Cinema has long had its eye pointed toward the medium of music. From The Jazz Singer (1927) and The Broadway Melody (1929) to The Sound of Music (1965) and This Is Spinal Tap (1984), the best of the genre capture the power of music with genuine grace and authenticity, making for several of cinema's finest feature films.
Whether they're fictional fantasies, historical epics, period pieces, black comedies, psychological dramas, coming-of-age tales, or romance stories, movies about music celebrate an art form without boundaries. Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic is the latest feature to enter the genre and is scheduled to be released on June 23, 2022.
8 The Blues Brothers (1980) Birthed A New Genre
Directed by John Landis and co-written by Landis and Dan Aykroyd, The Blues Brothers is based on the recurring musical sketch of the same name from Saturday Night Live. Starring John Belushi and Aykroyd as Jake and Elwood Blues, the film takes place in Chicago, featuring musical performances from Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and John Lee Hooker.
With a shaggy narrative and a talented comedic cast, The Blues Brothers breathes life into the musical/comedy genre. Aykroyd and Belushi, who play off each other with flawless comedic timing, sustain an unending amount of energy throughout the film's 133-minute runtime. Hugely entertaining, enormously funny, and surprisingly touching; The Blues Brothers is unlike anything in its respective genre.
7 CODA (2021) Comes-Of-Age With Heart
Written and directed by Sian Heder, CODA stars Emilia Jones as Ruby, the titular child of deaf adults (CODA) who is also the only hearing member of her family. Ruby's life revolves around helping her family's fishing business and acting as an interpreter for her parents, played by Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur. Then, encouraged by an enthusiastic choirmaster, Ruby decides to pursue her aspirations of being a singer.
CODA possesses no pretentiousness, no theatrics, and no gimmicks; it's a wonderful coming-of-age story that aims at the heart and hits the bullseye. Emilia Jones' Ruby is an underdog worth rooting for, and her performance is terrific. In addition, Sian Heder directs a film with near-flawless execution centered on the story of intergenerational conflict and a culture clash between communities of both deaf and hearing. Funny, charming, poignant, and inspiring; CODA's got something for everyone.
6 School Of Rock (2003) Dials Jack Black To An 11
Directed by Richard Linklater, School of Rock stars Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a struggling rock guitarist who is fired from his band and finds himself in need of work. Posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school, he exposes a class of fourth-grade students to the music he idolizes and emulates.
Powered almost entirely by an exceedingly gleeful performance from Jack Black, whose turn as Dewey Finn is infectiously charismatic and exuberant, School of Rock is filled with inspiringly-talented child acts and a sprawling soundtrack for the ages. Director Richard Linklater avoids crude indulgence by fashioning a light-hearted fantasy that manages to feel both respectfully nostalgic and humorously irreverent at the same time. Hitting a tender note without lapsing into maudlin sentiment, School of Rock is a raucous crowd-pleaser.
5 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) Is Wickedly Inventive
Based on Bryan O'Malley's graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is co-written and directed by Edgar Wright. Starring Michael Cera in the titular role, the film follows Scott Pilgrim, a slacker musician who battles the seven evil exes of his newest girlfriend, Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Full of fresh, funny, fast, and inventive humor, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World consistently hits the sweet spot with its sharp screenplay and nonchalantly brash performances. Michael Cera's standard nerdiness is heightened by Edgar Wright's joyfully creative blend of video games, comic books, classical filmmaking, and guitar rock, where bubble-written onomatopoeia splatters across the screen amidst expertly-choreographed fight sequences and musical numbers.
4 Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) Leads With Soul
Written, directed, produced, and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis stars Oscar Isaac in his breakthrough role as a folk singer struggling to achieve musical success. Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, F. Murray Abraham, Justin Timberlake, and Adam Driver co-star in supporting performances.
Comedic, clever, and immensely melancholy, Inside Llewyn Davis finds fine form in the Coen Brothers' pitch-perfect direction. They beautifully and convincingly recreate the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961 with an extremely keen eye for texture, capturing a stringent voyage of overcast skies, soured relationships, and no direction home. Oscar Isaac's performance as a misunderstood musician is nothing short of sublime – matched by Carey Mulligan, who adds to her repertoire of complex characters.
3 La La Land (2016) Leaps Off The Screen
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a struggling jazz pianist and an aspiring actress, respectively. They fall in love and pursue their dreams in Los Angeles, California. However, when success starts to mount, they must face decisions that threaten the fabric of their love affair and the dreams each of them has worked so hard to achieve.
La La Land is an unabashedly nostalgic, gorgeously photographed, bittersweet marriage of modern and classical filmmaking. Director Damien Chazelle balances Hollywood stardom's false allure with everyday life's frustrating qualities to craft a film that blends fantasy, reality, and romance.
2 Amadeus (1984) Is Ambitiously Grandiose
Directed by Miloš Forman, Amadeus recounts the life, success, and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from the perspective of Antonio Salieri, the composer, whose jealousy of the former's talent led him to become an apparent murderer.
Featuring performances from Tom Hulce as Mozart and F. Murray Abraham as Salieri, Amadeus is commonly cited as one of the greatest films of all time. Its lavish production design and distinguished splendor make for a deeply enriching story about the artistic struggles of two incredibly complex characters. The film skills itself by making the audience sympathize with Salieri, as slimy and despicable as he may be, because of his flaws. There's hardly an element out of focus in Amadeus; few feature films match its levels of delight.
1 Whiplash (2014) Is One Of The Greatest Musical Prodigy Movies Ever Made
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, Whiplash stars Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, an ambitious jazz drummer who spirals into obsession as he is pushed to the limit of his abilities by an abusive instructor, played by J.K. Simmons.
Powerful, intense, thought-provoking, moving, thrilling, emotionally exhausting, and inspiring; Whiplash is exactly why movies are made. Director Damien Chazelle fashions a film that traces the fine line between excellence and excess, combing into a dangerous admixture of perfectionism, ambition, and hubris. Miles Teller delivers a standout performance as Andrew Neiman, opposite a career-defining performance from J.K. Simmons, whose character is, like many a good villain, utterly compelling in everything he says and does. Whiplash demolishes the cliches of the musical-prodigy genre and is one of the finest films of the 2010s.