10 of the Best Modern Musical-to-Movie Adaptations
In recent years, musicals have made a spectacular comeback on the big screen, transforming beloved stage productions into visually captivating films. With the release of the brand-new Wicked movie, we're diving into 10 of the best musical-to-movie adaptations that have thrilled fans, won critical acclaim, and set new standards for musical films in the 21st century.
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West Side Story (2021), Leonard Bernstein
There are few more iconic musicals than Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, which first hit Broadway in 1957 before being turned into a movie four years later. Some 60 years on, legendary director Steven Spielberg brought West Side Story back to the big screen with the film's iconic score re-orchestrated by David Newman and conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Whilst matching the original's charm and cultural impact was never going to be an easy task, Spielberg does a great job of honoring its legacy while bringing a fresh and culturally respectful take on a classic story, and his visual storytelling enhances each musical number, from the vibrant street rendition of "America" to Tony and Maria's tender fire escape duet.
Dear Evan Hansen (2021), Pasek & Paul
The original Broadway production of Pasek & Paul's Dear Evan Hansen, which opened in December 2016, was a huge success story. The show was nominated for nine awards at the Tonys, winning six, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Actor for Ben Platt, and Best Featured Actress for Rachel Bay Jones. Stephen Chbosky's 2021 adaptation brought the beloved stage musical to the big screen, with Ben Platt reprising his iconic lead role. While some questioned Platt's age (a 27-year-old playing the part of a teenager), his familiarity with the character shines through, especially in heartfelt numbers like "You Will Be Found" and "Waving Through a Window". Though reactions to the adaptaion were mixed, the movie still delivers a touching story about navigating the ups and downs of adolescence in a digital world.
Les Misérables (2012), Boublil and Schönberg
Based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name, Boublil and Schönberg's musical Les Misérables is an undisputed classic and remains one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. At the hands of director Tom Hooper, its 2012 movie adaptation was also a critical and commercial success, lifted by powerful performances from Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. Musical highlights include Anne Hathaway's heart-wrenching rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream," Hugh Jackman's soulful "Who Am I?" and the rousing ensemble piece "One Day More."
In the Heights (2021), Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote In the Heights (his very first musical) as a sophomore at Wesleyan University in 1999. The musical had made its way to Broadway by 2008, where it was a huge success, winning four Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and a movie adaptation followed in 2021 at the hands of director Jon M. Chu. Whilst there's a certain loss of intimacy in the transition from stage to screen, Chu's visually dynamic direction makes the musical numbers really leap off the screen, from the exhilarating opening track to the intricately choreographed "96,000" sequence, and there's a lot to like about this big-screen remake.
Matilda the Musical (2022), Tim Minchin
First a 1988 novel by Roald Dahl, then a 1996 movie featuring Danny DeVito, Matilda was turned into a stage musical in 2010 by the inimitable Tim Minchin to widespread critical acclaim and box-office popularity. Following its stage success, Netflix collaborated with the original creative team, including Minchin, to translate its infectious songs and charming storytelling to film. Alisha Weir shines as Matilda, while Emma Thompson's portrayal of Miss Trunchbull is both hilarious and menacing. While the pacing may occasionally feel rushed, overall the adaptation is a success—retaining the playful, witty, and emotionally resonant qualities of the musical.
tick, tick... BOOM! (2021), Jonathan Larson
Jonathan Larson's semi-autobiographical work tick, tick... BOOM! had only been performed as a solo work before the composer's untimely death in 1996. But after a successful Off-Broadway debut in 2001, many productions worldwide would follow. The 2021 movie adaptation, directed by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda, beautifully translates its musical roots, preserving its energy and emotional depth. Furthermore, Andrew Garfield's performance is a triumph—perfectly capturing Larson's passion and vulnerability, and showcasing vocal skills that few knew he possessed.
Annie (2014), Charles Strouse
Based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray, Charles Strouse's musical Annie had its world premiere in August 1976 before making its Broadway debut the following year. Like West Side Story, the musical had been adapted for the big screen before, with the 1982 movie directed by John Huston. But the 2014 remake, directed by Will Gluck, puts a new spin on the classic with a fresh urban setting, diverse cast, and notably, updated music. Iconic songs like "It's the Hard-Knock Life" and "It's the Hard-Knock Life" are reimagined, and the movie features three brand-new songs: "Opportunity," "Who Am I?" and "The City's Yours."
Mean Girls (2024), Jeff Richmond & Nell Benjamin
The journey of Mean Girls has been an interesting one. It began life as a 2004 movie (starring Lindsay Lohan, and Rachel McAdam) based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. Several years later, a musical version of the movie was in the works, with Jeff Richmond & Nell Benjamin providing the songs, premiering in 2017 and making its Broadway debut the following year. This musical was, in turn, adapted for the big screen, opening in theaters in January of 2024. Richmond and Benjamin returned to rework their songs for the screen adaptation, and Richmond also composed the film's score. And so, Mean Girls, The Musical, The Movie was born!
Into the Woods (2014), Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical Into the Woods cleverly intertwines classic fairy tales like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack and the Beanstalk, exploring the consequences of characters' wishes, so Disney adapting the show for the big screen in 2014 made a lot of sense. And the film stays true to Sondheim's original score, maintaining the complexity and lyrical wit that fans love, but with knockout vocal performances from Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick.
The Color Purple (2023), Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray
Telling the story of the journey of an African-American woman in the American South in the early 20th century, The Color Purple began its life as a 1982 Alice Walker novel by Alice Walker, before being adapted for the big screen in 1985, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey. This box office hit was in turn adapted for the stage with Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, providing music and lyrics, and the result was a huge commercial and critical success. With Blitz Bazawule taking on the role of director, the stage show was then adapated for the big screen in 2023, featuring outstanding musical performances by Fantasia Barrino as Celie and Danielle Brooks as Sofia. The movie also saw R&B star H.E.R. make her feature acting debut in the role of Squeak.
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