Musicals: Yes or no?

Well, we're seeing history repeat itself. Musicals are currently following the exact same trajectory that Westerns took about a decade ago, with hits like Dance with Wolves and Unstoppable leading the charge before the genre shifted...

My prediction? Chicago will be the absolute peak. After that, we'll probably see a string of musical films that completely flop. The genre won't disappear entirely, but it'll likely settle into producing lower-budget, B-movie style productions—pretty much what happened to the Western genre after Unstoppable lost its momentum...

So, I'm curious: where do you all stand? Are you still rooting for the future of musicals, or have you seen enough?

Look, I’m definitely not. I’ve said it a million times before... I am just not a musical person.
I can't stand them. Honestly, they're my least favorite genre (well, except for the parodies). I really hope they stop making so many of them, and more importantly, I hope they stop getting all this massive media hype and those big-shot film awards.
Musicals are just... no.
👎
P.S. So, I was reading somewhere today that, like, Chicago might not be quite as good as Moulin Rouge (which is total garbage if you ask me), but it's still considered very good.
Well, man, if it isn't even as good as Moulin Rouge, then what the hell is actually good?!
That's a movie I'm skipping. Without even blinking.

I have never been much of a fan myself. My only real exception was when I’d catch those regular Cyd Charisse film marathons on NBC 😳. But honestly, I suspect my lack of interest goes way beyond the films themselves. If she couldn't get me to enjoy musicals, I highly doubt anyone else could—especially someone like Catherine Zeta-Jones 🙄.
🙂

...I honestly can't stand musicals; they are just incredibly saccharine and fundamentally pointless to me. There isn't a single constructive argument to be made here, and frankly, the whole genre just repulses me...

redowl90, I can only hope your grim prognosis for the future of the musical genre proves to be accurate...

I’m starting to think we actually need a dedicated "Pop culture" subforum. Just a place where all the "fun" stuff can live—you know, things like
*Chicago*, Jennifer Lopez, Stephen King, those teen flicks like *American Pie* or *Scream*, the Top 40 charts from some commercial radio station, monodramas, melodramas, and of course, those massive rock bands that sell out stadiums.
😉

I’m not exactly a fan of watching opera on TV, but if you want to wake me up in the middle of the night to catch a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House? I'm in. It’s the same story with musicals. I truly believe they’re incredible when you experience them in the right setting, but watching them on a screen is just a total letdown.

It’s funny, I actually don't mind musicals at all—
Dance in the dark — Lars von Trier really knows how to mess with your emotions, but honestly, you kind of expect that kind of thing when you're watching his stuff; still, the movie is pure genius.
As for me, Moulin Rouge is an absolute blast.
I’ve got nothing against musicals, far from it!
Okay, maybe not in massive doses—one per season is plenty for me.

Hey, can we even count 8 Mile as a sort of musical? It totally fits the vibe, right?

Hey, you could probably argue that 8 Mile counts as a subgenre of musical, right?

Only thing is, rap in music is basically the equivalent of pornography in film. 😁

I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old, because there was a time when I really didn't have anything against musicals, but now I find myself loving them more and more every single day. 🙂

I used to think that > was enough reason to just scrap the whole musical genre and ban it entirely, but honestly, now I’d say > is plenty of reason to make studying musicals an elective in every high school out there. It’s seriously one of the most beautiful movies ever made. My throat actually tightens up just thinking about it... For anyone who thinks this movie is overrated, I honestly suggest you go see a local healer immediately to get your heart chakra opened up (you can probably find some first aid tips over on the > subforum).

For my serious readers out there, I’ll just mention one more absolute classic: Cabaret.

The show must go on!
😁 😁 😁

I'm not hating on musicals at all. I mean, who in their right mind rejects an entire genre like that? There is so much potential there. You can make absolute masterpieces. Take Dance in the Dark, for example. The music and the songs aren't just extras—they are everything. They are crucial. I remember sitting there, just waiting for the next singing or dancing scene to hit. Looking back now, I wouldn't call it a work of pure genius, but if you told me to watch it right now? I’d melt like cheese in a microwave.

I wouldn't say Moulin Rouge is a masterpiece, but I enjoyed it. No regrets watching it. The whole point of these movies is that the music hits you right in the feels—so you absolutely need a killer soundtrack. And Björk? She definitely delivered. Moulin Rouge borrowed from everywhere else, using all sorts of tracks, but their original stuff was just okay. Still, they did a great job making those covers work.

Look, I think musicals can actually offer way more than that. But let's be real—what are the odds that one or two musicals coming out a year are actually going to be any good?

