Movies That Have Been Turned Into Broadway Musicals: ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ ‘Pretty Woman’ and More

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Movies That Have Been Turned Into Broadway Musicals: 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Pretty Woman' and More

Lights are bright on Broadway! When it comes to bringing a new musical to the Great White Way, producers find inspiration in all sorts of places — including beloved movies.

“I mean, I’ll probably come back here, like, five more times before we actually come to Broadway, but it’s a real thing now,” Mean Girls scribe Tina Fey teased of the musical treatment of her ‘00s flick during a May 2017 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “It’s so cool. It’s so fun because — you can sing — but I’ve been in stuff that’s like movie musicals, whatever, a little bit."

She added: "The secret with movie musicals is you can secretly suck and be a star. But to do things on stage? Like, these kids are so talented! We have the cast now. We’ve been rehearsing for about a month. There’s a bunch of baby Timberlakes. Everyone can do everything! They just sing so loud and they dance so hard.”

Mean Girls: The Musical ran from April 2018 to March 2020, originally starring Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman, Emily in Paris’ Ashley Park, Barrett Wilbert Weed, Grey Henson, Kyle Selig and Kate Rockwell.

“The greatest thing about bringing this musical to life is that our creative team didn’t say, ‘Can you just recreate the iconic film performance?’ We could never hope to,” Henningsen, who played Lindsay Lohan’s role of Cady Heron on stage, exclusively told Us Weekly in April 2018. “I could never deliver the performance that Lindsay did. … It has been really special being able to recreate these characters for a musical and in this current time period.”

She continued: “I know Lindsay Lohan wants to come see the show. I hope she does. I don’t want to know about it [if she’s in the audience] because I will get so nervous.”

Mean Girls: The Musical — which is also set to be released as a filmed adaptation — is hardly the only movie that has served as inspiration for the Broadway stage. In April 2016, Sara Bareilles’ version of Waitress debuted at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City. Starring Jessie Mueller as the original Jenna, the “Brave” singer reinvigorated the Keri Russell-led film with a slate of Tony Award-nominated songs.

“We want everyone in the world to come see the show. We’re so proud of it,” Bareilles — who eventually played the show’s titular role in both Broadway and West End runs — exclusively told Us in February 2019. “I just think Waitress is comfort food. It’s got so much heart and it’s got so much humor. It’s just a really beautiful. I mean, I know I’m biased because I’m intimately involved, but I really believe in the story of resilience and strength and vulnerability and all of the themes that run in the show.”

Scroll below to see more movies that have been adapted into Broadway musicals from Legally Blonde to American Psycho:

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'La La Land'

Lionsgate announced in February 2023 that the 2016 Oscar-winning film is being adapted for Broadway. Producer Marc Platt confirmed that the stage adaptation will feature music from the movie’s composer Justin Hurwitz with lyrics from composing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. La La Land’s Broadway debut date has not been set.

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'Back to the Future’

Inspired by the 1985 movie of the same name, Back to the Future: The Musical is set to premiere on Broadway in June 2023 after a smash-hit run on London’s West End. Roger Bart and Hugh Coles will reprise their roles of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, respectively.

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‘Almost Famous'

Almost Famous The Musical began Broadway previews in October 2022, one month before its opening night. Based on Cameron Crowe’s 2000 movie starring Kate Hudson, the musical takes it back to 1973 as aspiring journalist William Miller hits the road with an up-and-coming rock band. Supergirl alum Chris Wood makes his Broadway debut as rockstar Russell Hammond and stars opposite Solea Pfeiffer, Anika Larsen, Drew Gehling and Rob Colletti.

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'Mrs. Doubtfire'

The 1993 movie, which starred Robin Williams in the titular role, was transformed into a stage show in March 2020 shortly before the coronavirus pandemic hit NYC. Much like the film, the musical sees unemployed actor Chris Hilliard dress up as a Scottish nanny in order to stay in his kids’ life after his divorce. The production featured Rob McClure as the Hillard family’s housekeeper and reopened in April 2022 after Broadway returned post-shutdown. McClure’s performance earned him a coveted 2022 Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

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'Mr. Saturday Night'

Nominated for five 2022 Tony Awards — including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical — Billy Crystal adapted his 1992 film of the same name for the stage. The When Harry Met Sally star plays comedian Buddy Young, Jr. in both iterations, chronicling his rise to the top — albeit 40 years apart.

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'Beetlejuice'

Beetlejuice, based on Tim Burton’s kooky film of the same name, opened on a Broadway stage in April 2019 starring Alex Brightman as the iconic demon. The musical also featured Sophia Anne Caruso as teenager Lydia, who is obsessed with the whole “being dead thing” after moving into a haunted house with her overbearing parents. Despite earning eight Tony nods, Beetlejuice eventually closed in April 2020 amid the pandemic shutdown. Two years later, the production reopened at the Marquis Theatre. (It initially ran at the Winter Garden Theatre before Hugh Jackman’s The Music Man began previews there in early 2022.)

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'Moulin Rouge!'

