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The long-awaited Part 1 of Wicked is finally here, and fans can't get enough. From dominating TikTok trends to becoming a staple on late-night TV, Wicked is undoubtedly having its moment.
Jon M. Chu achieved the unimaginable: crafting a film adaptation of a musical that stayed true to its roots while also becoming a massive commercial success.
Unfortunately, not every director has managed to replicate Chu's success in transitioning stage productions to the big screen. Here are 10 musicals that suffered from poorly executed film adaptations.
10. Rock of Ages
It’s never a good sign when a movie review begins with, “I just wasted two hours of my life, and I want them back.” Sadly, this was the overwhelming sentiment toward the 2012 film Rock of Ages.
While much of the original storyline and musical numbers were retained, the over-the-top humor and playful tone of the stage show failed to resonate on screen. Despite an all-star lineup featuring Tom Cruise, Bryan Cranston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Alec Baldwin, this jukebox musical was torn apart by critics. The film lacked the passion, energy, rebellion, and other elements typically associated with rock bands like those depicted in the story.
As the New York Times noted, “There’s no grit in these characters or their art, not a trace of authenticity. It feels like Disneyland and sounds, unfortunately, like a subpar Broadway production.”
9. The King and I
This 1999 animated version should not be confused with the cherished 1956 film The King and I. Aimed at a younger audience, it attempted to retell the tale of a British teacher and her relationship with the King of Siam in a more child-friendly manner.
Unlike many children’s films that appeal to adults as well, this one failed to entertain older audiences. Critics slammed the movie for oversimplifying the plot, omitting key Rogers and Hammerstein songs, and delivering a diluted version of an already family-friendly tale.
When it debuted, the Washington Post described it as a “miserable, garish, nonsensical mess seemingly designed to irritate adults and put children to sleep.”
8. Nine
Inspired by the Italian film 8 ½, the musical Nine centers on a womanizing Italian filmmaker (portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis) navigating a midlife crisis. Nine significant women from his life appear as voices in his mind, from his mother to his mistress to a childhood encounter with a prostitute. Through conversations with each, Day-Lewis’s character comes to understand the importance of valuing and recognizing the women in his life before it’s too late.
At its heart, the story emphasizes seeing women as more than mere objects of desire or conquest, highlighting how their perspectives can offer profound life lessons. While the 2009 film adaptation earned praise for its performances, director Rob Marshall faced criticism for dressing female characters in revealing outfits and prioritizing the male gaze over the show’s core message.
7. Les Miserables
Adapting a 1,400-page novel into a three-hour musical is no easy feat. Making a three-hour musical about French history engaging is an even greater challenge.
Yet, Les Miserables became a sensation when it premiered on the West End in 1980, despite its complex web of plots and characters. The interplay of romance and animosity, sorrow and affection, endeared the musical to audiences worldwide.
Surprisingly, the 2012 film adaptation, featuring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman, stayed largely faithful to the source material. So why is it often cited as a cautionary tale for movie musicals? Director Tom Hooper’s decision to cast Russell Crowe alongside seasoned Broadway and West End performers backfired. Crowe’s singing was widely criticized as harsh and underwhelming, detracting from the emotional intensity his role demanded. When questioned about the casting, Hooper admitted, “Finding exceptional film actors who are also exceptional singers… the options are incredibly limited.”
6. Phantom of the Opera
Setting aside the uncomfortable age gap between 17-year-old Emmy Rossum and 33-year-old Gerard Butler as romantic leads, the Phantom of the Opera film adaptation was a disappointment.
The dramatic impact of the chandelier crashing down or the phantom’s gondola drifting through stage fog loses its magic on screen. The theatrical essence of the musical didn’t translate well to the 2004 movie, and the story’s more troubling elements were accentuated by the young age of its protagonist. Additionally, while Gerard Butler embodied the phantom’s mysterious look, his vocal performance fell short of expectations.
While the visual grandeur and iconic music prevented the film from being a total disaster, critics largely dismissed it as “overwrought, dull, and devoid of the romance and peril that define the story.”
5. Dear Evan Hansen
Long before the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen hit theaters, the plot of the original Broadway production had already sparked significant debate.
Evan Hansen, a teenager, fabricates a friendship with a deceased classmate who took his own life, using the lie to forge connections and grow closer to the boy’s sister, whom he admires. If this makes you dislike Evan, you’re not alone. While the musical attempts to evoke sympathy by emphasizing his self-loathing and mental health struggles, many feel it excuses his actions too readily.
