What To Watch
Unleash Your Inner Theater Kid with These 16 Musical Movies
These streams will hit a high note.
By Tara Bitran and Jessica Derschowitz
June 3, 2026
16 Best Movie Musicals to Watch on Netflix - Netflix Tudum
Were you a theater kid growing up? Are you still a theater kid, even as an adult? If you know the definition of an “11 o’clock number” and understand the thrill of expressing emotions through song, then this list is for you.
Musicals are a celebration of the moments in life when you just need to sing or jump into an impressive dance break (or both simultaneously). And fortunately, we’ve got a whole songbook’s worth of musical movies — including Broadway favorites, animated adventures, and cult classics — to add to your queue.
Whether you’re getting excited about the Tony Awards or just wishing to go on a melodious adventure, these musicals are ready to stream — no ticket purchase necessary. What are you waiting for? The lights are down, the curtain is up, it’s showtime.
13: The Musical
Growing up is a tuneful struggle in Jason Robert Brown’s 13: The Musical. Evan Goldman (Eli Golden) and his mom (Debra Messing) move from the Big Apple to middle-of-nowhere Indiana. This happens just before Evan’s bar mitzvah, for which he’s studying with Josh Peck’s Rabbi Shapiro. The Broadway show’s early runs featured the likes of teenage Ariana Grande, Tinashe, and Elizabeth Gillies. This film adaptation stars a crop of fresh faces navigating the choppy middle-school waters of popularity, loyalty, and learning to be yourself.
Cats
Three words changed the course of cinema forever: digital fur technology. This adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage phenomenon has an all-star cast, including Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Ian McKellen, Idris Elba, Rebel Wilson, Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift, and Judi Dench. Originally based on T.S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the blockbuster musical introduces a quorum of cats who gather under a full moon to determine who will ascend to the next life.
Diana: The Musical
If you’ve already breezed through The Crown and watched all of Harry & Meghan, satiate your royal cravings with this musical about the Princess of Wales. This special presentation of the musical, which celebrates Diana’s life and legacy, was filmed onstage before its Broadway opening in 2021. Wearing a revenge dress or Harvard jumper of your own while watching is optional but encouraged. (Plus, Emily in Paris fans will spot Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles.)
EMILIA PÉREZ
This audacious movie defies genres and expectations. It follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. The fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death. This way, Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Édgar Ramírez are also among the cast of the Spanish-language film, which won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Saldaña) and Best Original Song (“El Mal”).
KPop Demon Hunters
This animated musical adventure from co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans tells the story of a K-pop girl group who uses their fans’ devotion in their fight against demons. The band, HUNTR/X, is composed of choreographer Mira (May Hong), rapper Zoey (Ji-Young Yoo), and lead singer Rumi (Arden Cho). Enter Saja Boys, a rival boy band of demons trying to beat HUNTR/X at their own game. The hit movie is filled with chart-smashing K-pop music written by some of the genre’s biggest names.
Leo
This animated musical comedy is about a charming but disgruntled classroom pet who is having a midlife crisis at the ripe old age of 74. He decides to share his wisdom with the quirky fifth grade students at the school. The heartfelt movie is a whole family affair: Leo is voiced by Adam Sandler, who also co-wrote the film; Sandler’s wife, Jackie, and daughters, Sunny and Sadie, also voice characters in the film.
Merrily We Roll Along
“How did you get to be here? What was the moment?” These are some of the questions asked by composer Franklin Shepard (Jonathan Groff) and his two longtime friends, writer Mary (Lindsay Mendez) and lyricist-playwright Charley (Daniel Radcliffe). The Stephen Sondheim musical famously examines the hopeful origin and heartbreaking unraveling of their three-decade friendship — in reverse. The film captures — and zooms in on — the cast’s performances in the 2023 Broadway revival, which won four Tony Awards.
The Prom
Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Andrew Rannells play Broadway has-beens who are desperate to resurrect their careers. Their solution? Make over their images in small-town Indiana, where the local PTA is canceling prom instead of allowing a lesbian teen, Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman), to attend with her girlfriend. These egotistical stars end up learning the power of a good deed done. This film adaptation of the Tony-nominated musical is directed for the screen by Ryan Murphy and also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Kerry Washington, and Ariana DeBose.
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical
Catchy songs, a viral dance sequence, and little girls who overcome all odds to prevail. Based on the Olivier- and Tony-winning musical, the lavish adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic story introduces the brilliant but unappreciated Matilda (Alisha Weir). When she finds herself under the thumb of vile headmistress Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson), Matilda will need all her wits and intellect — and a few supernatural skills — to save her school. Fortunately, she’s helped by her classmates and her kind teacher Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch).
Sing
This lively animated movie will have you belting out Elton John and Stevie Wonder covers along with its voice cast: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Kroll, Taron Egerton, and more. It centers on a theater owner who sets up a singing competition to save his venue and the unlikely but talented animals who take center stage with rousing performances. Keep the tunes going with Sing: Thriller, the short that showcases the Michael Jackson hit.
Spellbound
In this animated musical adventure, Rachel Zegler voices a tenacious teenage princess, Ellian, who has been harboring a major secret: Her parents, the king and queen, have been transformed into monsters. Even more so, they’ve suddenly escaped the confines of the palace, sparking panic throughout the kingdom. Can the spell be reversed? Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, and Nathan Lane are also in the movie, with original songs by composer Alan Menken.
Thelma the Unicorn
Some people might say unicorns aren’t real, but this pony would beg to differ. Thelma (Brittany Howard) has big dreams of becoming a glamorous music star, and in a glitter-filled twist of fate, she’s transformed into a sparkling pink unicorn who instantly rises to global stardom. But life at the top comes at a cost, and Thelma will have to decide if this is what she really wants. The animated comedy is based on the popular book series by Aaron Blabey.
tick, tick...BOOM!
“Stop the clock” and “take time out” to watch Lin-Manuel Miranda’s inspiring film adaptation of composer Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical, starring Andrew Garfield in an Oscar-nominated performance. Jonathan is hungry to make a name for himself and balks at the idea that he’s turning 30 with, in his eyes, not much to show for it. Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Vanessa Hudgens, and Bradley Whitford are also in the movie, complete with a star-studded “Sunday” sequence in the Moondance Diner.
Vivo
Get ready to learn about the kinkajou — a rainforest mammal who counts raccoons as cousins, for those not up on their cute creature terminology — and have some catchy tunes stuck in your head. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the film’s original songs and voices the titular kinkajou who embarks on a journey to deliver a love song for an old friend. It’s full of lessons about how to manage grief after losing a loved one, and how to nurture creativity even when your parents don’t fully support you.
A Week Away
Here’s a teenage summer camp flick that’s also an uplifting musical — complete with bits of romance, religion, and a very competitive game of dodgeball. A Week Away stars Kevin Quinn as Will Hawkins, a teen in the foster system who has bounced around homes and schools and gets arrested for stealing a police car. He can avoid juvenile hall by attending a week-long Christian camp — a place where he certainly doesn’t expect to find community.
The Wiz
Can’t you feel a brand-new day? This cult-classic adaptation of the 1974 Broadway musical — itself an inventive retelling of L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — stars Diana Ross as Dorothy, a Harlem schoolteacher who goes on a magical adventure in the fantastical urban Oz. Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross play the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, while Lena Horne is Glinda the Good Witch and Richard Pryor is the titular Wiz.
Additional reporting by Erin Corbett and Ashley Lee.
Additional reporting by Erin Corbett
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