17 films adapted into Broadway musicals

The 2001 classic, Legally Blonde, follows the story of Elle Woods — a California Valley girl who decides to follow her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School was a massive hit among audiences. The film grossed over $140 million at the box office and has gained a widely loyal fanbase. In 2007, Legally Blonde went from the big screen to the Broadway stage until the production closed in 2008. 

There’s no denying that Tina Fey is a master with her pen, which is why her stage adaptation of her movie Mean Girls remains one of her most incredible pieces of work. The musical’s storyline remains the same as the 2004 classic, and audiences have praised Fey and the cast for the show’s music, choreography, and acting. Although the show closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, folks interested in watching this iconic film turned musical, Paramount+ will release a film adaptation of the musical soon.   

Bring It On is definitely in my top three favorite movies, so I had to include its wildly entertaining musical adaptation in our list. The storyline differs from the original plot, which featured the East Compton Clovers and the Rancho Carne Torros; however, the musical still gives audiences a peek into the world of competitive cheerleading. 

Let’s face it: everyone loves rooting for Simba, the young lion prince in Disney’s The Lion King. The film was released in 1994 and has since grossed nearly $1 billion in revenue at the box office. The Broadway adaptation of the film has received the same amount of love from fans since the show opened in November 1997. It is currently the third longest-running show in history, with over 10,000 performances, six Tony Awards, and a Grammy. 

Alright, I fooled you with this one. There’s no La La Land Broadway musical… yet. But hang tight because the Oscar-winning film, which starred Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is soon headed for the bright lights of Broadway. I can’t speak to the show’s score and book just yet, but since it’s coming from the original film’s composer, Justin Hurwitz, there’s a chance it’ll be even better, right?

There’s no denying that Disney’s Beauty and the Beast captivated audiences, but its Broadway adaptation did so 10 times over. The musical opened in 1994 and ran for 5,461 performances between then and 2007. It’s since become Broadway’s 10th longest-running production and received took home on Tony Award for Best Costume Design. 

It seems like every musical released by Disney becomes an instant hit. The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and now Frozen. The original film, which grossed $1.285 billion at the box office, premiered on the Broadway stage in 2018, attracted over 1.3 million attendees, and grossed $150 million.  

Many would say that Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act was one of the most successful (and hilarious) films of the 1990s. With a $31 million budget, the film grossed over $230 million at the box office. A revamped adaptation of the film opened on Broadway in 2011 and starred notable figures, including Patina Miller and Raven-Symoné. 

The Newsboys' strike of 1899 was so influential that it inspired a Disney film and Broadway adaptation. Newsies opened in 2012, played over 1,000 performances, and received two Tony Awards for Best Choreography and Best Original Score.

Once, the 2007 Irish romantic musical film, attracted audiences worldwide, but its Broadway adaptation is where it shined bright. The show opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in 2012 and closed in January 2015 — playing 1,167 performances. Once received 11 Tony nominations in 2012 and secured eight. 

Hairspray is not only a remarkable film but a masterful musical, too. The show opened in 2003, won eight Tonys, and ran for nearly 2,700 performances. Since the show’s closing in 2009, there have been two more remakes, the 2007 film starring John Travolta and Zac Efron and the NBC live special in 2016. 

Like many of Disney’s other Broadway musical adaptations, Aladdin, the musical, has been a smash hit. The show premiered in 2014, has grossed over $500 million, and has been seen by over 14 million people worldwide. 

When you read the above title, I hope you hear Christina Aguilera belting the melody of her 2001 hit, "Lady Marmalade." If you don’t, no worries since it’s the first song you’ll listen to in Moulin Rouge on Broadway. The show opened in 2019, survived the COVID-19 pandemic closure, and reopened in 2021. It stood out during the 2020 award season, winning 10 Tonys and five Drama Desk Awards.

Maybe I’m a little biased since I played the role of Frank Abagnale Sr. in a local Catch Me If You Can production, but this musical is truly one to behold. It features the same compelling story from the film with complex themes around familial relationships and identity. 

Mrs. Doubtfire premiered on Broadway in 2021, but it didn’t have the success they hoped it would. With its initial premiere supposed to be in March 2020, the production was hit by the COVID-19 Broadway closures. Although it eventually reopened in 2021, the show closed just months later after subpar reviews and low ticket sales.

Anastasia is another late ‘90s film adapted for the Broadway stage. The story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia opened in 2017 and closed in 2019. Audiences loved the musical so much that productions occurred in Madrid, Japan, The Netherlands, and Mexico City.

In 2010, Buddy landed in New York City, not only in search of his father but for a spot on the Broadway roster. The show ran during the holiday seasons in 2010 and returned in 2012 and 2013. The original production of the show broke the box office record at the Hirschfeld Theatre, grossing over $1 million in one week.