10 Musicals So Bad, They Should Have Never Left The Broadway

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Broadway is famous for its hits, but every musical does not become legendary when adapted into films. Some shows crash and burn so hard in a way that has the audience scratching their heads. These musicals on the big screen could have had the most glittering costumes, elaborate sets, and catchy songs, but somehow they still did not hit the mark and stood out for all the wrong reasons.

From bizarre twists to performances that were over the top, here are some Broadway shows that did not make it as Hollywood musicals. 

The Prom

The Prom

stands out as a hot topic of discussion when it comes to a musical that failed terribly as a film. Following four struggling Broadway actors who are on a journey to support a student from getting banned from prom, the story, though giving a good promise, fails in its delivery. 

The over-the-top performance, predictable plotlines, and failure to blend in humor with heartfelt moments pulled the musical back, leaving a very scrappy output. 

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Nine

While Nine

promised to bring the allure of Italian cinema to the Broadway stage, its movie adaptation seemingly did not get the same memo and came as a big misstep. Though the cast picked was talented, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis, and the visuals were stunning, the film failed to capture the magic of the source. Also, the musical numbers which were the base of the whole film, came off forced and disengaged, making it difficult for audiences to follow the story. 

Cats

When the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Cats

hit theaters, boasting an impressive cast, it quickly made news headlines for its disturbing visuals. Using CGI and stamping actors’ faces onto felines left an image that was more frightening than fascinating. It was like no one could move past it. The disturbing effect of the human faces shocked critics and viewers alike on cat bodies. Furthermore, the story in the adaptation failed to connect with its audience. This was in complete contrast to the original stage performance, which was applauded as charming and engaging, leaving fans and newcomers equally disappointed. 

Rock of Ages

The Rock of Ages

tried to capture that Sunset Strip vibe in the late 1980s when it was alive with neon lights shining, hairspray smells in the air, and electric beats of the rock music era. But, did not quite hit the mark for many. Despite its fun and pumping soundtracks and nostalgic feels, the movie version starring Tom Cruise received a ton of mixed reviews, mostly towards the negative side. This leaves the Rock of Ages

, as another theater production that did not translate well from stage to screen. 

The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years

was a musical piece loved by theater fans for its depth and emotions that were narrated in a beautiful structure. Its adaptation, which tells a tale of love and loss, does not share the same qualities. Though the musical was interesting, its execution and charm lagged way behind the theater performance, leaving fans disappointed and newcomers with mixed impressions. 

Rent

When Rent

made its leap from stage to screen in 2005, it tried to replicate the raw energy of its Broadway performance but was quick to be left behind. The film adaptation lacked the fast, pulsating vibe of the theater performance, with its slower pace and missing spontaneity. This combined with the emphasis on too much drama, resulted in a production that felt like a staged reading, failing to live up to the theater’s success. 

Dear Evan Hansen

The movie Dear Evan Hansen

received a not so warm critical welcome. Firstly, the callback of Ben Platt to play the same 17-year-old character he played on stage as a troubled teen was a major misfire now that he was 27 years of age. Critics heavily questioned even the ethics of the storyline as it focused on Evan’s web of lies after a classmate’s tragic death. With all these negatives, even the star-studded cast with Amy Adams and Julianne Moore could not save this film, which lost the charm of the original. 

Evita

Hollywood’s adaptation of Evita

, originally intended as a profound and dramatic statement on power and ambition, transformed it into a flashy spectacle. The musical numbers of Evita

though catchy, clouded over the actual drama and storyline. This made the film production a bust, as it could not really live up to the real gist of the subject matter as in the original.

Jersey Boys

Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys

tells the story of The Four Seasons

, a successful musical as a film adaption. Though the stage adaptation was a masterpiece, the film version did not achieve as much. This is because the movie missed out heavily on the pace and tone which were uneven, leaving the audience disengaged, and receiving bad reception from fans. 

Into the Woods

This attempt of Disney to bring one of Broadway’s all-time favorites, Into the Woods

into the films, was quite a reach. Fans of the musical did not welcome well the changes in the storylines. The adaption was not all bad; it had many good performances yes but still could not match the original one that happened on stage. It left fans wanting more of the enchantment and depth that the stage production had. 

These musicals are out there, proving that not every Broadway production is an instant hit. While some Hollywood Broadway productions broke year-old records

, others not so much. Still, even these flops have a space in the Broadway lore, as a reminder that even the bad shows can leave a lasting impression–just not for the reasons they would have hoped.

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Do you agree with our list of Broadway disasters? Let us know in the comments!

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