Top 10 Musicals That Defined Our Childhood

Our love for musicals started with these. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at beloved musicals that helped shape our childhood. Our countdown includes "Wicked," "Hairspray," "Cinderella," and more! Which one of these musicals was YOUR childhood favorite? 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.
#Musicals #Childhood #Kids #Theatre #Broadway

[@MsMojo]

Which ones are your fondest memories? Share your thoughts below and let's take a trip down memory lane together!

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

Definitely Sound of Music

[@justineves3588]

Sound of music and Annie are two of the very best movie musicals ever

[@arielfangirlmendez]

I remember the movie cry baby and it's fun to revisited as a movie musical

[@jennieorlando790]

Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and Shrek the Musical

[@ScorpioKaylin1993]

Annie, Hairspray, Sound of Music & West Side Story are on my top 5 or 10 list of my favorites ⭐️

[@Ikoafs]

No Grease? No Little Shop Of Horrors? No WIZ?

[@DateMike22]

Facts 💯

[@doreenbierens]

I thought the same thing

[@alyzu4755]

I was 9 when "The Wiz" film was released. My friends and I used to link arms and sing "Ease on Down the Road" as we walked home from school. Of course, we were a bunch of suburban white kids with thick Boston accents, so the effect was... different. ☺️

[@katyedwards3935]

They can't all be on this list, can they?

[@Ikoafs]

@@katyedwards3935 YES! I just feel like it’s insane to not have grease!! Then on top of that the wiz is THE BEST reimagining of any musical in history.

[@clairethechimera9718]

My siblings would watch either Annie or Oliver basically EVERY Sunday afternoon!

[@15Candles]

Seeing Steven Spielberg's West Side Story in theater was one of the greatest movie experiences i've ever had. I'm so grateful that i drove over an hour to the theater just to watched it and man it was absolutely worth it

[@rstein926]

How the Wizard of Oz isn't on this list is criminal. The Wizard of Oz is the greatest musical film of all time known for it's characters, cinematography which was insanely good for a film in the 30s, music, quotes & of course the ruby slippers as well as it's songs. As well as The Wizard of Oz here's a few more: Mary Poppins High School Musical Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory The Lion King Aladdin Cats Oliver!

[@KyleWillLivingston]

Grease defined my childhood

[@lisakaufman7366]

Singing in the rain is how my mom introduced me to Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly. I'm proud to say that I did the same for my Daughter and she is still a fan. We lost Mom 5 days ago. Musicals like these will in time a wonderful way for my daughter and I to remember how wonderful she was.

[@laraduff4949]

Musicals can really help people connect. My condolences for your loss

[@lisakaufman7366]

Thank you so much. She was ready to go. She was in a lot of pain and wanted to be with my Dad. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and as a family we watched The wonderful world of Disney every Sunday night. It was a wonderful time to all be together 😊.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I’m sorry for your loss. Charolette’s Web introduced me to Debbie Reynolds

[@eaqua56]

No The Wiz? Cmon!

[@15Candles]

If they could do a re-release of classical musical movies like "Singin' In The Rain" or "The Sound Of Music" in theater these days, that would be awesome. Always curious to know what it felt like watching classic movies from 1940s to 1960s in theaters

[@rstein926]

They do. Only once in a blue moon. For example Mary Poppins is coming to UK next year for first time in 10 years

[@manuelorozco7760]

They still do it once in a while in the states. But the prices aren’t the usual movie theater prices. And for 1 day only

[@aarongilmore1254]

For most of the musicals you mention the film counterpart. For Cinderella most millennials would know the Brandy version from 1998. Not everyone gets to go to Broadway shows until they are adults.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I watched the Brandy version first. Then Julie Andrews and then Lesley Ann Warren

[@cnmgetme]

"Grease" and "the King and I" too!!

