I collected over 15 lists of the best stage musicals of all time and combined them into one meta-list. Here are the results: every stage musical on three or more of the original source lists, organized chronologically. I have included relevant information, including the source material and any film versions. The dates I have given are for the original premiere. I have not included the dates of any revivals. For a list organized by rank (that is, with the musicals on the most lists at the top), go HERE.
For a list of the best movie musicals of all time, go HERE.
- Show Boat (1927) (on 5 lists)
Music: Jerome Kern
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on: Show Boat (novel, 1926), by Edna Ferber
Film versions: Show Boat (1936), directed by James Whale; Show Boat (1951), directed by George Sidney - Anything Goes (1934) (on 4 lists)
Music: Cole Porter
Lyrics: Cole Porter
Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse - Porgy and Bess (opera, 1935) (on 4 lists)
Music: George Gershwin
Libretto: DuBose Heyward & Ira Gershwin
Based on: Porgy (novel, 1925) and Porgy (play, 1927), by DuBose Heyward
Film version: Porgy and Bess (1959), directed by Otto Preminger (non-musical) - Oklahoma! (1943) (on 9 lists)
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on: Green Grow the Lilacs (play, 1931), by Lynn Riggs
Film version: Oklahoma! (1955), directed by Fred Zinnemann - Carousel (1945) (on 4 lists)
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on: Liliom (play, 1909), by Ferenc Molnár
Film version: Carousel (1956), directed by Henry King - Kiss Me, Kate (1948) (on 4 lists)
Music: Cole Porter
Lyrics: Cole Porter
Book: Bella Spewack & Samuel Spewack
Based on: The Taming of the Shrew (play, c. 1590-1592), by William Shakespeare
Film versions: Kiss Me Kate (1953) directed by George Sidney; Kiss Me Kate (TV, 1968), directed by Paul Bogart; Kiss Me, Kate (2024), directed by Bartlett Sher. - South Pacific (1949) (on 4 lists)
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II & Joshua Logan
Based on: Tales of the South Pacific (stories, 1947), by James A. Michener
Film versions: South Pacific (1958), directed by Joshua Logan; South Pacific (TV, 2001), directed by Richard Pearce - Guys and Dolls (1950) (on 8 lists)
Music: Frank Loesser
Lyrics: Frank Loesser
Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows
Based on: The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown and Blood Pressure (stories, c. 1932-1933), by Damon Runyon
Film version: Guys and Dolls (1955), directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz - The King and I (1951) (on 4 lists)
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on: Anna and the King of Siam (novel, 1944), by Margaret Landon
Film versions: The King and I (1956), directed by Walter Lang; The King and I (1999), directed by Richard Rich - My Fair Lady (1956) (on 8 lists)
Music: Frederick Loewe
Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Based on: Pygmalion (play, 1913), by George Bernard Shaw and Pygmalion (film, 1938), directed by Anthony Asquith & Leslie Howard
Film version: My Fair Lady (1964), directed by George Cukor - West Side Story (1957) (on 15 lists)
Concept: Jerome Robbins
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Arthur Laurents
Based on: Romeo & Juliet (play, c. 1591-1595), by William Shakespeare
Film versions: West Side Story (1961), directed by Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins; West Side Story (2021), directed by Steven Spielberg - The Music Man (1957) (on 7 lists)
Music: Meredith Willson
Lyrics: Meredith Willson
Book: Meredith Willson & Franklin Lacey
Film versions: The Music Man (1962), directed by Morton DaCosta; The Music Man (TV, 2003), directed by Jeff Bleckner - The Sound of Music (1959) (on 10 lists)
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book: Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Based on: The Story of the Trapp Family Singers (memoir, 1949), by Maria von Trapp
Film version: The Sound of Music (1965), directed by Robert Wise - Gypsy (1959) (on 7 lists)
Music: Jule Styne
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Arthur Laurents
Based on: Gypsy: A Memoir (book, 1957), by Gypsy Rose Lee
Film version: Gypsy (1962), directed by Mervyn LeRoy - Oliver! (1960) (on 5 lists)
Music: Lionel Bart
Lyrics: Lionel Bart
Book: Lionel Bart
Based on: Oliver Twist (novel, 1838), by Charles Dickens
Film version: Oliver! (1968), directed by Carol Reed - Hello, Dolly! (1963) (on 5 lists)
Music: Jerry Herman
Lyrics: Jerry Herman
Book: Michael Stewart
Based on: The Matchmaker (play, 1954), by Thornton Wilder
Film version: Hello, Dolly! (1969), directed by Gene Kelly - Fiddler on the Roof (1964) (on 10 lists)
Music: Jerry Bock
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
Book: Joseph Stein
Based on: Tevye the Dairyman (story, 1894), by Sholem Aleichem
