Top 20 Best Broadway Musicals of All Time

Top 20 Best Broadway Musicals of All Time

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most critically acclaimed, awarded, and popular Broadway musicals ever.

#20: “Cats”

This musical deserves a mention for its costume design alone. Each unique Jellicle cat brings their own pizazz to the stage, dancing intricately to an award winning and catchy score composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Though they’re all cats, each character has their own individual personality, and their own unique voice. Even if you’re skeptical about a musical with felines, we guarantee you’ll get choked up by “Memory.” As of 2024, “Cats” claims the spot as the fifth-longest running Broadway show of all time, but watching these kitties run around never gets old.

#19: “The Sound of Music”

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s biomusical about the Von Trapp Family Singers covers a lot of ground for such a squeaky-clean show. Although the music is lilting and lovely, it takes place amid the rise of Nazism in Europe. Novice nun Maria is sent to be the governess for a stern Austrian navy man and his seven children. She instills in the kids a love of music and eventually, falls for their father, Captain von Trapp. The musical became even more famous when it was adapted to film in 1965. Since then, it’s become a favorite of theatergoers across the world.

#18: “Into the Woods”

The crisp wit and beautiful melodies of composer Stephen Sondheim come together to tell this spin on classic fairy tales. Characters like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood round out a cast of stock characters trying to find their happily-ever-afters. But they’ll have to contend with a witch, a big bad wolf, and an angry giant first. “Into the Woods” may be inspired by fairy tales, but its themes of loss, grief, and coming-of-age are anything but fantastical. Its large cast and ever-relevant content have made it a standard for school productions, and has seen it revived several times since its premiere in the ‘80s.

#17: “Fiddler on the Roof”

In the Ukrainian village of Anatevka, traditional and old-fashioned values still rule. Tevye, the Milkman, is forced to confront modern ideas of love and marriage when his daughters threaten to buck tradition and wish to choose their own husbands. Watching him wrestle with his beliefs is just as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. Ultimately, though, it’s a show about how precarious life, and a way of life, can be as time goes on. Hailed for its incredible choreography and its representation of Jewish culture onstage, “Fiddler on the Roof” is a longstanding Broadway classic. Sometimes, it even shows up in surprising places.

#16: “Oklahoma!”

Before Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration, musical theater looked very different. Most shows were largely fluff, low stakes, and thin on characterization. “Oklahoma!” started with a bang. Cowboy Curly MacLain’s first song is a joyous opener that tells us exactly who he is. The rest of the musical is a classic story of characters caught up in love triangles, square dances, and the pleasures of country life. Its large cast and relatively tame plot contents make it perfect for audiences and performers of all ages. However, recent productions have taken more risks, including a controversial 2019 Broadway revival that exposes some of the show’s subtext.

#15: “The Producers”

Mel Brooks knew his 1967 comedy would make a great musical, but he needed the right person for the songs. Then, award-winning composer/lyricist Jerry Herman suggested Brooks write them himself. It turned out to be the right call. “The Producers” is an incredibly wacky musical about two Broadway, well, producers looking to make a quick fortune on a terrible show of their own. Its big, bawdy, and tacky numbers take aim at everything from the theater business to Hitler himself. Box office hit doesn’t even begin to cover it. “The Producers” made bank and cleaned up at the 2001 Tonys, winning 12 statuettes, a record for the ceremony.

#14: “My Fair Lady”

Julie Andrews’ star rose when she became Eliza Dolittle, the Cockney flower girl who is taken in by the stuffy linguist, Professor Henry Higgins. She learns how to speak “proper” English, and he falls in love. They spend most of the show softening each other’s edges and making some pretty hilarious blunders along the way. “My Fair Lady” was an immediate smash with critics and audiences. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” its blend of timeless songs and romantic comedy also made it ripe for revivals in the years since its premiere. In 1964, Audrey Hepburn starred in the well-known film version.

#13: “Gypsy: A Musical Fable”

Inspired by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the real standout of this quintessential Broadway musical is her mother, Rose. There’s a reason Rose is one of the most sought after roles. Her stubborn and fierce determination to make her daughters stars drives the entire story, and it also makes one of the most complex musical leads. From Ethel Merman to Patti LuPone, some of the greatest actresses ever to appear on Broadway have played the matriarch. With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, “Gypsy” has incredible songs and dramatic weight that puts it miles ahead of many others of its kind.

#12: “Hairspray”

Based on the 1988 film of the same name, “Hairspray” is a story about overcoming societal expectations, as well as confronting racism — all the while delivered through optimistic and energetic song and dance. With lovable characters left and right, infectious musical numbers, as well as poignant statements about acceptance, “Hairspray” has something for absolutely everyone. From the opening number “Good Morning Baltimore,” the audience is transported to a changing world in the early ‘60s, and by the time the musical ends, you’d better believe “you can’t stop the beat.”

