People who don't like musicals will enjoy these 20 movie musicals

Moulin Rouge!  has an infectious energy that is apparent from the very start. At once ebullient and heartbreakingly tragic, it depicts the doomed love between aspiring poet Christian (Ewan McGregor) and courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman). The songs are drawn from various decades of pop music, and the only thing is shot in Baz Luhrmann’s signature frenetic style. It’s the type of musical film that appeals to both musical lovers and non-musical lovers alike, and only a heart of stone would remain unmoved by its conclusion. 

While the original version of West Side Story was and very much is for tried and true musical lovers, the newer, Steven Spielberg-directed musical has a broader appeal. It has a potent, kinetic energy to its cinematography and some rich and color-saturated visuals (particularly the costumes). In addition to this, it boasts some strong performances from the likes of Ariana DeBose, Rachel Zegler, and Ansel Elgort. It’s a film that succeeds as much on its own terms as much as it does as an updated version of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical.

Even though Chris Columbus’ film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s beloved musical might have alienated those who loved the original play, it still has much to recommend it, particularly to those who don’t really like musicals. To begin with, its numbers are primarily influenced by rock, which means they tend not to sound like the sort of songs one expects from a traditional musical. For another, the film explores some very dark thematic territory, particularly homelessness and the AIDS crisis, helping to anchor the film’s central drama.  

Even those who don’t like musicals will still find much to enjoy in Coal Miner’s Daughter, the biopic about Loretta Lynn. Drawing its title from the country singer’s signature song, this biopic, which stars Sissy Spacek as Lynn, documents her childhood in poverty and her rise to fame as one of the most prominent voices in country music. Spacek is truly outstanding in this role, all the more so because she actually does all of her own singing, and she actually manages to sound quite like the woman she is playing. 

One of the buzziest movies of 2024 is Emilia Pérez,  which focuses on the title character, a drug lord who undergoes gender confirmation surgery and starts her life anew. However, she soon discovers this isn’t as easy as it seems. The film has a number of exciting numbers, but they tend to be spoken-sung rather than sung outright. Moreover, there’s a hauntingly tragic note to the film that hits home, and it features a remarkable cast, including Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofía Gascón.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of those films that has had a remarkable legacy, especially considering the fact that it was made on a shoestring budget. Nevertheless, its infectious camp energy and play with gender and sexuality — as well as its clear homages to B movies of all kinds — gives it a certain timeless quality. Just as importantly, it also stars Tim Curry in one of the roles that would come to define his career, and no one who has seen him as Dr. Frank-N-Furter is ever likely to forget it.

Andrew Garfield gives a moving performance in Tick, Tick…Boom!, which is a film adaptation of the play of the same name by Jonathan Larson. Garfield imbues Larson with a soulfulness and a sensitivity that makes him incredibly endearing, and the viewer comes to sympathize with him as he tries to break into musical theater, even when he isn’t particularly kind to his friends. There are, of course, quite a few numbers scattered throughout the movie, but the rigorous focus on the persona of the artist makes it the kind of film that should still appeal to even those who don’t like musicals.

The 1990s saw the release of a number of great movies starring the Muppets, including Muppet Treasure Island. While it might not be quite as faithful to Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel as The Muppet Christmas Carol, it is still a very funny and enjoyable film. What’s not to love when it stars none other than Tim Curry as famous pirate Long John Silver? It does include several musical numbers, but since these have the same ridiculous energy one always associates with the Muppets, it’s impossible to dislike them.

The Muppets are some of the most enduring creations in the history of American culture, and their films never fail to enchant. Who could forget, for example, the charms of The Muppet Christmas Carol? It  manages to be a very fun musical and a faithful adaptation of the book by Charles Dickens. It has more than its fair share of musical numbers, but the film’s big heart, its very funny screenplay and, of course, the indelible performance by Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge manage to make this a film which will charm even those who don’t like musicals.

With O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Coen Brothers made their foray into Greek myth since the film is essentially a retelling of The Odyssey  set in the 1930s American South. It features a delightful number of musical numbers, all of which are seamlessly woven into the story and feel like an authentic part of the film’s world. It’s also a tremendously funny film, thanks to both the Coens’ whip-smart screenplay and the memorable performances from the likes of George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and Charles Durning.