Forget the musicals—if you want something actually worth mentioning, go watch Hair... everything else can basically be ignored... especially those pretentious modern attempts like Moulin Rouge and Chicago...

Rebecca Taylor57 said:If we're talking musicals, you really can't go wrong with Hair

Honestly, just go watch Hair—may the Force be with you on that one—it's totally solid 😎

Man, I still remember that musical, "Little Shop of Horrors," or whatever it was called... honestly, it was just pure, unadulterated nonsense. That crazy plant and that salesman with that ridiculous laugh. 🙂

I’m right there with you, Johnny.
I used to call Dance in the dark a drama... which is a pretty great movie, even if I'm not usually one for musicals.
Sure, there are bits where people dance and sing, but honestly? It doesn't feel like enough to actually label the whole thing a musical.

Elizabeth Garcia2 said:Sure, there are some singing and dancing numbers, but in my book, there isn't enough of that to actually call this a musical.

Oh, come on... Just admit you only dig this movie because you're obsessed with Europeans and Lars von Trier (like most people), and because it doesn't feel Hollywood-style... That has nothing to do with whether or not the film actually has songs...

If someone made a European musical, all of you who worship Europeans like they're Gods of the film industry would instantly start obsessing over it and declaring it a masterpiece...

As for me... I found Dance in the dark fascinating right up until the moment Björk (who is great throughout the whole thing) kills that guy trying to steal her money... From that point on, the movie just turns into a heavy mess and goes downhill fast...

And I wouldn't call that film a musical simply because it isn't trying to be one... What was the point of the songs? Who knows: Lars probably wanted to try something new, so he thought, "Hey, let's make a movie with a singer who acts and sings at the same time"... blueranger12 will probably disagree with me here, but people claim that in the opening dialogue of The Godfather, the writers (Coppola and Puzo) were actually commenting on social status and how America views itself and the rest of the world... That’s the biggest nonsense I’ve ever heard...

But back to musicals... I honestly can't wrap my head around how anyone thinks Moulin Rouge is good (some might even say great!)... I mean, that movie has the worst script of the last decade (basically, the worst story)... Sure, the dance scenes are visually stunning and the covers are well-arranged, but that doesn't earn it the title of "great," because the story is the heart of any film, and without it, you don't have a movie (though there are exceptions, but that's a conversation for another time)... Moulin Rouge is a decent enough film, mostly embraced by critics because it was the first big musical in ages, and loved by audiences because it uses famous songs that kids today go crazy for...

Elizabeth Garcia2: Looking back at what I wrote, I realized it might have come across like I was insulting you—as if I were calling you an idiot for liking European cinema—but that honestly wasn't my intention at all. It’s just that I don't quite get the logic of automatically dismissing movies just because they come from across the Atlantic (I mean, you didn't outright reject them, but remember your own thread where you mentioned how there was a whole lineup of films without a single American one?). We're good, right? 😉

Look, I’m really not the type of person to get offended easily, so please don't worry about that at all.
As for Dance in the dark, honestly... I think it's a fantastic movie, no matter how you look at it. Even if some guy in Hollywood had made it, I still would have loved it. It’s just that... well, the thing is, Hollywood isn't ever going to make a film quite like that.
But hey, that's their loss, not mine.
It’s the same deal with a bunch of other European films too. I just enjoy them, I love watching them, and I find real pleasure in it... if you happen to have an issue with those kinds of movies, there isn't much I can do to help you with that.
You keep sticking to your American movies, and I’ll keep watching my European ones.
And everyone stays happy. I truly don't care that some people—actually, most people—prefer watching American films.
Go right ahead.

First off, White, I totally disagree with you thinking the plot is everything. There are tons of (great) movies built entirely on vibes, framing, and production design. Those are the ones where you try to explain them to someone else, realize there’s nothing really to say about the story, but the movie is just undeniably good.

Regarding where films come from—what Ed Wood said about how Dancing in the Dark would never have been made in the USA. Look, every region brings its own flavor to cinema. That’s why we have terms like Italian cinema, British cinema, or Hollywood movies; they all share certain common traits. But lately, American movies are just flooding every theater and TV screen, and honestly, that Hollywood style gets on my nerves, whether the movie is good or bad. I want variety. I want to see what some Swedish director or a Ukrainian filmmaker can bring to the table. I don't need some John constantly selling me the same old Hollywood formula.
So when someone says, "I'm sick of American movies," it doesn't have to be a total condemnation.

I get why White felt Dancing in the Dark turned sour after the murder, though. After that point, the movie starts veering into pure melodrama, which sucks. But man, Björk is just incredible. Her singing carries the whole thing for me. I get chills every time I hear her voice.