#11: “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Stephen Sondheim’s gothic horror comedy about a vengeful barber and a deranged pie maker set a new standard for weirdness on the Broadway stage. Sweeney Todd returns to London after years in prison to settle an old score. Mrs. Lovett is in need of something to make her pies more appetizing. They come up with a novel solution that you have to see to believe. Haunting, darkly funny, and beautifully written, “Sweeney Todd” has captivated audiences across the world since its 1979 Broadway premiere. It’s since added several successful revivals and a movie adaptation to its name.

#10: “Rent”

Taking on just about every controversial topic under the sun, Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Rent” tackles the difficult subject of living under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Following a ragtag group of starving artists, the stories of their relationships and their ideas on life and mortality are beautifully told through song, sometimes with hope and optimism, and others with depression and a sense of defeat. With subject matter like sexuality, being unhoused, substance use, and death, this show is not for the faint of heart, but for those who open themselves up, they might just start to measure their lives in love.

#9: “A Chorus Line”

At one time, it was the longest running production on Broadway. “A Chorus Line” is the thrilling but depressing story of a group of dancers vying for limited spots in a show’s chorus. The stakes couldn’t be higher for these performers. As we get to know each one, they fade into the anonymity of the pack almost as quickly as they make themselves known to us. With its ensemble structure and look into how the sausage is made, “A Chorus Line” was unlike anything audiences had seen before. In fact, it won 9 Tony Awards at the same ceremony where the original production of “Chicago” was among the nominees.

#8: “Wicked”

We all think we know the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, but have we ever stopped to listen to her side? “Wicked” recounts the friendship that blossoms between Elphaba and Galinda, before they became the Wicked and Good Witch respectively. The songs composed by legend Stephen Schwartz give depth to characters we all thought we knew, and present a unique peek into the world of Oz before a certain girl from Kansas came along. With something for both younger audiences as well as adults, this musical has already asserted itself as a Broadway staple.

#7: “Hamilton”

“Hamilton” proves that theater is anything but dead. The musical, with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda, hit Broadway in 2015, and was met with universal acclaim. It gives a unique slant to the story of one of America’s original — but forgotten — founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, by featuring a mashup of musical influences ranging from musical theater to hip-hop. The high-energy production also showcases an inclusive and diverse cast to contrast the historical figures that they portray, and speak to what the America of the 21st century actually looks like. Even though it’s a younger show, “Hamilton” shows no sign of throwing away its shot.

#6: “Cabaret”

A writer and a nightclub singer meet at the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy cabaret presided over by the mysterious Master of Ceremonies. What follows is a dizzying descent into immorality and fascism in Berlin, set to some of the best show tunes ever written. John Kander and Fred Ebb’s immortal show first transported audiences back in 1966. Songs have been added and whole subplots dropped since that first production, and the overall aesthetic of the show has changed to reflect the times. However, the story still has the power to horrify and dazzle in equal measure.

#5: “The Lion King”

Even though the task of bringing beloved animated stories to the real-life stage is daunting, like when they first adapted “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney somehow finds a way to do it well. “The Lion King,” a theatrical adaptation of the classic 1994 film, is no different. It’s one of the longest-running and well-liked shows Broadway has ever presented. It features dramatic choreography and graceful performances by dancers, as well as impressive puppetry to bring life to the “animals.” The amount of musical and physical talent crammed into this production makes it a favorite of both the young and young at heart.

#4: “Les Misérables”

A stirring tale of courage, war, and moral strength, “Les Misérables” was inspired by Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name. Set against the backdrop of France on the verge of rebellion, Jean Valjean, or Prisoner 24601, escapes the watchful eye of Inspector Javert, and makes a better life for himself by taking in Cosette, the daughter of Fantine. As the narrative unfolds over years, love blossoms and patriotism grows, keeping audiences spellbound the entire time. With action, romance, and drama, “Les Miz” has something for every theatergoer.

#3: “West Side Story”

This modern day Romeo and Juliet story marked a turning point in theater. The beginning of legend Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway career, “West Side Story” could have been all too predictable for audiences if not for iconic musical motifs like “I Feel Pretty,” “America,” and “Maria.” With the Jets pitted against the Sharks, tensions are high throughout the performance as the characters of Tony and Maria fall in love. “West Side Story” manages to cram in social commentary on gang warfare, violence, and murder, with passionate music and sharp choreography. The musical’s end, however, is nothing short of heart-wrenching.

#2: “Chicago”

Based on the true stories of accused Chicago “murderesses” in the roaring ‘20s, “Chicago” is one of Broadway’s longest-running shows. Filled with murder and manipulation, the narrative of Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly desperately grasping and competing for fame is an enduring classic. The musical has notably taken home a Tony for Best Revival, as well as a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, and for good reason. “Chicago” has a whole lot of glitz, blood, and “all that jazz.”

#1: “The Phantom of the Opera”

How could we not mention the longest running Broadway show of all time? With nearly 14 000 performances, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s story of love, kidnapping, and murder has been captivating audiences for decades. Dark, dreamy, and mysterious, the haunting melodies performed by the cast, as well as the awe-inspiring set design, keep the performance locked in to the Broadway halls of fame. Regardless of how much time passes, this classic tale doesn’t ever lose relevance - a fact critics and theatergoers are more than happy to hear.

Did your favorite musical make the list? Tell us in the comments.