Top 21 Best Musicals of Each Year (2000-2020) 

Rest in peace, Stephen Sondheim. You created wonderful songs, characters and shows, and you'll be greatly missed!

Speaking of Lin Manuel Miranda, for those who wanted Hamilton cancelled, I think they miss the point if the play. He was not glamorizing philandering considering the reactions he showed with Eliza and the community. Also, the founding fathers were a) slave owners and b) philanderers. If the “characters” were not philanderers, that would be historically inaccurate. Miranda gave a new perspective to the people who as flawed as they were did great things that formed a country. It also made sense he hired people of color because Hamilton was mixed race as well so it became a small commentary on that. It was also a way to react to the (lack of a better term) complaints that people had at the time of not getting representation they needed. Very poorly explained, but I think we should focus on the positives more than that one issue with it.

bonus points for Lin-Manuel Miranda being on the list twice for Best Musical (2008 and 2016) Lin currently holds the record for youngest composer, he was 28 years old when he won Best Score for In The Heights Rest easy Steven Sondheim, may your legacy live on Hamilton holds the record for the most Tony Nominations for a musical (16 nominations)

"Come From Away" is one of my favourite new musicals. It did a fantastic job of portraying a tragic event, and showing how it effected multiple people and their loved ones, with appropriate sensitivity and care. 💕

R. I. P. Stephen Sondheim. You've entertained us with musicals that we're truly delightful to watch

I AM SICK OF HADESTOWN NEVER BEING MENTIONED

Here you go. You're welcome. @0:47 "Aida" - 2000 @2:05 "The Producers" - 2001 @3:40 "Hairspray" - 2002 @4:59 "Wicked" - 2003 @6:30 "Caroline or Change" - 2004 @7:59 "The Color Purple " - 2005 @9:32 "Spring Awakening" - 2006 @11:01 "Legally Blonde " - 2007 @12:17 "In the Hights" - 2008 @13:26 "Next to Normal" - 2009 @14:46 "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson" - 2010 @16:04 "Book of Mormon" -2011 @17:19 "Newsies" - 2012 @18:17 "Kinky Boots" -2013 @19:30 "Aladdin" - 2014 @20:44 "Hamilton" - 2015 @22:11 "Dear Evan Handson" -2016 @23:34 "Come from Away" - 2017 @24:53 "The Prom" - 2018 @26:04 "Beetlejuice" - 2019 @27:22 "Six" -2020

As much as I love beetlejuice, I still do think Hadestown is a better musical.

Hadestown may as well be the best musical pf the century but yeah beetlejuice is fun too

2015: Hamilton 2018: mean girls 2014: Heathers 2009: 9 to 5

My favorite musicals of the era Hamilton, Hairspray, Dear Evan Hansen & Kinky Boots to name a few. I was so sad to hear that Stephen Sondheim passed away. My favorite shows of his are Company & Into The Woods.

I did my thesis on the book “Wicked” and had the opportunity (thanks to my wonderful mother getting tickets) and I was transfixed from beginning to end and my god… the ending. My mom did not read the book but I kept telling her about it and she thought the play’s ending was way better. I agree because it was not tragic. It was the ending I wanted. Some may disagree with me but I still believe that both endings made sense with the stories they told. The book was mire tragic and the ending reflected that but the play was more happy and whimsical which made the happy ending fit well.

"All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the author put on paper. That's what makes theatre live. That's why it persists." -STEPHEN SONDHEIM 1930-2021

Seen Six 4 times now in UK and am so happy it finally got its proper broadway release it deserves.

May his memory Rest In Peace, Stephen Sondheim

I'm seeing Hamilton tonight and I saw Come From Away last weekend. Both amazing shows

The pro-shot of "Come From Away" is worth an Apple TV subscription. It's magnificent. Okay. MsMojo, you almost lost your Like by elevating Beetlejuice over Hadestown. I'm sure Beetlejuice is tons of fun, but Hadestown is pure emotional devastation. But when you gave props to Six, I forgave you.