Film version: Fiddler on the Roof (1971), directed by Norman Jewison - Funny Girl (1964) (on 3 lists)
Music: Jule Styne
Lyrics: Bob Merrill
Book: Isobel Lennart
Based on: The life of Fanny Brice
Film version: Funny Girl (1968), directed by William Wyler - Cabaret (1966) (on 10 lists)
Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Book: Joe Masteroff
Based on: I Am a Camera (novel, 1951), by John Van Druten and Goodbye to Berlin (novel, 1939), by Christopher Isherwood
Film version: Cabaret (1972), directed by Bob Fosse - Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (1967) (on 6 lists)
Music: Galt MacDermot
Lyrics: Gerome Ragni & James Rado
Book: Gerome Ragni & James Rado
Film version: Hair (1979), directed by Miloš Forman - Company (1970) (on 6 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: George Furth - Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) (on 7 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Film version: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), directed by Norman Jewison - Grease (1971) (on 6 lists)
Music: Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
Lyrics: Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
Book: Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
Film version: Grease (1978), directed by Randal Kleiser - Follies (1971) (on 3 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Goldman - The Rocky Horror Show (1973) (on 4 lists)
Music: Richard O’Brien
Lyrics: Richard O’Brien
Book: Richard O’Brien
Film version: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), directed by Jim Sharman - A Little Night Music (1973) (on 3 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler
Based on: Smiles of a Summer Night (film, 1955), directed by Ingmar Bergman
Film version: A Little Night Music (1977), directed by Harold Prince - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1974) (on 4 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Book: Tim Rice
Based on: The Book of Genesis (story of Joseph)
Film version: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999), directed by David Mallet & Steven Pimlott - A Chorus Line (1975) (on 10 lists)
Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics: Edward Kleban
Book: James Kirkwood Jr. & Nicholas Dante
Film version: A Chorus Line (1985), directed by Richard Attenborough - Chicago (1975) (on 9 lists)
Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Book: Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse
Based on: Chicago (play, 1926), by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Film version: Chicago (2002), directed by Rob Marshall - Annie (1977) (on 6 lists)
Music: Charles Strouse
Lyrics: Martin Charnin
Book: Thomas Meehan
Based on: Little Orphan Annie (comic strip, 1924-2010)
Film versions: Annie (1982), directed by John Huston; Annie (TV, 1999), directed by Rob Marshall; Annie (2014), directed by Will Gluck - Evita (1978) (on 6 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Book: Tim Rice
Based on: The life of Eva Perón
Film version: Evita (1996), directed by Alan Parker - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979) (on 9 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler
Based on: Sweeney Todd (story, 1970), by Christopher Bond
Film version: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), directed by Tim Burton - Les Misérables (French version, 1980; English version 1985) (on 12 lists)
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg
English Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer
Original Text: Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel
Book: Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg
Based on: Les Misérables (novel, 1862), by Victor Hugo
Film version: Les Misérables (2012), directed by Tom Hooper - 42nd Street (1980) (on 4 lists)
Music: Harry Warren
Lyrics: Al Dubin & Johnny Mercer
Book: Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble
Based on: 42nd Street (film, 1933), directed by Lloyd Bacon - Cats (1981) (on 8 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn & Richard Stilgoe
Based on: Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (poems, 1939), by T.S. Eliot
Film versions: Cats (1998), directed by David Mallet; Cats (2019), directed by Tom Hooper - Dreamgirls (1981) (on 6 lists)
Music: Henry Krieger
Lyrics: Tom Eyen
Book: Tom Eyen
Film version: Dreamgirls (2006), directed by Bill Condon - Merrily We Roll Along (1981) (on 4 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: George Furth
Based on: Merrily We Roll Along (play, 1934), by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart - Little Shop of Horrors (1982) (on 4 lists)
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
Book: Howard Ashman
Based on: The Little Shop of Horrors (film, 1960), directed by Roger Corman
