Top 30 Catchiest Songs from Modern Movie Musicals

The modern musical continues to churn out earworms. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most infectious tunes from movie musicals made after 1980. Our countdown includes "Cry-Baby," "In the Heights," "Nine," and more! Which of these songs is on constant replay in YOUR head? Let us know in the comments.
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MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#Songs #MovieMusicals #Musicals #Catchiest #Modern

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

After I first saw The Greatest Showman in theaters I spent the next like six months completely obsessed with the musical. I listened to the soundtrack every day. I thought about all of the beautiful sets and costumes every day. I watched behind the scenes of the movie. I watched all of the actors and singers on the James Cordan show. I was just completely swept up in the movie. When I first saw the movie it was with my older sister. She told me that I was going to absolutely love the movie and that I would cry. When the first “Woooooaaaaooh!” Happened and it was blaring through the theater I instantly smiled. And as the scene and overall movie continued I knew my sister would be right. It did become my favorite movie for a while and still is one of my favorite movies. And I did cry. A whole lot. Like one of the biggest and at that point probably the biggest movie break down I had ever had. During the ending I was just sobbing into my sister’s arm. She actually brought Kleenex because she knew I would cry so she was just handing me Kleenex’s while I was sobbing in the theater 😂

[@rolandotorralba5847]

Agree

[@LeonSchall]

It's my All-Time Favorite Movie

[@MamaPinks]

Spectacular movie! ❤🎉❤

[@trinaq]

"Getcha head in the game!" I love this song, it's been stuck in my head for 18 years, and shows no signs of leaving. I liked that they had Zac Efron actually sing for the sequels.

[@blind_t2]

it’s been a while since I heard that.

[@HarmoneeAtcheson]

That’s my favorite song too I’m a high school musical dork i love every high school musical movie and all the songs

[@Disneygirlie]

Three words: The Greatest Showman. Every song is a freaking BOP! My personal favourite: Rewrite the Stars ❤

[@AnnRita45]

Where can you stream this?

[@Disneygirlie]

@@AnnRita45 Disney plus :)

[@signergirl1]

@@AnnRita45I think Disney+ has it but not sure

[@arielle8010]

Disney+ does have it!!! Thank you​@@signergirl1

[@cassadyjade9206]

@@signergirl1 it is on disney+

[@daujah]

zac efron being on this list for all three of his incredible musicals is so iconic haha!

[@mbulelomdoda1494]

Get'cha Head In The Game still slaps to this very day 🔥

[@yenziwemamba06]

hairspray is so iconic

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

I’m so happy that You Can’t Stop The Beat is number 1! I absolutely love all of these songs and would be happy with any of them at the top but You Can’t Stop The Beat is just such a good, happy, fun and obviously catchy song in such a good, happy, fun perfect ending!

[@samuelcollantes1175]

"That's how you know" this songs fills me with nostalgia every time i hear it. Happy monday afternoon, Emily. Take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well.

[@paulaelsner4471]

No matter how satisfied you are with this ranking, one thing is certain: the video was pure nostalgia ❤

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Hairspray and Enchanted are underrated modern musicals

[@ShadyRK9]

Hairspray is a old musical though

[@torimitchell5210]

2007? There are many musicals on here that are older than that. ​@@ShadyRK9

[@hachiko7135]

They mean the original from the 60s, but i mean west side story is here eve. Though its a newer version ​@torimitchell5210

[@nancyravey6639]

@@ShadyRK9 Hairspray premiered on broadway in 2002. It's based off the 1988 film.

[@myjumpsuittakesmeshigh2022]

@@ShadyRK9the original hairspray movie wasn’t a musical

[@jonathankincaid1625]

Grease lightning not being on here is a crime

[@Musicalfan69420]

modern musicals past 1980 grease came out in 1978

[@jonathankincaid1625]

@@Musicalfan69420 oohh gotcha

[@bsbmakesmesmile84]

This list NEEDS a part 2!

[@mjsteele42]

Definitely picked the wrong one from the Greatest Showman. The best song is This is Me. It isn't even close. An anthem for the downtrodden and shunned. If you don't walk out of that theater humming that song, you have no soul.

[@cassadyjade9206]

YESS!!! i was scrolling comments waiting to see someone point this one out specifically! It even became a viral song on tiktok ♥

[@WhippedforMinho]

I disagree. I think the other side is the best song-

[@rebeccad6000]

My mom grew up with "Little Shop Of Horrors" and the song I played on repeat would be, "Suddenly Seymour." I feel so bad I don't watch as many musicals as much than I thought because, like, I still love Disney and everytime I say a compliment to a song I never heard of, I'm, like, "I'm so sorry, mom!" I know the reason why it's like that, tho because I don't know the story 's plot and I'm, like, I don't get this, why am I even here? I don't want to say I don't like it, it's just me.