I'm so glad y'all made Kinky Boots the 2013 winner. It's so good. I went to see it in 2018 because Kirstin in Pentatonix was in it and ended up loving it. That show basically singlehandedly made me love theater as much as I do now.

You focused on my favs so I’m good. I knew a few of them would be your focus (Spring Awakening, Mormon, Hamilton, DEH, etc.) but I was happy that you picked Newsies and Come From Away.

Just looking at this list gives me chills!!! Musicals really are some of the best experiences

I will die on the hill that Come From Away should have won the Tony for best musical 2017 over DEH. It's a better story and the music more impactful. Also appreciate the Six love, such a fun show and the music is a major ear worm.

This was an excellent compilation of best musicals! Thanks!

I love ALL your videos!!! Great work MsMojo!!!

RIP Steven Sondheim 🙏🏻

I absolutely love come from away, it’s honestly so heartwarming. The music is amazing, and the story is just awesome. I’ve seen it 4 times, and I want to see it again SOO bad!! 💕💕

Rachel, Hamilton tickets are still selling like gold.

Was holding my breath for 2017 and I’m so happy DEH was 2016’s.

I LOVE Wicked. Iv seen it 3 times in London. After seeing it first time it became my FAVOURITE musical. It’s amazing and makes me want to come back for more. I’d happily go see it again in the theatre and would love to see it on broadway if I ever get the chance.

RIP Stephen Sondheim, you will always be remembered and loved

Saw “Six” (with this cast) just before it went to Broadway before the lockdown. It is wonderful!

Hairspray Wicked In the Heights Newsies Kinky Boots Hamilton Best Broadway ever

I did a music theatre showcase a while back and sang I Know the Truth from Aida (sung by Sherie Rene Scott). My choir director said he has never heard me sing that well, especially for that song. Scott perfected I Know the Truth at 33yrs old, yet I did it in my early teen years. I have never felt so proud of myself.

RIP Stephen Sondheim Also, my favourite musicals of the Century are (in order) Book of Mormon, Heathers and The Lightning Thief

Saw Aida on Broadway with my HS choir trip. It remains one of my favorites!

I'm just so happy The Prom is on this list 👏👏👏

“Aida” is absolutely AMAZING! 100% the best! Also, “Next to Normal” is incredible!

I love Hairspray. Also, YES YES YES!!! Hamilton has to be on this list!! It was so good, and I love Hamilton. I can't wait to watch Dear Evan Hansen the movie,

2016: DEAR EVAN HANSEN! Great Comet fans: *Angry sobbing*

as a brit who adores six, it’s so weird to hear the queens with american accents :0 like they’re supposed to be british, that’s the whole point of them (i know anna is german and some of them were raised in other countries) but it’s about english history, so it just feels weird. they sound amazing either way though!

2000 - Aida 2001 - The Producers 2002 - Hairspray 2003 - Wicked 2004 - Caroline, or Change 2005 - The Color Purple 2006 - Spring Awakening 2007 - Legally Blonde 2008 - In the Heights 2009 - Next to Normal 2010 - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 2011 - The Book of Mormon 2012 - Newsies 2013 - Kinky Boots 2014 - Aladdin 2015 - Hamilton 2016 - Dear Evan Hansen 2017 - Come from Away 2018 - The Prom 2019 - Beetlejuice 2020 - Six For anyone who's curious

I saw Six two weeks before Broadway shut down. I'm so glad it's back and got to have its real opening night!

So happy to see my 3 favorite musicals in this list

Thanks for giving Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson the credit it deserves! People have completely forgotten about this gem!

I am so glad to see Legally Blonde, I cannot recall seeing it on any of Ms. Mojo videos which is a shame. And I will be rewatching after this video

when be more chill was mentioned i got so excited

I am so glade six made it on here I love that show!

81: I had no idea Spring Awakening stars one of the guys in Pitch Perfect, Lea Michele from Glee and Kristof (Jonathan Groff) from Frozen

I love Heather Headley so underrated and beautiful. 💛💛💛💛

23:38 you have no idea how much pain I felt in my heart and happiness I had on my face when I saw this, u made a newfie happy!

