10 Underrated Movie Musicals You Need To See

Musical movies are incredibly popular right now, especially with the upcoming release of Wicked: For Good and the huge success of the first Wicked film. This year, KPop Demon Hunters became Netflix’s most-watched movie ever. Other recent musical favorites include The Greatest Showman, In the Heights, and La La Land.

Most people are familiar with popular musicals, even if they don’t usually enjoy the genre. But the real treat is discovering those lesser-known musicals – the ones that deliver fantastic songs and performances despite having limited resources. These hidden gems often go unnoticed, but they’re actually among the very best musicals out there.

Vivo (2021)

It’s surprising that the animated Netflix film Vivo doesn’t get more attention. It’s especially notable because Lin-Manuel Miranda—the creator of hit musicals like Hamilton and In the Heights—wrote the songs and provides a voice performance. He’s one of the biggest names in musical theater right now.

Vivo is the story of a kinkajou named Vivo who loves playing music with his friend Andrés. After Andrés passes away, Vivo embarks on a quest to deliver a special love song to a singer who was important to Andrés, hoping to fulfill a promise.

Critics loved Vivo, especially Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music, the film’s vibrant animation, and the excellent voice acting. Miranda is joined by a fantastic cast including Brian Tyree Henry, Zoe Saldaña, and Gloria Estefan, making it one of the best musical casts in recent animated films.

Sing Street (2016)

Released in 2016, Sing Street isn’t your typical musical. Rather than characters suddenly bursting into song, the film focuses on a group of teens starting a band and writing their own music.

The movie centers around a teenage boy who starts a band hoping to win over a girl. While the premise is straightforward, it’s charming and easy to connect with, and the music itself is a real standout. The band creates several songs that stick with you long after the credits roll.

I absolutely loved Sing Street! What really grabbed me was how perfectly it captured 1980s Dublin – the atmosphere was incredible. Plus, the music was fantastic and the actors, like Lucy Boynton and Jack Reynor, were all brilliant. It even got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, which it totally deserved!

Oliver & Company (1986)

Walt Disney Animation Studios is well-known for its musicals. Many of their most popular films, like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Moana, Frozen, and Aladdin, include memorable songs that people still love today.

Despite being a bit overlooked, Oliver & Company is a truly wonderful Disney animated film. Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, it tells the story of a stray kitten who teams up with a group of dogs to navigate life on the streets of 1980s New York City.

I really think Oliver & Company deserves more recognition, especially when you consider how amazing the music is. The story is actually really good too – much better than some people have said – but the songs are truly outstanding. “Why Should I Worry?” is a personal favorite, and Billy Joel absolutely knocked it out of the park; it’s easily one of the best Disney songs ever made.

Sing 2 (2021)

The original Sing movie, released in 2016, was a huge success, earning over $600 million and continuing to be shown on television. It was particularly popular with children, and its soundtrack – filled with familiar song covers – was a major highlight.

Sing 2 is comparable in quality to the first movie, but it hasn’t resonated with audiences as much. While its box office numbers weren’t as strong, likely due to the pandemic, it doesn’t seem to have had the same lasting impact as the original.

Despite some initial expectations, Sing 2 is surprisingly good! Critics liked it, and the new songs are a real highlight. With standout performances like Scarlett Johansson’s version of “Heads Will Roll,” Halsey’s “Could Have Been Me,” and the addition of Bono to the cast, Sing 2 offers something for everyone’s musical taste.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas (2021)

If you haven’t watched Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, that’s no surprise! It’s a holiday movie based on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, a really great show that, unfortunately, didn’t get enough viewers and was cancelled after two seasons. The story centers around Zoey, who suddenly finds she can hear what people are really thinking – and it’s expressed through elaborate musical numbers that only she can see.

After the show was unexpectedly cancelled, Roku stepped in to create a holiday movie, Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, to give fans a proper conclusion. The movie continues the story right where the series ended, delivering the satisfying finale viewers were hoping for.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas is the type of feel-good holiday movie you can enjoy revisiting every year. It features both classic Christmas songs, like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and modern pop hits, including Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical (2022)

Many of us are familiar with the story of Matilda, either through Roald Dahl’s book or the 1996 film with Mara Wilson. What’s less well-known is that a stage musical adaptation was created in 2010, and this new film is based on that production.

The musical version of Roald Dahl’s Matilda retells the beloved story, now with wonderful songs. Alisha Weir is brilliant as Matilda, and her performance of the song “Quiet” is particularly impressive.

The movie is fantastic, largely thanks to Emma Thompson, who is brilliant and completely transforms into the scary Ms. Trunchbull. It’s highly rated – 93% on Rotten Tomatoes – and the closing musical number, “Revolting Children,” is truly spectacular.

Across The Universe (2007)

Most movie musicals feature original songs, but occasionally one will build its story around the existing music of a popular artist. A great example is Mamma Mia!, which uses only songs by ABBA. The 2019 film Yesterday, featuring the music of The Beatles, isn’t the first musical to do this, though.

Just now you were watching Across the Universe, a musical film directed by Julie Taymor that uses Beatles songs. It’s set in the 1960s and follows Jude, who travels from Liverpool to America in search of his father. There, he meets Lucy, and the two fall in love amidst the growing anti-war protests of the era.

While Across the Universe successfully blends a love story with important political ideas, its standout feature is definitely the music. The film includes over 30 songs by The Beatles and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Burlesque (2010)

With Christina Aguilera and Cher as its stars, Burlesque was almost certain to feature great music, and that’s a key reason why the musical works. While the film performed decently in theaters, critics weren’t overwhelmingly impressed.

It’s likely been overlooked over the years, but any music lover who watches Burlesque is sure to enjoy it. The film tells the story of a hopeful singer who moves to Los Angeles, dreaming of stardom, and finds work performing at a burlesque club that’s fallen on hard times.

The story isn’t groundbreaking, but the actors – including Christina Aguilera, Cher, Kristen Bell, and Alan Cumming – deliver fantastic performances, and the musical numbers are particularly impressive. It’s especially engaging to watch Aguilera’s character rise to stardom as the club’s headliner.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2021)

Jonathan Butterell’s first film as director is Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, based on both a popular stage musical and a BBC documentary. The movie tells the story of a teenager who aspires to be a drag queen.

The story follows Jamie as he conquers bullying and prejudice while pursuing his dream, all brought to life with amazing musical performances. Newcomer Max Harwood gives a fantastic performance in the lead role.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a moving film filled with both sad and joyful moments. It received a nomination for Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs and has earned positive reviews, with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also includes appearances by famous drag queens and a particularly memorable performance by Richard E. Grant.

Anna And The Apocalypse (2017)

Many movies mix genres, but Anna and the Apocalypse does it in a truly special way. It’s a unique combination of musical, zombie horror, and Christmas themes – a blend you won’t find often.

Anna and the Apocalypse is a fun movie about Anna and her friends who have to fight zombies during Christmas time in their hometown. It’s full of exciting zombie battles, and many of them are set to music – the standout scene being the song “Soldier at War.”

Ella Hunt shines as the main character, and her singing brings memorable songs like “Break Away” and “Hollywood Ending” to life. The movie doesn’t shy away from intense zombie scenes, and the young cast delivers energetic performances in the well-produced, catchy musical numbers. It’s a great choice for a yearly Christmas tradition.

2025-11-13 22:34