Not all songs are created equal in Ryan Murphy's adaptation of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical The Prom. The movie dropped on Netflix in December and remained in the streaming service's top 10 most viewed titles in the days after its release. Bursting with song, dance, and a message of inclusivity and acceptance, The Prom centers on high schooler Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman), a proud lesbian whose small-town Indiana school PTA cancels prom because they do not want her to bring her date to the dance.
When four washed-up Broadway stars catch wind of Emma's plight, they immediately rush to Indiana to champion her cause and, more importantly to them, boost their own public images. Now Emma has to contend with their overenthusiastic help as well as the bigotry she faces from her town. Unlikely friendships form as the film's heroes fight to express themselves and build a prom for everyone.
A celebration of Broadway as much as it is a celebration of acceptance, The Prom is chock full of catchy show tunes. Here are all 19 songs from the film, ranked from worst to best.
19. Simply Love
One of the new songs not featured in the Broadway version of The Prom, "Simply Love" plays over the film's credits. While it delivers a strong message about love being love, no matter who you feel it for, the song's placement makes it feel like a throwaway. With its lack of visuals or plot relevancy, it doesn't stack up to the other songs in the film.
18. Wear Your Crown
"Wear Your Crown" is the other end credits song, playing while the cast poses for prom photos. It has a much poppier feel than any of the musical's other songs, but its high production comes at the expense of the actors' voices, which unfortunately blend together and end up sounding slightly generic. Again, like with "Simply Love," "Wear Your Crown" packs no major narrative punches and serves more like a recap for the film's main messages, which were already delivered well in better songs.
17. Barry Is Going To Prom
James Corden's performance as Broadway star Barry Glickman has caused some controversy, with critics saying he leans too heavily into gay stereotypes. These stereotypes, as well as Corden's shaky American accent, hinder the otherwise sweet "Barry Is Going To Prom," which sees Barry dancing with his younger self at the prom he never attended in a touching sequence.
16. The Acceptance Song
The whole point of "The Acceptance Song" is that it isn't a very good or effective song, and it succeeds in that regard. Penned by Juilliard graduate Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells), the song is a poor attempt to convince the citizens of Edgewater, Indiana to accept Emma and the LGBTQ community. However, the Broadway stars' audience - monster truck rally attendees - are not ready to listen. The juxtaposition between the stars of Broadway and the monster trucks is a nice touch, as is Rannells's earnest performance. While not a great song, "The Acceptance Song" establishes how out of their depth the stars of Broadway are, as well as providing a few laughs along the way.
15. Changing Lives
"Changing Lives" is the film's opening number, but its focus on Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry 's narcissism does not make for the most compelling hook. That this is the opener showcases the film's biggest problem: it often favors the glitz of the Broadway storyline over Emma and her girlfriend Alyssa's (Ariana DeBose) emotional journeys. To its credit, The Prom is able to reconcile the two storylines more effectively in other, better songs.
14. We Look To You
This song - nicely performed by Keegan-Michael Key as Emma's principal Mr. Hawkins - is both an ode to Broadway and the fuel for the romance between Mr. Hawkins and Dee Dee. As good as Key and Streep are in their roles, their relationship never feels the most fully realized, and this number stops the movie's momentum in its tracks. It celebrates the power of musicals but ironically detracts from the power of The Prom. However, quick snippets of Streep performing in a fake Broadway musical while Key watches adoringly from the audience do lend this number a good visual punch.
13. It's Not About Me
Broadway meets the PTA in this high energy song, as Dee Dee, Barry, Trent, and Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman) storm Emma's high school in protest. Streep gives it her all, dancing and dramatically twirling a fur coat while Rannells and Corden provide back up dancing. The number cleverly lambasts Dee Dee's true motive for helping Emma, which is to bring positive attention to herself, but the stars' arrival and song are so spontaneous and chaotic that it never really gets a chance to land with the audience. Still, the highlight of "It's Not About Me" has to be Kidman's enthusiastic cowbell playing in the background.
12. Zazz
The Prom takes a cue from Bob Fosse and Chicago with 'Zazz.' Angie, a chorus girl, teaches Emma to find her zazz - "style plus confidence," according to the song's lyrics. While the number never lives up to Fosse's work, Kidman and Pellman have good chemistry, and it's fun to see Emma cut loose with Angie in their final dance break together. A sweet send-up of a Broadway icon, "Zazz" helps build Emma's self-confidence and also shows that the Broadway actors may be able to help her if they just stop focusing on themselves for once.
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11. Changing Lives (Reprise)
When Dee Dee, Barry, Trent, and Angie find out about Emma's situation, they reckon they can improve their ailing public images by helping her. They launch into a reprise of "Changing Lives" that is much cleverer than the opening number and also gives more of the all-star Prom cast time to shine. Barry proudly sings, "we're gonna help that little lesbian whether she likes it or not," proving just how little he and his compatriots actually care about the cause. Statements like that, plus some choice stereotypes about Indiana, set up the rude awakening these actors will face in their initial attempts at activism.
10. The Lady's Improving
Dee Dee turns Mr. Hawkins's office into Broadway in this solo number that she hopes will prove that she is becoming a more selfless person. This is the better of Streep's two main numbers - the other being "It's Not About Me" - because it is more focused on her and showcasing Dee Dee's character growth. The scene cuts between Dee Dee singing to Mr. Hawkins and performing the song onstage in one of her Tony-winning roles, and soon the two collapse into each other. Students waiting to talk to Mr. Hawkins become Dee Dee's back up dancers, while his desk becomes a stage. "The Lady's Improving" shows why Dee Dee is a Broadway star, and it also helps track her development.
