19 Fabulous Musical Movies for Families

Kristy Pepping:  Although this movie has been redone, I highly recommend the original. This 80s kids movie is a classic with some memorable songs that will get your kids singing along!

Vanessa M.:  I fell in love with this movie when I was a 6 year old kid! I am so glad my older daughter loves it too. The only caveat is that it is a very long movie (almost 3 hours), so it can be hard to find time/sit still to watch the whole thing at once.

Kelly R:  Creative and fun to watch, with plenty of musical numbers that had us listening to the soundtrack right after we saw the movie. And the least creepy Willy Wonka yet!

Tim Ponisciak:  Have some dancers in your family? Newsies is one you should put on your movie night list! The soundtrack for this movie has many foot-tapping melodies. As an added bonus, mom and dad can see Christian Bale in one of his first movie roles!

Kelly R:  Jane and Michael Banks' new nanny takes them on a musical adventure while teaching the Banks clan (and us) a lesson or two about the importance of family. The music, the dancing, and the magic are captivating and keep young kids entertained despite the 2+ hour length. Practically perfect for all ages.

Alexandra F.:  This is a truly enjoyable movie for tweens, teens, young kids and adults alike, with music you will be humming long after the film is over. A unique spin on the classic fairy tale throws a soon-to-be princess into the "real world" in NYC, where her upbeat and optimistic worldview both clashes with and inspires those around her. Tweens will especially enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor that intentionally flips the traditional princess story on its head.

Kelly R:  A family movie musical inspired by P.T. Barnum's life, with fun dance numbers and a soundtrack that makes it worthy of repeat viewings for my kids.

Alexandra F.:  There is really nothing like watching this show live, but after having seen the musical my teens and I were really happy to be able to watch it over (and over) again whenever the bug would hit us without having to wait for a live performance!

A classic family musical movie that has stood the test of time - since 1939! Dorothy follows the yellow brick road with three fantastical friends to seek the help of the Wizard of Oz to send her back home to Kansas.

Kelly R:  The year Spirited came out, all of the holiday movies in our usual rotation were forgotten while we rewatched it over and over. It's the perfect Christmas movie for teens and older kids who can handle some iffy content, and we subscribe to Apple TV each November and December mainly just for this.

Kelly R:  We absolutely loved this Netflix adaptation of the Matilda stage production, about a young girl with a special mind and terrible parents. There's terrific song and dance numbers, the signature Roald Dahl darkness and humor, and a fantastic Emma Thompson as the villainous Miss Trunchbull.

Don Bluth's family cartoon musical about lost Russian duchess Anastasia features lovely animation and catchy musical numbers, but the creepy villain might be too much for the youngest viewers.

Shila:  An enthusiastic young teenager successfully auditions for a mega-hit television dance show. Her rising status as a teen sensation empowers her fight for racial integration, and ultimately inspires the producers of the program to enact drastic changes to the show's casting. Hairspray shines a stark light onto some of many racial and in-your-face inequities of the 60's. This award-winning film features some of Broadway's best songs, dance routines, and star-studded acting; including a progressive performance by male actor, John Travolta, cast to play in a female character role.

Funny and upbeat musical movie about the transition from silent films to sound, its song and dance numbers are still spectacular today.

Disney's musical movie adaptation of Sondheim's dark fairy tale isn't for little kids.