[@Dwilder812]

The Other Side is my favorite song from Greatest Showman

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

I was wondering if Moulin Rouge was going to be on this list and then number 13 came on! I’m so happy!

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

The Cover Is Not The Book was such a fun and bouncy number. It felt so much like the original Mary Poppins movie ❤️

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

Yay!!! I’m so happy Dancing Queen is on here! Mamma Mia is like my go-to happy, feel good movie. And I think there is no scene that better displays that than Dancing Queen. It makes me get up and dance and run around like the characters in the movie.

[@yenziwemamba06]

will forever love Enchanted

[@tjohns25]

Zac Efron popping up three times 🎉 love that Newsies was included

[@nancyjay790]

Newsies had Christian Bale as its lead.

[@memorylayne78]

True, but Zac was in HSM, Hairspray, and Greatest Showman.

[@tjohns25]

@@memorylayne78 loved him in all of them!

[@chelseacanales8763]

You Can’t Stop The Beat Dancing Queen All That Jazz Those are super catchy musicals

[@AngeliqueDLM]

Chicago is an entire masterpiece!

[@Medgar-xx1vl]

High school musical we’re all this together

[@yenziwemamba06]

so glad In The Heights is here, love that film

[@jessicacarter9988]

Same

[@user-ml2so8dp8i]

Finally a good one, enchanted, Disney, making fun of itself.It's great

[@Hellohowdo]

Can't wait for _Wicked_ to be on this list

[@adriangarcia543]

The greatest showman

[@Phelie315]

not to complain, I love many of these, but ... surely "do you hear the people sing" or something else from Les Mis should have been on here somewhere? That song is catchy af :D

[@jesscharles1512]

Every song in Rent is catchy!! I know all the lyrics! ❤

[@SwampNymph522]

I listened to “One” before an audition and it helped me alleviate my stage fright. That’s the power of music 🎼

[@arielle8010]

EXACTLY!!!! ❤❤🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@arielle8010]

EXACTLY!!!! ❤❤🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@coreyhill681]

20- Hillary Duff-Why Not 19- Vanessa Hudgens and Drew Seely-Breaking Free 18- Cheetah Girls- Cinderella 17- Parker-Ghostbusters 16- Saturday Night Fever- Stayin Alive 15- Teen Beach Movie- Surfs Up 14- Grease-Summer Nights 13- Footloose- 12- Celine Dion-My Heart Will Go On 11- Aerosmith-I don't want to miss that 10- Prince-Purple Rain 9- Will Smith-Men in Black 8- Surveyor-Eye of the Tiger 7- Seal-Kiss From the Rose 6- Brain Adams- Everything I do (I do it for You ) 5- Whitney Houston-I will always Love You 4-Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas- This is Me 3- Camp Rock- Start the Party 2- Hillary Duff- What Dreams are made of 1- Miley Cyrus- The Climb

[@pamelakibildis1177]

I’m So Happy That You Can’t Stop The Beat Is Number 1 I LOVE HAIRSPRAY!!! 🥰🥰

[@thehuskysnowball9210]

Oh and btw: the Greatest Showman has the best start of a movie ever, with a incredible good song and a singing Hugh Jackamn is always a plus

[@kendra.1]

“Impossible” really is my favorite song from Cinderella. I remember watching it for the first time with my mother

[@jaclynsanture6643]

I Love Brandy's Cinderella'But the world is full of fools, who don't belive in senseable rules.'

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

I was totally hoping That’s How You Know was going to be on this list and I’m so happy it is!! Enchanted was played pretty much weekly and sung and quoted daily in my house growing up. It is still one of my absolute favorite Disney movies and probably just movies in general. That’s How You Know is the scene I always look forward to the most. And even though I’ve seen this movie about 100 times it still makes me as happy and excited as well as makes me dance and sing along to it as it did the first time I saw it.

[@Bronwen597]

"Cell Block Tango" barely mentioned. Love that one along with just about anything from ABBA.

[@jandmvideos9051]

Whenever I think of Best Little Whorehouse, the song that comes to mine is Hard Candy Christmas.

[@AngeliqueDLM]

Time Dance, Rocky Horror Picture Show

[@melissawiggles4594]

Chicago & The Greatest Showman are two of my favorite musicals!

