Top 10 Notoriously Bad Singing Performances in Movie Musicals

Script written by Nick Spake

After “The Sound of Music” became the highest-grossing film of its time, Hollywood dished out several rip-offs. “Lost Horizon” is widely considered the film that killed this trend, earning the nickname of “Lost Investments.” Where “The Sound of Music” managed to blend corniness with genuine charm, this musical is a stale cornball that misses the most important mark - quality singing. The cast, which includes usually reliable names like Peter Finch and Liv Ullmann, sing like they took happy pills before shooting, which is odd since the plot revolves around a plane crash. Where the original Frank Capra film won two Oscars, this remake was listed in the book, “The Fifty Worst Films of All Time.”

This horror musical is so disgusting, disturbing, and depraved that it’s actually developed a cult following akin to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Calling the film “so bad it’s good” is probably the highest compliant someone can give “Repo,” however. To be fair, the cast isn’t completely tone-deaf. Sarah Brightman and Anthony Stewart Head are both charismatic singers and give it there all here. Everyone else, meanwhile, sounds like they’re sleepwalking through each bleak, brooding number. Even Paul Sorvino, an established opera singer, seemed to leave his talent at home. The film also includes a Razzie winning performance from Paris Hilton, who further demonstrates that she really doesn’t belong in movies, let alone movie musicals.

Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood, two of the biggest names in the western genre, finally came together in “Paint Your Wagon.” And how did these two gun-slinging badasses spend their time? Singing for over two and a half hours, of course! “The Simpsons” probably summed up this old-fashioned, campy musical best (parody). It’d be one thing if Marvin and Eastwood could actually sing, but that’s sadly not at all the case. Eastwood in particular has been criticized for his bitter singing voice, which is about as appealing as fingernails on the chalkboard. Eastwood is an artist of many different talents, but there’s a reason why the trees and stars would rather not listen to him.

This rock jukebox musical was one of the most hyped stage-to-film adaptations of the early 21st century with Tom Cruise’s star power being one of the marketing campaign’s driving forces. Cruise plays Stacee Jaxx, a rock 'n' roll god slowly fading into obscurity. To his credit, Cruise is actually quite convincing as a musician who’s spent most of his life boozing, partying, and rocking out. What he lacks… are the vocal chops to really pull the persona off. Cruise reportedly spent five hours a day preparing for this role and it’s apparent that he’s trying his best. “Trying” is the key word, though, as Cruise’s limited voice never makes the crowd go wild. Axl Rose he ain’t.

Emma Watson divided many with her portrayal of Belle in Disney’s live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast.” Some felt that she captured Belle’s independent, understanding, and well-read nature to a T. Others argued that she was basically just playing Hermione Granger for the ninth time. One thing almost everyone seems to agree on, however, is that Watson’s singing voice can’t hold a candle to Paige O’Hara’s. Here’s a sample of O’Hara’s sweeping singing voice from the 1991 animated classic. Now let’s stack that up against Watson’s vocal chops. Between these two actresses, it’s pretty obvious which one was born to be on Broadway. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that this remake was an overall hit.

Rather than singing in the traditional sense, this English actor was better known for “talking on pitch.” With his performance as Professor Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady,” Harrison got away with singing in recitative because his sardonic delivery fit the character perfectly. Sadly, the same can’t be said about his performance as the titular protagonist in “Doctor Dolittle.” Harrison is so flat and disinterested in the role that you can never tell when one of his songs even begins. The fact that Harrison can’t sing made it all the more infamous that Leslie Bricusse’s “Talk to the Animals” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, beating out “The Bare Necessities.”

Depending who you ask, “Annie” is either a timeless classic or a rather dated schmaltz fest. No matter where you stand, the 2014 film adaptation of the Broadway musical is generally viewed as a misfire. The movie is full of questionable casting choices, but none raised more eyebrows than Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan. This cruel caretaker is typically depicted as old, grungy, and washed-up - which aren’t exactly words we’d use to describe the beautiful Diaz. Aside from being painfully over-the-top in the role, Diaz’s singing voice sounds incredibly forced and unpolished, especially when compared to her predecessor, Carol Burnett. Ironically, Diaz’s intentionally bad singing from “My Best Friend’s Wedding” was arguably a step up.

Believe it or not, this Oscar-winning actor had aspirations to be a musician before hitting it big in Hollywood, releasing several singles throughout the 80s. That being said, it’s evident why Crowe found fame on a set and not in a recording booth. Crowe’s turn as Javert in “Les Misérables” is perhaps the most notable example of his lackluster singing skills. Critics and audiences largely found Crowe’s portrayal to be dull and lifeless. Come to think of it, every time Crowe opens his mouth, it sounds like he’s yawning before taking a nap. Having to share the screen with seasoned singers like Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway only draws more attention to Crowe’s problem.

Michael Crawford won a Tony Award for originating the titular role of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” Crawford was set to reprise the part when Warner Bros. purchased the film rights in 1989, but the picture was in development hell for so long that the filmmakers eventually turned their attention to Gerard Butler. The Scottish actor possessed next to no musical experience and only had four singing lessons before auditioning for Webber. Nevertheless, director Joel Schumacher was convinced that Butler could pull it off based on his performance in “Dracula 2000.” Butler had a harder time convincing audiences, though, as his singing failed to hit any high notes, both figuratively and literally. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions: Marlon Brando “Guys and Dolls” (1955) Nipsey Russell “The Wiz” (1978) Elizabeth Taylor “A Little Night Music” (1977)

This film adaptation of the jukebox stage production brought together a star-studded ensemble. Unfortunately, not every cast member can carry a note and Pierce Brosnan’s singing voice is by far the biggest letdown. To say that Brosnan sounds like an amateur on karaoke night would be kind. It feels as if the lyrics are fighting to exit his mouth. Even critics who enjoyed the film generally agreed that Brosnan’s the last person who should be in a musical. For his laughable performance, the Irish actor received a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor. Brosnan can of course be a very likable actor, but Donna clearly should’ve said, “I don’t.”