Music is life. It’s the closest thing we have to magic and since time immemorial, man has been using music to express what he never could with words. And when motion pictures were invented, it was just another step forward to spread more music in the world. And then man started making movies about and around music, and then there was no end.
We present some of the best movies ever made, with music as a central theme.
1. Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
A classic film showing the transition of Hollywood from silent movies to ‘talkies.’
2. The Sound of Music (1965)
One of Hollywood’s all-time best musicals, it tells the story of a nun who loves singing, who is sent off to be a governess to the seven children of the cold Captain Von Trapp.
3. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
John Travolta jumped into the limelight with this dance moves and portrayal of a man who attended a discotheque to forget his worries.
4. Grease (1978)
This early era adaptation of the musical of the same name again stars the sensational John Travolta, in a story of two school going teens falling in love amidst a world of song and dance.
5. The Blues Brothers (1980)
A classic musical tale about Jake Blues, fresh out of prison, and his brother Elwood, and their R&B band as they put up a show to save the Catholic home where they were raised.
6. Dirty Dancing (1987)
A surprise low-budget hit that spawned generations of admirers, Dirty Dancing features a 17-year-old girl who falls madly in love with the dance instructor of the hotel she’s staying at.
7. Amadeus (1984)
Told from the point of view of an asylum inmate, Amadeus is set in the 18th Century and revolves around the life and murder of great music composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
8. The Lion King (1994)
You might be surprised as to why this movie is featured here, but know that the music composer was the great Sir Elton John and the songs went on to win many prestigious awards.
9. Almost Famous (2000)
This movie tells the story of a young journalist as he’s given the chance to cover the tour of a rock band and get published in Rolling Stone magazine.
10. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
A musical masterpiece by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge! is a musical masterpiece in which a Scottish poet falls in love with the star dancer of the Moulin Rouge cabaret.
11. Chicago (2002)
Adapted from the broadway hit of the same name, this music-packed movie tells the story of two murderesses who await execution in 1920’s Jazz-era Chicago.
12. 8 Mile (2002)
A semi-biographical film, starring Eminem, about a white boy wanting to make it huge in the rap world.
13. School of Rock (2003)
A temporary teacher gets assigned as the musical teacher in a school and teaches the kids about rock and roll and changes their lives.
14. The Phantom of The Opera (2004)
Based on the longest running broadway play of 1986, this movie tells the story of a deranged and disfigured musical genius who fakes his death and haunts the Paris Opera.
15. Ray (2004)
Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for best actor in this biographical film on the life of legendary R&B musician Ray Charles.
16. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Tim Burton’s musical horror film focuses on Sweeney Todd, a serial killer barber who exacts revenge on the captors of his wife by killing his customers and making them into meat pies.
17. August Rush (2007)
A musical prodigy runs away to New York City to find his real parents while his mother searches for him and his father searches for her.
18. Mamma Mia! (2008)
Adapted from the stage musical, this movie depicts the story of a girl who must find her real father from among three candidates. The music is provided by legendary group ABBA.
19. It Might Get Loud (2008)
A biography looking at the evolution of the guitar in rock and roll music, starring legendary musicians Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White.
20. Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009)
A biographical movie released after the great MJ passed, This is it showed the life of the star as he rehearsed for the show that never happened.
21. Crazy Heart (2009)
Jeff Bridges won the Oscar for best actor for his role of playing a worn out Country musician who decides to turn his life around.
22. Searching For Sugar Man (2012)
This documentary film chronicles two fans as they find out the truth behind American musician Sixto Rodriguez, who was famous for his music in South Africa, and his rumored death.
23. Pitch Perfect (2012)
This story follows an all-girl a capella group as they take on their opponents to win the national competition.
24. Begin Again (2013)
An out of whack record label executive finds a woman who he wants to sing for her so that he gets back in business. They record the album in public locations all over New York City.
25. Whiplash (2014)
A jazz drum prodigy and his relationship with an abusive instructor is shown in this Oscar-winning film.
Music permeates our lives every day, and these are just some of the films which glorify the magic that is music.
Which are your favorite movies about music?
Tell us in the comments.
Fact sources: IMDb, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes.
Cover image sources: 1 & 2