[@loveolicity4542]

Annie! The Sound of Music

[@LaLayla99]

Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease?? (My mom introduced me to musicals at a young age, so I'd also include My Fair Lady, Bye Bye Birdie, Hello Dolly!, Oklahoma! and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)

[@brodiger]

I watched the sound of music a lot when I was with my mom and recently I watched it with my boyfriend because he’s never seen it. Honestly it’s really amazing to watch that musical and it’s still awesome today. Whenever I go up to visit my mom I put on musicals for my grandpa and he likes watching-it, great to see that he enjoys it

[@user-kw3cd6ch4m]

My childhood was RHPS and Carrie The Musical. Yes, I'm odd.

[@prettyblues90]

I love Peter Pan and Annie!

[@Drademdar]

No "Oliver Twist", "Bugsy Malone", "Cats", "Hair", "Fame" or "Les Misérables"? I guess my childhood was slightly different.

[@dwnwthwbstr1]

Almost all of them! I liked the 1999 version of Annie and Brandy's Cinderella better, but I grew up with West Side Story, Sound of Music, Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan and for my 10 birthday, I went to go see Hairspray in theaters!

[@pugs2189]

Wizard of oz was my favorite musical as a kid. Still will always have a special place in my heart. Annie is the Victor Garber addition that I grew up with. Audra Macdonald was amazing as well. I feel Grease should have been on this list

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Definitely "Seussical" happy tuesday morning, Emily. Take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well.

[@Anime_theatre_lover]

Did y’all know that Frog and toad has a musical?? It was apparently on Broadway in 2003 and I was in a local production of it recently

[@Medgar-xx1vl]

Definitely my childhood is high school musical

[@manuelorozco7760]

HSM was my middle school years. When the 3rd movie came out, I was a freshman and it already felt like the end of an era.

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

I saw Peter Pan with my grandparents about 10-11 years ago. It was absolutely amazing! And it actually was Cathy Rigby which at the age of like 8 I didn’t get how cool that was but man I feel so awesome that I was lucky enough to see her in real life no matter how young I was

[@heatherduncan5101]

No "Wizard of Oz", Ms Mojo??? For shame!!

[@seanhorace925]

There’s a few other that aren’t Disney I can think of that should’ve been on this list: .SpongeBob the Musical .Hair the hippie musical .Young Frankenstein .Joseph and the Amazing Technicolors Dreamcoat .In the Heights .Shrek the Musical

[@elephantbluepeter]

"The King and I", "Oliver!", and classic Disney musicals like "Beauty and the Beast", "Mary Poppins" and "The Lion King" all should've been included on this list!

[@Denabella]

They did say they were not including Disney. But I do agree with your first two.

[@RcksAngl]

​@@Denabella,but isn't Cinderella & Peter Pan Disney? They were on the list!!

[@Denabella]

@RcksAngl They didn't start off as Disney property. Plus the two musicals mentioned weren't put on by Disney.

[@elephantbluepeter]

@@Denabella Oh I didn't notice that. Well in that case, they should do a "Top 10 Disney Musicals That Defined Our Childhood" Video!

[@Denabella]

@@elephantbluepeter Agreed!

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, MsMojo..!! "Oliver! (1968)" was also an amazingly good musical movie to watch.

[@charleswinthrop5929]

For what I am about to say a great many people will think I'm positively daft. My dear MsMojo you truly have dropped the ball on your list by omitting one of if not the best musical ever made....THE BLUES BROTHERS this movie had it all ! Great music LOTS of Action and of course one of the costars just happens to be a lovely young lass who portrayed a plucky damsel from a galaxy far far away !

[@manuelorozco7760]

As a millennial, I say Wicked made me the theatre kid I am today! But beforehand I watched a Jr production of Annie and played Shreoder in a summer conservatory production of You Can’t It Take It With You. Then my journey continued with the MTV proshot of Legally Blonde and Hairspray. I was introduced to Rogers and Hammerstein through Brandy’s turn as Cinderella!

[@truthseeker9249]

Well you're absolutely right about Annie. Annie was the first musical I fell in love with.

