Musicals aren’t always associated with the thriller genre, as they are largely perceived to be crowd pleasers that seek only to provide mass forms of entertainment to those that already love theater. While it is true that there is a deep history of melodrama within movie musicals, many of the best in the genre add inherently cinematic qualitiesthat make them more intense.
A musical simply serves as a medium to tell a story, and can certainlyintersect with the thriller genreif the characters and narrative call for it. Considering how many all-time great films owe a good deal of their success to their soundtracks, it is not surprising in the slightest that many musicals use iconic songs to create a sense of tension that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.. Here are the ten most thrilling musical movies, ranked.
10‘New York, New York’ (1977)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
New York, New Yorkhails from the great Martin Scorsese, whose history with the gangster movie genre speaks for itself. Although there are elements ofNew York, New Yorkthat mirrorthe story of the “American dream”and its failings that are common in other musicals, the film centers on the toxic relationship between a jazz player (Robert De Niro) and a enthusiastic Broadway star (Liza Minnelli) as they attempt to “make it” in the Big Apple.
New York, New Yorkexamines how intense it can be to pursue a demanding artistic craft, and how dangerous it can be for young people to risk their livelihood on a fluctuating profession. Although De Niro certainly has his charming moments, there are certainly moments inNew York, New Yorkwhere he captures the same malevolent quality that made him so terrifying inTaxi Driver, Raging Bull,andGoodfellas.
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9‘Annette’ (2021)
Directed by Leos Carax
Annetteis a bizarre examination of artistic integrity and obsessionthat examines the toxic relationship between a defiant stand up comedian (Adam Driver) and an acclaimed musical performer (Marion Cotillard).Leos Caraxis a filmmakerknown for making intentionally upsetting projects, andAnnetteexplores the nature of modern celebrity culture and the overexposure of the media in a manner that is quite frightening.
Annettefrequently crosses the line into pure body horror, particularly when a mutant, strange-looking child makes its appearance towards the middle of the story as the relationship grows more climactic. Although the terrific musical score by the cult bandSparksadds some entertaining qualities to the film,Annettegoes out of its way to criticize the nature of musicals, resulting in a thrilling experiment that tests whether Carax can pull off such an extreme work of aggressive satire.
Watch on Prime Video
8‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ (2007)
Directed by Tim Burton
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetis one of the most thrillingmovies that Tim Burton has ever made, and one of the few that actually earned an R rating from the MPAA.Johnny Deppearned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his terrifying performance as the titular barber, who secretly beheads his clients so that his assistant (Helena Bonham Carter) can bake them into meat dishes to be served.
The violence inSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetis surprisingly graphic, and the film paints an ugly portrayal of the frequent class discrimination that made life in historic England so challenging for those without much money. Although Depp has played many strange anti-heroes and complicated outsiders,Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetwas one of the instances in which he got to play a real villain.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Benjamin Barker, now known as Sweeney Todd, returns to London after being wrongfully imprisoned. Seeking revenge against the corrupt judge who destroyed his life, Todd opens a barbershop and partners with Mrs. Lovett to turn his victims into meat pies, leading to a bloody spree of vengeance.
7‘Moulin Rouge!’ (2001)
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Moulin Rouge!is one of the most immersive musicals ever made,as the sweeping romance betweenEwan McGregorandNicole Kidmanis treated with absolute sincerity byBaz Luhrmann. Luhrmann has many endearing qualities as a filmmaker, but subtlety is certainly not one of them;Moulin Rouge!paints a ghastly portrait of the greed at the top of the aristocracy, and shows how easy it is for artists (particularly women) to be abused by a system that does not value the dedication that they put into their work.
Moulin Rouge!builds tension towards a jaw-dropping climax, which concludes with one of the most tragic last acts in the history of the musical genre. Luhrmann is often accused of being a filmmaker that values “style over substance,” butMoulin Rouge!is so effective as thrilling entertainment that it’s hard to criticize any of the more idiosyncratic qualities he brought to the story.
Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! follows Christian, a young writer in Paris, who falls in love with Satine, the star courtesan of the Moulin Rouge cabaret. As they begin a passionate affair, they must hide their love from the jealous Duke, who is funding Satine’s next show.
Rent on Apple TV
6‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986)
Directed by Frank Oz
Little Shop of Horrorsis an adaptation of the stage musical that itself adapteda low-budget B-movie from Roger Corman, and certainly retains many of the same scary qualities as the original. Considering that the film is literally about a giant plant that eats people, there’s certainly a lot of room forLittle Shop of Horrorsto be fairly tongue-in-cheek; that being said, the practical effects that directorFrank Ozuses to bring the puppet to life can often verge on the side of true horror.
