50 Greatest Movie Singing Scenes

Magnolia (1999)

The Scene: As things start to look at bit bleak in Paul Thomas Anderson's drama, the entire cast break into (subdued) song.

The Song: Aimee Mann and the film's cast croon 'Wise Up' to heartbreaking effect. "It's not going to stopÖ"

Join In When:
Whenever you feel like it, really. That's what the cast do.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

The Scene: The Soggy Bottom Boys (George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson) don fake beards and hop up onto the stage for a damn catchy number.

The Song: The Boys sing 'I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow' as the crowd claps and cheers.

Join In When: A rude interruption is dealt with the singing starts up again.

Mean Girls (2004)

The Scene: Cady (Lindsay Lohan) and the other mean girls mime along to 'Jingle Bell Rock' during a Christmas show, but then Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) kicks the CD player and leaves them tuneless.

The Song: Cady takes up the tune herself, saving the entire show. Meanwhile, Ms Norbury (Tina Fey) hops onto the piano.

Join In When:
Cady starts singing. It's only fair that we help her out.

Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

The Scene: Fred (George Peppard) sits typing at his desk when, through the window, he hears an angel's voice come floating down...

The Song: In fact it's Holly (Audrey Hepburn), sitting on her windowsill crooning 'Moon River' in a bewitchingly husky whisper.

Join In When:
An orchestra subtly arrives to accompany her.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

The Scene: Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his droogs break into the country home of F Alexander to wreak a little havoc.

The Song: While doling out terrible violence, Alex joyfully sings 'Singin' In the Rain'.

Join In When:
We wouldn't recommend joining in with this particularly upsetting rendition of the ditty.

Gremlins (1984)

The Scene: Mrs. Deagle (Polly Holliday) can't stand Christmas carollers, but she's in for a bit of a shock this year...

The Song: When Mrs Deagle goes outside to throw watcher on the carollers, she discovers a gaggle of Gremlins having a go at Christmas spirit.

Join In When: Mrs Deagle starts screaming. That's if you can decipher the lyrics, which seem to mostly consist of "ya ya yaaa yayaya".

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

The Scene: Patrick (Heath Ledger) is trying to woo Kat (Julia Stiles), but she's proving really frickin' tricky. Cue an impromptu solo on the football field.

The Song: Patrick sings 'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You', replete with bleacher-steps dancing.

Join In When:
The marching band comes to life on the football field for something truly epic. How can Kat resist?

The Muppet Movie (1979)

The Scene: Kermit plays the banjo while chilling out in a swamp in Florida. It's a special, swampy version of Heaven.

The Song:
Kermit croons 'Rainbow Connection' while perched on a log and steals away our little hearts.

Join In When: Our favourite frog starts singing: "Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection"...

Grease (1978)

The Scene: Danny (John Travolta) and the guys are fixing up his car when inspiration strikesÖ

The Song: The guys launch into musical number 'Grease Lightning', which turns into a full-blown automobile fantasy, replete with one hell of a pair of wheels.

Join In When:
The clapping section starts. Cos it's easy.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

The Scene: Bueller (Matthew Broderick) proves he really knows how to enjoy his day off by boarding a parade float.

The Song: Our last miming entry (we promise), in which Bueller sings along to 'Danke Schoen'. So joyful it could lift even the heaviest spirit.

Join In When:
The song segues into 'Twist And Shout'.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

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