Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. A musical is a theatrical production that is characteristically sentimental and amusing in nature, with a simple but distinctive plot, and offering music, dancing, and dialogue.

Understanding the Context

If you’ve got a song in your heart, we’ve got a list for your eyes: The best-reviewed musicals from Wizard of Oz to La La Land! 100 Best Movie Musicals of All Time (The Testament of Ann Lee) From Singin' in the Rain to Cabaret to The Sound of Music, this is Collider's ranking of the best musical movies ever made. These are 80+ of the most popular Broadway musicals in history are part of the American musical canon, listed according to their durations on the stage. See a full list of A-Z musicals currently in our database.

Key Insights

BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical. Eugenius! Gutenberg! The Musical.

Final Thoughts

Hello, Dolly! La Bamba! Mamma Mia! Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Nativity!

The Musical. Oklahoma! Oliver! Something Rotten!