The Greatest Showman soundtrack features soaring anthems and emotional ballads. Here’s a list of all The Greatest Showman songs ranked from worst to best.
Micheal Gracey knows how to direct musicals. In 2017, he took the world by storm with The Greatest Showman. Now he returns to the musical biopic realm with Better Man, the audacious story of Robbie Williams. It is the perfect time, then, to revisit the iconic musical that put Gracey on the map by ranking every song, written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Below is our list of all The Greatest Showman songs, ranked from worst to best!
The Greatest Showman tells the story of how P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine) started the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum gathers outcasts and “freaks” to perform at the circus in hopes of innovating live entertainment. Along the way, he strikes a business partnership with the rich Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron, The Iron Claw), pursues traveling show opportunities with singer Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson, Dune: Part Two), and learns how to balance his ambitions with his love for his wife, Charity (Michelle Williams, The Fablemans). The film balances the wonder of the circus with Barnum’s conflicted rise to stardom as one of the world’s most captivating entertainers.
11. “A Million Dreams (Reprise)”
A reprise in a musical is often used to add additional emotion or context to the story’s ongoing developments. Hamilton uses reprises in this way by allowing various characters to sing the same lyrics, reviving themes and deepening the songs’ meanings. The reprise of “A Million Dreams” achieves this by having an older P.T. Barnum sing the song with his kids. This is a powerful, though short, depiction of Barnum as a family man.
10. “Tightrope”
Charity Barnum’s number comes at an emotional moment: the onset of her husband’s conflict between travelling the world with Jenny Lind and staying home with his family to invest in his ambitious circus. While “Tightrope” is fitting for The Greatest Showman and its lyrics capture the story well, Williams’s performance is overshadowed by practically every other song on the soundtrack. It gets the job done, but is neither impressive or breathtaking enough to rival other moments in the film.
9. “Never Enough (Reprise)”
The reprise of the explosive ballad “Never Enough” adds more emotional depth to the relationship between P.T. Barnum and Jenny Lind. This rendition of the song is more quaint, sung through Lind’s stifled tears as Barnum’s enchantment with her continues to wane. It’s a fitting closure to Barnum’s time on the road before he returns home to his family.
8. “This Is Me”
The most direct in its messaging about The Greatest Showman’s themes, “This Is Me” captures the pivotal moment of Lettie Lutz (Keala Settle) and others in the circus embracing diversity and the things which make them unique. The song is inspiring for viewers as well, admonishing them to embrace difference and those things which make them stand out in the world. As powerful as this anthem is, its lyrics are somewhat simple and could have had more depth, especially regarding such a meaningful topic. Nevertheless, it’s great to sing along to.
7. “Come Alive”
A catchy song that doesn’t carry the weight of sharing a deep message is “Come Alive,” which introduces the circus as a show budding with potential. Hugh Jackman’s charisma is on full display here as Barnum rallies his cast of outcasts for an outstanding opening night. Musically, it features horns and booming drums which make it feel as if it was recorded right in the middle of the circus.
6. “The Other Side”
This features the most interesting and fun-loving choreography, and showcases a battle of wills between Barnum and Carlyle. It further highlights the power of otherness with which Barnum is infatuated, as he beckons his rich counterpart to the more eclectic side of life. Carlyle eventually agrees to Barnum’s offer, and “The Other Side” is perhaps the most fun two men could have when talking business.
5. “A Million Dreams”
Many of the most popular songs on The Greatest Showman’s soundtrack are brimming with hope, and “A Million Dreams” is no exception. It introduces the young P.T. Barnum as a dreamer poised to change the world through the wonder of show business. It shows the older P.T. and Charity Barnum’s love story, a continuous theme throughout the musical. It’s easily one of the catchiest songs on the soundtrack, but it also introduces the main characters perfectly.
4. “The Greatest Show”
It’s hard to think of a better way to start this film than with “The Greatest Show,” which is cinematic, anthemic, and extravagant. It’s Barnum’s circus at its best, with grand instrumentals and a sprawling survey of the “runaways running the night.” The main performers—Keala Settle especially—show off their impressive vocal abilities, immediately drawing viewers into the world of The Greatest Showman.
3. “Rewrite the Stars”
This might be one of the best duets in movie musicals to date. (Zac Efron’s practice in High School Musical paid off!) Zendaya (Challengers), who plays Anne Wheeler, is captivating in every moment on-screen; her chemistry with Zac Efron is entrancing. If P.T. Barnum has a million dreams, “Rewrite the Stars” shows that other characters have hopes and dreams of their own. It’s a soaring triumph, capturing the tension between two lovers’ complicated lives and their determination to be together.
2. “Never Enough”
The best vocal performance of The Greatest Showman goes to Loren Allred in “Never Enough.” The song was recorded by Allred, though Rebecca Ferguson performs it as Jenny Lind in the movie. It’s a ballad that showcases the power of one’s vocal range to elicit chills and tears. Allred shows off her prowess in a song that only gets more impressive throughout its runtime. It’s a masterful installment in an excellent soundtrack.
1. “From Now On”
The final song marks P.T. Barnum’s growth as a showman and as a family man. “From now on, these eyes will not be blinded by the light,” he sings, finally learning how to balance his ambition with his values. As the longest entry in the soundtrack, it’s the climax of many characters’ development, but it also features great camaraderie among the ensemble. Hugh Jackman’s vocal performance takes the spotlight, while the rest of the cast harmonizes and supports him perfectly. A combination of triumph and growth encompass this final number, making it deserving of the top spot in this ranking.
Michael Gracey’s Better Man is out now globally in theaters. Read our review below!