Baz Luhrmann’s romantic jukebox movie musical served as inspiration for the Great White Way upon its July 2019 opening. The show, which won 10 Tony Awards, features more than 55 pop songs in its repertoire, from Lorde’s “Royals” to Madonna’s “Material Girl.” The show continued to run after Tony winner Aaron Tveit left his role of Christian in May 2022.

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'The Lion King'

The Lion King is perhaps one of the most successful Broadway shows, continuing to play to sold-out crowds ever since its November 1997 opening. Much like the animated Disney film, attendees watch lion cub Simba grow up to eventually lead his pride through inventive puppetry and choreography.

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'Pretty Woman'

The late Garry Marshall helmed the iconic romantic comedy starring the likes of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in 1990, which was brought to the stage in August 2018. Starring Samantha Barks and Andy Karl, fans were treated to a musical version of Vivian Ward’s love story with Edward Lewis.

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'Mean Girls'

Fey, who penned the 2004 teenage film of the same name, opened the stage version in April 2018. Ahead of its eventual closing amid the COVID-19 crisis, budding stars Sabrina Carpenter, Renée Rapp and Cameron Dallas took over in the roles of Cady Heron, Regina George and Aaron Samuels, respectively, for brief runs.

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'Frozen'

Following the success of several other Disney on Broadway productions, Frozen took to the stage in March 2018 starring Caissie Levy and Patty Murin as princesses Elsa and Anna, respectively. In addition to using the film's now-iconic soundtrack, the stage version also added a host of new songs to the production. The show closed for good in May 2020 amid the coronavirus shutdown.

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'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

Inspired by Gene Wilder’s 2005 film — and Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened on Broadway in 2017 following a hit run on London’s West End. Smash alum Christian Borle played legendary candymaker Willy Wonka as he gave a special tour of his chocolate factory to an odd crop of children and their parents.

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'Anastasia'

1997’s Anastasia originally told the story of the Russian Romanov dynasty ahead of their execution. The orphaned Anya (née Anastasia) was suddenly left behind as she sought to discovery her true identity and family legacy. A live version was brought to NYC in April 2017 and starred Christy Altomare, Ramin Karimloo and Derek Klena.

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'Groundhog Day'

Groundhog Day, which ran from April to September 2017, took inspiration from Bill Murray’s 1993 movie of the same name. Andy Karl played weatherman Phil Collins, who gets trapped in a time loop while on assignment on Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

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'Amelie'

Amélie: A New Musical, which was based on Audrey Tautou’s 2001 cult classic flick, opened on Broadway in April 2017. The show starred Hamilton’s Phillipa Soo as Amélie, who leaves her quiet suburban life to make it in the bustling metropolis of Paris. The show closed in May 2017 after 27 previews and 56 post-opening performances.

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'Tuck Everlasting'

Back in 2002, Alexis Bledel’s Winnie Foster discovered the immortal Tuck family on the big screen in Disney’s Tuck Everlasting. A Broadway production was mounted in early 2016 starring Sarah Charles Lewis, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Carolee Carmello and Michael Park. The show closed in May 2016 after just 39 performances.

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'Waitress'

Bareilles penned the book and lyrics for the musical, which was inspired by the 2007 film about an aspiring piemaker stuck in a loveless marriage. The musical version originally starred the late Nick Cordero, Kimiko Glenn and The Greatest Showman's Kaela Settle. While Mueller originated the role of baker Jenna Hunterson, several other stars had the chance to belt out the Tony-nominated songs, including Bareilles, Katharine McPhee, Nicolette Robinson, Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Nettles.

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'American Psycho'

Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa penned the 2016 Broadway musical following a similar premise as Christian Bale’s 2000 horror flick about serial killer Patrick Bateman. The production, which starred Benjamin Walker, ran from March to June 2016. The musical first premiered in the West End starring the likes of The Crown alum Matt Smith and Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey.

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'Legally Blonde'

Nearly six years after Reese Witherspoon introduced movie fans to Elle Woods’ legal life on the silver screen, a musical debuted on Broadway featuring Laura Bella Bundy as the pink-loving aspiring lawyer. The show opened in February 2007, earning seven Tony nominations ahead of its October 2008 closure.

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'Sister Act'

Sister Act was inspired by Whoopi Goldberg’s 1992 film of the same name featuring original music from Alan Menken. Opening on Broadway in April 2011, Patina Miller starred as musical wonder Deloris who adds a dose of spunk to the local parish when she becomes a nun. Victoria Clark and Fred Applegate also starred in the production, and Raven-Symoné eventually replaced Miller later in the show's run.

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'Billy Elliot'

Elton John penned the music for Billy Elliot: The Musical, which was inspired by the 2000 film of the same name as young Billy begins taking ballet lessons despite his family's hesitations. The show ran on Broadway between October 2008 and January 2012. The London iteration even featured a young Tom Holland in the role of Billy Elliot.

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'Newsies'

Bale’s 1992 turn in Newsies later inspired a stage production in 2012, starring Jeremy Jordan as newsboy Jack Kelly. Much like the film, the musical followed Jack Kelly’s life as a "newsie" ahead of the Newsboys Strike of 1899. The show, which won two Tony trophies, officially closed in August 2014. Nearly three years later, the OBC (Original Broadway Cast) reunited during a touring production, which was filmed live and premiered in movie theaters in 2017.