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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#Songs #MovieMusicals #Musicals #Catchiest #Modern

[@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.

[@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

[@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+

[@mbulelomdoda1494]

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

[@yenziwemamba5930]

hairspray is so iconic

[@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

[@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.

[@daujah]

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

[@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 ♥

[@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!

[@yenziwemamba5930]

will forever love Enchanted

[@bsbmakesmesmile84]

This list NEEDS a part 2!

[@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

[@chelseacanales8763]

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

[@AngeliquePM]

Chicago is an entire masterpiece!

[@Hellohowdo]

Can't wait for _Wicked_ to be on this list

[@adriangarcia543]

The greatest showman

[@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

[@Medgar-xx1vl]

High school musical we’re all this together

[@user-ml2so8dp8i]

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

[@yenziwemamba5930]

so glad In The Heights is here, love that film

[@jessicacarter9988]

Same

[@pamelakibildis1177]

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

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

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

[@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!

[@jandmvideos9051]

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

[@SwampNymph522]

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

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

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

[@paulaelsner4471]

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

[@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

[@AngeliquePM]

Dirty Dancing, She's like the Wind

[@Cloudburst2000]

The movie wasn’t a musical though

[@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 😄

[@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.

[@jonathankincaid1625]

Grease lightning not being on here is a crime

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@Josephinedraper]

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

[@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

[@AngeliquePM]

Time Dance, Rocky Horror Picture Show

[@KT926]

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

[@AngeliquePM]

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

[@melissawiggles4594]

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

[@suki73]

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

[@nicolelylewis]

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

[@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

[@gamingwithscottie1478]

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

[@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.

[@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.'

[@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

[@sunnygirl523]

Love these songs ❤

[@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???? 😢

[@GamerFunOriginallyAarush]

That’s very catchy!

[@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.

[@jessicacarter9988]

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

[@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.

[@signergirl1]

I love how to you show her you love her!

[@jesscharles1512]

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

[@VictoriaRian]

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

[@corriemiller3297]

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

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

[@footprintsnz]

Thanks

[@MsMojo]

Thank you for supporting our channel!

[@michaellovemore826]

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

[@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? 😅

[@maxmeidl4909]

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

[@vanessastegall]

Yup

[@alondraxiquivicente120]

Perfect

[@CodyFairlessLee]

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

[@AngeliquePM]

Never Enough

[@EvaGrammer]

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

[@raven7155]

What about a song from Burlesque?

[@AngeliquePM]

Chicago is an entire masterpiece!

[@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.

[@Bronwen597]

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

[@ShadyRK9]

Momma Mia! Here We Go Again! 🎶

[@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...

[@samanthamartin854]

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

[@sarahbaker1176]

I do wish you had mentioned that the 1997 version of cinderella is a direct remake of the 1957 movie, including the songs. Personally, I prefer Whitney Hustons version of the fairy godmother over Edie Adam's version, but liked Julie Andrews as Cinderella more than Brandy. Impossible is a great song, it's just that much like America from west side story is a reimagining of the original song, Impossible is one from the 1950s movie.

[@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

[@Dwilder812]

The Other Side is my favorite song from Greatest Showman

[@arielfangirlmendez]

Please mr jaller from cry baby was the one song i remember it, that song from little shop of horrors my favorite and rotten to the core from disney descendants because this was my new favorite dcom right next to high school musical

[@dashingdreww1185]

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

[@GemmaHansen-gs5ox]

Seventy-six trombones is soo catchy.

[@tmoore4075]

Not gonna talk about Dr Evil's cover of Hard Knock Life?

[@caitlinireland4396]

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

[@renataheaden2509]

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

[@mariaalejandraescobar1722]

i really need someone to make a playlist in this order jaja

[@3cloudgurls3]

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

[@srenvadmand4334]

Nice list! But where is Grease, le mis and the sound of music? 🤯🤯

[@leonardolim8976]

Top ten worst thing high school musical characters has done. Series included 1. Tricking Troy and Gabriella to hate each other via webcam - chad danford and Taylor mckessie (Hsm) 2. Allowing sharpay to keep Troy and Gabriella from attending the big showcase - mrs darbus (Hsm) 3. Every thing sharpay did (Hsm 2 the most) 4. Being a horrible boss - mr Fulton (Hsm 2) 5. Not being supportive of Troy's dream - gabriella Montez (hsm2) 6. Berating Troy's singing interest - mr Bolton (Hsm) 7. Being late to the audition - troy Bolton (Hsm) 8. How he treated his friends in hsm2 -troy Bolton 9. Being jealous of Troy that the college bball guys picked him - the wildcats (hsm2) 10. Being a jerk to Richard Bowen - ej the series

[@jfm1285]

I don't think songs from jukebox musicals should really be added since they were hits Before the musical🤔 and there are definitely a couple of songs missing on this list from 'little shop' - Mean Green Mother and Feed Me!

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

Chicago ❤ and all that jazz 😊

[@jessicanoelle2012jp]

Whaaaat double trouble is amazing and I prefer bet on it lol

[@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.

[@bryonyperecat5954]

I'm a bit disappointed as both "America" and "Hard-Knock Life" were on the "Classic Movie" list from the week before this and there were other wonderful songs that were left off both lists. :(

[@Kaneko2518]

Jaja Ding Dong better be a staple at every Eurovision.

[@jueldex3418]

Nothing out of Burlesque? Sad the music ist so iconic

[@jimcooper1320]

In The Shallow Now, I'm Just Ken

[@HenriqueOliveira-of5er]

Hmmm, have you people not watched Matilda The Musical? It's banger after banger after banger

[@tinarash7772]

Most of the songs from The Greatest Showman

[@MrDjdavid20]

“All that Jazz” is FAR superior to “you can’t stop the beat”

[@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.

[@shanitawilliams4783]

I love rent but I didn't think it would be so high up

[@ThePinkDragon]

loved mulan rouge