Music fans have probably seen all the biggest and most popular hits from Lubricant, rent, to La La Land, but the music world does not stop there. In fact, some public-favorite musicals that have achieved cult status are quirky films that defy criticism and may even appeal to people who think they don’t like musicals.

Musicals can be about anything from cannibals to the dangers of marijuana. There are plenty of wacky, wild, and truly extravagant musicals that are must-sees for fans of the genre and beyond. Music lovers looking for crazy, quirky dance routines and songs you’ll never hear anywhere else should look no further than these weird and top-notch musicals.

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‘Tommy’ (1975)

Based on the album The Who Tommythe musical centers around a boy named Tommy, played by The Who’s frontman. Roger Daltrey. He is a “deaf, dumb, and blind kid” who “plays pinball confidently”. Tommy’s life is marred by abuse, drugs and harassment, but he soon becomes a pinball champion and religious leader.

Possibly one of the weirdest musicals ever made and has a lot of trippy 70s visuals. There are iron maidens, 12 feet tall Elton John, cults, drugs and rock and roll. The musical features the entire Who album and is a must-see for fans of the band.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

In 1975, another cult classic musical was released. in cult classic musical, The Rocky Horror Movie Show. The plot centers on Brad and Janet, who are played by Barry Bostwick as well as Susan Sarandon. A newly engaged couple find themselves in the middle of nowhere on a dark, rainy night with a flat tire. They seek help and find themselves in a sinister castle, where they soon meet Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry).

Things quickly take a strange turn when Frank N. Furter reveals his newest invention, and things start to go wrong. The musical is filled with murder, aliens, sex and betrayal. For generations, fans of the film have watched it ritually, even dressing up to see it in theaters, with props and lines in which they participated, such as throwing toasts on the stage. This is the longest film in history.

“Shock Therapy” (1981)

Six years after the first release The Rocky Horror Show, the film had a sequel that not everyone knows about. Shock therapy did not achieve as much success as The Rocky Horror Show, and Tim Curry did not reprise his role as Dr. Frank N. Furter. The musical still features Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as Brad and Janet, as well as many wild and unique songs.

Shock therapy catches up with Brad and Janet as they go through family troubles and are forced to participate in a TV game show called “The Marriage Maze” in order to save their relationship. The entire movie takes place in the city of Denton, which is a television set with an interactive live audience. The comment about the power of reality TV was ahead of its time, and every Rocky Horror the fan should not miss it.

“Hedwig and the Evil Inch” (2001)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch this is a story about love, gender, sexuality and rock and roll. The film was adapted from an off-Broadway musical and made into a film before being made into a Broadway musical.

At the center of the plot is Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell) is a strange East German rock singer who fled Europe shortly before the fall of the Wall. Hedwig married an American soldier to run away, but since same-sex marriage was not an option, Hedwig was forced to perform an unsuccessful sex change operation. After her former partner and bandmate Tommy, played by Michael Pitt,steals her music and becomes a rock star himself. Hedwig and her band overshadow Tommy’s tour as she tells her story.

‘Crybaby’ (1990)

Directed by The King of Mud John Waters and starring young Johnny Depp as title Crybaby, the film is a tribute to banality as well as to the cool style of the 50s. The crazy film captures the spirit of the 50s teenage rebellion and offers fantasy characters such as Hatchet Face, played by the deceased Kim McGuire.

The film is about a group of rebellious teenagers and a prim and decent schoolgirl played by amy Locan, who goes against her mother’s wishes when she dates a motorcycle-riding juvenile delinquent, Crybaby. It’s a weird and wildly interesting film that’s a must-see.

“Rock and Roll High School” (1979)

Rock and Roll High School - Another musical dedicated to the theme of teenage rebellion. This time the action takes place in 1980. It’s all about having fun and sticking with the establishment and, of course, rock and roll. The film features iconic rock songs from artists such as Alice Cooper and The Ramones.

The film is similar to a fanfic by the Ramones featuring pj soles as Riff Randell, a Ramones fan who wants to meet the band to show them a song she wrote for them, but when their tyrannical director confiscates the concert tickets, Riff and her friends must find another way to get into the show.

“Shop of Horrors” (1986)

Off-Broadway musical Shop of Horrors became a cinematic hit featuring Steve Martin as a perverted sadistic dentist and follows the plot of a carnivorous Venus flytrap. The film is a black comedy and also a love story. It also features a number of chorus girls adding 1960s doo-wop to the musical.

Seymour Krelbourne movieRick Moranis), a nerd orphan who works at a flower shop on Skid Row. He is in love with his colleague Audrey Fulcard (Ellen Green), despite having a domineering and abusive boyfriend. One day, Seymour finds a mysterious, unidentified plant, which he affectionately names Audrey II. It seems that the plant is not only thirsty for water, it needs blood to survive.

“Anna and the Apocalypse” (2017)

Anna and the Apocalypse British Christmas zombie musical based on Ryan McHenry2010 BAFTA nominated short film Zombie Musical. This movie has everything you wouldn’t expect from a movie, from candy cane lawn decorations used as weapons to carnivorous zombies and campy musical numbers. This movie is very entertaining and completely insane from start to finish.

When zombies begin to overrun the sleepy town of Little Haven, Anna and her friends must fight, sing and dance to survive among the undead. Teenagers fight their way through zombified snowmen, Santa Clauses, elves and Christmas shoppers to get to high school where they can be safe. The film is like Zombie named Sean There was a musical with a Christmas theme.

“Cannibal: The Musical” (1993)

Trey Parker as well as Matt Stone known for their projects such as South Park as well as Book of Mormon. Before their famous TV show and musical, they also made a low-budget Cannibal: The Musical. The film is based on the real case of Alfred Packer, the only person convicted of cannibalism in America. After Packer (Parker) is the sole survivor of a deadly trip, he shares his story with news reporter Polly Pry (Toddy Walters) as he awaits his execution.

There are some rather confusing themes in the film, however, Parker and Stone manage to deliver some hilarious musical numbers, such as an uplifting song about making a snowman when Packer and his men freeze to death and starve to death.

“Refrigerator Madness: The Musical” (2005)

Reefer Madness is a parody of the 1936 propaganda film about weed control, also called Refrigerator madness. The original movie warns that a single puff of marijuana can turn people into satanic addicts, and the musical takes on that threat and goes wild, leading to lewd, wild, over the top satire.

Music stars Kristen Bell as well as Christian Campbell as a virtuous couple lured into a world of satanism, sex and murder through marijuana. Along the way, they meet Jesus himself, but still fall into the clutches of the Refrigerator.