenever you need a trip over the rainbow.
Starring: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton
Unforgettable Songs: "The Wizard of Oz," "Over the Rainbow," "If I Only Had a Brain" and "We're Off to See the Wizard."
2/30Singin' In the Rain (1952)
Few musicals are more delightful than Singin’ in the Rain. It tells the story of a movie superstar who’s struggling with the advent of “talkies,” and his plan to dominate movie screens once more … with the help of the fiery Kathy. Once you’ve seen the dance numbers in the rain, you’ll never be the same. It’s so romantic!
Starring: Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds
Unforgettable Songs: "Singin' in the Rain," "Good Morning" and "Moses Supposes"
3/30Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are two showgirls embarking on a trip to Paris when one of them is entangled in a jewel heist. The costumes and songs are so over-the-top that watching this is like eating a ton of sweet, sweet candies.
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn and Elliott Reid
Unforgettable Songs: "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," "A Little Girl from Little Rock" and "Bye Bye Baby."
4/30White Christmas (1954)
Christmas isn’t complete without a viewing or two of this Irving Berlin classic. Yes, it’s *really * long and kind of far-fetched, but the musical numbers are total perfection. When Bing starts to sing “White Christmas,” you can’t help but shed a tear.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney
Unforgettable Songs:"White Christmas," and "The Old Man."
5/30Funny Face (1957)
It’s a musical about a fashion magazine! Audrey Hepburn’s character is a bookish young woman whose swanlike looks attract Fred Astaire, a fashion photographer based on Richard Avedon. Any musical that blends beautiful costumes with Fred Astaire’s dance moves and a trip to Paris is a musical we’re gonna watch over and over.
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire and Kay Thompson
Unforgettable Songs: "Funny Face," "Bonjour, Paris," "Let's Kiss and Make Up" and "'S Wonderful."
6/30West Side Story (1961)
*West Side Story * was conceived as a “modern” version of Romeo and Juliet in 1961. Maria is the sister of the lead Shark, and she falls in love with one of the Jets, their rival gang. Much singing and dancing ensues.
Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn and Rita Moreno
Unforgettable Songs: "Maria," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty,""Jet Song," "Something's Coming," "One Hand, One Heart," "The Rumble," "Gee, Officer Krupke," and "A Boy Like That."
7/30My Fair Lady (1964)
Audrey Hepburn’s singing was dubbed by the legendary soprano Marni Nixon, but it doesn’t matter. *My Fair Lady * was based on the play Pygmalion, a story about a haughty professor who makes a bet that he can transform a low-class flower seller into a lady in just a few weeks. We could have danced — and watched this musical all night.
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison and Stanley Holloway
Unforgettable Songs: "Why Can't the English?" "Just You Wait," "With a Little Bit of Luck," "I'm Just an Ordinary Man," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "The Rain in Spain," "On the Street Where You Live," "Get Me to the Church On Time," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."
8/30Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
This musical is all about a teenage girl who gets involved with an Elvis-esque rock star. Ann-Margret, as Kim, is totally electric and charming. You’ll fall in love with her as soon as the credits begin. (They could totally remake this with Harry Styles or Zayn as Conrad Birdie.)
Starring: Ann-Margret, Janet Leigh and Dick Van Dyke
Unforgettable Songs: "Put On a Happy Face," "Bye Bye Birdie" and "The Telephone Hour."
9/30Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins was the nanny we all wanted to have. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke have been delighting children (and adults!) for decades as Mary and Bert the chimney sweep. No one ever forgets the songs from this Disney classic; who would we be without “A Spoonful of Sugar?” Bonus: Disney is remaking this with Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda in 2018.
Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson and Glynis Johns.
Unforgettable Songs: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "The Perfect Nanny," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Chim Chim Cher-ee, "Let's Go Fly a Kite," and "The Life I Lead."
10/30The Sound of Music (1965)
The Sound of Music is so beloved and iconic that you could write an essay about it. How do you solve a problem like Maria? You give her a guitar and have her babysit a bunch of singing kids, that’s how.
Starring: Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer
Unforgettable Songs: "The Sound of Music," "Maria," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss, and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen."
11/30Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The movie was originally conceived as a send-up of B-movie sci-fi flicks, but it took on a new life as a cult classic. People still go see it at midnight dressed up as the singing, dancing characters from Transylvania, and Fox recently remade the movie for a modern audience.
