The modern musical continues to churn out earworms. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most infectious tunes from movie musicals made after 1980.
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00:00How does she know that you love her?
00:03Oh!
00:04He knows the song too?
00:05How do you show her you love her?
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most infectious tunes
00:11from movie musicals made after 1980.
00:14For this list, we are not including animated films.
00:18Let it go, let it go, turn away and slam the door.
00:26Number 30.
00:27Ya Ya Ding Dong – Eurovision Song Contest – The Story of Fire Saga
00:45Will Ferrell's raucous comedy is a tribute to the fun and chaos of the annual song contest,
00:50where Europe showcases its most attention-grabbing musical acts competing for the Eurovision
00:55trophy.
00:56But its most memorable song is so beloved by the characters, its omission threatens
01:00to inspire violence from local Icelandic fishermen until it's played.
01:04And so Ya Ya Ding Dong entered the lexicon.
01:13The movie ends with the entire cast singing along.
01:16Between its crude double-entendres and classic call-and-response structure, Ya Ya Ding Dong
01:20is pretty easy to pick up.
01:22After the movie hit Netflix, the song inspired merch and even made an appearance at The Real
01:26Contest in 2021.
01:35Number 29.
01:37Please Mr. Jailor – Crybaby
01:51John Waters' homage to 50s greaser movies stars Johnny Depp as the titular character,
01:55a leather-clad bad boy who fronts a rockabilly band.
01:58When Crybaby is falsely imprisoned for inciting a riot, he's thrown behind bars with his fellow
02:03delinquents.
02:04His girlfriend, Allison, and their pals stage a daring musical number outside the jail.
02:20Please Mr. Jailor features prisoners wailing their penitentiary blues in a scene that looks
02:24like it was lifted right out of Jailhouse Rock.
02:26By the end of the song, the repetition of the chorus basically encourages the audience
02:30to sing along.
02:40Number 28.
02:41A Lil' Ol' Bitty Pissant Country Place – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
02:56Dolly Parton shines in this Broadway adaptation as Miss Mona, a small business owner.
03:01What kind of business?
03:02Well, let's just say it's a little out of the way place where men can relax and have
03:06a good time.
03:07She's got down-home country charm, but if this opening number is to be believed, she's
03:11not one to cross.
03:20This song finds Miss Mona listing off all the things she will and will not tolerate
03:24from her retinue of workers and customers.
03:26It's a long list.
03:27By the time she's done, you'll find yourself singing along, if you know what's good for
03:31you.
03:32Number 27.
03:42Sugar Daddy – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
03:59In 2001, actor-director John Cameron Mitchell brought his off-Broadway show to the big screen,
04:04introducing the world to the cult musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
04:07The story revolves around Hedwig Robinson, an East German immigrant who suffers indignity
04:12and identity crisis, all set to a punk rock score.
04:15Sugar Daddy, a cheeky little ditty about her ex, is a highlight in the entire film.
04:20Hedwig performs the song to a group of disaffected patrons at a seafood restaurant, who would
04:36be horrified if they could understand its true meaning.
04:39Filled with innuendos and naughty musings on sex, gender, and sexuality, Sugar Daddy
04:44is Hedwig at her most playful.
04:59Number 26.
05:0096,000 – In The Heights
05:02This big screen adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda production premiered in the height
05:06of the pandemic.
05:07If you need a musical that's pure comfort food, look no further.
05:23In the song 96,000, most of the cast gets in on the action.
05:26A winning lottery ticket at a nearby bodega leads them to wonder what they would do if
05:30they had that kind of money.
05:32And the result is equal parts funny and depressing.
05:45But the energy in this number is undeniable.
05:47Miranda's rap score is so satisfying to listen to because it just hits the ear like butter.
05:52Not only is it insanely relatable, it's also a bop.
06:02Number 25.
06:03Louder Than Words – Tick, Tick, Boom
06:15The climactic sequence in this autobiographical musical was rendered gorgeously on film by
06:19Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hutchins, and Joshua Henry.
06:22Written by Rent composer Jonathan Larson, it's no wonder its music is so unforgettable.