The Blues Brothers is one of those rare things: A film based on an SNL sketch that actually manages to make the movie not feel like a skit that’s been stretched out too long. Like many ‘80s films, it has a simple plot, one in which two brothers need to put on a music show to save an orphanage. However, it also features several great musical numbers, including from such musical icons as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Ray Charles. Even someone who doesn’t like musicals can’t complain about such a cast.

Little Shop of Horrors is one of those musicals that definitely leans into an absurd premise. This film focuses on a beaten-down floral shop worker who discovers a man-eating plant with hilariously disastrous results. The film is uproariously funny, thanks in no small part to Rick Moranis’ performance as Seymour. At the same time, there’s no doubt that it’s a real delight to see Steve Martin playing a bad guy, and he really sinks his teeth into the role of the cartoonishly villainous Orin Scrivello, a dentist who is as sadistic as he is ridiculous.

Directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land  is at once a musical, a love letter to Hollywood, and a bittersweet romance. Both Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are enchanting as Seb Wilder and Mia Dolan, a musician and an aspiring actress who meet and fall in love. The film doesn’t beat the viewer over the head with its use of musical numbers, even as it acts as a homage to such classics of the genre as Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris. Above all, it is a film that leans into the feels.  

Aladdin, of course, is one of those films which was a key part of the Disney Renaissance. Like other animated features of the period, it features quite a few musical numbers, but they are seamlessly integrated into the story itself. Moreover, the film is filled with the sort of wonderful magic that one associates with the studio’s output during the 1990s. Even today, it’s impossible not to get swept away by the magic carpet ride, Aladdin’s smile, and Jafar’s sinister attempt to use Genie’s power for his conquests.

The life and career of Elton John — warts and all — drive the narrative of the aptly named  Rocketman. In the film, John is portrayed by Taron Egerton, who manages to capture the emotional complexities, both the good and the bad, of the music legend. Egerton does his own singing, and he manages to sound both like himself and John. The numbers are woven seamlessly into the narrative itself, with the singer’s own discography helping to narrate his struggles, triumphs, and the ups and downs of his career and personal life. 

Based on the stage musical of the same name, Chicago is, without doubt, a traditional musical.  However, it has so much energy, and has such electric performances from the likes of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Renée Zellweger that one can’t help but fall a little in love with it. Moreover, it’s a film all about murdering women set in the feisty and zesty Jazz Age. Even if one doesn’t always enjoy the musical numbers, the film has enough pleasures to make it appealing to even the most skeptical viewer.

At first glance, Encanto is very much a traditional Disney musical animated film. However, this shouldn’t frighten away those who aren’t fans of musicals. In addition to the vibrant animation, the film is remarkable for the extent to which it draws on Colombian history and culture. Moreover, there’s a truly touching story at the heart of the film, as the main character, Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), struggles with the fact that she is the only one in her family to lack a magical gift. This is old-fashioned Disney storytelling at its best.

P.T. Barnum might seem like an unlikely figure for the subject of a musical, but even so, The Greatest Showman  still manages to succeed. It certainly makes the most out of its star, Hugh Jackman, who is as effortlessly charismatic as usual. While the film sands away some of the real Barnum’s rougher and more problematic edges, the film is still worth watching, even if one doesn’t like musicals. After all, there’s something remarkably empowering about its message that anyone can be famous and find their own community if they look in the right place.

Timothée Chalamet is infectiously charming in Wonka, the film that gives a backstory for Willy Wonka, one of the most beloved creations of author Roald Dahl. Though there are plenty of numbers in this film, they never threaten to overwhelm the story, and there are many other things for even the most anti-musical viewer to enjoy. Chief of these is Chalamet himself, who pays homage to Gene Wilder’s timeless take on the character while also leaving his stamp. It is, in the end, a touching and very cute little film that is as delightful as the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 

Judy Garland gives one of her most wrenching and heartbreaking performances in A Star is Born,  in which she plays Esther Blodgett, an aspiring actress who becomes Vicki Lester after she marries James Mason’s struggling actor Norman Maine and he takes her under his wing. Garland gives it her all in the role, and there are moments when her pain — and her suffering in her personal life — seem to inform her performance. Though it has several musical numbers, it’s really an emotionally wrenching melodrama at its heart, and it is arguably the best version of the story.