Starring: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick
Unforgettable Songs: "Dammit Janet," "Time Warp," and "Sweet Transvestite."
12/30Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
*Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory * is at times charming, at times hilarious, and a little scary, too. That’s what makes it so magical!
Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn Cole, Denise Dickerson and Jack Albertson
Unforgettable Songs: "Oompa Loompa," "The Candy Man," "Pure Imagination" and "I've Got a Golden Ticket."
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13/30Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
This lively musical tells the tale of a Jewish father Tevya trying to find good husbands for his three daughters, each with a story of her own. Set in the fictional village of Anatevka, life is changing in the world around them and Tevya fears for their safety as anti-semitic forces threaten their traditional way of life. The film won three Oscars and is a classic.
Starring: Topol, Norma Crane and Leonard Frey
Unforgettable Songs: "Sunrise, Sunset," "Matchmaker," "To Life," "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Miracle of Miracles."
14/30Cabaret (1972)
*Cabaret * is set in ‘30s Berlin, just before World War II. It made a star out of Judy Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, who plays showgirl Sally Bowles. (Fun fact: Emma Stone took her turn as Sally during the Broadway revival.)
Starring: Liza Minelli, Michael York and Joey Grey
Unforgettable Songs: "Willkommen," "Mein Herr," "Maybe This Time," "Money, Money," and "Cabaret."
15/30Grease (1978)
In one of the greatest teen musicals of all time, good girl Sandy and bad boy Danny fall in love in the '50s but just can’t seem to make it work! She’s too pure to be pink, and his crew of T-Birds is more interested in restoring their junky car. Fox brought *Grease * to TV screens everywhere with Grease Live! in 2016, and it was hugely successful.
Starring: Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta and Stockard Channing
Unforgettable Songs: "Grease," "Summer Nights," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "You're the One that I Want," "Beauty School Dropout," "Greased Lightnin'," "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee," and "Sandy."
16/30The Wiz (1978)
The Wiz featured an entirely African-American cast. In this version, Dorothy lives in Harlem, not Kansas, and her shoes are silver, not red. A live adaptation came to TV in late 2015, but the original is a must-watch.
Starring: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Ted Ross and Nipsey Russell
Unforgettable Songs: "Ease On Down the Road," "A Brand New Day," "You Can't Win," "Be a Lion," and "He's the Wizard."
17/30Fame (1980)
This 1980 movie musical is based on the real life LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and it follows a class of talented dancers, actors, and musicians from freshman year to graduation. It also gave us the ‘80s megahit “Fame” by Irene Cara. It’s gonna live forever.
Starring: Eddie Barth, Irene Cara, and Lee Curreri
Unforgettable Songs: "Fame," "Out Here on My Own," and "I Sing the Body Electric."
18/30Chicago (1996)
Ah, the murderous mistresses of the Windy City. When *Chicago * premiered on the big screen in 2002, it made a huge splash and swept the Oscars. Once you’ve seen Catherine Zeta-Jones tear it up as Velma Kelly, you’ll know why.
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweiger and Richard Gere
Unforgettable Songs: "All That Jazz," "Cell Block Tango," "When You're Good to Mama," "All I Care About," "We Both Reached for the Gun," "Roxie," "Razzle Dazzle" and "Roxie."
19/30Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Baz Luhrmann did something really risky with this 2001 musical. He had his characters sing modern pop songs in the context of 1899 Paris, and it totally worked. It’s one of the most romantic, stunningly beautiful musicals of all time — almost like a Valentine of exploding colors for your eyes.
Starring: Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor
Unforgettable Songs: "One Day I'll Fly Away," "El Tango de Roxanne," Sparkling Diamonds,"Because We Can," "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" and "Lady Marmalade."
20/30Carmen: a Hip-Hopera (2001)
This 2001 MTV movie was not only Beyoncé’s acting debut, but also a hip-hop remake of the Bizet opera and the film Carmen Jones. The star-studded cast also included Mekhi Phifer, Wylef, Da Brat, and Mos Def. Thank you for this musical for teens, MTV.
Starring: Beyoncé, Mekhi Phifer, Wylef, Da Brat, and Mos Def
Unforgettable Songs: "Stop That!," "Hip-Hopera," Cards Never Lie" and B.L.A.Z.E."
