Ask ten people to name the best movie musical ever made and you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some will point to a Technicolor classic from their childhood, others to a big screen adaptation of a Broadway smash. The genre has been around since sound arrived in cinema, so the field is crowded.
Still, a few titles keep rising to the top of critics’ lists and audience favorites alike. Three of them stand out for their craft, their staying power, and the way they’ve been passed down from one generation to the next.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, this MGM film is set during Hollywood’s shaky shift from silent pictures to talkies. Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor lead the cast. The title number, with Kelly splashing through a rain soaked street, is one of the most recognizable scenes in film history.
Its reputation has held up remarkably well. The American Film Institute ranked it the best movie musical on its list of the greatest American musicals, and it placed high on the organization’s broader list of top American films. Donald O’Connor’s physical comedy routine in “Make ‘Em Laugh” remains a benchmark for dance and slapstick combined.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Robert Wise directed this adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, with Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp. It was filmed largely on location in and around Salzburg, Austria, which gave the story a sweeping visual scale. The songs, including “Do-Re-Mi” and “Edelweiss,” are still widely sung today.
The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also became a huge commercial success and, for a time, was the highest grossing film ever released. Critics have sometimes called it sentimental, yet its popularity, especially around holiday television schedules, has never really faded.
West Side Story (1961)
Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, this update of Romeo and Juliet moves the tale to the streets of New York City. Leonard Bernstein’s score and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics give it real musical weight, while Robbins’ choreography gives it a restless, physical energy. Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, and George Chakiris headlined the cast.
It won ten Academy Awards, among them Best Picture, which set a record for a musical at the time. Rita Moreno took home Best Supporting Actress and George Chakiris won Best Supporting Actor. Steven Spielberg released a new version in 2021, which helped introduce the story to a newer audience and sent many viewers back to the original.
Which Ones Have You Seen?
If you’ve watched all three, you’ve covered the golden age of the Hollywood musical from backstage comedy to romantic drama to urban tragedy. If you’ve only seen one, the order hardly matters, since each one works on its own terms. Singin’ in the Rain is the lightest, The Sound of Music the most family friendly, and West Side Story the most dramatic.
All three are widely available through home video and streaming or rental services, though availability varies by region and changes often. Checking a service like JustWatch can show where each one is playing in your country. Pick the one that matches your mood tonight and press play.
