15 Best Oscar-Winning Performances From Musicals

15. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago

Catherine Zeta-Jones dazzles as Velma Kelly in Chicago, bringing sharp moves, strong vocals, and a serious attitude to the screen. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and stole the show again, performing at the ceremony just days before giving birth. | © Miramax Films

14. Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody

Rami Malek had big shoes to fill as Freddie Mercury, but he pulled it off with confidence and flair. His performance is the heart of Bohemian Rhapsody and earned him a well-deserved Oscar. | © 20th Century Studios

13. Renee Zellweger in Judy

Renée Zellweger fully disappears into the role of Judy Garland, capturing both her vulnerability and fading star power in heartbreaking detail. She even did her singing and walked away with a well-earned Oscar for it. | © LD Entertainment

12. George Chakiris in West Side Story

George Chakiris brought intensity and style to the role of Bernardo in West Side Story, making every scene he was in count. His sharp dancing and strong screen presence earned him an Oscar and a lasting place in musical history. | © 20th Century Studios

11. Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld

Luise Rainer brings wit and sparkle to The Great Ziegfeld, lighting up the screen as the playful and temperamental Anna Held. Her charm, comic timing, and sly energy earned her the Oscar and made this performance stand out in a massive musical. | © MGM

10. Yul Brynner in The King and I

Yul Brynner owned the role of King Mongkut, first on stage and then in the film version of The King and I. He brought both authority and playfulness to the character, creating a presence that was impossible to ignore. The performance earned him an Oscar and became the defining role of his career. | © 20th Century Studios

9. Joel Grey in Cabaret

Joel Grey’s performance as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret is strange, funny, and impossible to forget. He brings just the right edge to the role, and it earned him both a Tony and an Oscar for playing it on stage and screen. | © 20th Century Studios

8. Reese Witherspoon in Walk The Line

Reese Witherspoon fully steps into the role of June Carter in Walk the Line, combining charm, strength, and soul to every scene. She did her singing, trained for months, and the result was an Oscar-winning performance that felt completely natural. | © 20th Century Studios

7. Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson made her film debut in Dreamgirls and blew everyone away with a voice and presence you couldn't ignore. Her performance as Effie was raw, emotional, and unforgettable, earning her a well-deserved Oscar. | © Paramount Pictures

6. Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables

Anne Hathaway may only be in Les Misérables for about 15 minutes, but she steals the show. Her raw, heartbreaking take on Fantine, especially during I Dreamed a Dream, made that Oscar win feel inevitable. | © Universal Studios

5. Emma Stone in La La Land

Emma Stone brings warmth and vulnerability to La La Land, making her character feel genuine and relatable from the first scene to the last. She’s magnetic throughout, and her Oscar win felt like the perfect ending to a performance full of heart. | © Lionsgate Films

4. Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl

Barbra Streisand made her film debut in Funny Girl and owned every second of it, blending comedy, drama, and powerhouse vocals without missing a beat. She won the Oscar for Best Actress, and it’s easy to see why, this was star power in full force. | © Columbia Pictures

3. Liza Minnelli in Cabaret

Liza Minnelli lights up the screen as Sally Bowles, delivering a bold, unpredictable performance that feels totally alive. Her turn in Cabaret wasn’t just career-defining; it won her the Oscar and turned her into a screen legend. | © 20th Century Studios

2. Jamie Foxx in Ray

Jamie Foxx completely disappears into the role of Ray Charles, capturing his voice, rhythm, and presence without ever feeling like an imitation. This is a powerhouse performance that rightfully earned him the Oscar. | © Universal Pictures

1. Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins

Julie Andrews made her film debut as Mary Poppins and immediately proved she was born for the screen. She brings charm, humor, and just the right touch of mischief to a performance that earned her a well-deserved Oscar. | © Walt Disney Pictures