30 Best Musicals and Movies About Music from the 2010s You Cannot Skip

The 2010s gave us a flood of stories where music drives every beat. Some are big spectacle musicals that sweep you into grand romance and glittering showstoppers. Others are intimate dramas and comedies that capture the messy thrill of chasing a song, a stage, or a dream. Either way, these films make you feel the rhythm in your chest and leave melodies stuck in your head.

This list brings together the decade’s most beloved musicals and the strongest movies about music. You will find heartfelt indies, glossy crowd pleasers, sharp biopics, and smart satires. Each one has something special to say about making art, finding your voice, and the complicated lives that unfold behind the curtain.

‘La La Land’ (2016)

‘La La Land’ spins a classic romance around two artists who keep missing each other as their careers rise. The film glows with color, choreography, and a playful spirit that nods to old Hollywood while feeling fresh and modern.
The songs feel like conversations and the city becomes a character all its own. It captures the sweetness and ache of choosing between love and the life you always wanted.

‘Whiplash’ (2014)

‘Whiplash’ is a pressure cooker about a young drummer and a teacher who believes greatness demands pain. The rehearsals crackle with tension and the editing pounds like a metronome set a notch too fast.
It asks how far you can push yourself before you break. The final performance explodes with raw release and lands like a full body jolt.

‘A Star Is Born’ (2018)

‘A Star Is Born’ charts the rise of a singer who steps into her power while the man who found her struggles to hold on. The chemistry is immediate and the performances feel lived in and honest.
The music carries the story with tenderness and bite. It shows how love can lift you up even as fame pulls at the seams.

‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ (2013)

‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ follows a folk singer wandering through a cold week of setbacks and small mercies. The songs are beautifully performed and the world around him feels stubborn and real.
It is a portrait of talent brushing against bad timing and hard luck. You feel the quiet heartbreak of a dream that keeps almost catching fire.

‘Sing Street’ (2016)

‘Sing Street’ beams with the joy of discovery as a Dublin teen forms a band to impress a girl and ends up finding himself. The tunes pop with energy and the costumes and videos are pure homemade magic.
It is a warm reminder that creativity loves low stakes and good friends. By the end you are rooting for every chord they strike.

‘Begin Again’ (2013)

‘Begin Again’ pairs a songwriter and a faded producer for a walk through a city that becomes their studio. Recording on rooftops and sidewalks turns the process into a love letter to collaboration.
It believes in messy starts and second chances. The songs feel like fresh air after a long night.

‘Straight Outta Compton’ (2015)

‘Straight Outta Compton’ tells the story of a group that changed hip hop and rattled the culture. The performances bring camaraderie and conflict to the forefront with real spark.
It shows the grind behind sudden success and the cost of speaking loud truths. The concerts thrum with life and clear purpose.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (2018)

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ celebrates a band that turned stadiums into choirs and made experimentation feel like a party. The central performance anchors the film with charisma and vulnerability.
It shines brightest when the music takes over and the crowd swells. The finale lands with a rush that carries you out of your seat.

‘Rocketman’ (2019)

‘Rocketman’ turns a life into a full on musical fantasy where every song becomes a window into the heart. It is bold, playful, and unafraid to get messy when the spotlight fades.
The film treats reinvention as a kind of magic trick. It leaves you grateful for the healing that can come from a great chorus.

‘The Greatest Showman’ (2017)

‘The Greatest Showman’ moves with pure showbiz spirit and a soundtrack built for singing along. The ensemble clicks and the choreography brings big bright momentum.
It celebrates the outcasts who turn difference into spectacle. The result is fizzy, polished, and hard to resist.

‘Les Misérables’ (2012)

‘Les Misérables’ brings an epic stage favorite to the screen with intimate camera work and voices recorded on set. The performances feel vulnerable and immediate.
It is a story about grace, guilt, and the small choices that define a life. The anthems rise like prayers and echo long after.

‘Pitch Perfect’ (2012)

‘Pitch Perfect’ turns college a cappella into a competitive playground with sharp jokes and catchy mashups. The group dynamics give every performance a spark.
It is cheerful about practice and friendship and the weird rituals teams pick up along the way. The final set feels like a victory for finding your people.

‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’ (2016)

‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’ gleefully spoofs modern fame and the machine that props it up. The mockumentary style keeps the gags quick and the songs absurdly polished.
Beneath the jokes beats a sweet story about loyalty and creative chemistry. It is a rare comedy that understands how hits are built.