Little Shop of Horrorsfeatures a memorable villainous performance by Steve Martinas a cracked dentist that likes subjecting his patients to the most pain possible. Martin is obviously best known for his more comedic roles, but succeeds nonetheless in playing an over-the-top villain who terrifiesRick Moranis’character Seymour whenever they share the screen together for even a few brief moments.
The Little Shop Of Horrors
Rent on Amazon
5‘It’s Always Fair Weather’ (1955)
Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen
It’s Always Fair Weatheris among the darkest musicalsfrom the Golden Age of Hollywood, as it allowedSingin’ in the RaindirectorsGene KellyandStanley Donento take a more nuanced examination of the anxieties and pressures put on veterans in the aftermath of World War II.It’s Always Fair Weatherfollows three former friends who reunite after years, only to find that they have nothing in common and can no longer stand being around one another.
Although there is some inherent comedy in the premise,It’s Always Fair Weatherwas groundbreaking in how it examined patriotism, mental health, and masculinity, complete with more melancholy musical numbers. The tension inIt’s Always Fair Weatheris more emotional than anything else, as it questions whether it is possible to remain friends with someone who has become jaded and cynical by their experiences.
It’s Always Fair Weather
4‘West Side Story’ (2021)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
West Side Storyis perhaps the greatest musical remake ever made,asSteven Spielbergwas able to fix the issueswith the Best Picture winning original by showing more insight on the conflict between the different ethnic groups in New York City in the aftermath of World War II. Even though the poor white gang and Puerto Rican community should be united in defending their home from the city that is attempting to demolish it, Spielberg shows that violence is inherent when two marginalized cultural groups are forced to spend time with one another.
West Side Storyis just as visceral as one would expect from Spielberg, as it features brilliantly choreographed musical fight scenes that are just as exciting as the truck chase fromRaiders of the Lost Arkor the seizing of Omaha Beach at the beginning ofSaving Private Ryan.
West Side Story
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
Watch on Disney+
3‘Cabaret’ (1972)
Directed by Bob Fosse
Cabaretfamouslyearned Bob Fosse a Best Director Oscar, and it is easy to see why the Academy Awards were so receptive to his groundbreaking adaptation of the highly popular stage show of the same name.Cabaretis about struggling artists that are trying to make a living within a challenging profession, but it also examines the rise of fascism that threatened the integrity of their chosen field of interest.
Cabaretuses its isolating visuals to trap the viewers in a contained environment, emulating the same feelings of claustrophobia that one would feel when seeing a live theatrical performance.Cabaretdoes feature some inspiring moments, but they only become uplifting because Fosse went out of its way to show what an anomaly it was to find success during such an intense moment in human history when so many lives were in danger.
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2‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)
Directed by Jim Sharman
The Rocky Horror Picture Showis one of the most beloved cult movies of all-time, as it has managed to stay in limited release ever since it debuted to mixed reviews in 1975. One of the primary reasons thatThe Rocky Horror Picture Showcontinues to attract new fans is how it blends genres together; while there is some overt romanticism and surrealist comedy, the film plays on cliches within B-movies and evokes moments of true terror.
The Rocky Horror Picture Showsucceedsthanks to the brilliance of Tim Curry,who created a character in Dr. Frank-n-Furter who somehow manages to be both charismatic and creepy at the same time. By pushing the boundaries of sexual content and including some truly grotesque and cynical moments,The Rocky Horror Picture Showbecame a musical experience that has yet to be topped.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1‘All That Jazz’ (1979)
All That Jazzis unlike any other musical in existence,as Fosse used the story of a fictional Broadway dance instructor (played brilliantly byRoy Scheider) to examine his own existential feelings about death and art. Seeing Fosse consider what value his own life has through a series of increasingly disturbing surrealist musical numbers is quite distressing, as the line between fiction and reality becomes blurred.
All That Jazzwaspraised by the legendary director Stanley Kubrick, who claimed that the immersive techniques that Fosse utilized set a new standard for the medium. Considering that Kubrick is responsible for some of the most intense films of all-time, such asThe ShiningandEyes Wide Shut,it’s safe to say that his assertion thatAll That Jazzis as thrilling as musicals can get on the big screen is an accurate one.
All That Jazz
Joe Gideon, a brilliant but self-destructive director and choreographer, juggles his Broadway show, a film project, and his chaotic personal life. As his health deteriorates, he spirals deeper into a world of addiction and hallucinations, all while envisioning a lavish, surreal musical finale to his life
