Musical movies have been a staple of Hollywood since the early days of cinema, with the feature films of the Golden Age of Hollywood regularly featuring musical numbers. We have seen this trend continue in the film industry with the success of modern musical films like La La Land, which incidentally plays on the old Hollywood musical style. One of the reasons why movie musicals are so popular is the spectacle: from elaborate dance sequences and picturesque backdrops to the catchy beats and colorful costumes, musicals are a treat for all the senses.
Unlike the film industry, TV shows that are musical in nature have not been as frequent. However, with the success of Ryan Murphy TV shows like Glee and Pose, we have seen this start to change. The musical TV series on this list have proven that they are just as good as movies at bringing spectacle to the smaller screen. Featuring showstopping numbers and character-driven ballads, these are the best musical TV series, ranked.
8 Rise
Auli'i Cravalho landed the leading role in this series after her breakthrough movie role in Moana. Based on a true story, according to Bustle, Rise follows a group of working-class teens who find their place in the world through their school's revitalized theater program. The series was canceled after only one season, but it nonetheless captured the essence of school theater and showcased the talent of its cast.
7 Soundtrack
One of the most underrated shows on this list is 2019's Soundtrack. The series portrayed different characters who were all pursuing careers in the performing arts in Los Angeles, jumping between the past and present. The series was canceled after one season, but definitely deserved more, especially with its narratives about a diverse group of artists.
6 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Disney had been planning how to bring the High School Musical franchise to a different generation for years, and they finally decided on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, which premiered on Disney+ in November 2019 and has remained a hit since, having been recently renewed for season three. The series follows a new group of East High Wildcats as they attempt to put on the best musicals possible under the direction of their new drama teacher Miss Jenn. The series incorporates new songs, as well as songs from the original movies, and features performances from the likes of Olivia Rodrigo.
5 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend focused on Rebecca bunch, a successful New York lawyer who has been offered the position of junior partner at her firm, but decides to run away instead of accepting the offer. While she is on the run, she encounters her summer camp boyfriend and decides to follow him back to his hometown. Though somewhat short-lived — the series only lasted four seasons — Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is hilarious and has a large cult following.
4 Fosse/Verdon
Fosse/Verdon is different to other series on the list in terms of format, as it tells the real-life story of director-choreographer, Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell). Music plays a huge part in the series, featuring performances from a dramatized version of Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams). The series won several awards, including Williams winning an Emmy for her portrayal of Verdon.
3 Julie and the Phantoms
Julie and the Phantoms is one of the best new teen shows on Netflix. Based on the Brazillian TV series of the same name, Julie and the Phantoms follows the eponymous Julie Molina, a high school musician, who falls out of love with music after her mother’s untimely death. Her passion is reignited when she accidentally summons the ghosts of musicians who once dreamed of being rock stars. The series amassed a large cult following and was awarded at the Daytime Emmys. Despite its popularity, however, Netflix canceled the series after just one season.
2 Glee
Glee is probably the most famous example of a musical TV show, as it was a huge success when it premiered first in 2009. The series is set in McKinley High and follows the school's glee club as they start to enter competitions. Over the course of the series, the Glee cast performed 754 musical covers of hit pop songs, many of which charted worldwide. In addition to the TV series, Glee also boasted multiple tours and soundtracks.
1 Pose
Set in the late-80s and early-90s, Pose is a dance musical that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York, featuring a diverse cast and dealing with important social issues. The focus is around Blanca (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez), who forms a House, a self-selected family that provides support to LGBTQ youth who have been rejected by their birth families. Presenting New York's drag ball culture scene, Pose often featured moving musical numbers and received widespread acclaim, including historic Emmy wins and nominations for Rodriguez and her co-star Billy Porter.