06:27Louder Than Words is the movie's last song, packing a punch and putting a period on the
06:32movie's themes of bravery, perseverance, and suffering for one's art.
06:35But it's not just emotionally profound, it's also a really great song.
06:49With its soaring harmonies, uplifting message, and hard truths, it has no right to be as
06:54catchy as it is.
06:55This one will have you singing to yourself long after the film ends.
07:15Number 24.
07:16Be Italian – Nine
07:28Director Rob Marshall's second movie musical, After Chicago, came and went without much
07:32fanfare.
07:33What did leave a lasting impression was Fergie's small but memorable role as Saragina.
07:43Playing a sex worker whom the protagonist met as a boy, Fergie sets the screen on fire
07:55with a raunchy chair dance routine.
07:57Part cabaret number, part master class in the art of seduction, Be Italian is a sultry
08:02song that's sure to lodge itself in your brain after you hear it.
08:05From its spell-like chorus to the rhythmic chanting that builds to its climax, it's
08:09the movie's most captivating sequence by far.
08:25Number 23.
08:26La Jazz Hot – Victor Victoria
08:42Julie Andrews plays Victoria, a classically trained singer who figures out that the only
08:46way to land a reliable gig is to pretend she's a drag queen.
08:50Thus, Victor Victoria is born.
09:03She wows the upper-crust Parisian crowd with an ecstatic, finger-snapping rendition of
09:08La Jazz Hot.
09:09A tribute to the classic sounds of New Orleans jazz joints, the song isn't exactly complex
09:14on a lyrical level.
09:15What it does have is a driving beat and ample opportunity for Andrews to showcase her vocal
09:20acrobatics.
09:35Aided and abetted by a glittering fringe outfit and a team of incredible dancers, she creates
09:40a musical showstopper for the modern age.
09:43Number 22.
09:45America – West Side Story
09:56This showtune, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, has been a
10:01certified bop since it premiered on Broadway in the late 50s, but the 2021 Steven Spielberg
10:06remake breathed new cinematic life into the song.
10:10America finds the Puerto Rican characters in a back-and-forth argument about whether
10:14life in the U.S. is worth it.
10:25Taking place on a rooftop in the 1961 original, the new America was rewritten and rechoreographed
10:39as a street-stomping ensemble number.
10:41Between the swelling music and the joyous dancing, new and old fans left the movie with
10:46the tune bouncing around in their heads.
11:03Number 21.
11:05It's the Hard Knock Life – Annie
11:12The girls of Miss Hannigan's orphanage have a rotten life, even by Great Depression standards.
11:17In the original film adaptation of Annie, It's the Hard Knock Life is a rigidly choreographed
11:22and slick musical set piece where Annie and the other orphans get to sing about their
11:26woes.
11:38Featuring a call-and-response chorus and some great punchlines, it's one of the musical's
11:42most enduring songs.
11:44There's something about a group of girls whining about how hard their lives are that just sets
11:48our feet to tapping.
11:50Jay-Z thought so, which is probably why he sampled it several years later.
12:00Number 20.
12:01Love Thy Neighbor – The Prom
12:11After Emma basically gets stood up by the entire school at prom, Juilliard graduate
12:16Trent doubles down on his efforts to bash prejudices and rally support for an inclusive
12:21prom.
12:22He launches into this joyous and upbeat song that kindly calls out the hypocrisy of those
12:27who cherry-pick their beliefs while ignoring the golden rule.
12:47Giving gospel a musical theater makeover, it's impossible not to find this tune utterly
12:52charming.
12:53Even the reluctant teens find themselves swayed by the catchy beat and positive message.
12:58This song is so uplifting that we just want to get up and dance whenever we hear it.
13:14Number 19.
13:15Drive It Like You Stole It – Sing Street
13:28When his family is hit by hard times, Connor transfers to an inner-city school where he
13:33initially struggles to fit in.
13:35However, to impress his crush Rafina, he decides to start a band.
13:40Their music often reflects the highs and lows of teenage life, but there's this one song
13:45that never fails to get stuck in our heads.
