Musicals are defined as a play or movie in which singing and dancing play an essential role. Musicals are extremely popular and I’m here to rank what I believe are the top 10 greatest musicals of all time.

*the link in the descriptions are links to the trailers

10. Funny Girl – a classic musical from 1963, follows Fanny Brice around New York prior to and following World War I. Fanny is awaiting her husband’s return from prison, and the story is set in a flashback form. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzOFC4XiqL0

9. Grease – one of the most commonly known musicals, this movie, filmed in 1978, was set back in the 1950’s. Discover friendships, relationships, cars, and a summer romance that gets put to the test. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNhZNp9GXb8

8. Beauty and the Beast – a cartoon made in 1991, a prince and all his servants get a spell put over them, the prince, who is now a beast, must find true love before the last petal on the enchanted rose falls, or they will remain in their current states forever.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YchS_EirYr0

7. Meet Me in St. Louis – this movie (which is also a play), is from 1944 and stars the ICONIC musical star, Judy Garland. Follow four sisters and their crazy lives as the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair is approaching quickly. Watch the sisters get educated on the world around them, and learn that in the end, love conquers all.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdEouRM7Xv8

6. West Side Story – this popular movie from 1961 revolves around a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Watch two gangs from New York fight it out, both trying to gain control of the turf. Everything turns upside down when a gang member falls in love with a rival’s sister.

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tK9tARX83Y

5. Hairspray – this movie, though filmed in 2007, takes place in 1960’s Baltimore. Follow a dedicated dancer Tracy earn a spot on the popular TV show, The Corny Collins Show. Tracy takes the world by storm, will she finally be able to bring racial integration to the show?

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUoG7mqCixI

4. Rent – This movie, filmed in 2005, takes place in the 1990’s. A group of New Yorker’s deal with their careers, love lives, and the AIDS epidemic taking over their community. What happens when a professor falls for a street drummer infected with AIDS?
   Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DCbviP3nx0

3. The Greatest Showman – this movie came out in 2017, but takes place all the way back in the 1850’s-1860’s. This story follows P.T. Barnum, a poor man that takes the world by storm and becomes a world-wide known face due to his “freak show”.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXCTMGYUg9A

2. Mamma Mia – Donna, an independent mother, is preparing for her daughter’s wedding. Sophie, the bride-to-be, secretly invites three men from her mom’s past, in hope of meeting her real father before her wedding day.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RBNHdG35WY

1. And–drumroll please–I believe the best musical made to this day is the Wizard of Oz. This movie, also starring the iconic Judy Garland, follows Dorothy and Toto in a magical land known as Oz. They follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City to meet the Wizard. After making new friends, none of whom are human, and attempting to be killed by the Wicked Witch of the West, watch Dorothy and Toto on their crazy adventures.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njdreZRjvpc

Now whether you have heard of these musicals or not, these are all iconic musicals that are excellent with great stories and lessons to be learned in all of them. I recommend watching all of these musicals if you’re given the option, you will not be disappointed.