27 best movie musicals of all-time: Hamilton, Wizard of Oz and more

Best movie musicals: The Greatest Showman

While The Greatest Showman may have debuted in theaters to less than impressive numbers and quite a bit of ridicule, it did not take long for the film’s music and storyline to inspire people to check it out. Sure, there are plenty of people who don’t love this movie, but for those of us drawn in by the spectacle and music, it is definitely worth watching.

Although the story itself may not be historically accurate, there is something about Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum that really draws us in. Not only does he do an amazing job of making Barnum feel like an everyday man who turned his dreams into reality, but his ability to perform comes across in every scene he is a part of.

Perhaps what cements The Greatest Showman as one of the top 20 greatest movie musicals is the music itself. We are talking about songs that truly connect with so many people. And any movie that features an anthem of self-empowerment like “This Is Me” as sung by Keala Settle deserves all the attention it gets.

Not only is this song a powerhouse moment in the film, but it has delivered as part of the soundtrack for the movie (and even when Kesha sang this for the tribute album that was released, it was once again a powerful hit).

As an added bonus, getting to see Zendaya and Zac Efron have their own duet was beautiful in its own right, as these two seemed to be a perfect pair on-screen. And “Rewrite the Stars” was an anthem on its own, even as it may not have been quite as powerful as “This Is Me.”