Every decade, a slew of movie musicals are released. Modern-day movie musicals are often met with mixed reviews, but there have been some that shine much brighter than others. IMDb scores prove that the 2000s, specifically, marked a successful era for some of these highly acclaimed films.
The 2000s saw a nice balance of both stage adaptations and original musicals made for the film format. Of all the movie musicals that will be turning 20 years or older this decade, which have been met with the highest reviews on IMDb?
Enchanted (2007) - 7.0
Enchanted is an upbeat musical with a unique premise. Just before she is to be married, a fairy tale princess is sent to New York City by an evil witch, and subsequent chaos follows the fair maiden trying to navigate the hustle and bustle of a big city. The film is so memorable and easily enjoyable that its high IMDb score may not come as a surprise to many.
The movie stars big names like Amy Adams, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey, and Idina Menzel. Interestingly, Enchanted's three Oscar nominations were all in the Best Orignal Song category. The beloved musical will even be getting a long-awaited sequel in 2022, titled Disenchanted.
The Princess And The Frog (2009) - 7.1
Before the decade ended, Disney threw in another contender for best musical of the 2000s era with The Princess And The Frog, marking an important moment in cinema history with the first Black Disney Princess, Tiana. The film takes the classic fairy tale story and fills it full of soul, jazz, and stunning visuals all while set in 1920s New Orleans.
The songs from The Princess And The Frog are widely adored by musical lovers and even earned the film two Oscar nominations for Best Original Song. Soon, the film's story will continue with the new sequel series debuting on Disney+ titled Tiana.
The Phantom Of The Opera (2004) - 7.2
Emmy Rossum, Gerard Bulter, and Patrick Wilson star in The Phantom Of The Opera, a film adaptation of the hit Broadway show. In many ways, The Phantom of the Opera musical movie is completely different from the live show, but that doesn't negate the film's success and high acclaim.
The romantic drama about a young opera singer and the murderous so-called "Phantom" who lives in the depths of an opera house is known for being full of stunning ballads and impressive vocals, though the movie adaptation is generally more praised for its cinematic elements. The 2004 film received three Oscar nominations, including Best Original Song.
Chicago (2002) - 7.2
Chicago is yet another hugely successful Broadway show that was turned into a live-action movie in the 2000s. Full of stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah, the film was a massive hit, just like its stage counterpart, and received much love from critics and audiences alike.
Given that it won the award for Best Picture, among five other Oscars that year, it is a bit surprising to see that Chicago ranks so much lower with fans than other musicals of the 2000s decade. Nonetheless, the film is still one of the most iconic movie musicals, and to this day, almost 20 years later, the most recent musical to win in the Best Picture category at the Oscars.
Corpse Bride (2005) - 7.3
One of Tim Burton's most adored films is considered to be Corpse Bride, a claymation movie about a soon-to-be-wed man and a dead bride who believes him to be her husband. In classic Tim Burton fashion, Corpse Bride stars none other than Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
The film features the musical talents of Danny Elfman, whose style is always incredibly fantastical and memorable. Paired with Burton's eerie yet family-friendly style of storytelling, Corpse Bride is entertaining for all audiences, earning it a rightful place as one of the best movie musicals of its decade.
Across The Universe (2007) - 7.3
Across The Universe is one of the many movies to use Beatles songs to tell its story. However, it is one of the highest acclaimed within the subgenre of Beatles movies, making it rank so high among other iconic movie musicals of the 2000s.
The film follows a romance between a rich girl from America and a poor boy from Liverpool through an adventurous plot that takes place during the Vietnam war. Full of psychedelic musical numbers, Across The Universe perfectly embodies the essence of the Beatles in cinema format.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007) - 7.3
Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter are clear staples of 2000s movie musicals, as another one of their collaborations, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, ranks quite high with fans. Adapted from the Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd is a grim, murderous, horror musical that takes place in 1940s London.
The film is considered a high career point for all major names involved. It has been generally praised by musical lovers as a justified recreation of the stage show and was met with much acclaim from cinema critics, as well.
Moulin Rouge! (2001) - 7.6
Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman are both known best for their shining roles in the early 2000s movie musical Moulin Rogue!, a story of love and performance in 1890s Paris. The film is full of high energy and bold colors, creating a visually stunning ride for audiences to enjoy.
On top of its huge success with cinema lovers, Moulin Rouge! was absolutely adored by critics and received a whopping eight Oscar nominations. It won two of them that year, one for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, and another for Best Costume Design.
Hedwig And The Angry Inch (2001) - 7.7
Written by, directed by, and starring John Cameron Mitchell, who did the same for the stage version from which the film is adapted from, Hedwig And The Angry Inch is a rock musical about a genderqueer German singer and an homage to the glam rock music genre.
Though Hedwig And The Angry Inch may have gone somewhat underappreciated by mainstream cinema standards, as it was largely ignored during award season, general LGBTQ+ audiences and critics with a taste for unique stories praised the musical's movie adaptation. The wonder and amazement of the film are ultimately reflected in its ranking with fans, making it one of the highest-rated movie musicals of the 2000s.
Dancer In The Dark (2000) - 8.0
A significant step above all other movie musicals of the 2000s is Dancer In The Dark, a remarkable cinematic creation starring eclectic singer/songwriter, Björk. The film follows a visually impaired factory worker trying to provide for her son and features a collection of unique, non-typical musical numbers.
Dancer In The Dark is perhaps best described as understated and underrated. Many movie musical lovers may not cite the film as one that comes to mind immediately, and yet it is an ever-memorable and intense drama. The film earned one Oscar nomination in the Best Original Song category.