10 Best Broadway Film Adaptations

The announcement of Cats Broadway musical adaptation Once upon a time the internet was in an uproar. The deeply disturbing CGI feline abominations made the rounds on social media. Those who have already been exposed to the trailer have spread it around to see their friends react in real time to the furry nightmare. The cast is star-studded, the cats are naked and everyone is left asking “why?” The answer is that Broadway adaptations are often very well received, like 2024 Evil adaptation.

Although there is something of a stigma attached to musicals, and some musical films are not even marketed as musicals in the modern day, there is still a deep love for those that are done well. There are many good musicals out there that began their lives on the Broadway stage. The best Broadway musical adaptations range from those made in the 1960s, about a nun and a widower, to those in the modern day, about friends facing financial and health difficulties. One thing they all have in common is their impressive talent and ability to bring the best of the stage to the screen.

Mean Girls (2024)

Premiered on Broadway in 2018

2004 Mean Girls is an iconic part of pop culture, but it wasn’t a musical. The film was adapted into a Broadway musical and then the show was adapted into a film. Curiously, Mean Girls in fact, it wasn’t marketed as a musical when it hit theaters in 2024, which may be part of the reason it didn’t do as well at the box office.

The truth is that, compared to the 2004 film, fans may have found it lacking, but compared to the Broadway musical, the film is a great adaptation. He reduces some of the music and compresses the plot to speed up the film and get to the heart of the conflict. This works in the film’s favor. Also working in the film’s favor? Keeping with the idea of ​​Janis and Damien telling the story and providing the structure for the film while putting on the show.

The film is packed with up-and-coming talent, many of whom have never had the chance to be in big-screen musicals before, and is a great showcase of who could be leading the way as double or triple threats in the industry.

Rent (2005)

Debuted on Broadway in 1996

When Rent was announced, there were mixed emotions from fans of the Broadway musical. Some thought it shouldn’t be brought to the screen, others were excited to see the cast, and others thought it needed an elaborate adaptation. While the adaptation expands the show in some ways, as the sets are very minimalist, it also contracts, eliminating some fan-favorite songs in favor of simplifying the story and not making it as dark as the source material.

The story follows a group of friends trying to make a living from their respective arts in 1980s New York City. Their lives, however, are affected by the AIDS epidemic of the time, and they experience as much tragedy as happiness.

Although some critics initially complained about the idea, one point in the film’s favor is that it reunited almost the entire original Broadway cast. Six of the eight main cast members who originated the show on Broadway reprized their roles. These were people who largely got their start on Broadway in Rent and they already had perfect chemistry with each other, having played their roles for so long. It helped to really sell the performances.

Grease (1978)

Debuted on Broadway in 1972

The film adaptation of Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John became the definitive stage-to-screen version of the musical. There are probably people out there who didn’t even know it was originally a Broadway play because its success went beyond the stage with a movie sequel and prequel series.

The film follows high school greasers Danny and Sandy after they fall in love during summer vacation. Sandy transfers to Danny’s school, but finds that he presents himself very differently to his friends. In the end, Danny wins Sandy back by winning a street race, and they escape in his car. The film was the highest-grossing musical film at the time of its release and is still considered one of the best films of 1978.

Part of the reason the film works, despite most of the cast being visibly much older than the teenagers, is the chemistry between the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds, as well as the decision on what to add to the film. Some of the film’s most memorable scenes aren’t on the musical stage, but they help flesh out the story. The Thunder Road race, for example, could not be done on stage.

The film was able to take the parts of the show that would work well on camera and add them in a way that worked for the musical rather than against it. It was added to America’s National Film Registry in 2015.

Tick, Tick… ​​Boom! (2021)

Opened off-Broadway in 2001

Tick, Tick… ​​Boom! was originally a show created by Jonathan Larson who, like many of his projects, was inspired by his own life. When directors reworked the musical in the years following Larson’s death, it became even more influenced by Larson’s life. Screenwriter Stevenon Levenson and director Lin Manuel-Miranda made the film version a love letter to Larson, working in references to Superbia and RENTundoubtedly his most famous programs.

The film follows a young playwright named Jonathan (who is supposed to be Larson himself) as he writes a musical in hopes of breaking into the theater industry. As he works to bring his vision to life, his personal and professional relationships are highlighted. The film also offers numerous cameos from those who work in the theater industry and those who worked with Larson during his career.

The film also marked the first time most people saw Andrew Garfield, known for playing Spider-Man, in a musical role. Garfield won a Golden Globe for his work and was nominated for an Oscar.

Wicked: Part 1 (2024)

Premiered on Broadway in 2003

Evil is one of the most recent Broadway musicals to be adapted for the screen, although the film was in development for a decade before finally reaching the filming stage of the process. Although the film is based on the Broadway musical, it is also inspired by the novel that initially inspired the show, written by Gregory Maguire. The Broadway musical was also not fully adapted, as it is actually two films.

