Over the years, I’ve started a tradition of watching musicals with my girls on Sunday afternoons. We’ll all pile on the couch, grab some of our favorite blankets (hint: they’re on sale for 45% off through Sunday with code CLJ), and cozy up for a few hours. It’s such a treat to be together, and the musicals add an extra layer because we’ll be singing the songs for days afterward.
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It actually all started with the last musical on the list, but we’ve made our way through quite of a few of these now! Many of these I grew up watching at my parents’ house with my siblings, so it’s fun to share them with my own kids. I hope this list of 21 of my favorite musicals for kids will inspire you to make your own family traditions — it’s never too late to start!
Classic Musicals for Family Movie Night
Fantasia (1940)
I like to skip over the orchestra synopsis just to keep their attention. (Don’t tell my brother-in-law because he’s very much into the orchestra.)
The Sound of Music (1965)
My girls love The Sound of Music. They just love it! I thought it would be too long. Not long enough! They like to try to pick which of the kids they identify with the most. And we still sing all of the songs.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
This movie is such a spectacle. There are these little vignettes within the movie that keep their attention. As an adult, I realize the storyline is less developed, but it keeps the kids entertained. They love the slapstick comedy.
White Christmas (1954)
A classic holiday movie that has little show business “acts” within the film that keep it really fun for the kids.
Matilda (2022)
This is just a really good musical version. We saw it on the stage years ago with the girls, so they knew all the songs. We had to watch this when it came to Netflix. The music makes the story of Matilda 10x better, if that’s even possible. If you have the opportunity to see this on stage, do it!
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Judy Garland forever. This is a timeless classic. We watched this years ago when the girls were much smaller. I think we’ve watched it once a year ever since.
Mary Poppins (1964)
My girls did not believe it was the same actress as The Sound of Music. That blew their minds. But Julie Andrews is just such a star. There’s a fun little cartoon in here with penguins that the girls enjoyed. Great for younger kids.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
What could be more fun than a flying car? There are some scary parts in this movie, but my 6-year-old was fine with it.
The King and I (1956)
I was so happy my girls loved this one. The costumes in The King and I are just so elaborate! And all the little kid actors are amazing to watch. It’s just a really entertaining story.
Annie (1982, 2014)
We watched the newer version of Annie the Musical. We’ve watched the older version. My kids love both of them. I don’t think you can go wrong.
Peter Pan (1960)
Note that this is not the Disney cartoon version. We grew up watching Mary Martin play Peter Pan in this made-for-TV movie. It’s a little cheesy, as it’s on a stage, but it’s hilarious. It was really fun as a child to watch this.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
It’s a little weird. I did not remember the movie being as problematic as it is now — I remember telling my kids “don’t let anyone do this to you.” But it’s still amazing. We laughed so hard. My daughters loved watching the brothers’ transformations.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
It’s hard to have a new movie hit like one of the classics. But this one is just as good if not better than many of the others on this list. The songs are phenomenal!
The Music Man (1962)
This is one we haven’t watched as a family yet, but I loved it when I was little. I still sing the songs! That’s how I know that it’s one I want to introduce to my kids.
Anastasia (1997)
My girls have seen all of the Disney movies. This isn’t Disney, which is why many people may have overlooked it. But it’s one of the most amazing cartoons.
My Fair Lady (1964)
I grew up watching this. We haven’t watched it with the girls yet, but I think I’ll appreciate it even more now — the costuming is just stunning!
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
We just watched this one this past Sunday. It’s a good one for a family.
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
This movie is such a fun, wholesome introduction into a dating movie for kids. My 13-year-old daughter loved Bye Bye Birdie especially.
Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Great music in this one. But it’s a little scary for younger kids. Save this for a tween or older.
Cinderella (1957)
This is the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s version, and it’s a great one. I watched alllllll the different versions growing up. There’s the Brandy version, the Disney version…so many options.
Newsies (1992)
This was the film that kicked off our Sunday musical series. My kids loved this one — they really respond to seeing kids on the screen.
These are just the most fun sing-along musicals for Sunday afternoons. That’s our current list of classic family musicals, but I’m always looking to expand upon it! What family-friendly musicals do you love to watch (and rewatch)?
