This list of the best Disney musical movies of all time will have you singing along as you watch. Includes the best animated musicals and live-action musicals from Disney films.
Who doesn’t love a good musical? Disney makes some of the best with songs that stay in your head long after the movie is over.
Disney musicals have won Academy Awards for best original song and best original score for numerous Disney films.
I have always enjoyed a story told with music and Disney’s animated and live action collection doesn’t disappoint.
For this list I will not be including FOX or other musicals that are on Disney Plus. So no Hamilton or The Greatest Showman.
This is strictly the best musicals from Disney. This includes classic film and newer Disney musicals.
All images are owned by Disney.
Has a Disney Movie Won Any Awards
Disney Movies have won lots of awards from Best Score, Best Picture, and Best Animated Feature, to name a few.
The Muppetts won best original song for “Man or Muppett”. Beauty and the Beast was nominated for Best Picture and won for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
Overall when you watch a Disney movie you know you are getting great music as well as a good story.
Best Disney Musical Movies: Animated Films
Frozen
Frozen is the story of two sisters that go on a snow filled adventure. Anna and Kristoff journey to save Elsa and the kingdom of Arendelle.
Songs like Let it Go, In Summer, and Love is an Open Door became very popular through main stream media.
The music accompanies the story and it has become a classic hit. It features songs written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez as well as original score by Christophe Beck.
I also believe Frozen 2 has an incredible soundtrack. It ages so well with the story of Anna and Elsa finding their way. “Show Yourself” sung by Evan Rachel Wood and Idina Menzel is such a heartfelt song.
Moana
Moana features the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda and the minute I saw this movie it instantly became a Disney classic.
I love this Disney movie as it tells the story of Moana and her journey to find out who she is. It features new songs and is one of the bests!
Aladdin
Aladdin had so many great songs like “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me” sung by the late Robin Williams.
It was part of an era where animated musical movies were making a comeback and it is easy to see why with this great soundtrack.
The Princess and the Frog
The Princess and the Frog soundtrack is so good! The songs enhance the story and the animation is wonderful. My favorites are “Dig a Little Deeper” and “Almost There”.
The story has a lot of layers of struggle with where you are in life and the dreams you have. It is a great movie.
Hercules
Hercules wasn’t very popular after following some of the huge animated hits but it has some great music. My favorite song is “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)”
If you haven’t seen it you should check it out because it tells a great story with heart and humor.
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast was my favorite animated movie for over a decade. I remember seeing it in the theater and I was blown away by the animation.
The music is so good too. Every song fits perfectly into the story.
Encanto
The music in Encanto is what makes the story fantastic. Each song is so catchy and took over popular music. Everyone knew “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”.
Encanto became an instant classic due to its original songs and bright animation.
Nightmare Before Christmas
You may not realize that this Tim Burton film is a Disney movie. The score and story of Nightmare Before Christmas is a unique movie that follows its own way of doing things.
The stop motion animation may not be for everyone but you can’t deny when Jack Skellington starts singing “What’s This?” voiced by Danny Elfman, you can’t help but be entertained.
The Lion King
The Lion King is full of some of the best songs including Circle of Life (written by Elton John) and Hakuna Matata.
On the surface the songs make the musical easy going, but the story is actually sad and serious under the surface.
People of all ages will enjoy The Lion King for its story and great musical numbers.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid main character loses her voice but this movie has some powerful ballads written by Alan Menken.
Poor Unfortunate Souls has viewers sympathizing with the villain Ursula and Part of Your World makes everyone understand what Ariel is yearning for.
Mulan
Mulan is a musical film that I feel gets overlooked for the songs. The best song, in my opinion, is “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”. It weaves the story beautifully of the struggles and triumphs Mulan goes through.
Best Disney Musical Movies: Live Action Films
Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke shine with classic songs like Spoonful of Sugar and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. This mix of live action and animated movie makes for excellent storytelling and an instant classic.
Mary Poppins Returns follows in the footsteps of the first movie with original songs and story.
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a Broadway musical but in 2014 Disney put together an all star cast to bring this beloved story to the big screen.
With the talent of Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, and Anna Kendrick this musical adaptation can’t be missed.
Muppets
The Muppets have a wide range of movies and musicals. They have really done it all. My most recent favorite is Muppets Haunted Mansion.
I suggest checking them all out to decide which one you like best.
Zombies
Zombies is one of the newer Disney Channel Original Movies but it follows along in the format of great musical numbers and a fun cute story.
There are 3 movies in the Zombies franchise with the first one being my favorite!
High School Musical
High School Musical originally came out in 2006 and has found a new audience as the years go on. With 3 movies and a series it is a very popular francise.
Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale shine with solo songs that audiences will love.
Cinderella
Cinderalla was released in 1997 and is a live-action take on the Cinderella story. The songs and story are a great retelling and it is worth a watch!
Newsies
Newsies is one of my favorite Broadway musicals and you can find the stage performance on Disney Plus.
Disney Plus also has the Christian Bale Newsies movie. This is less of a musical than the stage show.
I suggest watching both and deciding for yourself what you prefer.
Descendants
Descendants takes the fairy tale characters you know and shares the story of their children. It features villains and princesses.
There are 3 original Descendants movies and all of them have great soundtracks. There is also a fourth movie in the works that will feature Prince Charming and Cinderella from the 1997 film as parents in Descendants 4.
Live-Action Retelling
There have been numerous retellings of animated films in the last decade. Beauty and the Beast is a live action retelling of Belle’s story. Aladdin, Mulan, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid are all retelling’s of your favorite stories.
I feel like some shine and some don’t. Most of the music is what we have grown up loving with a few additions.
I love having a musical movie weekend where we watch the animated and live action films and then compare.
Honorable Mentions for Disney Musical Movies
There are a few movies musicals that have brought us iconic songs and all around great music.
Whether they have show stopping musical numbers or were the first animated film, they all brought us memorable songs that stay with us after the show.
- The Jungle Book: The Bare Necessities
- Camp Rock
- Teen Beach Movie
- The Hunch Back of Notre Dame
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Tangled
- Coco (Not technically a musical but has so many popular songs.)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Broadway Musical by Disney
There are times when you see a show on TV or at the movies, and you love it so much you need to see it on the stage.
Disney Broadway Musicals tour the country and can be found in New York City! Shows that have toured include Frozen, Newsies, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast.
If you can see a live show with performances of your favorite Disney songs I highly recommend it.
Did you favorite Disney movie musical make the list? I am sure there will be more to add as I go through the collection of movies and knew movies are made.
Read Next: Over 150 Disney+ Movies and Shows Your Family Should Watch
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.