broadway The Best Musicals Based on Movies  

Buster McDermott
3.4k votes 260 voters 14k views 66 items Embed

List Rules Only stage musicals that cite films as their original source material - no adaptations directly from other mediums

List of musicals based on movies, ranked by fans and casual critics. Stage theatre has been a primary form of entertainment for thousands of years, in the forms of plays, operas, and musicals. Around the world, dozens of theatrical performances are brought to life on stages big and small. Most notably, the theatre districts of Broadway in Manhattan and the West End in London are home to the catchiest, most elaborate, most memorable musicals. Nothing is more inspirational than experiencing the art of actors who can also sing and dance with grace and style in front of a large audience of people. It’s no wonder that plays and musicals have remained so popular throughout the years! What are the best musicals based on films?

This list includes the greatest plays and musicals that were inspired by movies, ranked according to the opinions of voters. Which soundtracks have you played nonstop? Which lyrics have you memorized? Some of these plays on this list were smash hit successful Broadway productions that scored several awards and made the actors instant successes. Others are newer shows that are still in trial runs for smaller audiences in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.

In addition to direct adaptations from film to stage, this list includes musicals inspired by movies that weren't musicals to begin with. Wondering why you don't remember the songs from Billy Elliott or Sunset Boulevard? That's because there weren't any. 
list ordered by

1
112 25
The Lion King is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
The Lion King (1997) Mark Mancina , Elton John , Jay Rifkin - The Lion King (1994)

2
84 22
Beauty and the Beast is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Beauty and the Beast (1993) Alan Menken , Linda Woolverton , Howard Ashman - Beauty and the Beast (1991)

3
78 27
Mary Poppins is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Mary Poppins (2004) Richard M. Sherman , Robert B. Sherman , George Stiles - Mary Poppins (1964) and the book series by P.L. Travers

4
77 36
Hairspray is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Hairspray (2002) Scott Wittman , Marc Shaiman , Thomas Meehan - Hairspray (2007), which was based on the movie Hairspray (1988), dir. by John Waters

5
55 20
Disney's Aladdin: A Musica... is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular (2003) Aladdin (1992)

6
67 31
The Little Mermaid is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
The Little Mermaid (2007) Alan Menken , Howard Ashman , Doug Wright - The Little Mermaid (1989)

7
57 30
Newsies (2011) is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Newsies (2011) Newsies (1992)

8
56 31
Chicago is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
unlimitedbroadway added Chicago Bob Fosse , Fred Ebb , John Kander

9
56 33
Little Shop of Horrors is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Little Shop of Horrors (1982) Alan Menken , Howard Ashman - Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

10
50 31
Legally Blonde: The Musical is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007) Heather Hach , Laurence O'Keefe , Nell Benjamin - Legally Blonde (2001) and the novel by Amanda Brown

11
46 30
The Producers is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
The Producers (2001) Mel Brooks , Thomas Meehan - The Producers (1968), dir. by Mel Brooks

12
46 30
Singin' in the Rain (1983) is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Singin' in the Rain (1983) Singin in the Rain (1952)

13
50 36
Shrek: The Musical (2008) is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Shrek: The Musical (2008) Shrek (2001), which was based on the book Shrek! (1991) by William Steig

14
45 33
Spamalot is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Spamalot (2004) Neil Innes , John Du Prez , Eric Idle - Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

The Greatest Musicals Ever Performed on Broadway, Ranked

15
28 21
Heathers (2010) is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Heathers (2010) Heathers (1988)

16
35 32
Footloose is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Footloose (1998) Eric Carmen , Sammy Hagar , Tom Snow - Footloose (1984)

17
25 21
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002) Richard M. Sherman , Robert B. Sherman , Jeremy Sams - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

18
37 35
Young Frankenstein is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Young Frankenstein (2007) Irving Berlin , Mel Brooks , Thomas Meehan - Young Frankenstein (1974), dir. by Mel Brooks

19
30 27
Thoroughly Modern Millie is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) Jeanine Tesori , Richard Morris , Dick Scanlan - Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

20
34 32
Billy Elliot the Musical is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Billy Elliot: The Musical (2005) Elton John , Lee Hall - Billy Elliot (2000)

