Musicals To Watch If You Like West Side Story

Is there any genre as misunderstood as the musical? Misconceptions abound about films filled with song and dance, the most common of which is that the films are absurd, overly cutesy, and lacking in substance. Musicals, however, aren't always stories of happy-go-lucky people dancing in the street, and "West Side Story" is an excellent example of this. The film is unafraid to deal with darkness: The central story of the film, after all, is about a racially motivated gang war between the Sharks and the Jets. "West Side Story" is a strong reminder that musicals are capable of tackling vital social issues just as effectively as any other genre.

When "West Side Story" hit cinemas in 1961, it was a force to be reckoned with. The film, based on the play conceived by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, absolutely dominated the Oscars, winning a whopping 10 Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.

"West Side Story" is back in the headlines with legendary director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the classic musical: In honor of "West Side Story" gracing our screens again with a new adaptation, here are musicals to watch if you can't get enough of the Sharks and the Jets.

While Bradley Cooper and Laga Gaga may be the first people you think of when you hear "A Star is Born," the 2018 film is actually the fourth version of the same story. Even before the great 1937 version, the story originated in 1932's "What Price Hollywood," directed by George Cukor. Cukor returned to direct the 1954 version of "A Star is Born," which, quite frankly, remains the finest iteration of the story.

Judy Garland stars as Esther Blodgett, an aspiring singer who is discovered by Norman Maine (James Mason) on a drunken evening out. The two form a tumultuous relationship as Blodgett's star rises rapidly, and Maine's falls at the same rate. Aside from having some of the very best musical numbers in cinema history, "A Star is Born" provides a detailed account of what it takes for a person — and particularly a woman — to become successful in Hollywood. Everything from trying to change Blodgett's figure, face, personality, and even her name is accounted for, and the film in many ways mirrors Garland's extremely difficult Hollywood experience.

The film is absolutely stunning, featuring some of the finest color photography, particularly with the rich, striking blues in "The Man That Got Away." Garland gives one of the finest performances committed to the silver screen and stands as a reminder of what an incredibly gifted talent she was. Like "West Side Story," "A Star is Born" stands out for being utterly unafraid to deal with tragedy.

There are few names as well known around the globe as Barbra Streisand. The singer began her meteoric rise to fame with "The Barbra Streisand Album" in 1963, which won the Grammy for album of the year. As a major star in music, she decided to try her hand at acting in films. Things really couldn't have gone any better for Streisand: Her film debut came in 1968's "Funny Girl," which won her a best actress Oscar, as she famously tied with Katharine Hepburn.

Streisand stars as Fanny Brice, a stage-obsessed teen who starts her career in vaudeville. As Brice doesn't possess the conventional good looks of a typical star, she's cast in background or comedic roles. After months of hard work, she finally makes it into the cast of the Ziegfeld Follies, where she meets Nick Arnstein (Omar Sharif), a wealthy businessman with a penchant for gambling, who is smitten by Brice. The musical follows the tumultuous romantic relationship between Brice and Arnstein, as Brice rises to great success in theater, while Arnstein finds himself in deep trouble with the law. Streisand and Sharif pull off one of the all-time great romances in cinema, and the film is full of beautiful musical numbers. If you need further convincing, just observe the aching longing in "People," or the celebratory defiance of "Don't Rain on My Parade."

Though Hollywood of the 1950s and 1960s is often the first place people go when thinking of classic musicals, there are plenty of other countries where musicals were prominent. Such is certainly true of France, where director Jacques Demy collaborated with French composer Michel Legrand to create two exquisite musicals. The first of these was 1964's "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," a film drenched in vibrant, exquisite color. The film's influence is far and wide, recently providing considerable inspiration for Damien Chazelle's "La La Land."

While most musicals on this list have dialogue punctuated by grand musical numbers, "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" is entirely sung, and each and every word gets musical connotations. Underneath the bright colors is a tragic love story between Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) and Geneviève (Catherine Deneuve), told in three parts. Guy and Geneviève fall deeply in love, and even plan their future together, going so far as to name their future child. Their love is tested and ultimately torn apart when Guy is drafted into the Algerian War. "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" culminates in one of the most beautiful, bittersweet, and utterly unforgettable endings in all of cinema.

Martin Scorsese is something of a jack-of-all-trades — it seems like there's nothing he can't tackle. Though he's best known for his gangster epics like "Goodfellas," Scorsese has made absurdist comedies ("After Hours") and religious dramas ("Silence"), so it should be no surprise that he's also tackled the musical genre. Like "West Side Story," Scorsese's oft-overlooked 1977 classic "New York, New York" is a love letter to New York.

The film stars Liza Minnelli and Robert DeNiro as lovers whose careers take different paths. Jimmy Doyle (DeNiro) is a saxophone player, and Francine Evans (Minnelli) is a pop singer. Doyle's incredibly volatile personality has the pair regularly warring with each other, and Scorsese's pairing of charming, emotional music with a tense relationship drama creates a precarious balance. The two meet in a nightclub, and the film is certainly a celebration of the boozy nightlife of New York City, but it's also unafraid to comment on the despair such a busy city can bring.

While the glitter and shine of "Dreamgirls" may make you think the film is all about glamour, the film, like "West Side Story," examines the dark underbelly of society. The film is unafraid to tackle issues of racism, and whitewashing in the music industry, which was especially prevalent in the '60s and '70s. The film traces the evolution of American R&B music over decades through the eyes of a girl group called "The Dreams." The Dreams feature formidable talent: global music superstar Beyoncé Knowles, Disney royalty Anika Noni Rose, and American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar for her acting debut as Effie White.

The cast is outstanding, also starring Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, and Eddie Murphy, who received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his towering performance as James "Thunder" Early. While the film provides a unique insight into the music industry, particularly the difficulties faced by people of color, "Dreamgirls" also brings tremendous entertainment, particularly in its musical numbers. The standout, of course, is the legendary "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," which no doubt played a huge part in securing Hudson's Oscar.

Few films open with such electricity and spontaneity as Leos Carax's "Annette." After all, it's not every day a film's opening encourages its viewers to sit down and shut up. The film was written by Ron and Russell Mael (alongside director Carax), better known as the musical group Sparks, who Edgar Wright directed an expansive documentary about in 2021. The brothers had wanted to make a musical for many years, and finally got their chance with "Annette."

The film stars Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, and also features a career-best turn from Simon Helberg. For those familiar with Carax's previous work, especially the beguiling "Holy Motors," it's pretty much impossible to predict what is going to happen in his films. "Annette" is bursting with surprises at every corner, so we won't tell you any of the details, except for the fact that the film centers around the relationship of a stand-up comedian Henry McHenry (Driver) and his wife, opera singer Ann Defrasnoux (Cotillard). Few films can match its remarkably off-beat energy, unique visual palette, and sheer unpredictability. The film was a hit at the Cannes Film Festival, where Carax won the award for best director.