The 35 Best Dance Movies Of All Time Ranked

In this age of fancy CGI and increasingly bigger on-screen explosions, it can be hard to remember that one of the most entertaining things a movie can deliver is a rousing song-and-dance number. The art of the musical has receded into the background in Hollywood, but it hasn't entirely forgotten by fans who yearn for the high you can get from seeing talented dancers doing their thing to a catchy beat onscreen.

Over the years the basic aspects of a "musical" have been recycled and repurposed by filmmakers not just in Hollywood, but around the world. The art form has been used to tell happy stories, sad stories, and even dramatic thrillers on occasion. And some musicals focus specifically on dancing and how it relates to the human experience. 

Dance movies have achieved great popularity at the box office and in pop culture, giving us some of the most iconic moments in the history of cinema celebrating life and romance. Let's take a look at some of the most popular dance movies from around the world, ranked by IMDb score. Any one of these is sure to get your feet tapping and your heart thumping in a way that no other subgenre can.     

"Made for television" movies rarely make much of a lasting impact, which makes the breakout success of the 2006 Disney Channel movie "High School Musical" all the more remarkable. Little known actors, a tiny budget, and a formulaic plot could not prevent the film from setting a new standard for teen movies and youth-focused musicals. 

The film follows high school star Troy Bolton's (Zac Efron) near-perfect life as a star athlete at school who's on track for a prestigious basketball scholarship. But Troy nurses a secret desire to participate in the performing arts, which he's afraid admit because of the expectations placed on his shoulders. Troy finds a reason to go against the school's status quo after meeting Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), a straight-A student who also wants to express herself through song and dance. 

Though it could have been dismissed by critics as just another Disney TV movie, "High School Musical" struck a chord with a far larger audience than the studio anticipated (per Variety). The movie made instant stars out of Efron and Hudgens, and the musical interludes from "High School Musical" became pop culture staples for an entire generation of fans. The popularity of the film spawned a massive franchise complete with multiple sequels, spinoffs, and stage adaptations.

After the breakout critical and commercial success of "Magic Mike," it seemed a no-brainer to have another go with the budding franchise for some more hunky gyrating interspersed with sobering commentary on the male stripper business. Once again Channing Tatum returned in the lead role as Michael "Magic Mike" Lane, the stripper with ambitions greater than taking his clothes off in front of rapturous crowds.

Three years have passed since the events of the original "Magic Mike," and Mike has tried to put his stripping days behind him by starting his own furniture business. He's contacted by his old stripper teammates, who inform him they're also quitting the business, and intend to go out on a high note by participating in a stripping convention at Myrtle Beach. Unhappy with his personal life, Mike joins them on a road trip filled with misadventures as they try to make it to the convention in time to perform one last grand stripping routine.

"Magic Mike XXL" managed to get healthy returns at the box office thanks to the popularity of its predecessor (per Box Office Mojo), not to mention the hunky lineup of Tatum, Matt Bomer, Kevin Nash, and Joe Manganiello. While not as critically acclaimed as the original "Magic Mike," the sequel carries enough of the flair and saucy energy of the first one not to get bogged down by one too many plotlines.

After the breakout success of his starring role in "Step Up," Channing Tatum decided to take a different route with his next major dancing role. The actor took inspiration from his early days as a stripper to produce and star in "Magic Mike," a gritty movie about the male exotic dancing scene and the toll it takes on its performers.

Adam (Alex Pettyfer) is a 19-year-old college dropout struggling to make ends meet. He is encouraged by Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) to work as a stripper at the Xquisite Strip Club alongside Mike and a host of men from different backgrounds. While Mike attempts to keep an eye on Adam for the sake of his sister Brooke (Cody Horn), Adam falls deeper down the rabbit hole, developing a substance abuse problem and getting into trouble with criminals and clients.

Ably directed by Steven Soderbergh, "Magic Mike" doesn't show stripping in a flashy or glamorous light, focusing instead on the costs accrued by the lifestyle where there is no such thing as job security and the performers are exploited by everyone they meet. The film was well-received by critics, with Roger Ebert describing "Magic Mike" as "a crafty mixture of comedy, romance, melodrama and some remarkably well-staged strip routines involving hunky, good-looking guys."

You would think the world of competitive cheerleading would naturally lend itself to the dance movie format ... and you would be right. The most prominent "dancing cheerleader" movies can be found in the "Bring It On" franchise, which kicked off with the 2000 film of the same name. High school cheerleader Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) has big plans when she is elected the new captain of her cheerleading squad. 

But Torrance's plans to win the national cheerleading competition seem to be a bust when a teammate gets injured. She finds a fresh teammate in new student and skilled gymnast Missy Pantone (Eliza Dushku). When it's revealed that Torrance's former team captain had led them to victory by stealing other cheerleading routines, it becomes a mater of personal pride for Torrance to win the upcoming competition in an honest manner.

