The movie musical has been popular since the beginnings of the sound era. Al Jolsen began it and made audiences jars drop when he sang and danced and spoke on the big screen in 1927's The Jazz Singer. From that moment on, the Musical was a big box office draw and made for a fun and joyous night at the movies.

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As movies in general grew, so did budgets and the need for expensive studio projects full of music and dance. Movies such as On the Town, Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, and so many more gave audiences delight through music and spectacle. But not all struck gold. Here are 5 of the best and 5 of the worst musicals Hollywood had to offer.

Worst: Rock Of Ages (2012)

Adam Shankman directed the movie adaptation of the popular stage musical Rock of Ages. He filled the movie with a strong cast that included, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julianne Hough, and Tom Cruise. The tale of a young couple trying to make it in the music business played very well on the stage. Unfortunately, the movie failed to find that spark.

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For all the candy-colored visuals and fun use of popular rock songs, critics agreed that the movie felt flat and messy and had no excitement. With a 75 million dollar budget, it grossed less than 40, making it a financial failure as well as a cinematic one.

Best: Singin In The Rain (1952)

One of the most respected and loved of all movie musicals is Stanley Donen's Singin in the Rain. The movie is an infectious ode to the transition from silent movies to sound. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O' Connor charmed audiences to this day with their lively and funny performances where each actor was allowed to expose all of their talents and skills with dance, song, and comedy.

The movie is considered by most to be one of the top movie musicals with many claiming it to be the all-time greatest.

Worst: Under The Cherry Moon (1986)

Prince was at the top of his game after his 1984 movie Purple Rain. The massive success of that movie allowed the singer carte-blanche in Hollywood. His next choice was to direct an ode to the musicals of the 1940s and 50s. Under the Cherry Moon was to be another great success for the star.

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Unfortunately, the movie was badly directed, written, edited, and acted. Critics tore into it with venom and audiences stayed away. Its only redeeming value was its soundtrack which featured many great Prince songs.

Best: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

The hippies ruled in the late 60s and early 70s, as did Rock & Roll. The two sensibilities came together in a perfect storm when Tim Rice composed the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Norman Jewison directed the movie and gave it a free-form feel. The cast was dressed in "hippie-esque" garb and populated with some of the best stage talent (all making their movie debuts) the filmmaker could find.

Ted Neely and Carl Anderson played Jesus and Judas, respectively, and, to this day, are considered the best to ever play them for the musical. The songs are rocking, moving, and powerful and the movie was a box office success winning high praise from critics.

Worst: Nine (2009)

Based on the Broadway musical, Nine should've been something quite amazing. With a cast that featured Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, and more, the expectations were high.

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The movie tanked with critics and audiences, as the musical numbers were clumsy (despite the large budget) and lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis seemed uninterested as his supporting cast gave it their all.

Best: Hair (1979)

Milos Forman followed his Oscar-Winning triumph of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with 1979's adaptation of the classic musical Hair. Forman perfectly captured the spirit of The Sixties and opened up the play, filming on the streets of New York and smartly avoiding any studio sets.

The cast was filled with actors at the top of their young careers including Treat Williams, John Savage, and Beverly D'Angelo. The movie was only a modest hit but was well-reviewed and has gone on to become one of the most beloved movie musicals.

Worst: Grease 2 (1982)

In the annals of bad ideas, the sequel to 1978's Grease stands tall. Directed by Patricia Birch (who choreographed the first movie), Grease 2 wanted to be another classic.

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The cast was filled with unknowns including Michelle Pfeiffer in what was to be her "star-making" performance. The cast entire gave it their all and the songs aren't too bad but the movie was badly put together and critics zeroed in on Birch's lack of skill behind the camera.

Best: West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story still

Anyone who loves musicals considers Robert Wise's West Side Story to be one of the true classics. The musical version of Romeo and Juliet set in the streets of New York with warring Hispanic and American streets gangs captured the hearts of audiences and critics.

Natalie Wood led a talented cast that included Oscar-winning turns from Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. Wise's direction was groundbreaking in its use of visuals and color schemes and the movie won 10 Oscars including Best Picture.

Worst: Can't Stop The Music (1980)

A documentary about the Disco group The Village People was a good idea. A fake one that turned their lives into a glammy, goofily-sexualized, musical was not. All glitz and no substance, this is considered one of the worst movies ever made.

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Nancy Walker(!) directed this gaudy, ridiculous, and horribly executed musical that embarrassed Walker, co-star Valerie Perrine, and The Village People themselves.

Best: All That Jazz (1979)

Life. Death. Love. Divorce. Regret. It's all in Bob Fosse's towering autobiographical musical All That Jazz. Fosse exorcised his personal demons in the form of this trippy and soul-revealing movie.

Roy Scheider played Fosse's alter-ego and spared no emotion. His performance is considered to be the finest of his career. Jessica Lange co-starred as "Death". The movie was highly praised and received multiple Oscar nominations. It is considered one of the finest movies of the 70s.

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