Moviemusicals, as well as those written for the stage, are a divisive genre that not all audiences are going to connect with, butsometimes viewers are drawn in because the story is familiar to begin with.Taking a beloved film and transforming it into a musical can be a great way for fans and newcomers to remember the original work. Additionally, knowing that a large viewer base is going into the production with a knowledge and understanding of the narrative gives the writers and directors the opportunity to take risks and create boundary-pushing song and dance numbers.
There are plenty ofnon-musical movies with great musical sequencesthat prove the diversity of stories that can hold up to the weight of songs. Altering the pacing and narrative structure to suit breaks for musical numbers can be difficult, but these projects all have enough action and tension that finding places to put songs and dance breaks wouldn’t be difficult. Though some musicals aren’t typically described as character-driven,each of these films has memorable and iconic characters that the audience would instantly identify with.
The Terminator
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The Terminator, directed by James Cameron and released in 1984, features a cyborg assassin sent back in time to eliminate Sarah Connor, the mother of a future resistance leader. As the relentless machine pursues its mission, a human warrior is sent to protect her and secure humanity’s survival.
As one of thebest time travelmovies,The Terminatoris the kind of film that comes to mind when discussing IP that would make an audience come to the theater. While making money and finding a viewership base isn’t everything, there’s no question thatmakingThe Terminatorinto a musical would be quite the spectacle,and people would be interested to see how the filmmakers achieved this. If anything, as time has passed,The Terminatoris even more highly regarded than upon its initial release, proving its longevity.
Few sci-fi action movies are as well known asThe Terminator.
Few sci-fi action movies are as well known asThe Terminator. This alone would dictate success, as well asthe trend of classic ’80s movies being made into musicals likeBack to the Future.There are also many strong set pieces that could easily be used for kinetic dance sequences, as well as emotional climaxes that would spark intense feelings in the viewer. It also shouldn’t go unacknowledged that comedy is a large part of musical theater, and seeing a robot assassin sing would bring a smile to many faces.
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The Princess Bride
Based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a comical fantasy adventure film that tells a swashbuckling tale of a hero and a princess, read to a young, sick boy in bed by his grandfather. The story itself follows farmhand Westley, who embarks on an epic journey to save his beloved princess from an evil prince as he meets strange but reliable companions along the way.
Arguably the bestmovie that perfectly blends adventure and romance,The Princess Brideis frequently brought up in conversations about films that would make perfect musicals. Even if a musical iteration dropped the frame story and only told the narrative of Buttercup and Westley, it could work, but the storybook nature of the frame makes it even more magical.Similar satirical takes on the fairy tale genre have done well in musical format,likeShrekandOnce Upon A Mattress.
There are many places within the story where musical numbers could easily fit in. From the sword fight scene between Westley and Inigo to an early love scene between Westley and Buttercup, the opportunities are endless. The fact that it’s based on a book also means that the story could be built out if necessary, even though the script is already action-packed. Featuring an equal number of comedic elements as heartfelt scenes,The Princess Bridewould have no trouble drawing an audience.
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The Emperor’s New Groove
The Emperor’s New Groove is an animated comedy film released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Mark Dindal, it follows the story of Emperor Kuzco, who is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor Yzma. Journeying with a humble villager named Pacha, Kuzco must reclaim his throne while navigating humorous and unexpected challenges. The film features voice work by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton.
In some ways,it’s surprising thatThe Emperor’s New Grooveisn’t a musical already.However, it joins the ranks of one of Disney’s best non-musical animated movies. With plenty of magic and heart, a live-action adaptation ofThe Emperor’s New Groovehas likely crossed the minds of some executives, even if nothing has been confirmed yet. However, adding a musical element to a live-action iteration ofThe Emperor’s New Groovewould increase the fantasy aspects and give audiences a reason to revisit the project.
While Kuzco, the budding emperor protagonist, is a great character, it’s the supporting characters, like Kronk and Yzma, who make it such an iconic project.
Since there’s no real reason forThe Emperor’s New Grooveto be made again in an animated format,translating it to a musical would also be perfect for the stage. The pipeline of animated movies that are brought to Broadway and then end up getting remade in live-action hosts a long list of beloved franchises, likeThe Lion King. While Kuzco, the budding emperor protagonist, is a great character, it’s the supporting characters, like Kronk and Yzma, who make it such an iconic project.
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My Best Friend’s Wedding
Upon hearing of her friend Michael’s engagement, Julianne Potter realizes she loves him and schemes to disrupt his wedding to win his heart.
As one of Julia Roberts' best movies,My Best Friend’s Weddingsuccessfully subverts the rom-com genreby seeing the protagonist end up in an unexpected place. Roberts plays Julianne, a thoroughly unlikable main character who does everything she can to steal away her best friend from his fiancée on the eve of his wedding. While characterizing Roberts in this way might not sound like a premise that would appeal to a wide array of audiences, a divisive protagonist is an amazing asset for a musical.
