If you are looking for some of the best music movies of all time, Netflix has you covered. From masterful adaptations of Broadway musicals to concert films about some of the finest musicians working today to hilarious comedies about music, the streamer has a little bit of everything. All you need is a Netflix subscription to access it all.
Tick, Tick...Boom!
Tick, Tick…Boom! is single-handedly one of Andrew Garfield’s best movies, and that’s because of his masterful performance that allowed Jonathan Larson’s story and legacy to leap off the screen. The film tracks Larson’s life as he struggles to make it as an artist, which leads him to write the musical Tick, Tick…Boom!
This autobiographical musical, which features Garfield singing beautifully, is a love letter to musical theater and the man behind Rent, and it’s because of its star’s gorgeous performance and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s loving direction.
Stream Tick, Tick…Boom! On Netflix
Matilda The Musical
Matilda The Musical is an underrated masterpiece; yeah you heard me. Of course, the 1996 version is an ultimate classic. However, there’s also no question that the adaptation of the stage musical that came out in 2022 is brilliant in its own right.
Alisha Weir shines as our leading lady, and she’s supported by an expert cast that includes Emma Thompson as the evil Miss Trunchbull and Lashana Lynch as the loving Miss Honey. Plus, all the kiddos in this movie shine as they help Matilda take down the evil principal, and they absolutely rock the house when they perform the banger that is “Revolting Children.”
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Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé
The standout moments from Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé are countless. The concert film shows not only the musician's historic 2018 Coachella set but also how she developed it. It’s an immaculate representation of both the show she put it on and all the work that went into making it happen. Immaculately shot and brilliantly choreographed, this film is a masterclass that proves, once again, why Beyoncé is one of the greatest performers of all time.
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Eurovision: The Story Of Fire Saga
What happens when you take Will Ferrell’s wacky and brilliant sense of humor and mix it with the wild and genius viral reality competition Eurovision? You get the crazy comedy Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga. Also starring Rachel McAdams and Dan Stevens, this movie follows Icelandic musicians Lars (Ferrell) and Sigrit (McAdams) – a.k.a. Fire Saga – as they compete in Eurovision, and it’s bonkers in the best way.
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Work It
If you want a sweet lil rom-com that centers around music and dance, look no further than Work It. The Netflix movie follows Quinn as she works to create a dance crew who can help her win a big competition that could help her get into her dream college.
What truly makes this film worth your time is its stars. Quinn is played by Sabrina Carpenter, who has recently risen as a major voice in pop music through songs like “Nonsense” and “Espresso,” and her love interest, Jake, is played by Broadway’s Jordan Fisher. So, when it comes to the music and dancing in this movie, you are in great hands, because these two are fantastic performers.
Baby Driver
While no one sings and there are no dance numbers, make no mistake, Baby Driver is a musical. The music Baby constantly has playing in his ears while he works as a getaway car driver is also always with the audience, and his relationship to music drives the story forward.
Not to mention, the musical direction from Edgar Wright is incredible. Also, the way he was able to time high-stakes action with incredible throwbacks – like “Neat Neat Neat,” “Brighton Rock” and “Bellbottoms”– makes Baby Driver a one-of-a-kind action film.
Trolls
The movie Trolls follows Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) as they work to save their home from Bergens. This story, of course, is also a jukebox musical, and seeing the rainbow-colored trolls singing songs like “September” and “Move Your Feet” is fun for the whole family. Plus, the movie is also what brought us the banger, “Can’t Stop The Feeling.”
Springsteen On Broadway
Springsteen on Broadway is a mind-blowing concert film of Bruce Springsteen’s Broadway residency he had in 2017 and 2018. The one-man show featured The Boss playing his music on guitar and piano, and he told very personal life stories from his autobiography, Born to Run. The 15 songs he performed took audiences on a journey through his legendary career, and you, too, can be whisked on this journey with the "Born to Run" singer by checking out this film on Netflix.
Stream Springsteen on Broadway On Netflix
The Greatest Night In Pop
Throwing it back to 1985, The Greatest Night in Pop is a Netflix documentary about the recording of “We Are The World.” It documents the night “the greatest artists of a generation came together to save some lives,” and it features interviews from some of said singers, musicians producers and more who were part of this incredible recording. With new interviews from Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and more, the film showcases an incredible number of talents through archival footage and present-day discussions while also taking viewers on the rollercoaster that was creating this song.
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Miss Americana: Taylor Swift
Miss Americana is possibly the most candid look we’ve ever gotten into Taylor Swift’s life. The documentary specifically follows Swift through the end of her Reputation era and the start of the Lover chapter. In it, she speaks about her struggles with fame, the fear of speaking out politically and the aftermath of one of the toughest points in her career that led to the creation of Rep. Now, Swift’s list of upcoming projects shows just how far she’s come since then, while this documentary gives us a detailed and raw look into a pivotal moment in the pop star’s life.
Stream Miss Americana: Taylor Swift On Netflix
La La Land
Following Emma Stone’s aspiring actress Mia and Ryan Gosling’s starving jazz musician Sebastian over the course of a year, Damien Chazelle’s La La Land is a love letter to Los Angeles, music and artists everywhere. The Oscar-winning musical is set in modern-day LA, however, it’s also an ode to Old Hollywood with its sweeping score and classic musical numbers. All around, this film is a celebration of art, music and love, and it’s sure to become a classic, much like the musical films that inspired it.
Sing Street
After you watch Sing Street, I can almost guarantee you’ll be humming tunes like “Drive It Like You Stole It” for days on end. For some context, this movie takes place in the ‘80s as a boy decides to form a band simply to impress a girl. They end up being very good, and the coming-of-age story is equally impressive as it shows our crew falling in love with music. Overall, it’s a lovely film that will have you singing along and smiling from ear to ear by the end.
All around, Netflix offers a diverse and acclaimed collection of musicals and music movies. So, if you are looking for a film to sweep you into a musical world, one of the best streaming services is the place to go.