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

My older sister played the soundtrack to Wicked all the time and some of my first memories were singing to Popular along with her 😂 My older sister, younger sister and I all were lucky enough to see it together a couple of years ago when it came to town and seeing it on stage live, after hearing and loving the soundtrack my entire life was a magical experience and I cried multiple times 💚

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

My little sister and I were in our local drama club’s performance of Suessical when we were eight and six! 😂 It was over a decade ago but it’s still some of my happiest memories. It was so much fun

[@gramps2matt]

Wait. What? No OLIVER!? Mark Lester, Jack Wild, Ron Moody, Oliver Reed Shani Wallis. Poor orphan, just like Annie who seeks to be his true self in a loving environment. Flirts unwillingly with evil to have the grand reunion with his true relative. The first movie my parents let me see alone at the theater its broad production numbers and simple sentimentality spoke to my tween heart.

[@davidcox708]

My first "Broadway" musical was Hello Dolly. Saw it in Chicago with Pearl Bailey and Cab Callaway.

[@AJ_hebovy1997]

Anyone remember Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

[@jonelrobinson582]

I do!✋🏾

[@Trekkie_Gal]

The Wizard of Oz? It was shown on TV once a year when I was a kid, and I looked forward to it every year!

[@justineves3588]

Very very great epic list I like it a lot very very great job mis mojo one of my absolute favorite list ever 😊❤

[@gwynwellliver4489]

Sound of Music, Music Man, and My Fair Lady were favorites of my childhood. Then Phantom and Les Mis were extremely popular when I was older.

[@ANDYLOUISTABRIS]

My childhood is South Park The Movie.😅

[@martsmarty]

Singing in the Rain! Yes, 100% - one of my absolute faves

[@fangirlable]

I agree with this list, except for numbers 2, 4, 6 and 7. I would’ve added Grease to this list.

[@ameliabedelia7018]

Glitter will always have a special place in my heart. That and Showgirls.

[@ItzMzJulez2U]

‘Cinderella’ with Leslie Ann Warren is my earliest memory of a musical. It’s available free on YT movies btw!

[@junng7]

I totally agree on Annie! I don't know how much I've watched it.

[@LCx829]

Annie was part of my 80s childhood. This movie is very nostalgic.

[@jacktegel3953]

When I was 7, my parents told my sisters and I how excited they were when making plans to see West Side Story. As I grew older, i understood why. It is my all-time favorite musical. I can still sing Somewhere from memory.

[@j.r.taylor1997]

Fun fact about David Alvarez who played Bernardo in 2021 West Side Story he was also in Billy Elliot the Musical in fact he's the boy on the left of the screen when the three boys who shared the role are accepting the award

[@fortunateizzi]

Annie and Peter Pan were definitely faves. But can’t believe Grease isn’t on here.

[@Animeguy300]

Amazing

[@ellensweigert754]

Musicals that defined my childhood Musical theater has always been my passion. It was a big part of my High school experience. All four years I was performed in musicals and even taken a summer theater program too. The top 5 Musicals had always defined my childhood. That also inspired me to be who I am today working my dream job and standing what I believe in . Hairspray Legally Blonde High school musical Wicked Sound of music The Greatest Showman These five musicals grew my interest immensely right away and now I have become sort of obessed into these musicals as well. The top 5 musicals I have mentioned are my main favorites though 13 the musical Mamma Mia The Outsiders Oklahoma Frozen

[@tracysteele7652]

No grease or oliver

[@annarosales1491]

When I am sad, I watch Sound of Music and somehow feel uplifted

[@michelles4]

The Sound of Music will always be my #1. It is the best movie ever made of all time. Thank you for putting Julie Andrews Cinderella on the list. I am surprised The Wizard of Oz is not on the list.