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The biggest obstacle thatMy Best Friend’s Weddingwould face would be finding actors to live up to the reputations and performances of the original actors. However, Julianne’s tortured and angst-filled development creates ample opportunities for songs about her feelings that would hit home for audiences. Additionally,My Best Friend’s Weddinghas amazing name recognition with both older and younger viewers,making it likely that it would be an instant hit.
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Secretary
Secretary (2002) explores the complex relationship between a dominative lawyer, played by James Spader, and his submissive secretary, portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film addresses themes of power dynamics and self-discovery within an unconventional romantic setting. Directed by Steven Shainberg, the narrative delves into the psychological intricacies of the main characters, setting it apart from traditional romantic dramas.
While the mainstream popularity of a similarly erotic movie likeFifty Shades of Greymight seem more ripe for adaptation into a musical, the satirical and campySecretarywould be far better. ThoughSecretarypokes fun at the erotic film genre, it actually made great strides forward in bringing BDSM relationships to the big screen. Following the beats of a traditional romantic comedy,Secretarytakes its subversive elements and makes it relatable to a wide range of older audiences.Overall,Secretaryhas been universally praised for its humor in the face of more delicate subjects.
With plenty of opportunity for innuendo and fun hyper-stylization,Secretarywould connect with fans of musicals.
Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader play E. Edward Grey and Lee Holloway,and while their chemistry is a large part of what makesSecretarywork, the character’s dynamic is written into the script well. Additionally, the original visuals and set design ofSecretaryis a fun throwback to mid-century modern designs and gives a retro feel that’s only become more popular with audiences today. With plenty of opportunity for innuendo and fun hyper-stylization,Secretarywould connect with fans of musicals.
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Top Gun
In this classic action flick, Tom Cruise stars as daring young pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Among the other students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school, he competes to be best in the class, and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.
BothTop Gunand the long-awaited sequel,Top Gun: Maverick, are rife with action and anticipation,and there have been many recent examples of action-oriented films becoming musicals. There is a brief musical number inTop Gunwith Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards) playing the piano together in one of the more emotionally uplifting moments of the movie. IfTop Gunbecame a musical, focusing even further on the intense relationship between Goose and Maverick, which is already central to the story, would be ideal.
While there are ways that the originalTop Gunmovie hasn’t aged well, there’s a reason that there are so many longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring many needle drops within the story,Top Gununderstands that music is a great addition to an emotionally compelling scene.The biggest issue thatTop Gunwould face when entering the musical sphere would be weaving the flight scenes into the story. However, it would be amazing to witness the planes themselves being choreographed for in-air sequences along with songs.
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Showgirls
Showgirls follows the journey of a vagabond named Nomi Malone, who arrives in Las Vegas to pursue her dream of becoming a Vegas showgirl. Initially hopeful about her prospects, she soon realizes the world of showbusiness is ruthless - and she’ll have to play their rules if she wants to make it to the top.
The style and spectacle of Las Vegas, coupled with the explosive nature of the story, makeShowgirlsan ideal choice for adaptation.With gorgeous set pieces, vivid colors, and already featuring dance numbers,Showgirlshas everythingthat adds up to the tension and visual intrigue of a great musical. Theatrical overtones and melodramatic characters populate the world ofShowgirls, and there’s reason to believe that becoming a musical would help the legacy of the project. Additionally, the role of Nomi is the perfect vehicle for a rising star in movie musicals.
There’s lots of room inShowgirlsfor restructuring and taking the dramatic moments scattered throughout the narrative to make an action-packed plot.
Though panned by critics and audiences alike at the time of its release,Showgirlshas become a cult favorite in the years since its release,largely thanks to its campy style. Though there’s plenty of controversy surrounding some of the overtly sexual themes and a particularly violent scene at the end of the film, many of these issues are in conversation with the sexualization that female dancers face. There’s lots of room inShowgirlsfor restructuring and taking the dramatic moments scattered throughout the narrative to make an action-packed plot.
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Election
Directed by Alexander Payne, 1999’s Election is a Dark Comedy involving a high school election, focusing on the president of the student body. The film stars Matthew Broderick as a High School Social Studies teacher that ends up heading a scheme to disparage a popular girl (played by Reese Witherspoon) from winning the election.
Hilarious, star-studded, and one of the many reasons that 1999 is considered such a stand-out year for film,Electionhas all the elements that make for an ideal movie musical.The popularity of musicals set in high school has skyrocketed in recent years, withMean Girls,Dear Evan Hansen, andBe More Chill. However,Electioncould successfully flip the script on the formulas of these projects because it features a conflict between a teacher and a student. Centering on two characters with such strong and memorable personalities is also a surefire way to keep audiences engaged.
Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon are at their best as the disenfranchised teacher James McAllister and the over-zealous student Tracy Flick.Electiontakes place in the American Midwest, another well-tread setting for film and television. The film uses this region and its stereotypical social niceties as a strong contrast to the darkly humorous script. Though Tracy takes center stage in her bid to win the student council election,the story expands to touch upon the many different personalities and upbringings of the people at the school,making for a diverse and compelling cast.
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