Although the heyday of movie musicals has long since ed, the truth is that there are still plenty of fantastic releases that are just as good as the biggest hits of yesteryear. While many might point to classic musicals like Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music as the pinnacle of this beloved genre, modern filmmakers like Damien Chazelle and even Steven Spielberg have made some all-time great movie musicals. With modern times also come modern themes, and some great recent musicals have been able to tap into subject matters the classics usually avoided.

Everyone will have a different answer for what the over-the-top performances, the movie musical has had something of a renaissance in recent years. While it’s hard to live up to the esteemed legacy of the old classics, these recent musicals were just as good.

8 In The Heights (2021)

Directed by Jon M. Chu

While many lovers of musical theater likely discovered Lin-Manuel Miranda through the cultural phenomenon of Hamilton, he first gained prominence with his Broadway show In the Heights. This incredible show explored the struggles of New York Dominican communities who pursue their sueñitos, which represent their dreams of a better life. With a screenplay by the musical’s book writer Quiara Alegría Hudes, director Jon M. Chu brought Miranda’s song to life on the big screen in a joyful celebration of heritage and culture.

In the Heights captured the struggles of hard-working, ambitious people doing everything in their power to achieve their dreams. With relevant themes of class, race, and the challenges of social mobility, In the Heights tapped ideologies and modes of thinking that were often absent from the musicals of previous eras. By giving communities that are rarely represented on screen some time in the spotlight, In the Heights showcased the power of cinema to boost seldom-heard voices.

7 Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

Directed by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower director Stephen Chbosky captured the emotional core of the original show with Dear Evan Hansen. Telling the story of a depressed and socially anxious high schooler, although Dear Evan Hansen was the subject of a lot of online criticism following the casting of 27-year-old Ben Platt, the truth was that this film captured the pain and suffering of countless young people around the world. As a timid student whose life was turned upside down following the suicide of his classmate and former bully, it was impossible not to connect with Evan’s story.

With relatable songs and some fantastic performances, Dear Evan Hansen tapped into topics and themes that were mostly absent from classic musicals. As a glimpse into the social complexities for young people growing up today, the way this film balanced melodrama and musicality was irable. Although some viewers took issue with Dear Evan Hansen, those who connected with it did so deeply.

6 Matilda The Musical (2022)

Directed by Matthew Warchus

It’s usually a bad idea to mess with beloved classics, but Matilda the Musical managed to breathe new life into this iconic Roald Dahl story in a way that felt fresh and original. With a truly outstanding lead performance from the young Irish actress Alisha Weir and top-tier songs by the stand-up comedian turned Tony Award-winning composer Tim Minchin, Matilda the Musical perfectly adapted its Broadway show to widespread critical acclaim.

With an all-star cast featuring fantastic ing performances from the likes of Emma Thompson and Stephen Graham, the power of Matilda the Musical made it hard to believe that this story wasn’t always told through song. The music not only elevated the power of Dahl’s narrative, but the lyrics truly tapped into the imaginative wonders of childhood and the endless potential of kids’ imaginations. As a fantastic reboot that lived up to the reputation of the original, Matilda the Musical can stand proud alongside Annie as one of the greatest depictions of a troubled childhood ever adapted into musical form.

5 Wicked (2024)

Directed by Jon M. Chu

When it comes to classic movie musicals, The Wizard of Oz stands as the benchmark by which every other release is judged, which means that expectations were sky-high for the movie adaptation of its prequel story, Wicked. As an exploration of the backstory between Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked recontextualized everything we thought we knew about Dorothy’s journey in The Land of Oz. While the Broadway show had been a hit since 2003, Wicked gained widespread acclaim when it was finally adapted for the screen in 2024.

As just the first in a two-part adaptation, Wicked revealed that the Wicked Witch of the West was in fact Elphaba Thropp, a misunderstood young woman born with green skin. Tackling themes of race, prejudice, identity, and the complex nature of good versus evil, Wicked was a major hit at the box office, whose press tour took on a life of its own through endlessly memeable moments between co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

4 The Greatest Showman (2017)

Directed by Michael Gracey

While audiences may have first come to know Hugh Jackman through his iconic portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, the truth is he’s got more in common with old-fashioned musical stars like Gene Kelly than the average action star. This was clear from Jackman’s incredible performance in Les Misérables, although Jackman was never able to embrace his musical side more fully than in The Greatest Showman. As a dazzling display of pure musical wonder, the awe-inspiring power of this musical captured the very essence of the classics of old.

Telling a heavily fictionalized of the life of P. T. Barnum, the entertainer who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Showman featured a dazzling array of fascinating circus performers. As a love letter to diversity and embracing one's own individuality, The Greatest Showman not only featured memorable musical numbers but also relevant themes of accepting others' differences.

3 Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda made the incredible leap from creating Broadway musicals and composing film soundtracks to directing his own feature with Tick, Tick… Boom! With Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson, the real composer who created famous shows like Rent, this semi-autobiographical story explores Larson’s struggles to write his first musical and kickstart his career in musical theater. As a coming-of-age tale about a young man figuring out his creative process, Tick, Tick… Boom! captured the anxiety and bravery of taking a chance on yourself.

Bookended by documentary-style sequences, Tick, Tick… Boom! gained widespread acclaim and Garfield was even nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. With a fantastic performance from Garfield, the musical sequences captured the same outstanding energy as previous Miranda works such as In the Heights and Hamilton. As a musical aimed at those with a love of musical history, Tick, Tick… Boom! ticked all the right boxes.

2 West Side Story (2021)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Making an adaptation of West Side Story that not only lived up to the power of the original stage show but also the incredible 1957 stage musical was always going to be a daunting challenge. However, out of all the filmmakers working today, Steven Spielberg was one of the few who were up to this lofty task. As a filmmaker who had long expressed his desire to make a musical, it felt appropriate that a director of Spielberg’s stature would be the one to bring West Side Story to life on the big screen once again.

As an old-fashioned-style production that paid homage to the show’s legacy, West Side Story felt both timeless and entirely palpable to modern viewers. With a story based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this New York love story was as powerful as ever. With a filmography filled with countless classics, it’s a testament to the continued appeal of Spielberg that West Side Story was one of his most impressive and accomplished films.

1 La La Land (2016)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Director Damien Chazelle made a musical for the ages when he released La La Land in 2016. As a truly spectacular story about two ambitious young people hoping to find success in Los Angeles, La La Land was a modern love story that captured the complexities of trying to carve out romance in the modern age while also not letting go of their own dreams and desires. With two fantastic lead performances from Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, Chazelle captured the heartache at the center of aspiration.

From incredible dance numbers to awe-inspiring songs, La La Land was beautifully tragic in the most heartfelt way. From its opening dance set amid a Hollywood traffic jam to its gut-wrenching conclusion at a late-night jazz bar, only those with a heart of steel will be able to withstand the poignant beauty of La La Land. As a film that felt modern and timeless all at the same time, La La Land was as good as any classic musical.