"Bring It On" never loses sight of the fluffy teen movie it wants to be, and therein lies its appeal. The film accomplishes its modest goals of being an entertaining look at sisterhood and team spirit in the cheerleading community. Buoyed by charismatic performances from its lead cast, "Bring It On" was a hit at the box-office and spawned a number of sequels, giving Hollywood a rare female-led franchise, and even making noted film critic Roger Ebert eat his own words (per IndieWire).  

Following the unexpected success of the original "Step Up," it was clear there was a lot of money to be made with films about hot young dancers falling in love and setting the stage on fire with their moves. That brings us to "Step Up 2: The Streets," a sequel about a new cast of characters. Briana Evigan stars as Andie, part of a street dance crew that performs subversive art pieces, flaunting the risk of arrest. 

A series of events lead Andie to attend the prestigious Maryland School of the Arts, where she finds her street dance skills are not appreciated by the more orthodox teachers and students. Still, Andie slowly starts gathering a coterie of dancers with unusual abilities who have been ostracized at school just like her. Together, the newbie dance team sets out to test their mettle at an important contest against Andie's old street dance crew. 

"Step Up 2: The Streets" set the pace for the sequels that followed, featuring a large number of dancers battling with intricate choreography and utilizing exotic props and settings. The film is also notable for being the directorial debut of Jon M. Chu of "Crazy Rich Asians" fame.

Despite heavily featuring elaborate song-and-dance numbers in most of its offerings, the Indian film industry known as Bollywood has not made too many movies focusing on the private lives of dancers. "Any Body Can Dance," often shortened to "ABCD," sought to change that by taking inspiration from Hollywood features like "Step Up" and "Stomp the Yard."

"ABCD" focuses on down-on-his-luck choreographer Vishnu (Prabhu Deva), who gets ousted from his place at an eminent dance academy by his former partner. Left without a direction in life, Vishnu comes across a motley group of street performers struggling to make a living as stage dancers at local events. Vishnu decides to personally train the group so they can compete in an important dance competition against students from his former dance academy.  

Despite its simple storyline, "ABCD" works thanks to the energy of its main cast of dancers, most of whom were professional dancers rather than actors handpicked from dance contests by the film's choreographer-turned-director Remo D'Souza. The dazzling dance styles on display coupled with the catchy soundtrack drew praise from critics, and helped turn ABCD into a franchise along the lines of the "Step Up" series (via Sify).   

"Animated dance movies" is a vanishingly small genre of films, but "Happy Feet" manages to work some fancy footwork into an adventure starring talking penguins. The unlikely combination works way better than it should thanks to a talented lead cast of voice actors and a heartfelt story at its center that borrows a few emotional beats from "Billy Elliot."

Mumble (Elijah Wood) is an emperor penguin, part of a clan that places great emphasis on singing. Unfortunately, a childhood accident left Mumble unable to sing. What he does have is an innate talent for dancing that baffles his fellow penguins. As mating season arrives, Mumble strives to grab the attention of a female penguin named Gloria with the help of his snappy moves, in the process teaching his community a thing or two about opening yourself up to the joy of dancing.

The animators behind "Happy Feet" took great pains to make a tap-dancing penguin an adorable sight instead of simply looking bizarre. The movie is also helped along by the exuberant voice acting of Robin Williams as the hopeless romantic Ramon. With a strong box-office showing and love from critics, "Happy Feet" hit the sweet spot for audiences well enough to spawn a sequel, which unfortunately failed to replicate the success of the original (via The Hollywood Reporter).   

Arguably the most popular dance movie franchise of all time, the "Step Up" series is today associated with huge dance crews putting together giant choreography using strobe lights, pulleys, cables, and all manner of other exotic props. But the original "Step Up" was a much more small-scale and intimate affair, with a single hero and heroine at the center of the narrative.

Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) is a street ruffian who spends his time committing petty crimes with his friends. One such crime spree gets Tyler arrested, and in lieu of facing jail time he agrees to work as a janitor at an art school. There he meets Nora (Jenna Dewan), an ambitious ballet dancer looking to mix up her dance routine for an important audition. As they strike up a relationship, Tyler volunteers to help Nora with her showcase using his slick street dance moves. 

"Step Up" works as an old-school love story between a man and a woman from the opposite sides of the track. When sparks fly between Tyler and Nora, it reminds audiences of the fiery chemistry Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey shared in "Dirty Dancing." The movie also established Tatum as a rare dancing star in modern Hollywood, and later he would once again use his smooth moves to great acclaim in the "Magic Mike" franchise.  

