The Top 2000s Movie Musicals To See Today
There’s a lot to be nostalgic about with the mid-2000s — from Juicy Couture-inspired fashion to the development of smartphones and social media. Core millennial memories, are we right? But perhaps one of our favorite things about this era is the 2000s movie musicals, which marked a turning point for the genre that hasn’t ever slowed down. Even over two decades later.
While movies being turned into musicals is nothing new, with The Lion King seeing smash success in the 1990s, the 21st century introduced a vice-versa concept. Musicals entered the mainstream media to the point where audiences begged for the movie version, and studios were happy to oblige! Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia! Had us singing Broadway favorites from our living rooms, while other musicals became stage adaptations for the best of both worlds.
And then there’s the all-new Wicked film, which is guaranteed to have you “Defying Gravity” with its show-stopping numbers and heartwarming storylines. What other 2000s movie musicals hit a high note from both the stage and the silver screen? Check it out:
Wicked (2024)
Unless you’ve been living for a rock this whole year, you may have heard about the much-anticipated film starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. But are you familiar with Wicked, the smash musical that’s been playing on Broadway (and worldwide) for over two decades? Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, all the way back in 2003, and musical theater has never been the same since.
The 3x-Tony and Grammy-winning musical made a difference with not only iconic anthems, including “Defying Gravity” and “For Good,” but also its stunning visuals and bountiful lessons. The story of how the “Wicked Witch of the West” came to be is rife with tales of self-acceptance, female friendship, minority representation and so much more, stirring up emotions in theater kids across the world.
The legacy of Wicked is simply undeniable, and it’s the perfect time to book your theater tickets after seeing the film. Are you ready to ride away on your metaphorical broom and witness one of the top 2000s movie musicals of all time?
Standout songs:
“No One Mourns the Wicked”
“The Wizard and I”
“Defying Gravity”
“For Good”
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Soak up the sun and sing along to ABBA’s timeless hits with Mamma Mia!, a joyous romp through a sun-drenched Greek island. With the musical celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, you’ll have a prime excuse to sing along to these joyous hits. Not to mention, watching the 2008 film on repeat.
Starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan, the film follows a bride-to-be searching for her father among three possible candidates. Songs like “Dancing Queen” and “The Winner Takes It All” anchor this fulfulling tale of love and family. Its irresistible charm and star-studded cast made it a global phenomenon, and the fun continues well into the 2020s.
Standout songs:
“Thank You For the Music”
“Lay All Your Love On Me”
“Dancing Queen”
“Mamma Mia”
Hamilton (2020)
When Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton premiered on Broadway in 2015, it transformed musical theater and pop culture as we know it. From the colorblind casting and hip-hop-meets-Broadway numbers to the revolutionary (pun intended) lessons about politics, culture, and resilience, it’s difficult not to be enamored by this tale about Founding Founder Alexander Hamilton. Even a full decade later, getting tickets to see Hamilton live is no easy feat!
The good news? It’s available to watch in full on Disney+. The 2000s movie musical with the hip-hop soundtrack has drawn in millions of viewers since it premiered on the platform in 2020. And you’ll be in “The Room Where It Happens” as you witness the original cast, including Hamilton writer Lin-Manuel Miranda as the titular character, singing and rapping their hearts out.
Standout songs:
“My Shot”
“Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)”
“Wait For It”
“Satisfied”
Mean Girls: The Musical (2024)
Just how iconic is the Mean Girls – The Musical? This modern hit spawned a 2024 movie musical adaptation starring Renee Rapp, breathing new life into the 2004 film that started it all. So fetch, are we right? This stage show is aligned to the film as it follows 16-year-old Cady Heron into a new school, where she’s sucked into “The Plastics” led by queen bee Regina George. As she explores her newfound popularity and struggles to stay true to herself, viewers get a closer look into Cady’s thought process through the power of song.
Exhibit A? “Apex Predator,” a duet between Cady and Janis Ian with the latter trying to convince us of Regina George’s evil nature, and the former going back and forth on what she wants. More catchy musical numbers supplement the film’s plot as you bask in nostalgia and never-ending theater kid energy, making Mean Girls one of the prime 2000s movie musicals of our time. All your favorite quotes from the film remain, only with a little more theatricality!