In an effort to address this, the film adaptation portrays Evan as reluctant to continue the deception, claiming external pressures forced his hand. However, this adjustment doesn’t make him more relatable; instead, he comes across as indecisive and uninspiring. He perpetuates the lie without clear justification, and the story concludes with his actions being forgiven without consequence.
Ben Platt first played Evan Hansen on Broadway at 22. By the time the movie was filmed in 2021, Platt was 27 and visibly too old to convincingly portray a high school junior. Since the film was produced by Platt’s father, he secured the role despite the glaring age mismatch. Despite heavy makeup and a youthful hairstyle, Platt’s appearance fell into the uncanny valley, resulting in a lead character who felt out of place and contributed to the film’s poor reception.
4. Hair
When Hair premiered Off-Broadway in 1967, it captivated audiences worldwide. Unfortunately, the film adaptation didn’t achieve the same acclaim. While it wasn’t a total failure—even earning a Golden Globe nomination—it failed to capture the magic of the stage production, according to its devoted fans.
The musical was born during the height of the hippie movement, while the film adaptation was released in 1979, long after the era had faded. Naturally, the two mediums reflect contrasting perspectives on the hippie tribe, the story’s central theme. The stage production delves into themes like racism, pacifism, war, sexuality, drug use, and religion. In contrast, the movie shifts its focus to the hippies as individuals, downplaying their ideologies and values.
The most significant departure from the original plot occurs in the ending. In the stage version, Claude, a member of the hippie tribe, is drafted and dies in Vietnam. In the film, Claude’s friend Berger swaps places with him to grant Claude a final night of freedom. Tragically, the soldiers are deployed that same night, and Berger is killed in Vietnam while impersonating Claude. Both conclusions are heartbreaking, but the original ending better encapsulates the despair of the Vietnam era and the profound sacrifices made during that time.
3. Cats
If you ask anyone who’s seen Cats—whether the musical or the movie—to explain the plot, chances are they’ll struggle. The only certainty is that it involves cats.
The Broadway production was a massive success in the 1980s and remains the fifth longest-running show in Broadway history. The narrative primarily consists of individual cats introducing themselves to the audience and explaining their world, with a secondary storyline about which cat deserves to be reincarnated in their unique version of the afterlife.
The stage production’s success, despite its eccentricities, was largely due to its immersive atmosphere and stunning choreography—elements that failed to translate to the screen. Instead of vibrant makeup and 1980s-style bodysuits, viewers were subjected to CGI-enhanced performances by James Corden and Taylor Swift, who spent two and a half hours rolling around on set.
Five years post-release, the film is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. As Rotten Tomatoes aptly summarized, “Despite its fur-midable cast, this Cats adaptation is a clawful mistake that will leave most viewers begging to be put out of their mew-sery.”
2. Into the Woods
Into the woods and straight out of the theater.
In 2014, Disney brought Stephen Sondheim’s 1985 musical Into the Woods to the big screen, featuring a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt, and Chris Pine. Despite the impressive lineup and solid box office performance, fans of the Broadway original were left unimpressed.
In the stage production, the intertwined narratives effortlessly transition as characters venture further into the woods. The film, however, struggled to capture this fluidity, resulting in a disjointed plot and the omission of fan-favorite songs like “Ever After” and “No More.”
While the exclusion of songs and slower pacing were frustrating, the film’s most significant misstep was the removal of the narrator. In the stage version, he opens with “Once upon a time” and guides the audience through the tales, maintaining clarity and adding a storybook charm. Without him, the movie loses this crucial element.
A key moment in the show occurs when the characters break the fourth wall and decide to sacrifice the narrator, despite his objections. This marks the story’s shift into darker territory, with Prince Charming’s infidelity and the brutal death of Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother. Without the narrator, the abrupt descent into chaos feels unexplained, diluting the moral impact.
1. A Chorus Line
As the seventh-longest-running Broadway musical, A Chorus Line holds a cherished spot in theater history. When it premiered in 1975, audiences were captivated by its seventeen characters, each vying for a spot in—you guessed it—a chorus line.
Instead of emphasizing plot or character development, each individual is given a brief opportunity to share their background, motivations, and passion for dance. The show’s innovative approach was groundbreaking at the time and earned widespread acclaim.
Despite initial challenges in gaining traction due to director reluctance, a film adaptation of A Chorus Line was released in 1985 to overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics argued that the decision to center the story around a romance between a chorus girl and the director—a subplot in the original show but the main focus in the movie—contradicted the musical’s core message.
In a production meant to celebrate collective talent, Hollywood’s attempt to prioritize a romantic storyline demonstrated a fundamental misinterpretation of the source material, ultimately failing to capture the show’s original charm.
