Top 10 Greatest Musical Films of All Time

A surprising entry in the top 10 greatest musical films of all time is the movie A Star is Born (translated: For What Shines) starring and featuring music by Lady Gaga. A Star is Born is the directorial debut of the renowned actor Bradley Cooper (Silver Lining Playbook, American Sniper, American Hustle), who also takes on the lead role.

As the first film by a crossover actor, with the lead performance by a music superstar, it's hard to imagine that A Star is Born is so outstanding that it surpasses names like Coco, 8 Mile, Les Miserables, ranking 5th on this list. Although not officially released yet, A Star is Born is sure to be a contender at this year's Oscars, not only in the music category.

IMDb Score: 7.6
Tomatometer Score: 90%
Audience Rating: 79%

Sing (Vietnamese title: Musical Arena) is a 3D animated musical comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment. Directed by Garth Jennings and co-directed by Christophe Lourdelet, the film features the voice talents of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly. The story revolves around a group of anthropomorphic animals participating in a singing competition organized by a koala to save his theater.

Sing includes over 60 songs from famous artists, along with an original song titled 'Faith' performed by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Released by Universal Pictures on December 21, 2016, the film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $634.1 million worldwide. In Vietnam, the film was rated P and premiered on December 23, 2016. Alongside The Secret Life of Pets, it marked the first time Illumination Entertainment released two films in the same year.

IMDb Rating: 7.1
Tomatometer: 71%
Audience Rating: 72%

Coco (translates to: A Marvelous Encounter) is a 3D American animated fantasy musical adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is directed by Lee Unkrich, who co-directed and co-wrote it with Adrian Molina. The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel, who sets off a chain of events related to the mysteries of the century, leading to a surprising and extraordinary encounter with his idol.

The movie revolves around Mexico's Día de Muertos celebration. The screenplay was written by Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich. Pixar began developing the film in 2016, with Unkrich and his team visiting Mexico for inspiration. The skeletal characters in the film were redesigned to look more appealing. The music is composed by Michael Giacchino.

The film Coco won 2 Oscars, namely Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the song 'Remember Me.'

IMDb Score: 8.4
Tomatometer Score: 97%
Audience Rating: 94%

Before the era of Eminem and Tupac, N.W.A was the iconic rap group that brought rap music to a vast audience. The film Straight Outta Compton recreates the legendary rap group's story. N.W.A included legends like Eazy E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, initially just impoverished African American youths in the ghetto. At a time when rap music wasn't mainstream and rappers were viewed as criminals, N.W.A paved the way for the widespread popularity of rap music across the United States.

The movie Straight Outta Compton received 1 Oscar nomination. The group's best rap songs are spectacularly portrayed in the film, with standout tracks like 'Straight outta Compton' and 'Fuck tha Police.'

IMDb Score: 7.8

Tomatometer Score: 89%

Audience Rating: 91%

La La Land (translated: The Dreamers) was a name widely mentioned by the media at the end of 2016, not only because of a 'scandal' regarding a mix-up in the Oscar-winning film's name but also because La La Land genuinely made an impression on the audience. Centered around jazz music and musical theater, La La Land is a film about 'dreamers' on the path to pursue their dreams.

La La Land received much praise upon its release and was recognized as an outstanding film in 2016. Critics applauded Chazelle's screenplay and direction, Gosling and Stone's performances, and Justin Hurwitz's film score and songs. At the Oscars, the film won 6 major awards, including Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Production Design, after receiving a record-breaking 14 nominations (tied with the 1997 film Titanic and the 1950 film All About Eve). The film also dominated all nominated categories at the Golden Globe Awards, winning a record-breaking 7 categories. La La Land received 11 nominations at the BAFTA Awards, winning 6 categories.

IMDb Score: 8.0
Tomatometer Score: 91%
Audience Rating: 81%

Adapted from the musical version of the famous novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is an exceptional film that brings the Broadway musical to the big screen. All character dialogues are musicalized exactly as in the original musical version. The film features performances by a cast of renowned stars: Hugh Jackman (X-men, Wolverine), Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Man of Steel), Anne Hathaway (The Princess's Diary, One Day, The Dark Knight Rises), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl, Fantastic Beasts), Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, Harry Potter, The King's Speech)...

Les Miserables also received critical acclaim with 8 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The film won 3 Oscars, including Best Achievement in Sound Mixing. Memorable songs in Les Miserables include 'Do you hear the people sing', 'Look down', 'I dreamed a dream', 'Stars'...

IMDb Score: 7.5

Tomatometer Score: 70%

Audience Rating: 79%

Prior to directing La La Land, filmmaker Damien Chazelle crafted another outstanding music-themed movie, Whiplash (loosely translated: Relentless Drummer). Whiplash also explores the realm of jazz music, focusing on a passionate music academy student with an intense desire to break free. The film had a limited release in the United States and Canada on October 10, 2014, gradually expanding to 500 theaters and concluding its run after 24 weeks on March 26, 2015. Despite a production budget of only 3 million USD, the film grossed 33 million USD.

Whiplash received high praise during that year's Oscars, earning 5 nominations, including Best Picture. Whiplash won 3 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Supporting Actor. It also received nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The two most beloved soundtracks from the film are 'Whiplash' and 'Caravan.'

IMDb Score: 8.5

Tomatometer Score: 94%

Audience Rating: 94%

Another musical film from Warner Bros. during Hollywood's golden age is Singin' in the Rain (loosely translated: Singing under the Rain). Singin' in the Rain is a comedic musical that depicts Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies. Similar to The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain didn't achieve significant box office success or awards initially but has since become a classic film.

Singin' in the Rain found modest success upon release, with actor O'Connor winning Best Actor at the Golden Globes, and Comden and Green winning at the Writers Guild of America Awards. However, it is widely recognized as a legend by contemporary critics. The film is often described as the greatest musical of all time, topping AFI's 100 Years of Musicals list and ranking fifth on the 2007 AFI's list of the greatest American films.

IMDb Score: 8.3

Tomatometer Score: 100%

Audience Rating: 95%

The Sound of Music (Vietnamese title: Giai điệu hạnh phúc or Tiếng tơ đồng) is a 1965 musical film directed by Robert Wise, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, featuring songs written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and adapted from the musical's script by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The screenplay for the film was written by Ernest Lehman.

The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg, Austria; Bavaria in Southern Germany, and at the 20th Century Fox Studios in California. The film won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1965 and remains one of the most famous musical films ever made. The film's soundtrack album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The United States National Film Registry selected The Sound of Music for preservation in 2001.

IMDb Score: 8.1
Tomatometer Score: 83%
Audience Rating: 91%

At the top of the list of the 10 greatest musical films of all time is the classic The Wizard of OZ (loosely translated: The Sorcerer of OZ). This timeless masterpiece was released by Warner Bros. during Hollywood's golden age, marking the first-ever color film in an era dominated by black and white.

The Wizard of OZ is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's children's novel of the same name. The film is a delightful blend of dialogue and music, with characters expressing their emotions through song. While not a commercial or award-winning success, The Wizard of OZ has secured its place as a cinematic classic and holds the top spot on Rotten Tomatoes. The film won one Oscar for Best Original Song, honoring the enchanting 'Over the Rainbow.'