14:00Connor's plan for the music video takes inspiration from Back to the Future, combining
14:04this quintessentially 80s rhythm with a 50s-style dance party.
14:09The music is so infectious that you'll constantly find this jam popping into your head long
14:14after you finish the movie.
14:27Number 18.
14:28Impossible – Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
14:44There have been many adaptations of Cinderella over the years, but this one has to be one
14:49of the most iconic.
14:51The whole soundtrack is phenomenal, but there's nothing we love more than this duet sung by
14:55legends Brandi and Whitney Houston.
14:58It's not just the infectious melody that we adore, but also the strong sentiment of empowerment
15:03behind the lyrics.
15:10The movie was considered groundbreaking for casting women of color as its protagonists,
15:21and now, here they were telling audiences, especially young children of color, that nothing
15:26is impossible.
15:28And sung through a song that was guaranteed to linger in our minds.
15:44Number 17.
15:45A Cover is Not the Book – Mary Poppins Returns
15:58Whether or not you viewed this movie as a proper sequel to the 1964 Disney classic,
16:02it certainly had big shoes to fill.
16:05Especially when it came to the music.
16:07While the OG had songs like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Step in Time, this movie delivered the
16:14goods with songs like A Cover is Not the Book.
16:30Sung in a bouncy musical style, we love how this number revives the cheeky sense of humor
16:35from the original, not to mention those animated animals.
16:39The song rekindled the magic and wonder we initially fell in love with, and we simply
16:44can't get enough of it.
16:55Number 16.
16:56Get Your Head in the Game – High School Musical
17:08After Troy finds himself conflicted between basketball and auditioning for the school
17:12musical, he gives himself this musical pep talk.
17:24The song combines both his passions and ingeniously incorporates the sounds of bouncing basketballs
17:30and squeaking sneakers into the music too.
17:32It's the ideal pre-game hype track that will definitely get stuck in your head.
17:37After all, who among us hasn't been inspired to flex our own basketball skills while listening
17:42to this song?
17:53But if dancing with basketballs is a little beyond your skill set, you can still easily
17:57dance along to the equally catchy final number, We're All in This Together.
18:12Number 15.
18:13One – A Chorus Line
18:26All it takes is for someone to say the word one and this song instantly pops into our
18:30minds.
18:31After getting to know these characters throughout the duration of the movie, the final song
18:35brings both sweetness and sorrow.
18:37Their individuality fades away as they come together in the chorus line.
18:41But we simply can't get enough of this glitzy, glamorous, and up-tempo number.
18:59As they say in the biz, the show must go on.
19:02And with smiles on their faces, they treat us to one of the most entertaining finales
19:07in movie musical history.
19:09Also, we just can't resist a good kick line.
19:23Number 14.
19:24Fame, Fame
19:32If you're anything like us, you only need to hear the first beat of this song and you're
19:36instantly on your feet.
19:38There's just something so energetic and joyous about this tune that you can't help but get
19:42swept up in its rhythm.
19:53Even the characters can't resist it, literally stopping traffic to bust out their best moves
19:58in the street.
19:59Fame won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Original Song, and was even nominated for
20:04a Grammy.
20:13Fun fact, the actors are actually dancing to Donna Summer's Hot Stuff, since the title
20:18track wasn't yet finished and the two share a similar beat.
20:26Number 13.
20:27Elephant Love Medley, Moulin Rouge!
20:45Why sing just one love song when you can sing ten?
20:48But this wasn't always the plan for this unforgettable number.
20:52Initially, Satine was meant to sing What's Love Got To Do With It, while Christian would
20:56argue back with Higher Love.
20:58While lyrically this worked perfectly, it just wasn't as captivating.
21:03The team worked their way through many songs until finally coming up with a medley that
21:07we just can't help but sing along to.
21:26This one scene combines some of our favorite love ballads against the stunning and ever-so-romantic
21:32backdrop of Paris.
21:34What more could you possibly want?
21:44Number 12.
21:45La Vie Boheme, Rent!
