50 Greatest Musical Numbers In Film History

Ever since The Jazz Singer came out and made the notion of movie musicals a reality, they've been one of the most enduring genres in Hollywood. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland: some of the most iconic pop culture figures are performers who became famous after appearing in movie musicals. And it's interesting to note that the genre is always evolving, always changing to reflect the needs of audiences. In the 1930s, for example, musicals flourished, featuring opulent, glamorous set pieces with men in tails and women in fancy dresses, all done in an attempt to make audiences forget about the dreary realities of the Great Depression. As time went on and tastes changed, musicals have kept up with the pace. Once filmmakers became experienced with how to make a movie musical, they started experimenting and trying new things. Thus, musicals that have been released in the past ten years or so bear little resemblance to their more flashy forefathers, other than their ability to captivate audiences with their unique combination of style and showmanship. Regardless, the success of Les Miserables back in 2012 and Into the Woods this Christmas have done nothing if not prove that musicals still have a place in modern Hollywood, and are definitely here to stay.