As Jon M. Chu’s Wicked—a movie musical adapted from a Broadway show, which itself was based on a book inspired by the 1939 musical The Wizard of Oz, also adapted from a book (deep breath—it’s a lot, I know)—gears up for its November 22 premiere, it joins an interesting and ongoing trend of adapting movie-to-stage musicals for the silver screen.
Movies like Mean Girls, Hairspray, and Little Shop of Horrors have all been turned into musicals for the stage and later for the screen. But there are still a few musicals we are waiting to see returned to the silver screen.
Here are five movie-based musicals we would love to see turn into great films.
Back to the Future: The Musical
This faithful movie-to-stage adaptation might not have the best reviews behind it, but the musical score and practical effects are enough to remind us why we still love returning to the franchise, even decades since its debut.
Many of the songs are fun, poking at characters’ quirks or the situational comedy of the moment. The best songs are the ones that take risks, like Gotta Start Somewhere and It Works.
Returning this movie-to-stage musical back to the screen would require a little more work from the screenwriters, but it’s storyline has enough power to send us back to theaters to relive a familiar story.
Beetlejuice
With a successful sequel and a viral TikTok sound dominating pop culture, it is time for more people to get a chance to see the short-lived success of the Beetlejuice musical.
The untimely closing of the show was the result of quarantine and social distancing measure of the early 2020s, cutting a potential success short. But many songs and performances have continued to gain audiences in online communities.
While the musical failed to live up to the expectations of fans of the original movie, the magic of the music and Eddie Perfect’s performance as the titular character make the lightly dark and simple story more fun.
Waitress
Waitress is a Southern dramedy about a woman who makes delicious pies who starts an affair after discovering she is pregnant with her abusive partner’s child.
The 2007 indie film features a viral TikTok sound, a no-skip soundtrack, smartly assembled music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, a book by Jessie Nelson, and a respectable 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Bringing this stage musical to the screen would introduce a powerful narrative of motherhood, friendship, and the pursuit of joy to a new generation of women, especially those unfamiliar with the original movie.
Though the original movie did amazing things with its relatively small budget, a bigger-budget movie musical could bring in stronger visuals and maybe some A-list names that can pull in more audiences.
Groundhog Day
This is one musical we would love to see turn into a movie time and time again. Adapted from the movie of the same name for the stage, Groundhog Day strikes the right note when it comes to the film’s humor and melancholy, heightening the emotional beats of the story with songs that ear-worm their way into your brain.
The romantic time-loop story that became a surprise hit in the 1990s hit the stage earlier this year. And the musical reminds us why this story still works.
Some of the music could be reworked to capture the story’s unfolding gravity. Bringing a well-known trope to life through music is an unconventional choice, but it has the potential to win over a new generation of viewers.
Legally Blonde
Like Mean Girls, Legally Blonde became an iconic, quotable hit in the 2000s and found a second life on the stage. However, the musical isn’t just an adaptation: It reimagines the source materials in a way that some people consider to be better than the original.
The songs move the plot forward while developing characters—the one-two punch that is common DNA among great musicals.
A bold mix of energetic musical scores and vibrant pink hues would shine on the big screen, bringing Elle Woods back in a lively, new way without resorting to an extended sequel.
This article is for informational purposes only. Trendy Matters has no affiliation with any of the brands or individuals mentioned, and the views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