‘Love & Mercy’ (2014)

‘Love & Mercy’ studies a visionary artist at two times in his life with empathy and care. Studio scenes capture the thrill of chasing a sound that only one person can hear.
It is about the tenderness required to help someone find their way back. The music feels like sunlight breaking through clouds.

‘We Are the Best!’ (2013)

‘We Are the Best!’ follows three friends who start a punk band with more heart than skill. Their rehearsals are chaotic and charming and completely honest.
It understands that youth is loud and fearless even in cramped practice spaces. The film leaves you grinning at the noise of possibility.

‘Wild Rose’ (2018)

‘Wild Rose’ centers on a singer who believes her voice belongs on a bigger stage. The lead performance balances grit with hope and lights up every scene.
It is a story about responsibility and the tug of a dream that will not let go. The songs bloom with stubborn optimism.

‘Blinded by the Light’ (2019)

‘Blinded by the Light’ shows how one artist’s music can crack open your world. The film treats fandom as a bridge to courage and connection.
It is joyful about the way lyrics can say what you cannot. The community that forms around those words feels real and kind.

‘Yesterday’ (2019)

‘Yesterday’ imagines a world where a songwriter holds melodies the rest of us forgot. It plays with fame and identity while keeping its heart gentle.
At its core sits a simple love story and the comfort of familiar tunes. It invites you to think about why certain songs last.

‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ (2016)

‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ finds warmth and humor in a socialite who adores singing more than accuracy. The film treats her passion with compassion rather than mockery.
It celebrates the joy of performance even when talent has limits. The result is tender and surprisingly moving.

‘Get on Up’ (2014)

‘Get on Up’ explodes with rhythm as it traces the life of a performer who owned every stage he touched. The central turn is electric and commands attention.
The film jumps through time with confidence and style. It leaves you buzzing with the energy of a relentless groove.

‘Jersey Boys’ (2014)

‘Jersey Boys’ tells a backstage tale of harmony and heartbreak. The group’s journey through clubs, charts, and conflicts plays like a memory shared among friends.
It respects the craft of making a hit and the toll of keeping it together. The songs land with the ease of classics.

‘Hearts Beat Loud’ (2018)

‘Hearts Beat Loud’ is a gentle story about a father and daughter who stumble into a band during one last summer together. Their home recordings feel intimate and alive.
It is about change arriving whether you are ready or not. Music becomes the way they say what words cannot.

‘Teen Spirit’ (2018)

‘Teen Spirit’ follows a shy teenager who finds a spark on a singing competition stage. The visuals glow and the soundtrack pulses like a heartbeat.
It treats mentorship as a fragile lifeline. The performances capture both doubt and sudden confidence.

‘Vox Lux’ (2018)

‘Vox Lux’ examines the creation of a pop persona and the strange bargain that fame demands. It moves from quiet beginnings to arena sized spectacle with icy focus.
The film is fascinated by image and influence and the cost of keeping an audience. It leaves you with a chill and a catchy hook.

‘The Sapphires’ (2012)

‘The Sapphires’ follows a group of singers who find their sound together and bring joy to tough places. The chemistry is bright and the performances shimmer.
It balances humor with heartfelt stakes and celebrates resilience. The music lifts every moment higher.

‘Rudderless’ (2014)

‘Rudderless’ starts with grief and grows into a band that gives shape to pain. The small venues and rough edges feel true to life.
It honors the healing that can come from collaboration. The songs carry a quiet ache that lingers.

‘Song to Song’ (2017)

‘Song to Song’ drifts through a music scene where love and ambition keep colliding. The camera floats and the soundscapes feel hypnotic.
It is less about plot and more about moods and moments. The film invites you to get lost and listen.

‘Country Strong’ (2010)

‘Country Strong’ looks at the strain of the spotlight on a voice that still wants to soar. Performances bring both glitter and sorrow to the stage.
It explores mentorship, temptation, and the pull of the road. The ballads land with an easy ache.

‘We Are Your Friends’ (2015)

‘We Are Your Friends’ dives into the world of a young DJ chasing one track that could change everything. Parties and late nights blur as friendships shift.
It captures the math and emotion of building a drop that actually moves people. The finale hits like a rush of shared pulse.

‘The Last Five Years’ (2014)

‘The Last Five Years’ sings an entire relationship from two timelines that meet in the middle. The structure keeps each song sharp and revealing.
It is intimate and unflinching about love and ambition. The melodies feel like diary entries you cannot stop reading.

Share your own favorites from the decade in the comments and tell us which titles you think deserve a spot here.