[@corriemiller3297]

I love all of the high school musical songs getcha head in the game is one of my favorites

[@jessicasours5116]

#18 Impossible!!! Great song in a musical!!!! ❤

[@ryanappleton3653]

Getcha Head In The Game still goes off to this day! An earworm made for this generation. Little fact: Everytime the dance break happens in the song, I do the choreography from Slave 4 U. Not sure why, but it just works

[@jessicacarter9988]

I have been obsessed with in the heights since it came out ❤

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

Elephant Love Medley and La Vie Boheme being next to each other is cracking me up. The first time I ever watched Moulin Rouge (I didn’t even watch the full movie but I watched most of it) with my sister I got so sad and cried at the ending. So to cheer me up she played La Vie Boheme! So it’s kinda funny having those two songs next to each other because I’ve always linked those two together in my head 😂

[@kotlcbooknerd885]

All that jazz is fair because that song still gets stuck in my head and my school did Chicago a few months ago I was the person who says 5,6,7,8

[@Stormbrise]

Of the songs listed two get stuck in my head, but one was a runner up. First it is Elephant Love Melody, but the other is Cell Block Tango. Sometimes, though I may break out into One. There were some musicals, and I am not talking animated, that did not make the cut apparently.

[@AngeliqueDLM]

Dirty Dancing, She's like the Wind

[@Cloudburst2000]

The movie wasn’t a musical though

[@ThePinkDragon]

@@Cloudburst2000 still great song

[@sockygaldamez9492]

That’s How You Know, Getcha Head In the Game and You Can’t Stop the Beat are like constant repeat in my head😊❤️❤️ they are brilliant and catchy songs 😄

[@suki73]

I'm disappointed that "You Don't Own Me" from First Wives Club wasn't on the list

[@Josephinedraper]

Happy to see Drive it Like you Stole it in here. Every song in Sing Street is a classic. So underrated.

[@AngeliqueDLM]

Chicago is an entire masterpiece!

[@RutabegaNG]

So you note that Rent is based on La Boheme but you missed that Moulin Rouge is too? Whatever, this was still fun. "Fame" holds a special place in my heart because of where I went to high school. It's basically our "fight" song, the song that gets you hyped and happy. As for The Greatest Showman - there's not a bad song in the whole thing. The opening song takes me back to going to the circus when I was a kid.

[@maggiematthews6331]

I knew Alfonso Roberto could dance since he was in Silver Spoons. He also starred in Tap Dance Kid. All of the this was way before Fresh Prince!

[@hachiko7135]

Hairspray is my all time favorite Musical and introduced me to zac Efron. Honestly it wasn't until the 2nd high school musical that I got into the series

[@AngeliqueDLM]

Never Enough

[@KT926]

Totally agree with number 1, it is my favourite musical of all time!

[@TwilightSagaCullen]

GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER ARE ✨️ICONIC!!!!✨️ Jennifer Hudson killed it in dream girls! Life's a happy song is just 😖😂 OMG!!! ENCHANTED FOREVER!!!!! 💖💖💖 No Grease???? 😢

[@diamondstuddedpunchingbag4718]

SO glad "Newsies" got recognized!! Man i love that movie!!

Chiffon, Ronnette and Crystal! I get their names now! 🤯

[@CodyFairlessLee]

I like ENCHANTED and I love IN THE HEIGHTS, TICK TICK... BOOM!, WEST SIDE STORY (2021), and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN.

[@ShadyRK9]

Momma Mia! Here We Go Again! 🎶

[@smo05d]

Yes Newsies!! An absolute fav!

[@samanthamartin854]

Did you forget Les Misarables and Phantom of the Opera?!

[@cedgson91]

Rent 525600 minutes, no day but today. Would personally choose any song over la vie boheme 😮 Chicago - all that jazz, cell block tango Mean girls - world burn For Mary poppins returns - my most catchy is Royal dalton bowl which proceeds a cover is not the book. Also the bath scene - can you imagine that? 😅

[@renataheaden2509]

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 recognition for the greatness that is Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother and Brandy as Cinderella. 15:47

[@brianmarley3160]

Just cast Queen Latifah in all of them. Her performances are legendary!!

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

Chicago ❤ and all that jazz 😊

[@bethanyhait6880]

Some runners up: “Do You Hear the People Sing?” - Les Miserables “I Must Get On That Ship” - Titanic (a Broadway musical, not a movie, but still deserves some love) “Footloose” or “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” - Footloose

[@thehuskysnowball9210]

The Greatest Showman should have shown up more than it did... and Specially have number 1

[@AngeliqueDLM]

Chorus Line Stage Performances are in our bones! Loved "Fame " Forever and Donna Summer

[@maxmeidl4909]

We go from top 10, to top 20, to now top 30

[@vanessastegall]

Yup

[@gamingwithscottie1478]

I’m surprised that Sexy from the new Mean Girls was not on here, as well as the opening from Wonka.

