Image credit: Netflix
Netflix has become the home of modern music, offering movies that will have theater kids drooling, family fare that will be on your kids’ (or yours) frequent Spotify rotations, holiday features, and Emilia Perez.
However, Netflix musicals have achieved love, Oscar wins, nominations, and global impact. But when it comes to platform originals, which ones hit all the right notes?
So, here we go: here are the ten best original musical features on Netflix.
If you’re wondering why Emilia Perez Not here – oh, because it’s bad. Possibly one of the worst musicals of the decade. The entire awards ceremony was a psychological operation. The ones on this list are better, farther, faster, stronger and definitely less problematic. (Prom I might have made the cut if it weren’t for James Corden’s major screen time.)
10
Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience
It’s a crime that the ridiculous visual album for The Lonely Island starring Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaeffer as baseball stars Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire is only 30 minutes long. I needed another ten minutes. No, an hour. However, it is one of the best music projects on the platform. I call it a movie. You can’t stop me.
Unauthorized bash brothers experience A hysterical and psychedelic laugh riot that serves as a fun follow-up to their masterpiece Popstar: Never Stop Stoppingfull of unforgettable melodies. I’m still fighting with Andy’s “Jose” screaming and Schaeffer’s “And I’m Mark” nonchalance. Nothing will hit your serotonin highs when seeing Stephanie Beatrice, Haim, and Maya Rudolph singing about IHOP and getting the boys to shake their butts. Peak cinema.
9
Leo
Adam Sandler, who plays a walking, talking 50-year-old lizard in fifth grade who becomes a moral compass for his students, is a charming little film about growing up. Well, if you can get past the gross jokes and weird product placements. However, it has a positive irony that more films should strive for. A lot of that is thanks to Robert Smigel and Sandler’s shared script and the silly beats provided. Granted, none of it is particularly memorable, but the story and Sandler’s deep, annoyed voice coming from this good-natured lizard are so delightful that it hardly matters.
8
My Little Pony: A New Generation
Oh man, or mane, it’s strange that a My little pony The reboot pushed itself to tell a story about unity with themes of misinformation and bigotry, and somehow it succeeded in doing so amazingly well. The transition from 2D to 3D animation may not be perfect, and the quality, while nice and harmless, lacks a distinct art style. But it is well made and on trend. Plus it’s funny, and the songs are good. I still get goosebumps from the catchy, sinister song by Sprout (Ken Jeong, but with Alan Schmuckler’s singing voice) as the Trump-like character. Either way, it really shows that friendship is magical.
7
Over the moon
Now we get to the Oscar nominated films, and they are much better than we mentioned above. Beginning with animation legend Glen Keane’s Chinese musical about a grieving girl named Fei Fei, who travels alongside her soon-to-be half-brother Chen, to the moon to help the Moon Goddess reunite with her long-lost love. The melodies are probably the weakest element, and the rhythms of the adventure rely too heavily on narrative familiarity, but visually it’s gorgeous. The animation is absolutely stunning, whether it’s the earthly scenes of China or the fantasy world of Lunaria. Plus, you have Broadway star Philippa Soo as the tune-singing moon goddess, and Ken Jeong as a cute alien dog (too many Jeong roles for this list).
6
Arlo the crocodile boy
Arlo the crocodile boyabout a teenage boy who lives in the swamps and finds his family in New York City, is a sweet, honest, genuinely funny, visually stunning 2D animated musical, and is criminally underrated. Perhaps one of the best productions Titmouse has put out in its repertoire. Her hybrid world of anthropomorphic animal and human may be strange, but the story of identity, found family, and belonging she weaves is deeply moving. Most importantly, the songs penned by Alex Geringas and Ryan Crego — which blend R&B and gospel with stellar vocals by Michael J. Woodard and Mary Lambert — are absolutely gorgeous. I’ve put together a few songs myself from 2021. If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it.
5
Jingle Jingle: A Christmas Journey
He thinks Christmas Carol doll meet Greatest Showman. The greatest snowman, if you will. David E. Talbert Jingle Jingle: A Christmas Journey is a black-led Christmas thriller about newfound hope that spreads Christmas cheer with magical musical numbers full of rhythm and spirit – thanks to the songwriting of John Legend and Philip Lawrence. From the African-inspired decor to the colorful costumes and performances by Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Madalyn Mills (who should be in more movies), this story of a down-and-out toymaker who finds his light again through his granddaughter is a new-age classic that deserves to be more celebrated. The unified choreography across the beautifully decorated sets is an irresistible delight, and the sweet candy cane spirit embedded in it will give you a cavity in the best way possible.
4
Vivo
The only movie about the Kinkajou you will ever see. before Demon hunters in kpop The world was taken by storm Vivo The groundbreaking musical was made as Sony Pictures Animation’s first musical — and such a film, in another life, would have been a hit in theaters. Like most of the films on this list, it’s another Point A to Point B adventure: plucky domesticated Kinkajou (voiced and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the latter much stronger than the former) travels from Cuba to Miami to fulfill his late owner’s wish to bring a love song to his old lover, along with a hyperactive twin in a newfound grief. However, it does combine some wonderful, vibrant riffs with some songs that will make you shed a tear or two. It’s vibrant, cinematic and incredibly sweet with soul.
Image credit: Netflix
3
Matilda the Musical
There’s no reason why Matthew Warchus’ rendition of Tim Minchin’s Broadway musical based on Roald Dahl’s classic play, about a telekinetic girl who takes down her totalitarian-run school, should be so difficult. However, it is. It retains the sense of surrealism, silliness, chaos, and fun as the source material, capped off by great performances: LaShauna Lynch as the sweet Miss Honey, Emma Thompson’s hilarious and terrifying Miss Trunchbull, and Alisha Weir in the star-studded title role. She is full of power long before she became a vampire ballerina Abigail. The choreography and direction have a rare extravagance that few live family musicals can capture. Just watch “Rebel Children” and you’ll be radicalized.
Image credit: Netflix
2
Demon hunters in kpop
It was the summer of 2025 when Hunter/X and the Saga Boys met She took the world by storm. Adults, children and their parents all had it KPDH Fever – and who can blame them? Don’t look me in the eye and tell me that every song of this didn’t live in your head rent free. “Golden”, “How’s it done”, “Free”, “Your Idol” – nothing but one noise after another. It became the first Netflix animated film to win the Oscar for Best Original Song, which breaks hell the last time the streamer won in the category. Vibrant, colourful, joyful, inspiring, and filled with a passionate love of Korean culture from front to back, this cultural phenomenon is an inspiring and engaging story of identity, hot demons, and friendship – with silly, demon-slaying iconic heroines being K-pop icons.
1
Mark, mark… BOOM!
The first time Lin-Manuel Miranda got behind the camera, he knocked it out of the park with his semi-autobiographical musical adaptation of Jonathan Larson. It’s anchored by a compelling and stunning musical performance from Andrew Garfield – wait, can he sing? – Earning an Oscar nod in the process, Miranda beautifully breathes a surreal vision of New York City mixed with a fortitude in the daily struggle of a dreamer pursuing his passion. The moment “30/90” begins, you know you’re on a ride that never stops, and becomes increasingly catchy with each musical number. It may be inside baseball for some – it’s a true theatrical movie – but it’s nonetheless one of the best musicals released this decade and the best that streaming has to offer. It should have gotten a Best Picture nomination Don’t look up.
Image credit: Netflix
These are our picks – what are yours?