Standout songs:
“Meet the Plastics”
“Apex Predator”
“I’d Rather Be Me”
“World Burn”
Chicago (2002)
Sure, Chicago: The Musical has been melting hearts since the 1970s, but there’s no denying that the 2000s movie musical made its light shine even brighter. Winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this film is a heap of jazzy fun and exhilarating drama from start to finish.
With an ensemble cast including Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere, the film weaves a tale of fame, murder, and media manipulation in 1920s Chicago. Buy your tickets to see the show on Broadway in 2025, along with more cities like Milwaukee, WI, Nashville, TN, and Dayton, OH.
Standout songs:
“All That Jazz”
“Cell Block Tango”
“Roxie”
“Razzle Dazzle”
Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
When Dear Evan Hansen premiered on Broadway in 2017, people immediately knew it was special. This was a musical for millennials, by millennials…detailing the complexities of mental health and the ever-present influence of social media. Ben Platt played the titular character to perfection, putting his outstanding vocals on display with songs like “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will be Found” while capturing the emotional depth in every scene.
He reprised his Tony-winning role as Evan Hansen in the 2021 film of the same name, helping to reach millions of struggling individuals and promote even greater mental health awareness. His role was well-received in every musical medium, and you’ll definitely shed a few tears with every monologue and masterful high note.
Standout songs:
“Waving Through a Window”
“Sincerely, Me”
“You Will Be Found”
“Words Fail”
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Upon closing in 2023, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera was the longest-running Broadway show of all time, gracing the Great White Way since the late 1980s. What kept people coming back? The tear-inducing musical numbers, iconic chandelier scene, and well-deserved hype among theater fans surely didn’t hurt. However, we also can’t help but think that Joel Schumacher’s 2004 film adaptation played a part, too.
Starring Gerard Butler as the disfigured-but-talented Phantom and Emmy Rossum as Christine, this 2000s movie musical brought the haunting romance of The Phantom of the Opera to life. Between the lush visuals and vivid score that did justice to Webber’s masterpieces, like “The Music of the Night” and “All I Ask of You,” it’s a must-see from the stage to the screen.
Standout songs:
“The Phantom of the Opera”
“Music of the Night”
“All I Ask of You”
“Masquerade”
Hairspray (2007)
“Good morning, Baltimore!” As soon as Tracy Turnblad sings this line at the beginning of Hairspray, you’re led to believe that you’ll get an upbeat, always-positive show. And don’t get us wrong, it will definitely live up to your expectations! However, don’t think that Hairspray isn’t also deep, as the musical tackles difficult topics like oppression, weight discrimination, and trying to find justice in a world that wasn’t exactly made for you.
In the 2007 film, Nikki Blonsky stars as Turnblad, a teen who fights for racial integration on a 1960s dance show. With a star-studded cast including John Travolta, Zac Efron, and Queen Latifah, Hairspray features show-stopping numbers like “You Can’t Stop the Beat” that make it impossible not to dance along. And you’ll be moving your body to the beat whether you watch it on the stage or in your living room.
Standout songs:
“Good Morning Baltimore”
“Welcome to the 60s”
“You Can’t Stop the Beat”
“The Nicest Kids in Town”
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Moulin Rouge is a masterful mashup of old and new, taking place in early 1900s Paris as its main characters perform songs from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Did you ever think you’d hear tracks by Pink, Lorde, and Katy Perry sung by can-can dancers? Us either. But anything is possible at the Moulin Rouge. And this larger-than-life musical is packed with breathtaking stage designs, dazzling choreography, and divine tributes to the past and present through the power of music.
Unlike most 2000s movie musicals, Moulin Rouge is based on the film of the same name, instead of vice versa. Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! won two Academy Awards when it was released in 2001, with critics praising Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor as they took viewers on a bittersweet Parisian journey. And its impact is still breathtaking all these years later.
The film tells a tragic love story set against the bohemian world of the Montmartre district in Paris. Hits like “Come What May” and “El Tango de Roxanne” create a whirlwind of emotion and spectacle, and you’ll be teary-eyed as you take in all that Moulin Rouge has to offer.
