Turning a musical into a successful movie is no easy feat. A look back at the history of previous attempts proves that because for every amazing Les Miserables, there is a dreadful Cats. Some shows simply aren’t made with a good enough story to transition into a cinematic experience, yet they are forced into that hole anyway.
There are some amazing musicals that have been turned into just as great movies. Because of that, there will be more shows getting placed onto the big screen as films in the new decade, which is great as there are some tremendous musicals that seemingly lend themselves perfectly to that environment. However, hopefully, this decade will see some smarter choices take place as there are still some red herrings around Broadway and the West End that should be avoided at all costs. Within this list, we will take a look at 10 different musicals, ranking five that need to be made into films, and five that should be avoided at all costs.
Need: Hamilton: An American Musical
When it comes to musicals that should get made into movies, the one most people will go to is Hamilton: An American Musical. The show is a multi-time prize winner and has become one of the most talked-about shows with tickets proving to be very hard to come by.
The show that really took Lin-Manuel Miranda to a different level of fame has an excellent story. Focusing on Alexander Hamilton and legitimate history, there is plenty of material that could work well in a film here. With edgy, rap lyrics that are slightly different from the traditional style musical would help this appeal to a wider audience.
Bad Idea: American Idiot
Popular bands turning their back catalogues into musicals is becoming quite the hit as of late, and it is something that Green Day chose to do. Their music provides the backdrop for American Idiot, which has proven to be a fairly popular musical since opening.
However, that doesn’t mean it will translate into a hit movie. When movies are made sing music from a legitimate artist, they tend to have a more worldwide appeal than Green Day. While the band are incredibly popular, this would only appeal to a niche market, and most fans of the band are rockers who aren’t desperate for a musical in their lives.
Need: The Book Of Mormon
The Book Of Mormon is another incredibly popular musical that would be perfect to be adapted into a movie. Seeing someone pop up to say “hello” on the silver screen would absolutely work with this being a compelling and charming story that is still relatively modern.
The writers of the musical actually created South Park, with Trey Parker and Matt Stone knowing exactly how to create something for that medium. The musical is witty and has some fantastic comedy, all while providing a solid message, which would easily convey as a film.
Bad Idea: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat might be a very popular musical that is fun and upbeat, but it would not make a very good movie. The musical’s story is far too wild and crazy to be contained into a potentially entertaining film.
While it has more of a structure than Cats, the story is quite a crazy one which wouldn’t really be the most interesting film imaginable. The songs are fun to sing-a-long with, but that is why this is a musical, and why it hasn’t had a movie adaptation.
Need: Miss Saigon
While the previous examples of musicals that need to be made into movies are fairly modern musicals, Miss Saigon is a classic. It has come and gone countless times over the years and has always remained popular amongst audiences.
The story which is set during the Vietnam War is an incredible one, and the fact that only certain locations can hold this due to the set size is a great example of why it should be made into a movie. Being able to do the set perfectly with all the detail that has always been intended would allow this story to be told to perfection.
Bad Idea: We Will Rock You
The music of Queen obviously lends itself perfectly to any sort of environment. Whether that be a rock concert, a musical, or a movie. We have seen that We Will Rock You has become a tremendous success as a musical, but that doesn’t mean that we need a movie version of that.
The Bohemian Rhapsody movie that Queen fans got was absolutely perfect. It told the story of the band and brought in the music as well, and telling the story that the musical does would fail to ever possibly live up to those amazing levels of quality.
Need: Dear Evan Hansen
Dear Evan Hansen has burst into the world of Broadway recently and has quickly become a firm fan favorite. The music and lyrics were created by Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and the music and story involved here really would work perfectly in a film environment.
The musical hits a heavy and emotional topic as the main character suffers social anxiety that leads to him creating a lie that affects an entire community following the suicide of a classmate. It is a darker story in comparison to many musicals, but it is one that would really connect well with a wider audience if it was turned into a movie.
Bad Idea: Starlight Express
A musical that features the cast all rolling around on rollerskates should be something that screams “NO” to any potential movie ideas. Starlight Express is a neat musical that is a ton of fun to watch, and seeing the actors fly around the stage is an amazing experience.
However, that same experience cannot really be put into a movie, and therefore the entire draw of the musical would be lost on the silver screen. Some great shows are perfect for the stage and this is one of them, but please, do not make this into a movie!
Need: Wicked
It is actually quite hard to believe that this hasn’t happened already. Wicked is one of the most well-known musicals with some incredibly recognisable songs. There have always been rumors of this possibly becoming a movie and it seems that one day down the line that is certainly going to happen.
It makes sense though as it tells the story of the Wicked Witch’s backstory, taking a new twist on the popular movie. Because there is already an established movie world for this musical to slot into, there is no reason this couldn’t be a major hit on the silver screen.
Bad Idea: Avenue Q
Avenue Q is essentially Sesame Street for adults. It is puppets that sing and dance about adult topics that are certainly not for kids, which is why this would probably not translate well into a movie. When films are made using puppets (which is rare anyway), they tend to be targetted towards a younger audience.
Because that isn’t possible with the material of this musical, it is unlikely that there would be a desire for it to ever be made. It is a Tony Award-winning musical, proving that it is certainly a major hit, but that doesn’t mean that it is going to be a fantastic film.
