Forgotten Movie Musicals That Deserve a Revival

Nothing is off the table when it comes to musicals. There's drama, delight, and spontaneous breakouts into song and dance. Whereas other stories shy away from breaking the fourth wall, musicals lean into the unexpected. They require a certain conceit; that music is an inherent feature of their depicted worlds. While musicals first appeared on the stage, the silver screen provides extra space and possibilities. There are plenty of musical movies, but some have tragically been forgotten.

It's a shame that the best movie musicals fly under the radar. Be it a carefully curated selection of songs, impressive dance numbers taking advantage of movie magic, or just a compelling story, movie musicals expand the horizons of the genre. There are several forgotten movie musicals from the past few decades that deserve a revival. Let's explore nine of them.

One-time 80s music superstar Alex Fletcher has taken to playing county fairs. He gets a second shot at the limelight, however, when a major pop star tasks him to write a song. Suffering from writer's block, Fletcher finds inspiration in the shape of his employee, Sophie, who has an unexpected knack for writing lyrics.

"Music and Lyrics" is fun, lighthearted, and full of great music. Plus, there's an unexpected but natural chemistry between its two leads, Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. The movie finds a refreshing balance between romance and melody, with Grant shining in his singing and dancing scenes.

Annie is a young orphan who's forced to live under the exacting eye of orphanage owner Miss Hannigan. Though Annie believes she's been left there by mistake, a saving grace comes to her in the form of a wealthy man. It's the great depression, and Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks decides to let an orphan live in his mansion to promote his image. What starts out as a dream for Annie quickly becomes a headache as a long line of frauds come out of the woodwork claiming to be her parents.

"Annie" is a classic musical, based on a comic strip, that first appeared on Broadway in 1977. Thanks to its collection of hummable tunes, it found new life in adaptations. This 1982 movie musical is arguably the best. It has an all-star cast (Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, and Tim Curry) and a collection of musical numbers that use the silver screen's sense of spectacle and production to great effect.

Edward is the prince of the kingdom of Euphrania. He hopes to marry for love, but his parents, the King and Queen, have different ideas. They want him hitched up as soon as possible. After a chance meeting with a girl named Cinderella at a royal ball, Edward seeks her out because he's determined to marry her.

Cinderella is a classic story with a long line of adaptations, but there's something truly charming about "The Slipper and the Rose." It's musically compelling, funny, and explores just enough of the original story's margins to breathe new, endearing life into the well-tread narrative.

Whereas the previous Cinderella adaptation breathes new life into the less-explored aspects of the story, the 1997 "Cinderella" packs a production punch. You know the story: a prince is pressured to marry, but refuses to do so until he meets Cinderella at a royal ball. After she loses her shoe during the gala, the prince seeks her out and marries her instead of the parentally approved suitors.

It may be a made-for-TV movie, but it has the production value and star power of a blockbuster film. "Cinderella" features an all-star cast including Whitney Houston, Brandy, and Whoopi Goldberg. The sets are lush, vibrant, and overflowing, and the musical score finds refreshing room to breathe. It's a high watermark in the realm of made-for-TV movie musicals.

A modern retelling of Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale,_ A Christmas Carol_, "Spirited" follows the Ghost of Christmas Present. He's nearing retirement and set to return to Earth. As such, he hones in on an arguably unredeemable man named Clint Briggs. In an unexpected twist, Briggs helps the famed Ghost come to terms with his own life.

Christmas movies come and go every year, and "Spirited" was no different. That's a shame, too, because it's chock-full of joy, humor, and melody. While the movie adds little to the overall Christmas Carol story, its appealing songs and expert dance numbers give the viewer that special Christmas morning feeling.

It's the Great Depression, and the children from the original Mary Poppins are all grown up. That comes with adult responsibilities. Michael, now a widower with three children and a house about to be repossessed, gets the surprise of a lifetime when his and his sister's former nanny returns. She leads them on a magical adventure and saves the day.

This Mary Poppins sequel may have come half a century after the original, but it provides a refreshing take on an old classic. It captures that whimsical, magical feeling of the first movie but gives it new blood. The songs are compelling, and Emily Blunt provides a more nuanced approach to the enchanting nanny character.

Based on the award-winning stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, "In the Heights" follows the life and pulse of one corner of a Dominican neighborhood in New York's Washington Heights. It weaves a tapestry through the community members as they take big steps to fulfill their little dreams.

While it failed to make much headway at the box office, "In the Heights" takes the stage version and imbues it with the scope and scale of the silver screen. There's a deep sense of love and respect for heritage in this movie, made all the more poignant by its dazzling song and dance numbers.

Pete is a young orphan who runs away to a Maine fishing hamlet with his charming, but sometimes invisible, Dragon best friend. The town's lighthouse keeper takes the pair in, but their prank-loving habits soon get them into trouble. When an unscrupulous salesman tries to capture the dragon for profit, Pete must use his pranking abilities to rescue him.

"Pete's Dragon" may be one of the more forgotten films produced by Disney, but one wonders why. It successfully pulls off one of the first film/animation combos and imbues it with humor, excitement, and joy. While it's slow in some sections, "Pete's Dragon" packs enough musical punch for several watches.

D.J is the daughter of a wealthy New York couple, who's forced to reconcile her place in the family after her parents divorce. This leads to an exploration of her extended clan, including her half-sister's anticipated wedding, and another relative's pursuit of love in Europe. When an unseemly former criminal enters the picture, however, things take an unwelcome turn.

Woody Allen rarely makes a musical movie like "Everyone Says I Love You," and perhaps for good reason, as it utterly bombed at the box office. The wisdom of hindsight, however, suggests that the audiences were too hard on this movie. It's full of fun, energy, and enough infectious melodies to get you tapping your foot the whole way through.