Even If You Hate Musicals, You Need to Give These 4 A Try

When someone suggests watching a musical, you might think of overly enthusiastic performers bursting into song for no apparent reason and plot interrupted by unnecessary dance sequences. So it's no surprise why your immediate response is to run away from all of that. We get it. We really do.

But hear us out: not all musicals are the same. That's why we've curated this list with precision and care for anyone interested to try out the genre without going into the deep end. And who knows, maybe this will mark the beginning of your new obsession.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986): Campiest Movie of The 80s

If we told you right now that one of your all-time favorite films might feature singing puppets and Rick Moranis as a romantic lead, you’d laugh at our face. But hold on tight, because this can very likely come true.

In Frank Oz's brilliant 1986 adaptation, we follow Seymour, a florist who discovers an unusual plant.

As he nurtures the plant (which he names Audrey II after his crush), he realizes it has a taste for human blood. As the increasingly massive Audrey II brings fame and fortune to the failing flower shop, Seymour faces a moral dilemma: how many people is he willing to feed to this manipulative plant?

What makes this work for musical-haters is its perfect blend of horror, dark comedy and 1960s doo-wop inspired tunes that actually advance the plot, not stop it.

The songs don't feel intrusive. It's campy in all the right ways, with practical effects that still hold up nearly four decades later.

You can watch Little Shop of Horrors on Sky Store, Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.

Sunshine on Leith (2013): Your Ultimate Feel-Good Musical

Whenever life feels particularly gray, this is the film to reach for.

Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, the story follows two soldiers, Davy and Ally, who return home from Afghanistan to rebuild their lives. Though the topic is heavy, the movie doesn't feel depressing at all. On the contrary, it's full of hope. As they reconnect with family and pursue romance, they face challenges that test their relationships and force them to reconsider what really matters.

This one wins over musical skeptics through sheer heart and familiarity.

The Proclaimers' songs, including the iconic I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) are already part of pop-culture so they don't feel like traditional Broadway numbers. And it's absolutely impossible to watch this movie without a smile, no matter how determined you are to resist its charms.

Sunshine on Leith is available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): The Midnight Cult Classic

If traditional musicals make you cringe, how about one that's deliberately designed to be bizarre, scandalous, and unlike anything you've ever seen?

This is The Rocky Horror Picture Show for you.

The musical follows newly engaged Brad and Janet who find themselves stranded in a storm and seek shelter at the mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter who's celebrating the creation of his perfect man, Rocky.

It's a sci-fi and rock 'n' roll madness that you can't take your eyes off of. Rocky Horror works because it's a very campy sci-fi horror comedy that happens to have songs. The music feels rebellious rather than theatrical rock-inspired numbers that celebrate sexual liberation and challenge societal norms.

Tim Curry's performance as Frank-N-Furter pulls you into this bizarre world where the usual rules don't apply. Trust us, by the end of it you'll be a fan.

You can watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show right now on Sky Store, Disney+, Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.

Dancer in the Dark (2000): The Heart-Wrenching Story

Finally, for those who think the genre lacks emotional depth, this devastating film shows how musical elements can explore the human condition in deeply moving ways.

Lars von Trier's drama stars Icelandic musician Björk as Selma, a Czech immigrant factory worker in 1960s America. Suffering from a hereditary condition that's gradually causing her to go blind, Selma works extra shifts and saves every penny for an operation that will prevent her son from suffering the same fate.

This is perhaps the most emotionally challenging film on the list, but also possibly the most rewarding for musical skeptics. The musical sequences aren't random. They're shown as Selma's fantasy, her way of coping with unbearable circumstances.

It's a musical for people who think musicals are too lightweight or detached from reality. It proves the genre can tackle the darkest corners of human experience.

Dancer in the Dark is available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.