Watch These Halloween-Themed Musicals For a Stylish Spin on the Holiday
On paper, musical horror movies might seem like they’d go together about as well as a mayonnaise and peanut butter sandwich. But when looking at the impressive assortment of horror-themed musicals in pop culture today, it becomes clear that this niche but entertaining genre is more than capable of holding our collective attention, standing tall as a pillar in the Halloween-related category of movies and TV shows.
As viewers gear up for the upcoming arrival of spooky season, we decided to take a look at some of the absolute greatest Halloween musicals worthy of your time and attention, from ‘70s cult classics to modern Tim Burton epics.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
In hindsight, a serious argument can be made that 1986’s Little Shop of Horrors is one of the greatest cinematic remakes of all time. Introducing a bop-worthy soundtrack reminiscent of 1950s and ‘60s rock and roll, Little Shop of Horrors is the Broadway-inspired musical that effortlessly blends chills, thrills, and comedy into one stupendous package. (Not to mention the fact that it features Steve Martin as a nitrous oxide-addicted biker dentist, which certainly doesn’t hurt matters at all.)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Tim Burton has overseen many different films over the years, each darker and more macabre than the last. Yet even when compared to Sleepy Hollow or Edward Scissorhands, there’s something inherently disturbing about his 2007 epic, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. With Johnny Depp excelling in the central role of a Victorian barber-turned-vengeful serial killer, Sweeney Todd is a genuinely frightening musical horror movie we couldn’t forget even if we tried.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
It’s a matter of conjecture whether The Nightmare Before Christmas classifies as a Christmas or Halloween movie – although personally, we think it’s the former. (For crying out loud, the word Christmas is even in the title!) Regardless of how you choose to view it, The Nightmare Before Christmas remains a well-deserved classic in the musical genre, relying on Tim Burton’s signature gothic imagination for the most twisted family-friendly fantasy film you could possibly imagine.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Arguably the be-all, end-all for the entire musical genre as a whole, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is essential viewing every time the Halloween season rolls around, remaining as beloved a place today as it had upon its release five decades ago. A stunning celebration of B-horror cinema and the shifting cultural norms of the 1970s themselves, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a madcap comedic horror movie the likes of which audiences had never seen before, and are unlikely to ever see again.
