The 7 Best Movies Turned to Modern Stage Musicals

We know that many stage productions have often inspired iconic films, but what about movies that were turned into modern stage musicals? Several great movies were adapted into stage musicals. When cinematic moments turn into live experiences, the audience can reconnect with beloved characters and plots in an entirely new setting. Here are 7 best movies turned into modern stage musicals.

Hairspray

Not many movies that turned to modern staged musicals captured the imagination as Hairspray. The plot revolves around Tracy Turnblad, played by Nikki Blonsky, a spirited teenager with ambitions to dance on The Corny Collins Show. The movie is set in Baltimore in the 1960s. When Tracy lands a spot on the show, she uses her newfound fame to challenge racial segregation and advocate for integration.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Robin Williams made several memorable movies that made us laugh (and cry) over the years. One such iconic movie was Mrs. Doubtfire. The movie is a heartwarming and funny story about family and the lengths one man will go to stay close to his kids. The 1993 movie stars Williams as Daniel Hillard, a loving but irresponsible father who loses custody of his children after a divorce.

Matilda

Matilda is a story that so many people love. It is about a brave and clever little girl who stands up for herself, even when everything seems to go against her. Her parents do not care about her intelligence, they are more interested in watching TV than paying attention to her. School is not much better because the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, rules through fear and intimidation. But Matilda is different. She is smart, and strong, and discovers she has a unique power, telekinesis.

Catch Me If You Can

This movie on the list features two of the finest actors in Hollywood: Tom Hanks and Leonardo Di Caprio. Catch Me If You Can tells the amazing true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a young con artist who conned people into believing he was a pilot, doctor, and lawyer. He did all this before he even turned 21.

Mean Girls

High school can feel like a battlefield, and Mean Girls captures that perfectly. Cady Heron joins high school after being homeschooled and quickly finds herself caught in the world of cliques and drama. She makes friends with the artsy outcasts but soon gets involved with “The Plastics,” the popular but mean group.

Legally Blonde

If you found Mean Girls funny, then Legally Blonde was no less humorous. Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon, starts out with one goal, to get her ex-boyfriend back by getting into Harvard Law School. She really wants to show her worth and also get into Harvard,

School of Rock

School of Rock is a fun and exciting story about music and teamwork. The 2003 movie stars Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a musician who is down on his luck. To make some money, he pretends to be a substitute teacher at a fancy prep school. But instead of teaching regular subjects, he turns his class into a rock band. The kids are talented, and together they prepare to compete in a Battle of the Bands. The movie is funny and heartwarming, with great music and lots of laughs.

These are just some of the many memorable movies that were turned into modern-day stage musicals. If you haven't already seen these movies, you can watch them on the big screen or check if any of your local theatres are showing a stage adaptation of the film.