[@sunnygirl523]

love these musicals ❤

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

My main childhood musical was The Sound of Music! My sister and I first saw the Lonely Goatherd scene on KZbin and we loved it so much. Finally our grandparents got us the movie and that’s all we wanted to watch or listen to. Our dad actually got us the CD to it as well after we’d watched the movie a ton and then we played the soundtrack about 2000 times 😂 I still watch that movie on a pretty regular basis. It’s just so magical and fun.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I’ve seen the movie 11 times. I’m semi obsessed with the soundtrack.

[@jonelrobinson582]

Yes! I love that movie! It was my childhood! It comes on every year on Christmas on ABC for me

[@davidcox708]

When I was a kid, it was The Sound of Music. I wished that I had a mother like Maria.

[@shaliseshaw9385]

Funny Girl, Into The Woods, Cats(1981 musical), The Lion King musical, Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, Grease, Throughly Modern Millie, The Phantom Of The Opera, Billy Eilliot: The Musical, 42nd Street, Summer Stock, Gypsy, On The Town, and other Broadway and movie muscials should've been added to the list. 🎥🎥🎥🎬🎬🎬🎥📺🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🗽

[@fawcettimo1897]

Oh my god Annie! Then now and always. Greatest musical ever. The 1982 film version will always be superior to the other films or any stage version though. The cast,the songs everything is just perfection 🥲

[@alondraxiquivicente120]

I liked hairspray

[@shirleysymon2160]

Apparently Grease is not the word and the wizard forgot to give Ms Mojo a brain since Wizard of Oz is not on here either

[@chelseacanales8763]

See musicals and I clicked

[@marisamitchell8611]

RENT defined my teen years (and beyond)!

[@liamn.watson4867]

Rocky Horror defined my childhood (Don't ask), but not my teenage years unfortunately.

[@pennykeller3048]

I knew Annie would be number one! I love Annie!

[@shayduncan7328]

Sound Of Music should have been number one imo

[@63brennan]

We did "You're a good man Charlie Brown" my sophmore year. Somehow I got Charlie ( I say somehow cause I can act but am NOT a good singer) It became one of my favorite musicals. And you mention Kristen Chenowith as SAlly but what about a pre "The Producers" Roger Bart, and Anthony Rapp as Charlie. (Im not sure if this was just before or just after Rent)

[@sockygaldamez9492]

The Sound Of Music definitely defined my childhood ♥️ because I love the songs and story and Julie Andrews was like my favourite musical artist growing up that’s another reason why I love Mary Poppins so much 😊. Also I love The Wizard Of Oz, Grease, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory, High School Musical movies and Hairspray 🩷🩷

[@r.j.powers381]

Stage musicals? This is very different from what I was expecting which, of course, was film musicals. There was no stage musical that could ever define my childhood. My family couldn't afford it. My first play was "Leaving Home" which I saw at 15 with my high school class. My next play was "The Mousetrap" when I was 22. Nope, no childhood trips to the theater for my family. This was interesting in a deprived childhood kind of way.

[@ZacharySiple]

My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins are the musicals that defined my childhood. :) Fun Fact: Both released in 1964.

[@ElleCee62978]

Annie was the first movie I saw in a theatre in 1982. I was 4 and had a new little sister who was promptly nicknamed Molly. However, My favorite movie of all time is The Sound of Music. I’ve seen all of these musicals and then some. I’ve done half of these! Phantom, Les Miserables, The King and I, Scrooge, 1776, Oklahoma, Camelot, My Fair Lady…

[@MsMojo]

What a wonderful memory! "Annie" holds a special place in many hearts, especially with such a touching personal connection. It sounds like you're a true connoisseur of musicals, having experienced so many timeless classics. "The Sound of Music" is definitely a masterpiece that resonates with audiences across generations.

[@ElleCee62978]

@@MsMojo I haven’t watched Annie since 1991 because my father died then. I had every word memorized. The second Maybe Reprise has made me cry since then. Later in life, I was cast as Miss Hannigan. I’ve played several roles in The Sound of Music, too. My time as an opera singer was cut short, but I still love theatre.