Standout songs:
“Lady Marmalade”
“Come What May”
“Material Girl”
“Your Song”
Rent (2005)
Rent is a beautifully tragic tale from beginning to end, a reputation that manifested itself before this show even hit the stage. Many are unaware that playwright Jonathan Larson (who also crafted Tick, Tick…Boom!) unexpectedly passed away mere weeks before Rent premiered in New York in 1996. And while he sadly never got to see his signature musical come to fruition, he can rest easy knowing that Rent has transformed millions of lives over nearly three decades.
Chronicling the struggles of a group of friends in 1990s New York City, particularly with the diagnosis of HIV, Rent captures themes of love, loss, and resilience. Iconic songs like “Seasons of Love” and “La Vie Bohème” continue to inspire audiences, whether they’re performed onstage or in the 2005 film of the same name. Are you ready to experience “five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes” of pure wonder from this legendary show? Get your Rent tickets now.
Standout songs:
“Seasons of Love”
“Light My Candle”
“Tango: Maureen”
“La Vie Boheme”
In the Heights (2021)
Long before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights served as a melting pot of cultures, musical genres, and aspirations brought to you by the citizens of Washington Heights. Largely inspired by his own childhood growing up in the Manhattan suburb, this 2000s movie musical mixes salsa, hip-hop, R&B and more to craft a critically-acclaimed score. In The Heights won four Tony Awards back in 2008!
Additionally, the 2021 cinematic adaptation kept all the magic of the musical, with a few pleasant surprises along the way. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film celebrates the dreams and struggles of the tight-knit, largely Dominican American community of Washington Heights. With explosive choreography and mind-blowing tracks like “96,000” and “Paciencia y Fe,” this musical is a love letter to Latinx culture and ambition.
Standout songs:
“96,000”
“Breathe”
“In the Heights”
“When You’re Home”
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Tim Burton’s gothic interpretation of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd stars Johnny Depp as the vengeful barber and Helena Bonham Carter as his pie-making accomplice. Darkly humorous and hauntingly beautiful, songs like “Epiphany” and “A Little Priest” create a chilling yet compelling atmosphere.
Josh Groban took on the titular character in New York City in 2023, leading the way with his iconic vocals and impressive dedication to the macabre. While he’s since wrapped up his stint as the demon barber, and Sweeney Todd has since left Broadway, you can still see the show in several US cities in 2025. Get your tickets now!
Standout songs:
“The Worst Pies in London”
“Alms! Alms!”
“Poor Thing”
“Epiphany”
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a cult classic in every sense of the term, and it’s aged beautifully into the 2020s! This tale follows Hedwig, a genderqueer rock star, as they recount their tumultuous life through jaw-dropping performances. Actors like Neil Patrick Harris, Darren Criss, and Taye Diggs have all played the titular character over the years. And while Hedwig and the Angry Inch is no longer on Broadway, their legacy is forever with the 2001 film.
John Cameron Mitchell takes on the main role, combining punk rock charisma with a deeply personal narrative to offer something raw and poetic. Rockstars have feelings too, you know, and it’s never been more evident than with a masterful artist like Hedwig.
Standout songs:
“Sugar Daddy”
“Angry Inch”
“Wicked Little Town”
“Midnight Radio”
Frozen (2013)
Upon its release a decade ago, Disney’s Frozen became a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences with its stunning animation and heartwarming soundtrack. Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go” became an anthem of empowerment, while the story of Elsa and Anna redefined the princess genre by focusing on sisterly love.
The film’s impact on modern musicals is undeniable, and it transfers flawlessly to the stage. Frozen: The Musical premiered in 2018 to rave reviews, featuring not only original songs from the film but also a few new essentials. “Monster” is a deeply moving track that details Elsa’s despair about her condition, while “What Do You Know About Love?” is a cheeky back-and-forth duet between Anna and Kristoff.
This family-friendly show will be loved by kids and adults alike, and we can guarantee you’ll soon be humming “Let It Go” as often as you did ten years ago. Buy Frozen tickets today!