9. Tonight Belongs To You (Reprise)
Things are looking up for Emma when the PTA un-cancels her school's prom, but when she arrives at an empty high school gym it's clear that something is wrong. It turns out that the PTA organized a fake prom just for her to attend, while everyone else at the school went to the real prom somewhere else. Emma sings this heartbreaking reprise of the song that had just gotten her so excited for prom, saying, "I guess I should have known it all along, tonight belonged to them." It's one of the saddest points in the show, and the reprise serves as a dramatic reminder of The Prom's stakes. Negative press for the Broadway actors is bad, but being ostracized just because of who you love is so much worse.
8. Alyssa Greene
Emma's girlfriend Alyssa, played by Hamilton star Ariana DeBose, gets some well-needed development in this sad song about Alyssa being torn between what she wants and what her mother (Kerry Washington) wants. Alyssa's mother has pressured her to be perfect for her entire life, which has led to Alyssa hiding her true self. "You're not yourself, you're not what she wants, you're someone in-between," she sings as she struggles to reckon with her identity. Unfortunately, this isn't enough for Emma, who wants Alyssa to come out publicly. Emma breaks up with Alyssa after the song ends, continuing to leave her torn and without a clear support system through which she can express herself.
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7. You Happened
It wouldn't be a musical about a prom without promposals, and this song delivers those in spades. It's a bubbly, exciting number about three couples asking each other to prom, ending with Emma and Alyssa resolving not to hide their love anymore. The reason it's not further towards the top of this list relates to the Broadway staging of this song, which is the only time this list will reference the original production. In the original Broadway production of The Prom, Alyssa and Emma have a longer verse about their relationship, but it is drastically cut down in the movie. Meanwhile, the other two verses, sung by straight couples - who also happen to be Emma's bullies - remain unchanged. By cutting down Alyssa and Emma's time, the movie continues to draw focus away from their relationship, which should be the whole core of the film. "You Happened" is a lovely song, but the change from the Broadway production dampens its effects.
6. Unruly Heart
Emma decides to share her story in her own way by uploading a video of herself singing "Unruly Heart." The song's presentation is simple, allowing the lyrics to shine. "Nobody out there ever gets to define the life I'm meant to lead with this unruly heart of mine," Emma sings as she strums guitar. It's a poignant message about loving who you are and not letting anyone tell you otherwise, and it resonates with her audience. Young members of the LGBTQ community watch Emma's video and tell her how much it meant to them. They all join together in the final chorus, cementing the song's message of inclusion and showing how Emma has found a community by sharing her voice.
5. Love Thy Neighbor
Rannells is one of the only main cast members with Broadway experience, having appeared in hits like The Book Of Mormon, and it shows in this high-energy performance of "Love Thy Neighbor." As Trent, Rannells lampoons Emma's classmates' selective usage of Bible verses to discriminate against Emma, saying that the Bible is full of inconsistencies and that the most important thing it teaches is to love thy neighbor. Rannells sings and dances around a mall, culminating in a dance sequence complete with tambourines and fountain choreography. His performance elevates this song and proves that Broadway actors should be cast in more movie musical adaptations - they can sing, dance, and do it all.
4. Just Breathe
The opening line of "Just Breathe" tells the audience everything they need to know about Emma: "Note to self: don't be gay in Indiana," she sings while being taunted throughout her high school. She's got a dry sense of humor and is exasperated by the prejudices she faces for being a lesbian. "Just Breathe" shows that she tries to keep a level head throughout it all and is convinced that things will get better for her. Pellman sells this song with a combination of exasperation and optimism. It's a tough balance, but she more than pulls it off. It's the perfect introductory song for the movie's main character.
3. Dance With You
Emma and Alyssa don't want the media circus that has descended upon their town following the prom's cancellation. They just want to dance with each other and be treated without prejudice. "Dance With You" isn't a big number, but it's incredibly sweet. Emma and Alyssa dance together under a row of pink trees in a simple yet romantic sequence. This relationship - and their wish to go to the prom - is at the heart of this musical. While The Prom can get overly caught up in its glitzy showstoppers, this song proves that simple is best. As Emma and Alyssa say, "all it takes it you and me and a song."
2. Tonight Belongs To You
While Barry makes over Emma in time for their high school's prom, the rest of the high school prepares to attend their secret prom, the one they've excluded Emma from attending. Viewers don't know this yet, but on re-watch there's a dark undercurrent running through this vibrant show tune. Still, on the first watch, this song is full of happiness and pep, especially in Barry and Emma's section. Barry helps get Emma excited for her prom, telling her tonight is about owning who she truly is. It's a great message of self-love and self-confidence. Unfortunately, it precedes the cruelest moment in the show: the fake prom staged for Emma.
1. Time To Dance
The best number of The Prom is the song that manages to combine all its best messages and moments, all the glitz of Broadway with all the heart of Emma and Alyssa's storyline. "Time To Dance" is The Prom's triumphant finale, a large, earnest dance number at the inclusive prom Emma and her newfound Broadway friends help throw. The song calls back to "Unruly Heart" and "Dance With You" and culminates in Emma and Alyssa kissing - the first time they kiss in the film. It's heartwarming to watch them finally be able to declare their love for each other and to see it happen in an inclusive space. Even though The Prom has its share of flaws and weaker numbers, "Time To Dance" is a more than fitting end for the musical and for these characters, highlighting its key messages of inclusion, acceptance, and kindness.