The first film follows the first act of the Broadway play, ending with a stunning rendition of “Defying Gravity.” In it, Elphaba and Galinda meet at university long before they become the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North, who would be at odds in Wizard of Oz. Evil chronicles their initial animosity, friendship and the circumstances that separate them.

It’s a great example of how to expand what’s present on the Broadway stage, as the film uses beautiful aerial shots to show what Shiz University, the Emerald City and Oz as a whole are like. It also features more elaborate dance sequences and sets than are possible on a Broadway stage, providing a feast for both the audience’s eyes and ears with the talented cast of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey.

Chicago (2002)

Debuted on Broadway in 1975

Chicago It was the first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968. It stars Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones as two murderesses trapped together in jazz age Chicago. Richard Gere plays Billy Flynn, the smooth-talking lawyer whose plan is to turn his clients into celebrities and distract people from the crimes they actually committed. Both women chase fame and try to reinvent their identities to win public opinion and save their own lives.

When it was released, Chicago it received largely mixed reviews. Many of those who reviewed the show negatively, however, were often, admittedly, not fans of musicals. The film was a huge technical feat with impressive dance sequences, actors who weren’t known for their musical talents who surprised audiences, and the same kind of “Razzle Dazzle” that Billy Flynn would approve of.

Chicago won six Oscars, including Best Picture. The overwhelming success of Chicago (along with Moulin Rouge! and 8 miles) is considered responsible for the resurgence of the musical genre in the 21st century.

The Sound of Music (1965)

Debuted on Broadway in 1959

Perhaps the definitive musical film, The sound of music It originally received only a limited theatrical release and received mixed critical reception. However, it was an unprecedented commercial success. It was the highest-grossing film of 1965 and in November of the following year it surpassed It was with the Wind as the highest-grossing film of all time. It has since become a holiday season staple, airing in November and December on television around the world.

It stars Julie Andrews as Maria, a nun who has just been assigned to the villa of a retired naval officer (Christopher Plummer) to act as governess to his seven children. She then brings the joy of music into their lives and eventually marries the officer. The film itself is set during Austria’s German Anschluss in 1938, making the build-up to World War II part of the story.

The film’s legacy speaks for itself, but if music fans need even more convincing, the Library of Congress has selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry for its “cultural, historical or aesthetic significance”.

West Side Story (1961)

Debuted on Broadway in 1957

A modernized (for the time) adaptation of Shakespeare’s work Cheese and guava, West Side History follows Tony, a former member of the white gang the American Jets, and Maria, the younger sister of a member of the Puerto Rican gang the Sharks. The two fall in love despite arguments between friends and family. The love story, given its source material, is ultimately a tragedy.

The musical film was a critical and commercial success, with impressive dance sequences and acting. Although some of the singing in the film was dubbed by other actors, this was common practice at the time. It received much critical praise for both its story and its technical design.

West Side History won ten Academy Awards after being nominated for 11, breaking the record for most wins for a musical. Rita Moreno became the first Latina to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as Anita. The film was also added to the National Film Registry.

Hairspray (2007)

Premiered on Broadway in 2002

This is a film based on a Broadway show that was based on the 1988 John Waters comedy of the same name. Still, despite playing a game of telephone, Hairspray is one of the freshest and most fun musical films out there. It held the record for the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical to date. Mom Mia debuted in 2008. It was one of the most commercially and critically successful musical films of the decade.

Set in the early 1960s, the story follows “pleasantly plump” teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues her dream of being a dancer and attempts to make her debut on a local television show. However, Hairspray It’s not just a colorful camp. It also addresses themes of racial segregation and inequality, and Roger Ebert said there was “a lot of cunning and cunning hidden under the… nonsense.”

The film’s cast is a big part of its success. Nikki Blonsky made her professional acting debut in the film, but was supported by several screen veterans. Michelle Pfeiffer, John Travolta, Zac Efron and Queen Latifah were all musical veterans at the time of release. The film also paid homage to the original film with cameos from John Waters and Rikki Lake, as well as the Broadway show, with members of the Broadway cast singing songs from the film.

Cabaret (1972)

Debuted on Broadway in 1966

This film musical is a much looser adaptation of the 1966 Broadway musical of the same name. Only a few songs from the show were kept for the film; however, the show’s original songwriters wrote the replacement songs. It differs from staging because, instead of being a traditional musical, where the characters sing to express their feelings, almost all of the songs in the film take place in the context of the nightclub. The only exception is “Tomorrow Belongs to Me”.

Critics praised the film for daring to break the convention that musicals were supposed to be bright and happy, and that Cabaret he preferred, instead, to embrace the darkness of his themes. It was also Liza Minnelli’s first chance to sing on screen, and she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film also took home seven additional Oscars, seven BAFTAs and three Golden Globes.

Cabaret was added to the National Film Registry in 2015 and remains one of the best Broadway musical adaptations of all time.