Top 10 Opening Songs in Movie Musicals
#10: “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” “Oklahoma!” (1955)
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So many musicals start off with a bang – usually, a sweeping, big ensemble number that introduces a lot of characters or excites the audience with its energy. Not “Oklahoma!” The movie adaptation of the famed Rodgers and Hammerstein musical starts just as the stage version does – with a lone cowboy waxing poetic about the beauty of the morning. Even today, Curly on the screen all by his lonesome singing at the top of his lungs feels a bit radical – there’s no huge orchestra, no intricate dance numbers, no choral harmonies. Just a guy on a horse, setting the table for the rest of the show.
#9: “Heaven on Their Minds” “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973)
As soon as those electric guitar licks fade into the scene, you know you’re in for something different. The arena rock sound of “Jesus Christ Superstar” is something to behold on stage, but the movie version offers a certain magic too – particularly in Carl Anderson’s riveting turn as Judas. Starting out the movie from Judas’ perspective as he sings “Heaven on Their Minds” is a smart trick, allowing the audience to see things from Judas’ side before they really ever even meet Jesus. Not only is it a good storytelling move, but Anderson absolutely slays the song, readying the audience for a rock saga they won’t soon forget.
#8: “I Hope I Get It” “A Chorus Line” (1985)
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When it comes to starting strong and sharp, no one does it quite like 1985’s “A Chorus Line.” The movie follows a group of dancers hoping to make it big in a Broadway musical, and the first number, “I Hope I Get It,” immediately immerses the viewer into the dancers’ world. The camera takes in wide shots of the entire group auditioning, as well as close-ups of different hopefuls excelling, messing up, or just flat-out giving up. It’s a great way to get the audience hyped for the rest of the film and to introduce our different leads as they show us what they’re made of.
#7: “Good Morning Baltimore” “Hairspray” (2007)
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As soon as you hear those drums – boom, boom boom – you can’t help but start to sing along. Tracy Turnblad is just infectious that way. “Hairspray” has been beloved in some manner or another for decades, whether it be John Waters’ 1988 comedy film or the 2002 Broadway musical. But the 2007 movie adaptation really brought the musical to new heights and earned it a slew of new fans. Let’s be real; once you hear “Good Morning, Baltimore,” there’s no turning back. This opening number introduces us to our main character Tracy and instantly makes us fall in love with her and her bubbly confidence. It’s an uplifting song to make us root for her for the rest of the film.
#6: “New York, New York” “On the Town” (1949)
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These sailors give us no doubt about what their opinion on the Big Apple might be! The image of Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin running around New York City in their trim Navy uniforms is so iconic, that it might as well be in a museum at this point. At the beginning of “On the Town,” the three friends enjoy the beginning of their day of leave, excitedly traipsing across the city taking in the sights – and the girls. The melody of the song is so joyous that it’s hard not to wish to be in New York with them. Every part of the city offers some kind of excitement, and we’re ready to follow wherever the adventure takes these guys.
#5: “Willkommen” “Cabaret” (1972)
It’s all right there in the name – but this opening number might be a little more sinister than you think. 1972’s “Cabaret” is a musical masterpiece, chronicling the rise of the Nazi party through relationships and performances at a cabaret club in Berlin. The Master of Ceremonies of the club sings a good number of the musical’s songs – including this one, “Willkommen.” It’s a fairly straightforward number – quite literally welcoming the audience to the show – but it also fits neatly into the show’s themes of ignoring the troubles of the real world to its detriment. As the Master of Ceremonies, Joel Grey is equal parts comical and off-putting, setting the stage for what’s to come.
#4: “Grease” “Grease” (1978)
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Some might forget about the kooky animated opening of “Grease,” but we could never. Before we get to the real fun of this 1978 classic, Frankie Valli graces us with a funky performance of a song called “Grease.” We meet the characters that we’ll get to know throughout the course of the film, such as Danny, Sandy, and Rizzo, through a delightful animated sequence that shows them getting out of bed and ready for school. The song itself has such a fun groove to it, so while it might not be your typical opening number, we had to give it a nod. After all, grease is the word.
#3: “All That Jazz” “Chicago” (2002)
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It’s time to rouge our knees and roll our stockings down! That’s right – it’s “Chicago” time. This 2002 film is one of the best modern movie musicals to date and proves its worth right from the first moments. “All That Jazz” is a stellar opening number on its own – trust us, we could watch Catherine Zeta-Jones dance and sing until we die. The way the film intercuts other characters and events into the number makes it not just a great musical opening, but a cinematic one as well. This opening song sets up storylines, tensions, and desires all within the span of a few minutes. It’s – dare we say – all that jazz.
#2: “The Sound of Music” “The Sound of Music” (1965)
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Name a more iconic image in musical movie history – we’ll wait. You might be able to come up with some, but it’s hard to imagine anything more burned into our brains than Julie Andrews spinning around on top of a mountain, singing about music. “The Sound of Music” is a perfect opening number for the musical it’s named for. In iconic fashion it introduces us to our main character, letting us know exactly who she is without being too explicit about it. The beauty of the song is only bolstered by Andrews’ magical and strong vocals, matched by the sweeping vistas of the Alps in the background. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Look Down,” “Les Misérables” (2012) Look Down & See an Excellent Opening “Tradition,” “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971) A Tradition to Behold “In the Heights,” “In the Heights” (2021) Lights Up on Washington Heights “Another Day of Sun,” “La La Land” (2016) A Sunny Opening in L.A. “30/90,” “Tick, Tick … Boom!” (2021) Starting Off With a Bang
#1: “Prologue” “West Side Story” (1961)
It was hard to imagine that any film could produce a better opening “Prologue” than 1961’s original “West Side Story.” Steven Spielberg’s updated 2021 version in 2021 gave us an admirable attempt that was gritty and stunning in its own way. However, there’s just nothing quite as exhilarating as the opening to the original film. This street ballet is complex and tense, ushering us into the world of the story in a way that is truly unforgettable. The way the camera and the dancers move in tandem as each Jet and Shark is introduced makes for one of the coolest and most well-choreographed sequences that’s ever been committed to screen. We’re not sure if we’ll ever see anything better.
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