22:00In this musical based on Puccini's La Boheme, the gang comes together to celebrate the bohemian
22:05lifestyle, going against the grain, and breaking taboos.
22:19This movie was intended to be the hair of its generation, and this song in particular
22:23was likened to Manchester, England.
22:34Both songs share fast-paced lyrics and plenty of pop culture references, all to a tune that
22:39you just want to sing out loud.
22:54At its heart, this song is about unapologetically celebrating who you are.
22:59And surely we can't be the only rent-heads out there who dreamed of jumping on tables
23:03together to recreate this scene with our friends too.
23:06Or definitely did.
23:11Number 11.
23:13One Night Only, Dreamgirls.
23:22After hearing Effie White's breathtaking vocals on this soul ballad, Curtis steals
23:27it and jazzes it up.
23:28It's then performed by Deena Jones and the Dreams, and the two versions battle it out
23:33in the charts.
23:44We love both renditions, but if we're talking about the catchiest number, then we just have
23:49to give the disco version the edge.
23:52The song was popular both in the movie's realm and in real life, entering the US Billboard's
23:57Hot Dance Club Songs chart, where it peaked at number 13.
24:01In fact, this song is such a hit that it's even been covered by multiple artists around
24:06the globe.
24:19Number 10.
24:20She's the Day, Newsies.
24:32This movie was considered a critical flop upon initial release, but it has since become
24:37a cult classic and even inspired a Broadway musical, thanks in part to its awesome soundtrack.
24:48While King of New York may get us swaying, nothing has us quite as hyped and ready to,
24:58well, seize the day as this number.
25:01Davey uses this song to rally the other newsboys to start fighting injustice.
25:06The rousing melody fills us with excitement and their acrobatic performance has us captivated.
25:11This is the perfect hype song, and the one that always enters our head whenever we need
25:16a positive boost.
25:31Number 9.
25:32December 1963, Oh What a Night, Jersey Boys.
25:47We can guarantee that most of the songs in Jersey Boys will have you hurting yourself
25:52trying to do your best Frankie Valli impression.
25:55Whether it's Scream singing Sherry, or doing imaginary microphone choreography to
26:05Can't Take My Eyes Off You.
26:13But for our money, nothing gets stuck in one's head more than some good doo-doo-doo-doo-doos.
26:28December 1963 gives everyone that dance number in the street fantasy, complete with finger
26:33snaps, snappier suits, and a sense of nostalgia.
26:38Like with any catchy song, you'll be able to catch on to the lyrics if this is your
26:42first listen, but we can promise it won't be your last.
26:52Number 8.
26:53Life's a Happy Song, The Muppets.
27:09This song is guaranteed to put a skip in your step.
27:13Written by Flight of the Conchords' Brett McKenzie, this Critics' Choice Award winning
27:17song always puts a smile on our faces.
27:20It's uplifting, bubbly, and utterly charming.
27:33It perfectly balances appeasing musical theater lovers while still affectionately sending
27:38up the genre.
27:40Gary and Walter dance their way through small town, joined by seemingly all of its residents.
27:45Together, they sing about how happiness is anything from a piece of cake to a fillet
27:50of fish.
27:56Just when you think you've got the song out of your head, we're hit with the finale
28:00reprise.
28:01Who's complaining?
28:20Number 7.
28:21Another Day of Sun, La La Land.
28:36The movie's opening number takes inspiration from classic golden era movie musicals, but
28:41with a modern and fresh twist.
28:43We're introduced to a group of showbiz hopefuls who dream about one day seeing their name
28:48up in lights.
28:49They instantly sweep us away into this world of escapism through this upbeat showstopper.
29:04It's a joyful and dazzling number that brightens up LA's infamous gridlocked traffic.
29:09And they actually did close part of the freeway to shoot this scene.
29:13No one likes being stuck in traffic, but you might mind a little less if a full on upbeat
29:18song and dance spectacle suddenly broke out around you.
29:33Number 6.
29:34Little Shop of Horrors, Little Shop of Horrors.
29:46Speaking of awesome opening numbers, this one has to be one of our favorites.