Film version: Little Shop of Horrors (1986), directed by Frank Oz - La Cage aux Folles (1983) (on 6 lists)
Music: Jerry Herman
Lyrics: Jerry Herman
Book: Harvey Fierstein
Based on: La Cage aux Folles (play, 1973) (Jean Poiret); La Cage aux Folles (film, 1978), directed by Édouard Molinaro. - Singin’ in the Rain (1983) (on 5 lists)
Music: Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics: Arthur Freed
Book: Adolph Green & Betty Comden
Based on: Singin’ in the Rain (film, 1952), directed by Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen - Sunday in the Park with George (1983) (on 4 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Lapine
Based on: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (painting, 1886), by Georges Seurat - Blood Brothers (1983) (on 3 lists)
Music: Willy Russell
Lyrics: Willy Russell
Book: Willie Russell - Starlight Express (1984) (on 3 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Richard Stilgoe - The Phantom of the Opera (1986) (on 12 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
Book: Richard Stilgoe & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on: The Phantom of the Opera (novel, 1910), by Gaston Leroux
Film version: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (2004), directed by Joel Schumacher - Into The Woods (1986) (on 9 lists)
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Lapine
Based on: Grimms’ Fairy Tales (1812-1858), by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Film version: Into the Woods (2014), directed by Rob Marshall - Chess (1986) (on 3 lists)
Music: Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Tim Rice & Björn Ulvaeus
Book: Tim Rice (original), Richard Nelson (1988 version), Danny Strong (2025 revival) - Miss Saigon (1989) (on 5 lists)
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics: Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr.
Book: Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg
Based on: Madama Butterfly (opera, 1904), by Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa - Sunset Boulevard (1991) (on 4 lists)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Don Black, Christopher Hampton & Amy Powers
Book: Don Black & Christopher Hampton
Based on: Sunset Boulevard (film, 1950), directed by Billy Wilder - Falsettos (1992) (on 3 lists)
Music: William Finn
Lyrics: William Finn
Book: William Finn & James Lapine - Rent (1996) (on 10 lists)
Music: Jonathan Larson
Lyrics: Jonathan Larson
Book: Jonathan Larson
Based on: La bohème (opera, 1896), by Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa
Film version: Rent (2005), directed by Chris Columbus - Ragtime (1996) (on 5 lists)
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Book: Terrence McNally
Based on: Ragtime (novel, 1975), by E.L. Doctorow - The Lion King (1997) (on 7 lists)
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Book: Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi
Based on: The Lion King (film, 1994), directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff - Hedwig and the Angry Inch (1998) (on 3 lists)
Music: Stephen Trask
Lyrics: Stephen Trask
Book: John Cameron Mitchell
Film version: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), directed by John Cameron Mitchell - Parade (1998) (on 3 lists)
Music: Jason Robert Brown
Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown
Book: Alfred Uhry
Based on: The trial and lynching of Leo Frank in 1913-1915. - Mamma Mia! (1999) (on 5 lists)
Music: Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Book: Catherine Johnson
Based on: The songs of ABBA
Film version: Mamma Mia! (2008), directed by Phyllida Lloyd - The Producers (2001) (on 6 lists)
Music: Mel Brooks
Lyrics: Mel Brooks
Book: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan
Based on: The Producers (film, 1967), directed by Mel Brooks - Hairspray (2002) (on 5 lists)
Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Book: Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan
Based on: Hairspray (film, 1988), directed by John Waters
Film version: Hairspray (2007), directed by Adam Shankman - Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz (2003) (on 11 lists)
Music: Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
Book: Winnie Holzman
Based on: Wicked (novel, 1995) by Gregory Maguire
Film versions: Wicked: Part I (2024) directed by John M. Chu; Wicked: For Good (2025), directed by Jon M. Chu - Avenue Q (2003) (on 4 lists)
Music: Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx
Lyrics: Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx
Book: Jeff Whitty - Mary Poppins (2004) (on 6 lists)
Music: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman & George Stiles
Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman & Anthony Drewe
Book: Julian Fellowes
Based on: Mary Poppins (film, 1964), directed by Robert Stevenson. - Spamalot (2004) (on 3 lists)
