Highest Rated Broadway Shows of All Time
Since 2005, these 50 shows have achieved the highest CriticScore ratings in Broadway Scorecard history. From groundbreaking musicals to acclaimed plays, these are the absolute best.
50 shows | Last updated: October 2026
How We Rank
Rankings are based on CriticScore, an aggregate of professional reviews from 400+ outlets including The New York Times, Vulture, and Variety. Top-tier outlets carry the most weight in the composite score. Each show needs a minimum number of reviews to qualify. Scores are recalculated weekly. Learn more about our methodology.
This audacious reinterpretation lifts Sondheim's masterwork to fresh heights, delivering one of Broadway's most beguiling productions in recent memory with an unexpected approach that reinvigorates the classic.
Primo is a 2005 film directed by Richard Wilson, starring the BAFTA-nominated Antony Sher and broadcast by HBO and the BBC. This film is a recording of the Royal National Theatre production of the play Primo, also directed by Wilson. Adapted by Antony Sher from If This Is a Man, also known as Survival in Auschwitz (1947) by Primo Levi, it is a monologue told as a memoir by an older Primo looking back at his life in Auschwitz.
Critics hail Hamilton as a groundbreaking masterpiece that revolutionizes the Broadway musical through hip-hop storytelling. Miranda's audacious, electrifying work about the Founding Father earns near-unanimous raves for its innovation and artistry.
Ayckbourn's seven-hour trilogy earns raves for its structural ingenuity and exceptional cast, delivering relentless laughs while exposing the soul-fracturing dissatisfaction beneath its sophisticated comic chaos.
Critics embrace this joyous revival of the 1947 musical for its warmth, wit, and timely social satire. The smart staging and Lane's melodies create permanent sunshine, making it an enveloping delight.
John Tiffany's stunning revival breathes fresh magic into Williams' classic, with critics hailing an extraordinary ensemble led by Cherry Jones and Zachary Quinto. Most find it transfixing and revelatory, though a few consider it merely fine rather than divine.
Critics hail this authentic Elizabethan-style production as thrilling and joyful, with Mark Rylance delivering masterful work. The all-male staging feels revelatory rather than gimmicky, offering a deeply satisfying theatrical experience.
Lindsay-Abaire's departure from whimsy proves a revelation, delivering an intensely emotional, honest exploration of grief. Nuanced performances move audiences to tears in this wrenching yet insightful drama.
In Edward Albee's Seascape, a couple's tranquil beach vacation is upended when they encounter a pair of mysterious, humanoid sea creatures. As the two couples navigate their unexpected encounter, they grapple with questions of evolution, communication, and the very nature of humanity. Blending wry humor and profound insights, Seascape explores the boundaries between the familiar and the unfamiliar, inviting audiences to consider their place in the grand tapestry of life.
Critics hail this unconventional thriller as mesmerizing and unforgettable, with Deirdre O'Connell delivering a stunning performance lip-syncing playwright Lucas Hnath's mother recounting her harrowing kidnapping ordeal.
Critics hail this emotionally resonant musical adaptation of the cult documentary, with near-universal praise for Christine Ebersole's towering dual performance as Little Edie that's deemed unmissable theater.
Critics unanimously praise this intimate, unconventional musical as a quiet masterpiece, lauding Yazbek's exquisite score, Shalhoub and Lenk's performances, and Cromer's sensitive direction for creating a beautifully restrained meditation on human connection.
This shattering 50th anniversary revival proves Albee's masterpiece hasn't aged, with brilliant performances from Letts and Morton delivering raw emotional devastation in an immediate, unflinching production that cuts deeper than ever.
Critics hail this stripped-down Broadway revival as a transcendent tribute to Sondheim's masterpiece, with rave reviews for Lear deBessonet's direction and the star-studded cast's impeccable performances bringing fresh enchantment to the beloved musical.
Critics hail this Pulitzer-winning musical as groundbreaking and brutally honest, praising Jackson's daring originality and raw exploration of Black queer identity. Most find it revolutionary for Broadway, though some note its relentless intensity can overwhelm.
Kushner's epic masterpiece returns to Broadway in a transcendent revival that feels urgently relevant 25 years later. Critics hail the production's magnificent staging and powerhouse performances, particularly praising Garfield and Lane in this essential theatrical event.
Critics hail this quirky musical about a teen with a rapid-aging disease as a near-perfect, hilarious yet heartbreaking gem. Victoria Clark's performance and the show's ability to balance poignancy with comedy earn widespread acclaim.
Sarah Jones' dazzling solo show earns widespread praise for its vibrant, compassionate portraits of New York immigrants, with critics lauding her ability to maintain intimacy while bringing humor and poignancy to diverse voices.
Based on the classic 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, this holiday musical follows two World War II veterans who put on a show to save a struggling Vermont inn. Featuring beloved Irving Berlin songs including "White Christmas," "Sisters," "Blue Skies," and "I Love a Piano."
Critics hail "Stereophonic" as a masterful, immersive drama about a '70s rock band recording an album. Praise centers on Adjmi's naturalistic writing, stellar ensemble performances, and Butler's original songs in this three-hour theatrical triumph.
Critics hail "The Book of Mormon" as a hilarious, brilliantly crafted musical that's both outrageously offensive and surprisingly sweet, with sharp songs and expert staging that surpass recent Broadway satires.
Cole Escola's irreverent farce about Mary Todd Lincoln delivers near-constant laughs in 80 wildly funny minutes, with critics hailing it as brilliantly stupid camp that's breathtakingly hilarious, though a few find it too messy or silly.
