50 Greatest Musical Numbers In Film History

50. La Vie Boheme - RENT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNPI7XZ9rEM On Broadway, RENT seemed to capture the essence of New York City in the early 90s and opened to almost universal acclaim after playwright Jonathan Larson died suddenly the morning that the show was scheduled to begin preview performances. It took on legendary status, and when it was finally announced that there would be a film adaptation of the musical, there were a lot of very excited fans out there. Especially when everyone found out that almost the entire original cast would be reprising their roles, even though they were by then a far cry from the bright-eyed 20-somethings they had been when they starred in the show on Broadway. Some of the numbers don't translate that well to film, but La Vie Boheme somehow seems to capture the magic and vibrancy that made the show so famous. It's a high-octane, fast-paced performance that features the entire cast, and it's a fantastic moment in the film.

49. Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LenAIw95L-s This might seem like an odd choice, because Jai Ho isn't technically a part of the story. The movie is over, Jamal and Latika have been reunited, and everyone is about to live happily ever after. Then there's a random dance sequence with the entire cast in a train station, a nod to the Bollywood films that likely inspired the aesthetic of this movie for director Danny Boyle. But at the same time, it's so much more than an homage. It's a triumphant celebration of everything that the movie stands for, and after watching so much cruelty and heartbreak, it's almost like a huge sigh of relief to have all the actors doing a silly choreographed routine while smiling and laughing. Also, the decision to have shots of the child actors who played young Jamal and Latika doing their own improvised dance, juxtaposed with the adult versions of the characters, is beyond adorable. There is so much joy and energy, it's the perfect way to end the film.