The dawn of the new millennium was a turbulent time for the Indian film industry, which saw the star power of established A-listers waning while a crop of newcomers were increasingly grabbing attention. One such newcomer was former Miss World winner Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who played to her strengths as an actress and a dancer in the 1999 blockbuster "Taal." 

The movie sees Anil Kapoor essaying the role of Vikrant Kapoor, an established music producer who sees a glimmer of promise in Mansi (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), an aspiring singer and dancer. While helping Mansi climb the ladder of success, Vikrant starts falling love with her. But Mansi is still in love with her old flame Manav (Akshaye Khanna), despite breaking off her engagement with him over a familial misunderstanding.  

"Taal" managed to woo both critics and general audiences thanks to the performances of the lead actors and the immensely popular soundtrack for the film, composed by future Oscar winner A.R. Rahman. "Taal" holds the distinction of becoming the first Indian movie to break into the top 20 at the U.S. box office (per Asia Times), and was also included in noted film critic Roger Ebert's 2005 list of Overlooked Films.

Movie producers pin their hopes on making critically and commercially successful films, all the while dreaming of making that one movie that will rise from the status of "hit" to "generation-defining success." "Dirty Dancing" was one such movie that blew past all expectations to become one of the most successful dance-based films of all time, and a benchmark for romantic films in general.

Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) is a rich young woman who has spent her whole life being sheltered by her parents. While on a vacation with her parents at a fancy Catskills resort, Baby is intrigued by the lives of the staff, particularly secret parties where the staff engage in raunchy dancing. Baby is attracted to Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), the extremely hunky dance instructor who needs a partner for an important stage performance. Baby happily volunteers her services, and the two practice their "forbidden" routine as Baby feels something primal awakening inside her. 

As much a coming-of-age movie as a dance-romance, "Dirty Dancing" features many iconic scenes and quotes that even non-musical fans would have heard of. The film was a smash hit at the box office (per Box Office Mojo) and made stars out of its lead actors. Hopefully the upcoming sequel to "Dirty Dancing" will be able to honor the legacy of its predecessor while giving a new generation of audiences a love story for the ages.

"Chicago" started out as a 1926 stage play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins (via The Comenian). That play became the inspiration for a Broadway musical of the same name conceived in 1975 by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse. Eventually Hollywood came calling, rolling out an all-star film adaptation of "Chicago" in 2002.

The movie tells the story of Roxie (Renee Zellweger), an ambitious housewife who dreams of becoming a vaudeville star, and Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a showgirl who gets arrested after killing her spouse and her sister for having an affair. A similar crime of passion lands Roxie in jail, where she tries to make friends with Velma while learning the way of life at the women's prison. Both Roxie and Velma are represented by the dashing but duplicitous attorney Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) as their trials become extended media circuses.

An adaption of "Chicago" was sure to capture audience attention based on its Broadway legacy, and the movie spares no expense in putting the splashy, lurid musical on the silver screen in as extravagant a manner as possible. The elaborate costumes, dancing, music, and over-the-top performances all combine to create a heady viewing experience. The film made healthy profits at the box office and was nominated for multiple academy awards, winning six of them.

The breakout success of the stage musical "Hamilton" signaled the arrival of a major new creative force in the form of its creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Naturally, Hollywood was interested in helping Miranda bring about a revolution in screen musicals as well. That brings us to 2021's "In the Heights," which Miranda produced based on his stage musical of the same name. 

The title of the story is a reference to the Manhattan borough of Washington Heights, which hosts a thriving Latinx population that is the focus of the movie. Here a number of prominent characters go about their daily professional grind while dreaming of carving out a better life for themselves. Chief among them is Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a bodega owner who wants to revive his father's business and feels an attraction to his neighbor, Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), who wants to become a fashion designer.

With breathtaking musical interludes and an infectious rhythm permeating the entire film, "In the Heights" is a joyous celebration of a community that rarely gets the spotlight in Hollywood. The film received overwhelming praise from critics for its music and performances. "It's a piece of mainstream American entertainment in the best sense," A.O. Scott noted for The New York Times, "an assertion of impatience and faith, a celebration of communal ties and individual gumption, a testimony to the power of art to turn struggles into the stuff of dreams." 

"Roh Ki-soo" is a stage musical set during the Korean war which told the tale of dancers trying to brave the dangers of the time period to follow their passion. In 2018, the musical was adapted into a feature film titled "Swing Kids," helmed by one of the South Korean movie industry's biggest hitmakers, Kang Hyeong-cheol.

In 1951, the Geoje prison camp sees a strange drama unfold when North Korean soldier Ro Ki-soo (Do Kyung-soo) develops a love for tap dancing through contact with American culture. Ro Ki-soo becomes a part of a group of dancers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds under the leadership of Jackson (Jared Grimes), an American officer. As the motley crew are put through their paces by Jackson, they discover an unexpected source of hope in their wretched surroundings. 

