Best Movies Adapted From Musicals
How do franchises like Harry Potter and Hunger Games gain worldwide popularity and recognition (for their authors) these days? Through adaptation, of course. The same goes for playrights and their plays. How well were musicals adapted into films?
For those who don't know, Sunshine on Leith is based on a Dundee Reps (the Scottish equivilant to Broadway or the West End) stage production of the same name. Like Mamma Mia!, Sunshine on Leith is a jukebox musical in which the songs being used were pre-existiing (Mamma Mia! Is of course based around ABBA songs while Sunshine on Leith is based around the songs of The Proclaimers).
There's a fleeting gag about Trainspotting in this musical. Unlike most grimey Scotland set movies, the upbeat Sunshine on Leith has the luxury of getting away with Trainspotting jokes.
Les Miserables wished it had the homely charm that Sunshine on Leith has in spades. The sweeping shots of Scottish landmarks are bigger in scope than the entire length of Les Miserables
Keep your eyes peeled for a cameo from Craig and Charlie Reid ake the Proclaimers walking out of a pub. Dexter Fletcher of Bugsy Malone fame also cameos as a stumbling farting drunk.

All that romantic Greek island paradise...I dream of going to a Greek island one day. I also dream of what it would be like to be Sophie and live on one with your mother. See the beach everyday, ride your own boat; without a doubt, one of the best all-time musicals.
I love this movie and play so much. The music is all beautiful and I love the age it is sat in with the amazing bell bottom jeans! it has some complicated ideas, but it is beautiful and so much fun.

Worst pies in London? That's debateble these days considering a certain horse meat scandal.
But surely The most annoying nun in Salzburg has nothing on this deranged barber from London. Sacha Baron Cohen is the real scene stealer.
Sacha Baron Cohen does fake Italian pretty well. And who would have thought that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter can belt out a few tunes?
Defining lyrics: How gratifying for one to know that those above will serve those down below.

Honestly, who doesn't love Grease? The times when you'd go to a soda fountain with friends, own Eldorados and Mustangs, wear poodle skirts or leather jackets, watch movies at drive-in theatres with your date; Grease lets you imagine yourself at that time and enjoy it, at the same time, keeping you on your dancing shoes.
Not exactly subtle is it? Grease wished it was as subtle as Sunshine on Leith.
Kenickie was so hot! Kenickie's hotter than Danny for sure!

Better than most modern movie musicals. I adored Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Samantha Barks as Eponine, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Hugh Jackman as Valjean, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Helena Carter as Madam T, both of the major kids, and Amanda Seyfreid as Cosette. The only mistakes were Russel Crowe as Javert and Sacha Baron Cohen as Thenardier (personally I think David Tennant would have been better if they wanted big names) but overall amazing!
Definitely my favourite on this list. I love this because the content of the film doesn't differ at all from the stage. An excellent cast, top director and a wonderful, uplifting score.
I loved Emma Watson in Beauty and the Beast, but this movie deserves to be higher on the list. This is one of my favorite movies.
Blew my mind when I went to see it.

I'd argue that Chicago has a more interesting setting than Grease.
The times when gangsters would hide out in speakeasies, jazz would be played 24/7, mobsters would do drive-bys with 50 round Tommy Guns, people would wear zoot suits or fishnets and suspenders and crime & corruption were all part of the show. Chicago lets you imagine yourself at that time.
Never before has Prohibition-Era Chicago looked so glamorous. To quote Richard Gere, "Though you are stiffer than a girder, they'll let get away with murder"
Renee Zelwegger and Catherine Zeta Jones can belt out a few tunes which is more than what can be said for the 3 stooges of Mamma Mia! (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard).
Chicago should be at least top five. It is so amazing. The movie is so clever. It is literally a filmed stage show but better




SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS was (and still is) wonderful--some great songs and some incredible dancing, very athletic. Later it was adapted into a stage
play, reversing the usual progression from stage to screen.
Plenty of romance and plenty of comedy


Amazing film. Did it for my school musical and absolutely loved it


Based more from the West End production of Lionel Bart than Dickens.

Tom Cruise's singing is so good he could take up a rock career if he wanted.









