The "Big 3" musicals often refer to long-running, iconic, and highest-grossing shows like The Lion King, Wicked, and The Phantom of the Opera, though other top contenders include Les Misérables, Hamilton, and Mamma Mia!, depending on whether you're looking at West End/Broadway longevity, box office, or cultural impact, with Phantom holding Broadway records and Les Mis West End records.
The “British invasion” (another name for this era of musical theater) consisted of these English musicals making their way to Broadway. This migration included Cats, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, and Mis Saigon.
Right now, Hamilton, Wicked, and The Lion King remain incredibly popular and consistently rank among the top musicals on Broadway and in London, known for their massive appeal and long runs, with newer hits like Six and Moulin Rouge! also drawing huge crowds, alongside the new phenomenon Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
64 years ago today the film adaptation of Broadways musical West Side Story made it's theatrical debut. The film starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, and Rita Moreno. It won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture which is the most ever for a musical.
Child star GARY COLEMAN is depicted as the superintendent on Avenue Q. The music and lyrics are by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx with a book by Jeff Whitty. The show won Best Musical, Book, and Score at the 2004 Tony Awards, beating WICKED.
Since the first Oscars in 1929, winners have left lasting marks on the film industry. The late Walt Disney holds the record for the most Academy Award wins by an individual, with 26 Oscars.
And there you have it folks. This is why The Lion King has been running for 28 years. The third longest running Broadway show of all time and the world's number one musical.
LOS ANGELES -- A song disqualified from 2025 Oscars because it sounds too similar to another famous tune. The song “Forbidden Road” from the Robbie Williams primate musical biopic “Better Man,” was ultimately disqualified from the Oscars.
Les Miserables. It's the longest-running musical in the West End and will probably be the longest-running musical in history in the not-too-distant future. ...
There's no single "best" musical, as it depends on criteria like popularity, influence, or critical acclaim, but Les Misérables, Hamilton, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, and film classics like Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, and The Lion King consistently appear on top lists for their massive impact, box office success, and enduring appeal.
From The Lion King to Wicked to Chicago, there are lots of shows that appeal to new Broadway fans. Once you see one of these musicals with familiar characters and/or irresistibly catchy songs, you'll want to come back for more.