29:51Siobhan, Ronette, and Crystal, who are inspired by the Supremes, serve as our narrators and
29:56provide some exposition with this rather infectious tune.
30:11Alan Menken, who wrote the soundtrack, described the title song as one that quote,
30:16"...really captures the tone and establishes the DNA of Little Shop."
30:20And though Menken doesn't think it's the most ambitious number in the score, we think
30:24he nailed it as it really builds the excitement and anticipation for the action that's about
30:30to unfold.
30:38There's just something so brilliant about how this upbeat and lively song is actually
30:42a warning for dark things up ahead.
30:44We're still humming this one long after the credits roll.
30:56Number 5.
30:57That's How You Know, Enchanted.
31:13Enchanted parodies the Disney musical genre, and nothing is a greater send up of some of
31:18our favorite tropes than this Academy Award nominated song.
31:32Giselle sings about sweeping romantic gestures, and amazingly, everyone in Central Park joins
31:38in, almost as if it was pre-rehearsed.
31:40The tune evokes the utmost joy while still taking a tongue-in-cheek dig at the genre.
31:46Even Robert finds himself swept up by the music.
31:57Fun fact, this scene somewhat inspired the movie's title, due to how effortlessly Giselle
32:01is able to enchant those around her.
32:04The movie's director, Kevin Lima, called it quote, "...an explosion of joy," and we could
32:09not agree more.
32:17Number 4.
32:18The Greatest Show, The Greatest Showman.
32:29With so many incredible choices on this soundtrack, it's almost impossible to single out just
32:34one song.
32:36Still, we decided to go with the opening number, although From Now On was a worthy runner-up.
32:47Farnham's soft singing at the start, backed by the audience's stomping, already has us
32:51gripped, and as the song builds, our excitement only continues to grow.
33:06This song is so exhilarating and joyful, that they reprise it for the finale and it's just
33:16as invigorating as the first time.
33:18After watching this number, you don't need to tell us twice that this truly is The Greatest
33:23Show.
33:29Number 3.
33:30Dancing Queen.
33:31Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia, here we go again.
33:42Abba sure knows how to write a catchy tune.
33:45Dancing Queen, in particular, is so enthralling that in both movies, it's used to cheer up
33:50our protagonists and leads to an island-wide party.
34:04In the first movie, Donna and her friends captivate the attention of the other women
34:07on the island with this fun number.
34:10And in the sequel, the song introduces boatloads of partygoers who are headed to Callowcary
34:15for the villa's grand reopening.
34:30On both occasions, the number inspires everyone to unleash their inner Dancing Queens.
34:35The song practically demands that we have the time of our lives, and we're happy to
34:40oblige.
34:47Number 2.
34:48All That Jazz, Chicago.
34:58It was a close call between All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Roxy.
35:09There's nothing quite like the rush you get when you first hit play on this Grammy
35:13award-winning soundtrack.
35:26The sudden change of tempo as the song begins has us instantly gripped, and we're in for
35:31a treat as this tune does exactly what its title suggests.
35:35Feeling slow, sultry, and seductive, we are instantly hooked.
35:40And as the adjacent action becomes more animated, so does the music.
35:44By the time it hits its crescendo, we just can't resist belting our hearts out and showing
35:49off our best Fosse moves too.
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36:21Number 1.
36:22You Can't Stop the Beat – Hairspray
36:36From the first beat of Good Morning Baltimore, this feel-good movie is packed to the brim
36:40with toe-tapping and head-bopping moments.
36:50Welcome to the 60s is an obvious contender, as is Run and Tell That.
36:56But the songwriters left the best for last with this epic grand finale.
37:00The song uses an infectious rhythm and invigorating lyrics to celebrate the changing times as
37:06well as self-acceptance.
37:07It's the epitome of a showstopper, and everything about it makes us want to get up and dance.
37:24This catchy melody won't leave your head in a hurry.
37:27Well, like the song says, you really can't stop the beat.
37:36Which of these songs is on constant replay in your head?
37:43Let us know in the comments.
37:45Do you agree with our picks?
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38:06Thanks for watching.
38:07See you next time.