[@MsMojo]

Thank you for sharing your touching connection with Annie and your passion for theater. It's amazing how music and performance can hold such deep emotional significance. Your experiences as an opera singer and your roles in productions like Annie and The Sound of Music must have been incredibly rewarding.

[@amandaamundson8942]

I loved Annie as a kid. I do agree with everyone comments, why isn’t Grease on this list?

[@jennifer_m.8613]

I hear that during the famous scene in Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly had a high fever, was wearing a wool jacket, and had gallons of water pouring on him

[@zeokingsilver]

Believe in the music

[@sarahramsey9454]

annie and oliver are kinda similar to each other but annie yeah fav the others peter pan def cinderella once in a while but def disney even though didn't start off that way still look at them like that

[@alisoncarboni8366]

There should be a second list of this

[@101shadeira]

5:03 filmed in Paterson New Jersey west side story

[@gracehowell.]

It can only ever be stuff which was available on video/DVD, because many people can't access theatres. They're either too expensive or simply inaccessible by distance or nonexistence. I was lucky to be involved in amateur theatre as a child/teen, which was formative for me; but we don't otherwise have much theatre in Brisbane, and anything professional is prohibitively expensive. So I very much relied on videos, and later DVDs. Sadly, since places like Blockbuster have all closed, and library DVDs are usually badly treated by borrowers, I have to rely on buying DVDs or hoping that musicals come out in cinemas or on the TV, since I can't afford all these subscription services. I want to be able to watch these things over and over, own my own copies, not rely on streaming services.

[@matthewsnleick5560]

UM…..I don’t mean to be that guy….but….. WIZARD OF OZ?!?!? GREASE?!?!

[@IllMaticDaPoet]

Grease is the word!!!

[@ydiefuentes6334]

I’m sorry, but what about Greece What about Mamma Mia? And what about Chicago? I mean,

[@sheilaholmes8455]

The most notable version of Cinderella is the version with Lesley Ann Warren.

[@elphiegleason3899]

No Grease No Hamilton No little shop of horrors I must have an old soul

[@florenciaapestegui]

My favourites are the sound of music and Annie

[@marieneu264]

1:04 wait, was Peg Bundy in this? Looks like her!!!

[@PhelokaziJumba]

The greatest showman and Mary Poppins

[@RevanLockheart-]

I'm getting really old but most of these ain't from my childhood.

[@pattymott2062]

Wish you would have included songs from Mary Poppins!

[@TheHachmom]

How can you overlook The Wizard of Oz?

[@joshmontemayor6098]

Fun Fact: In the animated versions of both You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown & Snoopy the Musical, Snoopy speaks with his mouth closed like how Garfield originally did.

[@jasondavidstapleton8337]

roster scared the crap out of me trying to kill Annie I cried😭

[@meganthompson6676]

#9: I liked the version with Brandy, Whitney Huston, and Whoopie Goldberg the most.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I grew up with that version. Yet I prefer the original with Julie Andrews

[@autumbreeze1129]

Literally the only musical on this list that was my childhood is the top, Annie, specifically the Sony one, not the original Disney one with Tim Curry. I've never even seen Sound of Music even once and my first exposure to Wicked was only about 4-5 years ago

[@user-us4pr9lp6q]

mary poppins

[@sweethartjen]

"Wicked" is on the list but not "The Wizard of Oz," what the heck?! There would be no "Wicked" without it!

[@katyedwards3935]

Was the guy in white in #10 s'posed to be Snoopy?

[@brianscott8454]

I can’t believe you left out “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Mary Poppins!”

[@TubeLVT]

“That Defined Our Childhood”? The Number 2 musical was first performed in 2011 13 years ago! Anyone whose childhood was defined by that musical is probably still a child.

[@maddalonefarms]

What about Wizard of Oz??

[@adriangarcia543]

I like Cinderella

[@BethanyLeitner]

Annie definitely