The 10 Best Movie Dance Numbers, Ranked
While there are a few exceptions, it's hard to find a movie that can't be made better by a good dance number. That being said, we've gathered a list of the ten best movie dance numbers across films of all genres. From the 50s all the way to the 2010s, there's just something about the perfect song paired with some stellar choreography to set the scene. Read on to see if your favorite made the list!
The 10 best movie dance numbers, ranked
10. Risky Business (1983) — "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger
A young Tom Cruise brought this iconic dance scene to life in nothing but a dress shirt, white socks and a pair of underwear, paired perfectly with this Bob Seger tune. “I’ll never forget that night, that day that I shot that scene," Cruise told Access in 2023, confirming that he "still" does dance in his underwear around the house from time to time.
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9. La La Land (2016) — "Another Day of Sun" by the La La Land cast
The opening number of the 2016 musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, this dance number truly brings it all. Wouldn't our commutes all be a little nicer if they looked something like that?
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8. 13 Going on 30 (2004) - "Thriller" by Michael Jackson
Combine Jennifer Garner's youthful spunk with Mark Ruffalo begrudgingly dancing beside her, you've got one of the best movie dance numbers of all time. How can you not love this scene?
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7. Saturday Night Fever (1977) — "More Than a Woman" by The Bee Gees
This film is chock full of fabulous musical moments, but John Travolta really knew how to bring the heat in this scene in which he dances to "More Than a Woman" by the Bee Gees.
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6. Pulp Fiction (1994) — "You Never Can Tell" by Chuck Berry
A dance scene so good they've written songs about it, this exciting duet between Uma Thurman and, once again, John Travolta, is a fan favorite for a reason. Uma Thurman was extremely nervous ahead of the dance number, saying “I was more afraid of the dancing than almost anything because it was exactly to my total insecurity,” at the Series Mania Festival in France in 2019, per Variety.
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5. West Side Story (1961) — "America" by the West Side Story cast
Upbeat, expertly choreographed, and just as magnificent as it gets, the "America" number in the 1961 original version of West Side Story was pure perfection.
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4. Flashdance (1983) — "Maniac" by Michael Sembello — Best movie dance numbers
Flashdance is pure 80s perfection, and this scene has become an iconic part of pop culture ever since the movie hit the big screen.
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3. Footloose (1984) — "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins — Best movie dance numbers
Kevin Bacon can do no wrong in our eyes after he gave us this Footloose dance number. However, the actor has since come clean, saying if he goes to a wedding, he has to bribe the DJ not to play the tune. He told The Guardian, "If they put on 'Footloose' and I start jumping around, it becomes about me, and I don’t want to make the wedding about me. I’m not the star in that situation: the bride and the groom are."
2. Singin' in the Rain (1952) — "Broadway Melody" by Charles King — Best movie dance numbers
This number from 1952's Singin' in the Rain is whimsical, entertaining and simply just fun to watch, putting it at number 2 on the list.
1. Dirty Dancing (1986) — "(I've Had) the Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
The Dirty Dancing finale deserves a spot on every list, and Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey had just enough magic between the two of them to turn this finale dance number into something truly special.
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