[@raven7155]

What about a song from Burlesque?

[@brianb8060]

I was thinking the "Dentist" song for Little Shop of Horrors. My other choice was, "I Wanna Be A Producer", from The Producers (2005).

[@VictoriaRian]

The fact that Repo! The Genetic Opera isn’t on here is a crime

[@stacym735]

The songs "When I Grow Up" and "Revolting Children" from Matilda the Musical could both be on this list - one or the other certainly should be!

[@ThePinkDragon]

loved mulan rouge

[@GamerFunOriginallyAarush]

That’s very catchy!

[@Neilfrozn]

These are all great songs. But, I wish this list only included songs that were written specifically for the musical. Pop songs that charted, then were repurposed for a musical should be on another list.

[@nicolelylewis]

totally agree w/ #1!! That tune is so catchy!

[@The_Cali_State]

so if you want a good and catchy musical or musical movie ask Lin Manuel Miranda

[@LADYJOKER81]

From Justin to Kelly That’s the Way I like it deserves a spot on this list

[@3cloudgurls3]

Literally was singing enchanted seconds before I heard the intro..

[@dashingdreww1185]

I feel like 90s&80s musicals aren’t considered Modern Movie Musicals loll

[@colleenmcnaughton3634]

I wish some of the songs from the Disney ZOMBIES trilogy was on this list. To me, they have a modern sound in their songs.

[@blind_t2]

#6, good choice. oh, and we get the dynamic diva duo of the 90’s that still are homies til this very day! Tisha and Tichina are some sangin somebodies, and hilarious.

[@seanhorace925]

All of these songs are catchy and deserved to be on the list. I’m on for Life’s A Happy Song, You Can’t Stop the Beat, 96,000, or the 2021 America anytime . I also think these should’ve gotten on the list: .Cabin Fever- Muppet Treasure Island .Im Number One- Muppets Most Wanted .And the Money Kept Rollin In- Evita .Upsidedown World- Follow That Bird .Sweet Tooth or A World of Your Own - Wonka .Together Again- The Muppets Take Manhattan .The First Time It Happens- The Great Muppet Caper

[@Josephinedraper]

How about Man or Muppet. That's a classic.

[@mr_KayMak]

No Hamilton? Surprising

[@Phelie315]

Hamilton is not a movie musical, there's just a pro-shot of the stage performance, I guess that's why it's not here.

[@GemmaHansen-gs5ox]

Seventy-six trombones is soo catchy.

[@alessiman]

You missed Score Tonight, Reproduction, Girl for all seasons and Cool Rider from Grease 2!

[@chloearmstrong9535]

I love in the heights, might have to watch the film more than words or what it is called. Also love Annie, High School musical, the greatest showman, west side story and newies

[@footprintsnz]

Thanks

[@MsMojo]

Thank you for supporting our channel!

[@shawnbarczak1766]

Yes and no on agreement...kinda feel as though a few more songs from "Rent" should have been featured a little bit more... especially looking at "Seasons of Love"... just my thought but a great list of songs even with the ones I dont know...

[@liveicelive]

Tracie Thoms and Jesse L. Martin!!

[@tiararowburn4507]

'Tomorrow' from Annie is the one that has gotten stuck rather than 'it's a hard knock life' in fact that isn't even the second one from Annie 'easy street' is! and 'getcha head in the game' is behind the final song and the one in the cafeteria for me

[@sunnygirl523]

Love these songs ❤

[@EvaGrammer]

Sigh. I loved this list. Several musicals i haven't seen too.

[@michaellovemore826]

Kinda Crazy that Zac Efron is featured in 3 songs within this list, two of them in the top 10

[@Kaneko2518]

Jaja Ding Dong better be a staple at every Eurovision.

[@WrenFaithBridger]

"Nine" was such a bad movie that I disliked it after watching it, then forgot that it even existed. I'm only reminded when I see it pop up in something like this. I was also disappointed in the newer Muppet movie so that one would definitely be lower. Most of the rest on here definitely brought back great memories. (Side Note: the "graduation" performance at the very end of "Fame" is so uplifting & always makes me wish I could dance; I usually dance around the house after watching it, as I do about once a year or so.)

[@jimcooper1320]

In The Shallow Now, I'm Just Ken

[@caitlinireland4396]

Blake Moran from Madam secretary is in Jersey Boys?!! I'm watching this ASAP