Movies have been the most popular version of visual art in the past century. They manage to awe, inspire, terrify, and change your life for the better. Whether you consider watching Oscar winners or even just goofy flicks to pass the time, watching movies is always a fantastic hobby.

In its long history, cinema has delivered some of the most brilliant stories through movie musicals. We can debate for hours what the best movie musicals of all time are without reaching an agreement. So, instead, these are our suggestions for the top 3 movie musicals to watch to improve your palate as a cinephile.

Singin’ In the Rain

We cannot write a list of the top 3 movie musicals to watch to improve your palate as a cinephile without including this title. “Singin’ In the Rain” is undoubtedly one of the most popular and impactful movie musicals of all time. Even though it’s been nearly 75 years since its release, it remains a favorite for most cinephiles.

Starring Debbie Reynolds as Kathy, Gene Kelly as Don, and Donald O’Connor as Cosmo, this movie is a masterpiece in singing and choreography. It tells the story of three Hollywood stars in the 1920s as they make the transition from silent movies to so-called talkies. Although not all of the songs in this movie were original works, they still captivate audiences who know them by heart.

In the Heights

Lin-Manuel Miranda is very likely the most important figure in musicals— both on stage and on film, in the 21st century. Miranda rose to fame thanks to his hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, but his creative ingenuity didn’t stop there. Quiara Alegría Hudes wrote this movie based on the 2005 stage musical of the same name, while Miranda composed the music.

“In the Heights” tells the story of a close-knit community that lives and works in Washington Heights, thus its title. This movie takes you through the highs and lows of living in an immigrant community. From winning lottery tickets to power outages, “In the Heights” is incredibly emotionally charged, in no small part thanks to its masterful music. That is why it has a 94% Tomatometer rating and a 94% Popcornmeter rating.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

There is simply no way for us to review iconic movie musicals without reviewing Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The ABBA-inspired musical takes you to an island in Greece during the summer. While the first movie is incredibly iconic, with the three dads plot, the second movie had something special. It is not often that you get a sequel that is as good or better than the first instalment.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is one of the few romantic comedies that pulls off jumping between the past and the present. It shows you a parallel between Sophie’s quest to open the hotel in her mother’s honor and the journey that brought Donna to the island in the first place. With amazing renditions of “Mamma Mia” by Lily James, “One of Us” by Amanda Seyfried, and “Fernando” by Cher, you cannot remain apathetic. That is why we consider it one of the top 3 movie musicals to watch to improve your palate as a cinephile.