Not me the whole video asking where Six the Musical was.. I was happy in the end and I'm satisfied uwu (in Hamilton fan too)

I agree, given you asked for opinions, with a lot of your choices and am trying to put aside the "genre" of musical that truly inspires me. Saying that, I don't agree with any live versions of Disney animation. Sure, 'Aladdin' was some catchy tunes...that I'd heard long before, and some new ones, that I cannot remember a note of. There are, in Disney shows, while the music from the original versions, cannot be heard except in their original versions. 'Caroline', amazing for the performances, especially by Tonya Pinkins...in NY and Sharon D. Clarke in London. Amazing! 'Wicked' is an easy pick of a reinvented version of the "Wizard of Oz" with songs I do remember though I saw it 17 years ago and performances of both protagonists amazing...plus the choices made since it originally opened with Menzel and Chenoweth, that almost always was a treat. Stephanie Block is the first to come to mind..but the comic timing and emotion that Chenoweth brought to the original could never be replaced. I, just to mention it, dread who will be cast in the eternally long wait for a film of the show. 'Come from Away', amazing. 'Beetlejuice', not so much. FOR ME. 'Hamilton' changed the mold for a Broadway musical as 'Company', by the late Stephen Sondheim, (whom I will take this moment to thank for everything he gave us and for being a hero of mine. His "flops", like 'Everyone can Whistle', for example, are now seen as classics), did in 1970. A couple of your choices I just don't like..."Spring Awakening" being at the top of the list which I can appreciate but didn't like. At all. I love Harvey Fierstein and all he produces....so 'Hairspray' +++ is amazingly upbeat given its subject matter..or the root if the subject matter. I find that so many shows are surely for urban dwellers, New Yorkers, Londoners, etc....but is always going to be a problem getting to a wider audience...especially today given our divisions. 'Prom', great story and brave but will never be seen or accepted by people who clearly are not happy that gay people exist nevertheless deserve a musical that revolves around them as everything, from Froot Loops to chewing gum has been politicized. Imagine Lauren Boebert going to see and admitting to enjoying 'Prom'....? Admitting to it? I doubt she'd go to 'Aladdin' given the story comes from an Arabic source, (or Persian), depending on what you read, with Arabic people singing love songs and not being sent to Guantanamo. Anyway, moving on...! I don't want to politicize this comment, too much. I remember when Jerry Herman won the Tony for 'La Cage Aux Folles' and he commented, as Sondheim had been wracking up Tony's, Oscars, etc...for so long, rathe criticized Sondheim, without naming him, in accepting that Tony for 'la Cage' stating that it is nice to see a show that has memorable tunes and celebrated traditional values like love. A dig as the not so conventional shows Sondheim was putting out....that year, 'Sunday in the Park with George', whose songs I do remember as much as I do those from 'La Cage' but I do like to remember a tune, maybe humming it trying to recall where I heard it. I didn't like his dig at Sondheim, which was so obvious, and I love the classic Broadway shows, too...."West Side Story', 'Carousel', 'South Pacific', etc...but maybe 2 of the shows named on your list, I cannot think of a single song I could name, even if listening to it, today. I think you might have added 'American Idiot'...as especially well named show for today which had great music. Anyway, if you could list more of the shows in the competition for that year's best, it would help...and I won't deny any show its due, except for the Andrew Jackson one...but if you're not going to include revivals, you must pull the Disney "re-adaptions", too. In mentioning Disney, we also have to remember the infinite money Disney has to invest in those shows while new writers, etc...have to go begging which makes it 1000x harder to get a show to the stage. 'Aida', I loved...and deserved everything it got, even with Disney, so there are exceptions. Ok, thesis done...sorry for writing so much but I take the theatre seriously, as a form of enjoyment, an escape, an art and given the loss, 36 hours ago, Of Stephen Sondheim, I have been thinking and over thinking Broadway much too much, as well as watching and listening to Sondheim music and crying. Have a nice Sunday and I am sorry for the political comment. Cheers!

Saw the OBC cast of Aida and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen

Can you please do top 21 best animated movie villains of each year (2000-2021)?

77: I click cause I love Wicked and Hamilton

Jonathan Groff. That's it. That's the comment.

