The American Film Institute has released a new list of the top 25 movie musicals of all time. If I've learned anything in the time I've been running Cinema Blend, it's that people love lists. It doesn't matter if they're stupid, it doesn't matter if they don’t make any sense, it doesn't matter if they're completely obvious; the secret to success is listing things, and listing often.
This strange list obsession may seem rather banal, but it's no worse than say... joining a Johnny Knoxville fangroup or writing "Charmed" fan fiction. The onlines would dry up and die out without that crap, humanity's just not perfect.
The AFI lives for lists, and their latest says Singin' in the Rain is cinema's greatest movie musical ever. Ok, their winner isn't exactly a shock, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Wizard of Oz checking in at number 3, Mary Poppins at number 6, and Beauty and the Beast at number 2. Animated movies often don't get a lot of respect as musicals, and classic kids movies like Poppins are easily overlooked, so it's nice to see them getting their due.
Other entry's of note include 2002's Chicago at number 12, and 2001's Moulin Rouge at 25. To me that says they were more interested in traditional musical fare. Of the two, Moulin Rouge is the more creative, innovative film.
But the real fun of lists like this is in arguing over what you would have done if you were the one making it. I'm posting the full AFI Top 25 Musicals list below, tells us in the comments section how you would have ranked them.
1. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN -
1952
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
2. WEST SIDE STORY -
1961
United Artists
3. WIZARD OF OZ, THE -
1939
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
4. SOUND OF MUSIC, THE -
1965
Twentieth Century-Fox
5. CABARET -
1972
Allied Artists
6. MARY POPPINS -
1964
Disney
7. STAR IS BORN, A -
1954
Warner Bros.
8. MY FAIR LADY -
1964
Warner Bros.
9. AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN -
1951
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
10. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS -
1944
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
11. KING AND I, THE -
1956
Twentieth Century-Fox
12. CHICAGO -
2002
Miramax
13. 42ND STREET -
1933
Warner Bros.
14. ALL THAT JAZZ -
1979
Twentieth Century-Fox, Columbia
15. TOP HAT -
1935
RKO
16. FUNNY GIRL -
1968
Columbia
17. BAND WAGON, THE -
1953
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
18. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY -
1942
Warner Bros.
19. ON THE TOWN -
1949
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
20. GREASE -
1978
Paramount
21. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS -
1954
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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