The Best Stage-To-Screen Musical Adaptations

Key Takeaways

• Screen adaptations of stage musicals must seamlessly merge the emotion of theater and cinema.
• Finding a balance between the vastness of film and the intimacy of live performances is crucial.
• A well-done adaptation maintains the original narrative’s essence.

Blending the energy and vitality of live theater with the visual spectacle of cinema, screen adaptations of musicals help to bring iconic West End or Broadway productions to a wider audience, many of whom may not have had the chance to see these famous stories on stage.

Nowadays, many stage productions have a movie counterpart, and with Wicked due to be released this month, the possibilities of what could come are endless. However, finding a way to balance the vast potential of what can be achieved in film with the intimacy of live performances can be difficult. Still, when done correctly, these adaptations can provide viewers with a uniquely satisfying experience while keeping the heart of the original narrative intact.

10 Annie (1999)

The Rich And The Rundown

• Director: Rob Marshall
• Run Time: 1hr 30mins
• Release Date: November 7, 1999

When discussing the musical Annie, most fans often remember the celebrity-infused cast of the 1982 adaptation, but the 1999 version is just as star-studded and directed by Rob Marshall, who went on to direct Chicago (2002).

A gentler, kinder version than the original overall, this remake has an ending and track list more representative of the stage show. This version tells the story of Annie much more faithfully, in part because the director got to work with a cast that was well-trained in acting, singing, and dancing on stage.

9 Cabaret (1972)

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome

• Director: Bob Fosse
• Run Time: 2hrs 4mins
• Release Date: February 13, 1972

A musical period film steeped in a political narrative, Cabaret’s plot underwent many alterations while being adapted for the screen, some moving away from the source material while others mirrored it closely. However, these changes did nothing to hinder the film’s success, as it ended up winning eight Academy Awards, one of which was for Liza Minnelli’s performance as the lead, Sally Bowles.

To show the hedonistic self-indulgence of the Kit Kat Klub, a world all of its own in 1930s Berlin, the filmmakers decided to have every musical number (barring one) be performed in the club instead of how it is acted on stage. This makes the venue, for a short time at least, a place where even the characters are free from the ever-growing corruption of the time.

8 Fiddler On The Roof (1971)

To Life

• Director: Norman Jewison
• Run Time: 3hrs 21mins
• Release Date: November 3, 1971

A wonderful production for men and women of varying ages, many of which are older generations, the stage production of Fiddler on the Roof opened on Broadway in 1964, and the feature film came several years later.

Beloved for its representation of faith and the ever-growing topic of beliefs and traditions, the 1971 film expanded upon an already extensive story by creating new scenes and interactions between characters. While this does give an even richer viewing experience, it pushes the run time to well over three hours, and although this is not necessarily a negative, it does make for a heavy watch. However, the engaging performances, humor, and care for the story make it difficult for viewers to look away.

7 Dreamgirls (2006)

Patience, Patience

• Director: Bill Condon
• Run Time: 2hrs 10mins
• Release Date: December 15, 2006

Earning Jennifer Hudson an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls took 25 years to go from stage to screen despite multiple previous attempts. The inspirational and often emotional journey of The Dreams, based loosely on the real-life Motown group The Supremes, captivated audiences on stage.

Race and gender are key themes in the story, and the struggles encountered by the characters are certainly more than relevant in today’s world, but the strength and devotion shown in said characters is an important message to tell. Representation matters, and even though it took a long time for the masses to have access to Dreamgirls, it was worth the wait.

6 Rent (2005)

Seasons Of Love

• Director: Chris Columbus
• Run Time: 2hrs 15mins
• Release Date: November 23, 2005

In 2021, Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical Tick, Tick… Boom! was adapted into a Netflix movie, earning Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. Still, it is Rent, loosely based on the 1896 opera La bohème and first previewed off-Broadway in 1996, which remains culturally significant today.

Six of the eight original cast members returned for the film, and their performances exude love and passion for both the project and its creator. Certain aspects of the stage production did not make it onto film. While this could be seen as a negative, it could also speak to the filmmaker’s belief in the audience’s intelligence and ability to reach their own conclusions.

Jonathan Larson did not live to see the success and following that Rent earned; he passed away the night before it opened off-Broadway. Still, his ability to connect with the viewer is evident throughout his work and gives these adaptations a bittersweet feeling that should not be shied away from.

5 Chicago (2002)

And All That Jazz

• Director: Rob Marshall
• Run Time: 1hr 53mins
• Release Date: December 27, 2002

Chicago, a film that gained critical acclaim for its cast and direction, is often credited with the re-emergence of the musical genre in film. Many of the cast and crew went on to make or star in other musicals after its release, and with the success of Chicago came several new stage adaptations, some of which are also on this list.

Set in the Jazz Age of the 1920s and 30s, the 1975 Broadway musical was not as well received as the film. However, Rob Marshall seamlessly transferred the razzle-dazzle from stage to screen and gave it a new, fresh life in the cinema.

4 The Sound Of Music (1965)

The Happiest Sound

• Director: Robert Wise
• Run Time: 2hrs 52mins
• Release Date: March 2, 1965

Based on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s last collaboration, the Christmastime classic The Sound of Music became the highest-grossing film of all time in 1966 and held that position for five years. Subtle changes by the filmmakers (like the order in which some of the songs are performed or the ages of the children) are often adopted by newer productions of the stage musical and are arguably better for the performances as a whole.

For this fictional retelling of a true story, the stunningly beautiful landscape of Salzburg, mixed with catchy lyrics and charming actors, created a lasting impression on viewers and is hailed as a feel-good film for all ages to this day.

3 Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)

He’s Mean And Green

• Director: Frank Oz
• Run Time: 1hr 34mins
• Release Date: December 19, 1986

On the surface, Little Shop of Horrors is simply a fun, zany, science-fiction comedy, but it is so much more than what meets the eye. It is easy to overlook the horror elements of this movie due to the lively doo-wop music and comedic timing of the actors, but the dark themes and bizarre story are what gained this film adaptation a cult following.

Two endings were filmed for the 1986 movie: A foreboding one more in keeping with the original stage play, and an uplifting alternative. Ultimately, the more hopeful finale was used. So, despite the blood, grit, and murder, audiences can still look forward to a somewhat happy ending when all is said and done.

2 Grease (1978)

Summer Lovin’

• Director: Randal Kleiser
• Run Time: 1hr 45mins
• Release Date: June 16, 1978

It may be surprising that this famous film was a stage musical first and not the other way around, but the Grease stage show actually came seven years before John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John gave the world their iconic Danny and Sandy interpretations.

When Grease was adapted for the screen, its characters underwent quite a few changes (not many will remember the Burger Palace Boys over the T-Birds), and a number of songs were written specifically for said adaptation. However, these changes were so well received that they made it into the 1993 London revival, solidifying how audiences think of Grease now and forever.

1 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Don’t Dream It, Be It

• Director: Jim Sharman
• Run Time: 1hr 40mins
• Release Date: September 26, 1975

Originally named The Rocky Horror Show, Richard O’Brien’s theatrical version was released in 1975 and is still in limited release nearly fifty years after its first showing. Selected for the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” this tribute to the 1930s–60s science fiction and horror B-movies is a cult classic. Where “midnight movies” were once late-night showings of offbeat, often obscure movies, the success of The Rocky Horror Picture Show changed this, and significantly changed film exhibition in the process.

The film’s message, centered on themes of sexual identity, acceptance, and individuality, is timeless, which is probably why, as of 2024, it is the longest-running theatrical release in film history.