78: 20 -Didn’t see that but cool to know about that fact 19 -Didn’t know that and haven’t seen that 18 -Really wanted to see the musical on Broadway but I saw it at my friends school years ago 17 -I first saw this when I was little! I love everything about Wicked! It’s my number one favorite musical since I was a kid 16 -Haven’t seen it 15 -Wanted to see it but didn’t get the chance 14 -My parents saw that a long time ago but I haven’t 13 -I heard of the movie but haven’t seen either. I can say the same for Mean Girls 12 -I heart Lin-Manuel Miranda! Saw the movie musical on a holiday 11 -I heard it’s good. Just haven’t seen it 10 -Sorry, didn’t see it 9 -Ummm. I’m only interested of Trey Parker in Despicable Me 3. Never been a fan of South Park. Just being honest 8 -My friend loves that musical 7 -I saw Matilda on my birthday at New York but haven’t seen Kinky Boots 6 -This I love! It was funny and magical! Saw it with my dad 5 -Whoo Hoo!!! Yeah! He’s not missing his shot! I loved it! His work is amazing even in Moana and Netflix’s Vivo 4 -Haven’t seen it but I did buy a great song from the musical album. Didn’t know he was originally in Pitch Perfect 3 -Haven’t seen that either but did see Anastasia 2 -Didn’t see the musical but saw the Star filled movie musical on Netflix 1 -Haven’t seen the movie or this. I was terrified at first when I saw the trailer as a kid

Idc how much you love Beetlejuice, no sane person would put it over Hadestown

The Book Of Mormon is my all time fave ❤️❤️❤️

2000: Aida - 0:45 2001: The Producers - 2:04 2002: Hairspray - 3:40 2003: Wicked - 4:58 2004: Caroline, or Change - 6:29 2005: The Color Purple - 7:57 2006: Spring Awakening - 9:30 2007: Legally Blonde - 11:01 2008: In the Heights - 12:16 2009: Next to Normal - 13:27 2010: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson - 14:43 2011: The Book of Mormon - 16:03 2012: Newsies - 17:19 2013: Kinky Boots - 18:17 2014: Aladdin - 19:30 2015: Hamilton - 20:45 2016: Dear Evan Hansen - 22:10 2017: Come from Away - 23:34 2018: The Prom - 24:52 2019: Beetlejuice - 26:04 2020: Six - 27:23

FYI for the credit at 27:51, it is Courtney Mack as K-Howard not Samantha Pauly.

Spring Awakening & Hamilton! 💖💖

82: Real Number 1! -Haven’t seen that either but got to admit, I like the songs. I heard the songs on RU-vid from My Little Six

Hadestown deserved better.

i have one word for choosing six, hamilton, and beetlejuice where you did… DESERVED

What happened to Cats, The Phantom Of The Opera, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Lion King musical, On Your Feet, Shrek:The Musical, Oliver, and other musicals? 🗽🎻🎸🎷🎹🎶🎵🎟️🎤🎵

Among the 2006 nominees, by far my favorite was The Drowsy Chaperone, which was nominated for 12 Tonys and won 5, including Best Origianl Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Featured Actress. Additionally, it won The Drama Desk Award for Best Musical that year. It's a shame it wasn't even mentioned. I also agree, Hadestown by a mile over Beetlejuice.

Everything from The Book of Mormon onwards makes up my list of fave musicals😊

I love hamilton, wicked, and beetlejuice so much! I just wish you would put in mean girls.

Yes! In the Heights, Hamilton, Wicked and Dear Evan Hansen where on here! I must have a great taste in musicals.

hi wicked how are you long time no see I haven’t seen you since I saw you so Lao Angeles California and San Diego California

Where can I watch a recording of Wicked? I want to see it so badly!

We all knew that Six was gonna be top of 2020 though, and I'm glad it was!

Avenue Q was a super fun musical so I am not surprised it won that year over wicked.

