Movie Musicals

Evolution of Movie Musicals

Movie musicals have been building off each other and inspiring audiences for nearly a century.

WORDS and ART by ADA GREEN

The Golden Age (1930s-50s)

Combining film and musical storytelling started to gain momentum with the popular hit “Anything Goes” (1936). Movies brought fun and entertainment that appealed to a larger demographic because they were aimed at a wide age range and incorporated music.

Released over 80 years ago, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) and “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) remain some of the most beloved and iconic films of all time. The 1950s brought in a myriad of lighthearted, romantic, comedic musicals, like “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) and “Guys and Dolls” (1956).

Welcome to the 60s (1960s-80s)

“Mary Poppins” (1964) and “The Sound of Music” (1965) were catalysts for a new level of quality in movie musicals. Superstar Julie Andrews helped propel film to a new cinematic height. “Grease” (1978) and “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986) brought a contemporary edge and a dark side to movie musicals that hadn’t been showcased before.

A Whole New World (Disney Animation 1990s and 2010s)

Following the enormous successes of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1938 and “Cinderella” in 1950, with constant hit movie musicals, Disney Animations dominated the movie industry in the 90s. “The Little Mermaid,” “Pocahontas,” “Mulan,” “The Lion King,” and “Aladdin” are just a few that became instant classics.

“Colors of the Wind,” “You’ll Be in My Heart,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “A Whole

New World” are some top-charting, academy award-winning songs from the time.

Disney acquired Pixar in the 2000s and retreated from musical films. After slipping away for a decade, Disney is popping back with new acclaimed movie musicals like “Frozen,” “Moana,” and “Encanto.”

Modern Boom (2016-Present)

After falling largely under the radar, movie musicals made their comeback with the 2016 Oscar-nominated film “La La Land.” Just missing the Oscar for Best Picture, “La La Land” set a new standard for the quality of original movie musicals, followed by “The Greatest Showman” (2017) and “A Star is Born” (2018).

After Broadway and the rest of the world shut down in 2020, “Hamilton” (2020) made its appearance on our televisions in the form of a filmed stage performance. When playing on Broadway, tickets for the 11 Tony award-winning live musical were nearly impossible to get before it came to Disney’s streaming platform, DisneyPlus. Still, the filmed version reached fans, new and old, bringing millions back into their “Hamilton phase.” As live theater started to return to normal, 2021 brought new screen adaptations of musical favorites such as “In the Heights” and “Tick, Tick… Boom!” as well as a remake of the classic “West Side Story.” These movies received Oscar buzz beyond best original song, marking the new attention and high caliber of modern movie musicals. This recent generation of talented filmmakers have raised the bar for the entire genre, combining the magic of cinema and stage to create a whole new level of art.