Expertly juggling aspects of war, history, dance, and a large main cast with unique backstories, "Swing Kids" never gets bogged down by its narrative but keeps things moving at a brisk pace with an infectious energy. It also does not try to whitewash the grim reality of war as it explores the things in life that unite people across varying cultures and ideologies.  

"Romeo and Juliet" has been an enduring object of fascination for artists across all media, from movies to songs to stage plays. The story of the star-crossed lovers has been reimagined many times. One of the most popular interpretations was with the 1957 Broadway musical "West Side Story," later adapted into a 1961 film of the same name. 

The Sharks and the Jets are two teen gangs fighting for control of the Upper West Side in New York City. Tony (Richard Beymer) is a founding member of the Jets who falls for Maria (Natalie Wood), the younger sister of the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo (George Chakiris). This cannot be allowed, with both gangs baying for each other's blood. Double-crosses, betrayals, and switching of loyalties abound as Tony and Maria try to find a way to be together despite their backgrounds. 

For the longest time, 1961's "West Side Story" was seen as the seminal big, old-fashioned Hollywood musical that set the gold standard for the genre. Unfortunately, the movie was also seen as propagating racist stereotypes of the Latin American community, something that Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of the musical sought to improve upon (per NBC News). Despite its issues with representation and diversity, 1961's "West Side Story" remains an important chapter in the history of the Hollywood musical artform.   

There haven't really been a lot of famous dance movies based on children's experiences. "Billy Elliot," an adaptation of a play created by Lee Hall, bucks the trend by turning the focus squarely on a pubescent youth who finds a better life through ballet dancing.

Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is an 11-year-old kid from a small town in England. One day, Billy is sent to the gym by his father to learn boxing. Instead, Billy joins a ballet class taking place nearby. When news of Billy's interest in ballet reaches his father and older brother they attempt to put a stop to the whole thing, fearing Billy's life will be made miserable by the other boys if they find out he does ballet. But when Billy's father finally sees how genuinely talented his son is as a dancer, he resolves to do all he can to help Billy achieve his dreams.

Made on a small budget with a little-known cast, "Billy Elliot" was an unexpected box-office hit (per Box Office Mojo). It was also showered with praise by critics, with special praise going to the film's young lead actor in a searing and heartfelt performance (per Rotten Tomatoes). The success of the movie led to a stage adaptation that saw a pre-Spider-Man Tom Holland essaying the role of Billy Elliot.

Bob Fosse is a legendary name in the annals of the American stage musical. The man also tried his hand at films, and one of his most noted works in the medium was 1972's "Cabaret," based loosely on the 1966 Broadway musical of the same name. Fosse as director teamed up with another American musical institution in the form of Liza Minnelli to bring the stage show to the big screen. 

Minnelli star as Sally Bowles, a free-spirited young woman who finds herself attracted to the reserved but intriguing scholar Brian Roberts (Michael York). After a rocky start, the two become lovers, but the relationship is thrown into turmoil with the arrival of dashing playboy Maximilian von Heune (Helmut Griem). Meanwhile, a subplot finds Fritz Wendel (Fritz Wepper) trying to win the affection of Natalia Landauer (Marisa Berenson) without disclosing his secret background.

"Cabaret" holds the dubious distinction of being the first musical to be assigned an "X" rating in the U.K. (per BBC) based on its level of profanity, graphic visuals, and references to alternate sexual lifestyles. Despite the outrage generated from certain sections of the audience, the film turned a decent profit at the box office and was welcomed by critics, winning eight Academy Awards and establishing Fosse as one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood at the time.

When a filmmaker like Darren Aronofsky, known for dark and troubling subject material like "Requiem for a Dream" and "The Wrestler," turns his gaze towards the dance industry, you know the result is going to be anything but peppy and upbeat. "Black Swan" was created in Aronofsky's signature directorial style of wringing psychological horror from a culture's seamy underbelly.

Nina (Natalie Portman) is a dancer at the New York City ballet company. After the lead ballerina is forced to retire, the company is in need of a new lead in time to stage a performance of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." The part requires a dancer to play dual roles, and while Nina lands the lead, she struggles to embody both lead characters. The arrival of a new dancer named Lily (Mila Kunis) who threatens Nina's position in the play is accompanied by episodes of memory loss and injuries which throw Nina's mind increasingly into disarray. 

While dance forms a background to the story of "Black Swan," the movie is mainly a character study of Nina and performers like her who give too much of themselves to their art at the risk of self-sabotage. The film was praised by critics and nominated for a slew of awards. Portman won Best Actress at the Oscars as well as the Golden Globes, and her turn as Nina made it to The New Yorker's list of the best performances of the 21st century.