List Rules Only movies that would work as musicals.
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A list of movies that should be adapted for the Broadway stage. Each year, at least one or two popular Broadway shows are turned into films. 2012 alone saw the release of a film based on the stage show "Rock of Ages," along with plans to turn the "Wizard of Oz" prequel "Wicked" into a movie. But another trend has been also been kickstarted - adapting popular films into Broadway shows. Disney has been doing this for years with the successful runs of "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast" on stage, and other recent Broadway hits such as "The Producers," "Spamalot" (adapted from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"), "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" and "Shrek" have bolstered the idea that audiences want to see popular characters from other media turned into stage spectacles. ("The Producers" was even turned BACK into a new film after having tremendous success as a play.)
"Back to the Future" is the most recent iconic film to be discussed as a potential stage show. But what are some other movies that would work well presented live on a stage, with songs? Vote for the films you'd like to line up to see on the Great White Way, and if you have a brilliant idea for a new adaptation, suggest it at the bottom of the page and see what the rest of Ranker thinks of your pick! (For the flip side, vote on a list of Stage Musicals that Would Make Great Movies.)
list ordered by
1
383 111
danlee added The Princess BrideBilly Crystal, Robin Wright, André the Giant The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy fantasy adventure film directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner. It was adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name. The ...more
2
385 155
frrst1 added The Nightmare Before ChristmasPaul Reubens, Catherine O'Hara, Danny Elfman Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D is a 2006 3D version of the 1993 film of the same title directed by Henry Selick and written by Caroline Thompson.
3
292 88
Oregonian added HerculesDanny DeVito, James Woods, Charlton Heston Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 35th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated ...more
4
267 68
CraigAlarm added TangledMandy Moore, Ron Perlman, Zachary Levi Tangled is a 2010 American computer animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Loosely based on the German fairy tale ...more
5
288 141
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryGene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Tim Brooke-Taylor Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film, a film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and ...more
6
264 176
Benjamin Dunn added Dirty DancingPatrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic drama film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as ...more
7
269 84
CraigAlarm added EnchantedAmy Adams, Susan Sarandon, Julie Andrews Enchanted is a 2007 American musical live-action/animated fantasy romantic comedy film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures with New York Academy Barry Sonnenfeld and Josephson Entertainment. ...more
8
156 67
Tom Islava added The Hunchback of Notre DameDemi Moore, Kevin Kline, Jason Alexander Madacy Kids brings to life Victor Hugo's classic novel for this entry in their animated Children's Film Favorites series. Centering on the deformed Quasimodo, Children's Film Favorites: The ...more
9
252 165
The MuppetsKaty Perry, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez The Muppets is a 2011 comedy film directed by James Bobin.
10
161 78
CraigAlarm added Ferris Bueller's Day OffCharlie Sheen, Matthew Broderick, Jeffrey Jones Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American comedy film written, produced and directed by John Hughes. The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller, who skips school and spends the day in ...more
11
198 112
CraigAlarm added FrozenKristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Alan Tudyk Frozen is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy–comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 53rd animated feature in the ...more
12
177 154
danlee added Pretty WomanJulia Roberts, Richard Gere, Hank Azaria Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film set in Los Angeles. Written by J. F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall, it stars Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and features Hector ...more
13
138 75
CraigAlarm added CluelessAlicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd Clueless is a 1995 American comedy film loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. It stars Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Paul Rudd, and Brittany Murphy. The film is set in Beverly Hills ...more
14
116 64
CraigAlarm added BeetlejuiceAlec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis Beetlejuice is a 1988 American comedy fantasy film directed by Tim Burton, produced by The Geffen Film Company and distributed by Warner Bros. The plot revolves around a recently deceased young ...more
15
120 70
CraigAlarm added The Jungle BookClint Howard, George Sanders, Louis Prima The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions. Inspired by the Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name, it is the 19th animated feature in the Walt Disney ...more
16
169 139
LabyrinthJennifer Connelly, David Bowie, Frank Oz Labyrinth is a 1986 British-American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, executive produced by George Lucas and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud. The film stars ...more
17
194 164
danlee added TitanicLeonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates Titanic is a 1997 American epic romantic disaster drama film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of what happened to the RMS Titanic, it stars ...more
18
139 142
danlee added Saturday Night FeverJohn Travolta, Fran Drescher, Denny Dillon Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 American dance film directed by John Badham and starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, a young man whose weekends are spent visiting a local Brooklyn discotheque; ...more
19
191 150
Back to the FutureMichael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson Back to the Future is a 1985 American comic science fiction film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and stars Michael J. Fox, ...more
20
119 80
CraigAlarm added Mrs. DoubtfireRobin Williams, Pierce Brosnan, Sally Field Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy film, starring Robin Williams and Sally Field and based on the novel Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. It was directed by Chris Columbus and ...more
21
124 108
danlee added Young FrankensteinGene Hackman, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder Young Frankenstein is a 1974 American comedy film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The supporting ...more
22
78 48
Hobbit4Lyfe added Lilo & StitchTia Carrere, Ving Rhames, Kevin Michael Richardson Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American animated action-adventure comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 21, 2002. The 42nd ...more
23
84 54
CraigAlarm added ClueTim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn Clue is a 1985 American mystery comedy film based on the board game of the same name. The film is a murder mystery set in a Gothic Revival mansion, and is styled after The Rocky Horror Picture ...more
24
97 105
danlee added The Blues BrothersCarrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin, Steven Spielberg The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from ...more
25
102 104
danlee added FameDebbie Allen, Irene Cara, Meg Tilly Fame is a 1980 American musical film conceived and produced by David De Silva and directed by Alan Parker. Its screenplay is by Christopher Gore, its choreography by Louis Falco and musical ...more
not on the list? add item #167
List Rules: Only movies that would work as musicals.