David Grindley's revival of R.C. Sherriff's WWI trench drama earns strong praise for its haunting, acutely staged production that captures war-is-hell immediacy with persuasive power and beautifully paced tension.
Critics praise this Roundabout revival as a near-perfect production of Wilde's timeless comedy, with Brian Bedford's nuanced, non-campy Lady Bracknell earning particular acclaim alongside the accomplished cast's playful performances.
Critics hail this National Theatre import as hilariously funny, with James Corden's virtuosic physical comedy anchoring Nicholas Hytner's expertly staged farce that balances meticulous planning with anarchic spontaneity.
Critics hail this Broadway debut of Albee's Pulitzer winner as a theatrical triumph, with Glenda Jackson's "mesmerizing" return after 30 years leading a "superb" ensemble alongside Metcalf and Pill in Mantello's "exquisite" production.
Critics hail this Roundabout revival as enchanting and nearly perfect, praising its charm, sophistication, and ideal casting led by Benanti and Levi. A few find it slightly precious, but most consider it a consummate romantic musical.
Critics hail Butterworth's epic Irish family drama as a sprawling masterpiece, with most praising its rich storytelling, superb ensemble cast, and Mendes' direction. A few find it overlong or heavy-handed, but the consensus celebrates thrilling, vital theater.
Critics hail this stripped-down revival as wildly entertaining and pulse-racing, with top-flight performances and choreography keeping the show vital decades into its run despite frequent cast changes.
Critics hail Fun Home as a groundbreaking, emotionally devastating musical that brings blazing originality to Broadway. Tesori and Kron's adaptation of Bechdel's memoir earns widespread praise for its sophistication and heart, though a few find it overhyped.
This beloved Sondheim flop finally triumphs in a brilliant Broadway revival, with critics hailing the "perfect" trio of Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez and Friedman's smart direction that cracks the show's backward-chronology code.
Critics embrace this charming robot rom-com as a refreshingly original gem, praising its intimate storytelling, lush score, and innovative staging. Criss and Shen's performances enchant in this tender, visually stunning meditation on love and humanity.
Critics praise Auburn's compelling mystery-drama for its accessible storytelling and Mary-Louise Parker's thrilling performance, though some dismiss it as a highbrow soap opera with superficial nods to mathematics.
Critics hail this Broadway premiere as a triumphant completion of Wilson's cycle, praising Santiago-Hudson's direction and the outstanding ensemble cast. The production vividly captures Wilson's poetic realism and working-class characters with depth and authenticity.
This inventive rock musical hybrid defies traditional Broadway categories but wins critics over with its smart, original take on a coming-of-age identity quest, blending indie-rock concert with performance art.
Critics hail Wohl's timely memory play about 1970s feminism as powerful and brilliantly acted, praising its intelligence and emotional resonance. Some note structural weaknesses and uneven characterization, but most find it essential, provocative theater.
This audacious reimagining through the lens of ballroom culture transforms Lloyd Webber's divisive musical into a joyous, galvanic spectacle. Critics hail its inventive choreography and vibrant performances, though a few find the opulence excessive.
Lincoln Center's sumptuous revival earns widespread acclaim for its breathtaking production values, Kelli O'Hara's ravishing performance, and Bartlett Sher's respectful yet emotionally resonant direction of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.
Kramer's searing AIDS drama remains a powerful, urgent piece of political theater that hasn't lost its raw emotional impact after 25 years. Critics praise the passionate performances and visceral punch, though some note its agitprop style shows its age.
Critics hail this intimate musical as extraordinary and emotionally powerful, praising Ben Platt's astonishing star-making performance and the smart handling of teen suicide and social media, though some question its tidy resolution.
Nathan Lane delivers a searing, career-defining performance in Joe Mantello's stark, emotionally devastating revival. Critics hail the stripped-down production's raw power and contemporary urgency, though a few find the approach overwrought.
Baitz's family drama earns strong praise for its crackling dialogue and riveting performances, particularly Rachel Griffiths' knockout Broadway debut. Critics find it smart, entertaining, and emotionally penetrating despite familiar territory.
Conor McPherson’s acclaimed Irish play, Shining City, is a gripping Dublin-based ghost story. It follows priest-turned-therapist, Ian, and his tortured widower patient, John, who holds a terrible secret. Together they unpack John’s winding story, leaving them, and those around them, altered in surprising and unforeseen ways.
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the 1953 novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his choreography debut. The story deals with labor troubles and romance in a pajama factory.
Bartlett Sher's majestic revival of "South Pacific" earns widespread acclaim for its intelligent direction, superb casting, and ability to transform the classic into something vital and immediate, with critics praising the rapturous staging and revelatory performances.
Critics rave about this dazzling Harlem Renaissance revue, praising its exuberant choreography, sparkling performances, and especially the superb 17-member jazz orchestra hand-picked by Wynton Marsalis that brings authentic swing to Broadway.
Critics hail Jacobs-Jenkins' dysfunctional family drama as a modern masterpiece with blistering ensemble performances led by Sarah Paulson. The searing production deftly weaves dark comedy with provocative examinations of race and American legacy.
John Doyle's stripped-down revival transforms the 2005 musical into a powerful, emotionally devastating experience, with critics hailing Cynthia Erivo's transcendent Broadway debut as Celie and praising the production's minimalist focus on character and gospel-infused score.