At one point in time musicals were a very popular genre of movies. In the 2000s musicals aren’t quite as common so it is one of the few genres where some of the older musicals actually have a chance to compete with newer movies as far as the highest grossing movies of the genre, unlike most genres where the entire top 10 is made up of movies from the last 10 years. These are the top 10 highest grossing musicals of all-time.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #10 The Blues Brothers
The Blue Brothers edges out Annie by just $170,000 to take the tenth spot on the list. The SNL skit-turned-film is one of four musicals in the top then that is from the 1980’s or earlier.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #9 Moulin Rouge!
The Oscar nominated Moulin Rouge from 2001 ranks ninth on the list. Like the Blues Brothers, Moulin Rouge just barely made the list over Annie. Moulin Rouge! made $57.3 million at the box office, just ahead of The Blues Brothers’ $57.2 million and Annie’s $57.0 million.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #8 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was based on the Broadway production of the same name. Charles Durning received an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role and both the movie and its star, Dolly Parton, received Golden Globe nominations.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #7 High School Musical 3: Senior Year
The first two High School Musicals were TV movies but Disney was smart enough to recognize they could make money with a theatrical release of the third High School Musical. The film starring Zac Ephron and Vanessa Hudgens gained $90.5 million at the box office.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #6 Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls was a rare hit with the Academy and at the Box Office. Dreamgirls was nominated for 8 Oscars including a Best Supporting win by Jennifer Hudson. At the box office Dreamgirls pulled in $103 million.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #5 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture show is the oldest musical in the top ten as it dates back all the way to 1975. It’s a musical, it’s horror, it’s comedy, it’s a rock opera, it’s British. The Rocky Horror Picture show certainly was unique and made $112 million at the box office.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #4 Hairspray
Zac Ephron has not been around a long time but he is already the star of two of the top ten grossing musicals of all-time. It’s too bad he’s trying to distance himself from dancing and singing to use his weakest talent of acting instead.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #3 Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! was one of the surprise hits of 2008 and climbed all the way to the third highest grossing musical of all-time. Mamma Mia! grossed $144 million.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #2 Chicago
Chicago was the most successful of the recent musicals as it grossed $170 million. Chicago also won 6 Oscars although I never understood why it was more liked than the other musicals in the top ten.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Musicals of All-Time: #1 Grease
Clearly Grease is the one that you want. Grease is fun to watch on summer nights. There are worse things could do than watch Grease. Okay, is that enough Grease puns yet? No? Ummm…Grease is…raining on prom night? I got nothing.
