50 Greatest Movie Singing Scenes
Top of the pipes
The Muppets (2011)
The Scene: Gary (Jason Segel) and his bro Walter (Peter Linz) aren't sure what they're doing with themselves, prompting an epiphany-ushering song.
The Song: Oscar-winning number 'Man Or Muppet', which also features a cameo from a certain Big Bang Theory regular.
Join In When: The quartet of men and Muppets sit around a piano tinkling.
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
The Scene: "Radio? Who needs the radio?" asks Lloyd (Jim Carrey), before launching into a song with buddy Harry (Jeff Daniels).
The Song: The guys batter their companion with their very own (and very annoying) rendition of 'Mockingbird'.
Join In When: We beg you not to.
Before Sunset (2004)
The Scene: CÈline (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) arrive at CÈline's place, where Jesse asks her to play a song for him.
The Song: CÈline sings 'A Waltz For A Night', a song about their relationship. All together now: aaaaah.
Join In When: This one's a bit personal to join in with, but the next song (Nina Simone's 'Just In Time') is perfect.
Superbad (2007)
The Scene: Evan (Michael Cera) is mistaken for Jimmy's brother by a load of drunk partygoers and forced to sing.
The Song: Evan picks 'These Eyes', and has the partygoers eating out of the palm of his hand.
Join In When: The other guys start singing along.
Aladdin (1992)
The Scene: Aladdin has just discovered a grubby lamp. When he gives it a rub, out pops the genie, who introduces himself with a song and a dance.
The Song: The genie pledges you ain't never had a friend like him in, er, 'Friend Like Me'. By the end of the song, we're pretty much convinced.
Join In When: Whenever you can, really - this one's so fast-paced it'd take a musical mastermind to sing along. Or a very committed five year old.
Lost In Translation (2003)
The Scene: Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) dons a pink wig and hits a couple of Tokyo karaoke bars with Bob (Bill Murray).
The Song: Charlotte confirms she's one cool chick by opting to sing 'Brass In Pocket' - and does a decent job.
Join In When: The lyric "I'm special" comes along. Everybody loves that bit, right?
Blue Valentine (2010)
The Scene: Dean (Ryan Gosling) woos Cindy (Michelle Williams) outside a shop by singing a cappella.
The Song: Things get sort of prophetic with Dean's song choice as he warbles 'You Always Hurt The One You Love'.
Join In When: Cindy adds a little dance to the mix.
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(500) Days Of Summer (2009)
The Scene: Before all the heartbreak, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) gets drunk and clambers up onto the stage in a bar to sing a little karaoke.
The Song: Rocking a sweater vest and a sweaty 'do, Tom kills The Pixies' 'Here Comes Your Man'.
Join In When: And steal Tom's spotlight?
The Little Mermaid (1989)
The Scene: Ariel has gone to sea witch Ursula for help turning into a human so she can get her guy. And Ursula, naturally, is only happy to help.
The Song: Pat Carroll dials her 'diva-o-meter' to the max in 'Poor Unfortunate Souls', venomously spitting out some of Howard Ashman's finest lyrics.
Join In When: Ariel starts to sing. 'Aaaaahhh ahhhh..." etc
Easy A (2010)
The Scene: Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) hangs out at home all weekend listening to a card that plays Natasha Bedingfield's 'Pocketful Of Sunshine'.
The Song: At first Olive hates the tune, but she's soon humming it before bursting into full-pelt sing-a-long.
Join In When: Olive hits the shower and does a Bueller with her shampooed hair.
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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