21
22 19
Snow White and the Seven Dwarf... is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1979) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

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22
25 24
Elf: The Musical (2010) is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Elf: The Musical (2010) Elf (2003)

23
29 29
9 to 5 (2008) is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
9 to 5 (2008) 9 to 5 (1980)

24
31 32
Sister Act the Musical is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Sister Act: The Musical (2009) Alan Menken , Glenn Slater , Cherie Steinkellner - Sister Act (1992)

25
26 26
Kinky Boots (2012) is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Kinky Boots (2012) Kinky Boots (2005)

26
24 25
Once (2011) is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Once (2011) Once (2006)

27
21 22
A Christmas Story: The Musical... is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
A Christmas Story: The Musical (2009) A Christmas Story (1983)

28
24 26
A Wonderful Life (1991) is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
A Wonderful Life (1991) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Incredible Ways Gene Kelly Changed Movie Musicals Forever

29
22 24
Sunset Boulevard is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Sunset Boulevard (1991) Christopher Hampton , Don Black , Andrew Lloyd Webber - Sunset Boulevard (1950)

30
25 28
Saturday Night Fever is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Saturday Night Fever (1998) Nan Knighton - Saturday Night Fever (1977)

31
20 23
Catch Me If You Can is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Catch Me If You Can (2009) Terrence McNally , Scott Wittman , Marc Shaiman - Catch Me If You Can (2002), which was based on the autobiography (1980) by Frank Abagnale, Jr.

32
23 27
The Wedding Singer is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
The Wedding Singer (2006) Chad Beguelin ^! Matthew Sklar ^! Tim Herlihy - The Wedding Singer (1998)

33
19 22
Scrooge is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Scrooge (1992) Leslie Bricusse - Scrooge (1970), which was based on the novella A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens

34
22 26
White Christmas (2004) is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
White Christmas (2004) White Christmas (1954)

35
21 25
Tarzan of the Apes is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Tarzan (2006) Tarzan (1999), which was based on Tarzan of the Apes (1912) by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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36
21 25
The Who's Tommy is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
pigonthewing added The Who's Tommy Des McAnuff , Pete Townshend

37
15 18
Meet Me in St. Louis is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Meet Me in St. Louis (1989) Hugh Wheeler ^! Hugh Martin ^! Ralph Blane - Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

38
20 25
Fame (1988) is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Fame (1988) Fame (1980)

39
20 25
Seven Brides for Seven Brother... is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), which was based on "The Sobbin' Women" by Stephen Vincent Benét

40
16 20
Nine is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Nine (1982) Maury Yeston , Arthur Kopit - 8½ (1963), dir. by Federico Fellini

41
19 24
42nd Street is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
42nd Street (1980) Mark Bramble , Al Dubin , Harry Warren - 42nd Street (1933), which was based on the novel (1932) by Bradford Ropes

42
19 25
Victor/Victoria is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Victor/Victoria (1995) Blake Edwards , Frank Wildhorn , Leslie Bricusse - Victor Victoria (1982)

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43
17 23
Big: the musical is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Big: The Musical (1996) John Weidman , Richard Maltby, Jr. - Big (1988)

44
15 22
Big Fish (2013) is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Big Fish (2013) Big Fish (2003), which was based on the novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions (1998) by Daniel Wallace

45
17 25
Bring It On (2011) is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Bring It On (2011) Bring It On (2000)

46
18 28
Ghost the Musical is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Ghost (2011) Glen Ballard ^! Bruce Joel Rubin ^! David A. Stewart - Ghost (1990)

47
8 15
Der Glöckner von Notre Dame is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Tom Islava added Der Glöckner von Notre Dame James Lapine , Alan Menken , Stephen Schwartz - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), which was based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo

48
3 8
A Little Night Music is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
DougHicton added A Little Night Music

49
14 25
Carrie is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
Carrie (1988) Dean Pitchford ^! Lawrence D. Cohen -  Carrie (1976)

50
15 28
The Full Monty is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Best Musicals Based on Movies
The Full Monty (2000) Terrence McNally , David Yazbek - The Full Monty (1997)