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21/30The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The chilling story of a masked madman who hides beneath a Paris opera house in an underground lair comes to life onscreen. His obsession with young ingenue Christine Daaé leads to murder and mayhem, but in the end, love prevails.
Starring: Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler, Minnie Driver and Patrick Wilson.
Unforgettable Songs: "Think of Me," "Angel of Music," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Prima Donna," "The Music of the Night" and "All I Ask of You."
22/30RENT (2005)
*RENT * was really revolutionary when it debuted; it deals heavily with the AIDS crisis of the ‘80s, as well as LGBTQ issues, and tells the story of New York City as it was back before gentrification. We wish we had five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes to watch it on repeat.
Starring: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel
Unforgettable Songs: "Seasons of Love," "Rent," ":Out Tonight," "One Song Glory," "I'll Cover You," and "La Vie Bohème."
23/30Dreamgirls (2006)
This musical is based in part on the story of the Supremes and the world of Motown in the ‘60s and ‘70s. It won *American Idol * singer Jennifer Hudson an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and Beyoncé’s character Deena was very heavily based on Diana Ross.
Starring: Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover
Unforgettable Songs: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "Listen," Dreamgirls" and "Love You I Do."
24/30Hairspray (2007)
You can cast Zac Efron in anything and we’ll watch it, but this remake of the classic John Waters movie about Tracy Turnblad and the TV show she appears on is one of our faves. Our hearts are skipping a beat watching Zac play the oh-so-dreamy Link Larkin.
Starring: Zac Efron, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Marsden
Unforgettable Songs: "You Can't Stop the Beat," "Good Morning Baltimore" and "The Nicest Kids in Town"
25/30Enchanted (2007)
Disney’s live action princess movie *Enchanted * delighted audiences everywhere. Amy Adams, as the adorably naïve new New Yorker Giselle, actually made us believe she *was * a Disney princess who could make IRL rats and pigeons clean an apartment. And James Marsden as the prince? Dreamy.
Starring: Amy Adams, Susan Sarandon and James Marsden
Unforgettable Songs: "True Love's Kiss," "Happy Working Song" and "That's How You Know."
26/30Mamma Mia! (2008)
Featuring gorgeous Greek scenery and the incomparable Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia! is a non-stop feel-good movie centering around a young bride's spirited quest to find out who her father is. The only problem? There are three potential candidates, and she's got to figure out who it is!
Starring: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan
Unforgettable Songs: "The Winner Takes It All," "Mamma Mia," "Money, Money, Money," "Honey, Honey," "Take a Chance on Me" and "Dancing Queen."
27/30Les Misérables (2012)
The movie adaptation of this Broadway classic had critics and fans pretty divided, but it’s important to include, partially because of Anne Hathaway’s stellar performance as Fantine. Eddie Redmayne’s singing voice isn’t much to scoff at either, TBH.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter
Unforgettable Songs: "I Dreamed a Dream," "Castle on a Cloud, "On My Own," and "Do You Hear the People Sing."
28/30Annie (2014)
Whether you choose the ‘80s version starring Carol Burnett as the most iconic Miss Hannigan of all time of the ‘00s remake with Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis, this story of a plucky little orphan girl will warm your heart *and * get “Tomorrow” stuck in your head.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis, Rose Byrne, and Cameron Diaz
Unforgettable Songs: "It's a Hard Knock Life," "Tomorrow" and"Little Girls"
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29/30Beauty and the Beast (2017)
The animated classic came to life in the latest version of Beauty and the Beast. It's a tale as old as time: girl meets beast, girl loves fall in love with beast, beast turns into prince and they live happily ever after, with song and dance all along the way!
Starring: Emma Watson, Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad and Kevin Kline
Unforgettable Songs: "Beauty and the Beast," "Be Our Guest," "Gaston," "How Does a Moment Last Forever" and "Something There."
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30/30La La Land (2016)
Struggling to make it in Los Angeles, jazz aficionado Sebastian and actress Mia fall in love. As their careers begin to take off, their relationship struggles. The film won the Academy Award for best actress, best original music score, best director, best cinematography and best production design.
Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and John Legend
Unforgettable Songs: "City of Stars," "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" and "Another Day of Sun."
