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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Hollywood has been turning Broadway musicals into movies almost since the advent of film.
Sometimes, like with “The Sound of Music” and “Chicago”, it works. Other times, not so much. Anybody remember “Cats” or “The Producers”?
Perhaps that’s why the producers of “Hamilton,” perphaps the biggest Broadway blockbuster in history, opted for a filmed staging of the original Broadway production rather than a traditional movie adaptation, at least for now.
Will the “Hamilton” movie of the musical, premiering Friday on Disney+, which you can order here, hasten its seemingly inevitable path to the big screen?
Only time will tell. But until then, here’s a look at 15 of the top movie musicals based on Broadway shows, ranked.
Note: Only movies I’ve actually seen are included. That’s why “Cabaret,” “Hairspray,” “All That Jazz” or some other glaring omission isn’t on the list. And, yes, I’ve seen “Mamma Mia!” and it doesn’t crack my Top 15.
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15. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Knowing nothing about the dark and twisted premise of the original off-Broadway musical, I actually walked out of the theater when I saw this movie as a kid. Still, there are at least two musical numbers worth sitting through before things get weird: Ellen Greene’s “Somewhere That’s Green” and Steve Martin’s “Dentist!”
Best number: “Dentist!”
Stream “Little Shop of Horrors” on HBO
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14. Rock of Ages (2012)
If you’re a fan of 1980s hair bands, you’ll get a kick out of seeing Tom Cruise perform the hell out of classics by Bon Jovi, Scorpions and Def Leppard. But despite a stellar cast that also features Julianne Hough, Malin Ackerman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti and Alec Baldwin, the movie is a bit of a mess.
Best number: “I Want To Know What Love Is”
Rent or buy “Rock of Ages” on iTunes or Google Play
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13. Into the Woods (2014)
With songs by Stephen Sondheim, a story based around familiar fairy tales like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Cinderella,” and an impressive cast that includes Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, James Corden, Emily Blunt and Chris Pine, Disney’s adaptation is, at times, magical. But the film ultimately suffers from the same affliction as its Broadway counterpart: the music is mostly forgettable.
Best number: “Agony”
Purchase “Into the Woods” on Amazon Prime Video
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12. Rent (2005)
“Rent” is the quintessential 1990s musical: a tragic, yet hopelessly optimistic story set during the height of the AIDS crisis. Turning it into a movie with most of the original cast seemed like a can’t-miss idea. Unfortunately, by the time the film came out in 2005, the show’s unwavering, anti-establishment idealism, alt-rock sound and cast members themselves were way past their sell-by dates.
Best number: “Another Day”
Stream “Rent” on Starz via Hulu
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11. Evita (1996)
Director Alan Parker’s film version of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s musical is more like a series of Madonna music videos than it is a fully formed feature film. Looking for a nuanced look at the complicated legacy of Eva Perón? Keep scrolling. But if you’re in the mood for stunning visuals, songs that will find permanent residence in your subconscious and Antonio Banderas absolutely crushing it, “Evita” delivers on all fronts.
Best number: “And the Money Kept Rolling In and Out”
Rent or purchase “Evita” on Amazon Prime Video
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10. Sweeney Todd (2007)
Tim Burton’s weird sensibility and Stephen Sondheim’s dark and disturbing musical about a murderous barber and his lovestruck accomplice who turned his victims into pies are a perfect match. The result is gory, heart-wrenching and wondrous to look at.
Best number: “Epiphany”
Stream “Sweeney Todd” on Amazon Prime
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9. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Director Joel Schumacher’s adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seminal work is everything you expect it to be: gaudy, campy and hauntingly romantic. In that way, the movie is more faithful to the source material than perhaps any other film on this list. Gerard Butler was, ahem, an interesting choice to play the Phantom, but Emmy Rossum (Showtime’s “Shameless”) is enchanting as Christine.
Best number: “Think of Me”
Rent or buy “The Phantom of the Opera” on Amazon Prime Video
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8. Dreamgirls (2006)
Even though the names have been changed, this is essentially the story of Motown Records as told through the rise of the Dreams, a girl group based on the Supremes. The movie features solid, soulful R&B, stellar performances by Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx, along with a fairly predictable plot. But all of it is a prelude to Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar-winning performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” perhaps the greatest singing performance ever captured on film.
Best number: “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”
Rent or purchase “Dreamgirls” on Amazon Prime Video
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7. Les Miserables (2012)
This epic production is an assault on the eyes and ears and, yes, Russell Crowe is woefully miscast as Javert. Still, the movie will steal your heart like a street urchin picking your pocket every time.
Best number: “One Day More”
Stream “Les Miserables” on HBO
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6. My Fair Lady (1964)
You’re going to need to carve out a significant chunk of your day for “My Fair Lady,” which clocks in at nearly three hours. But just try to resist the irresistible charms of Audrey Hepburn or the exuberant joy that comes from numbers like “I Could’ve Danced All Night” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.” Not possible.
Best number: “The Rain in Spain”
Not available on streaming platforms
Aileen Quinn in “Annie.”
5. Annie (1982)
Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, Ann Reinking and Edward Herrmann. Now that’s a cast! But it’s cute-as-a-button Aileen Quinn and her repertoire of catchy, if not simplistic songs that will tug at your heart strings and make you enjoy this film way more than you should.
Best number: “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here”
Rent or purchase “Annie” on Amazon Prime Video
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4. Chicago (2002)
No other movie adaptation of a Broadway musical has brought the theatrical experience to the screen better than “Chicago,” winner of the 2003 Oscar for Best Picture. Director Rob Marshall turned the dramatic parts into a stylized movie, while the musical numbers are presented as if you’re watching them in the theater, albeit one with a really large budget. The technique is effective– you feel like you’re watching a movie AND a Broadway musical.
Best number: “Cell Block Tango”
Stream “Chicago” on HBO Max
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3. West Side Story (1961)
The Oscar winner for Best Picture is a brilliant piece of filmmaking, from the cinematography, editing, set design and choreography. The score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim are mesmerizing, and the story hits you like a knife to the heart. The film’s legacy, however, is complicated. On one hand, it tackles racism, white privilege and interracial romance. But on the other, the movie’s whitewashed cast and the ethnic stereotypes it perpetuates make the film a problematic product of its time.
Best number: “America”
Stream “West Side Story” on Netflix
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2. Grease (1978)
Believing John Travolta, Olivia-Newton John, Stockard Channing and the rest of the T-Birds and Pink Ladies as teenagers is a big ask. But go along with it and you’ll find a classic high school rom com full of iconic songs about the s— we go through for true love.
Best number: “Summer Nights”
Rent or buy “Grease” on Amazon Prime Video
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1. The Sound of Music (1965)
A singing, heel-clicking nun, stoic Navy captain, conniving countess and forbidden love– it sounds like a recipe for a pretty good movie. But throw in a puppet show, some snappy songs, Nazis, and climactic scenes set at an amateur talent competition? Now that’s a perfect movie!
Best number: “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”
Stream “The Sound of Music” on Disney+
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