There's a movie called the prom on Netflix, is that based on the prom musical? Because I found the movie absolutely amazing. Also, I'm not a theater nerd so I can only base my favorite musicals based on the songs I've heard of them (or other things that make me fascinated by them), which are: Beetlejuice Dear Evan Hanson (sincerely me is my absolute favorite song) Be more chill (I heard one song from it and it's quite catchy) Everybody's talking about jamie, I love some of the songs, the plot is so interesting and the thing that made me interested in it was bianca del rio was and is part of the cast and I adore her Kinky boots...brendon urie got me into it...

Whoa, GROFFSAUCE!

Thank you for pronouncing Newfoundlanders correctly

Would u do a west end one of these

Just saw Kinky Boots! Had to come here to see if it won its respective year, wasn't disappointed 😇

I find a lack of moulin rouge in a lot of these lists but its ok because hadestown was mentioned.

when did Heahers come out on broadway?

The Aladdin stage musical is on my top 5 of worst musicals for me personally. The new songs were either decent, boring or unnecessary. The addition of Aladdin's friends made his character less sympathetic because he wasn't completely alone anymore, same thing with Jasmine, she got some friends/servants who encouraged her to leave the palace, again making her less lonely, less independent and less sympathetic, the sultan was stripped of personality and Jafar was... I don't even know what he was, but it just didn't work for me.

Can we have the top 21 best MOVIE Musicals?

I got tickets to see Six for my birthday this year. Last year I got tickets to Hamilton, Mean Girls, Tootsie, Lion King, Hadestown, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Legally Blonde. I agree with so many of these

As a dancer I prefer musicals that have big production numbers. I also like upbeat musicals. Leave the sadness and the downers for plays. Interesting video.

The producers is my all time favourite

Idk what years these came out but here's a list of a few that definitely should have been there: Heathers Be more chill Les miserables The greatest showman Mamma Mia (And yes some are movies but they are still musicals technically Hamilton is also a movie)

The ones i already watched were Wicked Newsies Hamilton Six The ones i just knew but never watched Legally Blonde In the Heigths Aladdin Dear Even Hansen Beetlejuice

Where’s Hadestown?!?! 😩😩

Finally six is mentioned!

Genuine question: Will one of the Hadestown defenders in the comments explain to me why they love the show so much? I was very excited to catch the tour in the fall and was ultimately underwhelmed. I just want to know if it's a case of different tastes or if I'm missing something.

Looking for musicals I have yet to see

no Shade to Beetlejuice but HadesTown is a better story and score

Im so happy Newsies is on here

Was that Mathew Morrison in 4:14?

I still can't believe that the guy who sung Barely Breathing in the 90s made Spring Awakening.

I like irreverent comedy with clever songs, so I prefer Avenue Q and Spamalot for their respective years. I wish that it were possible to choose both Come From Away and The Band's Visit.

I am wondering what a WatchMojo list of Starkid/TinCanBros musicals would look like.

“Jonathan Larson’s debut” *shows clip of Raul Esparza without mentioning him* 😩😩😩

it's fitting that musicals about racism were the top musicals in the years both myself and my younger sister were born, given that our main goal in our lives is to stop racism in its tracks. And Legally Blonde fits my youngest sister so well. IN THE HEIGHTS CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE MUSICALS!!!! My brother was born in the year 2009 and our whole family struggles with severe mental illness, and I need to look into this musical for that reason. The book of Mormon makes my Mormon friends and I (a pagan who grew up in a more Mormon-esc pentecostal church) laugh every time. I was about 8 when newsboys came out and I learned every move to the choreography. Kinky Boots remains an LGBTQ musical that my family will replay a million times. Hamilton wasn't even a question lmao. Dear Evan Hansen is always funny when you remember that Ben Platt is gay. But its also my very favorite musical but the film adaptation made Evan a hero when he's really an antagonist. I LOVE THE PROM SO MUCH!!! I love it so much and the Netflix movie is amazing! And my Aunt was PISSED seeing the lesbian kiss! I love Be More Chill, Beetlejuice, and Hadestown, I really can't choose which is my favorite tbh. Okay, but if you're on social media at all, SIX is going to be a musical you've heard a billion times by now.

I'm really shocked Fun Home isn't even mentioned (unless I missed it). My favourite show of the last decade.