Music: John Du Prez & Eric Idle
Lyrics: Eric Idle
Book: Eric Idle
Based on: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (film, 1975), directed by Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam - Jersey Boys (2004) (on 3 lists)
Music: Various artists
Lyrics: Various artists
Book: Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice
Based on: The songs of The Four Seasons
Film version: Jersey Boys (2014), directed by Clint Eastwood - In The Heights (2005) (on 6 lists)
Music: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book: Quiara Alegría Hudes
Film version: In the Heights (2021), directed by Jon M. Chu - Billy Elliot: The Musical (2005) (on 5 lists)
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Lee Hall
Book: Lee Hall
Based on: Billy Elliot (film, 2000), directed by Stephen Daldry - The Color Purple (2005) (on 3 lists)
Music: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray
Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray
Book: Marshal Norman
Based on: The Color Purple (novel, 1982), by Alice Walker; The Color Purple (film, 1985), directed by Steven Spielberg - Spring Awakening (2006) (on 5 lists)
Music: Duncan Sheik
Lyrics: Steven Sater
Book: Steven Sater
Based on: Spring Awakening (play, 1891), by Frank Wedekind - Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2006) (on 3 lists)
Music: Various artists
Lyrics: Various artists
Book: Stephan Elliott & Allan Scott
Based on: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (film, 1994), directed by Stephan Elliott - Legally Blonde (2007) (on 3 lists)
Music: Neil Benjamin & Laurence O’Keefe
Lyrics: Neil Benjamin & Laurence O’Keefe
Book: Heather Hach
Based on: Legally Blonde (film, 2001), directed by Robert Luketic; Legally Blonde (novel, 2001), by Amanda Brown - Next to Normal (2008) (on 5 lists)
Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Brian Yorkey
Book: Brian Yorkey - Heathers The Musical (2009) (on 3 lists)
Music: Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy
Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy
Book: Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy
Based on: Heathers (film, 1988), directed by Michael Lehmann - Matilda the Musical (Roald Dahl’s Matilda) (2010) (on 3 lists)
Music: Tim Minchin
Lyrics: Tim Minchin
Book: Dennis Kelly
Based on: Matilda (novel, 1988), by Roald Dahl
Film version: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (2022) directed by Matthew Warchus - The Book of Mormon (2011) (on 6 lists)
Music: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone
Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone
Book: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone - Newsies (2011) (on 6 lists)
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Jack Feldman
Book: Harvey Fierstein
Based on: Newsies (film, 1992), directed by Kenny Ortega - Once (2011) (on 3 lists)
Music: Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
Lyrics: Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
Book: Enda Walsh
Based on: Once (film, 2007), directed by John Carney - Kinky Boots (2012) (on 4 lists)
Music: Cyndi Lauper
Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper
Book: Harvey Fierstein
Based on: Kinky Boots (film, 2005), directed by Julian Jarrold - Fun Home (2013) (on 3 lists)
Music: Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics: Lisa Kron
Book: Lisa Kron
Based on: Fun Home (graphic memoir, 2006), by Alison Bechdel - Hamilton (2015) (on 11 lists)
Music: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Based on: Alexander Hamilton (biography, 2004) by Ron Chernow
Film version: Hamilton (2020), directed by Thomas Kail - Dear Evan Hansen (2015) (on 4 lists)
Music: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Lyrics: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Book: Steven Levenson
Film version: Dear Evan Hansen (2021), directed by Stephen Chbosky - Waitress (2015) (on 4 lists)
Music: Sara Bareilles
Lyrics: Sara Bareilles
Book: Jessie Nelson
Based on: Waitress (film, 2007), directed by Adrienne Shelly - Hadestown (2016) (on 3 lists)
Music: Anaïs Mitchell
Lyrics: Anaïs Mitchell
Book: Anaïs Mitchell
Based on: Greek mythology (Orpheus and Eurydice; Rape of Persephone) - Come From Away (2017) (on 6 lists)
Music: Irene Sankoff & David Hein
Lyrics: Irene Sankoff & David Hein
Book: Irene Sankoff & David Hein
Film version: Come from Away (live stage recording, 2021), directed by Christopher Ashley - SIX (2017) (on 3 lists)
Music: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
Book: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
Loosely based on: The wives of English King Henry VIII - Moulin Rouge! The Musical (2018) (on 3 lists)
Music: Various artists
Lyrics: Various artists
Book: John l.ogan
Based on: Moulin Rouge! (film, 2001), directed by Baz Luhrmann