Fans of the Broadway musical Wicked are elated over the news that the stage prequel to The Wizard of Oz will finally receive a film adaptation in 2024 after many years in development hell (via US Magazine). The musical film genre is a pendulum of successes and failures. Whether it is an adaptation of a popular Broadway musical, a jukebox homage, or something entirely original, it is a roll of the dice with each silver screen production.
Big names, flashy costumes, and danceable songs set the stage for the story. Some viewers appreciate the art and others find the concept to be gimmicky. While countless musical films have stood on their own, others have missed the mark. These low Rotten Tomatoes scores of film musicals definitely speak for themselves.
The Greatest Showman – 54%
With his musical background and acting skills, it was only fitting for Hugh Jackman to be cast as P.T. Barnum in the musical biopic The Greatest Showman, chronicling the life of the Barnum and Bailey Circus founder and showman. With an A-list cast and original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land), the film had all the makings of a hit.
Unfortunately, this isn’t reflected by the 54% Rotten Tomatoes score. The film was a financial success, but the main complaints among critics were the run time and glorifying Barnum.
Pitch Perfect 3 – 28%
One of the best talent show movies, Pitch Perfect is popular among millennials for its fresh song covers and enjoyable humor. The success of Pitch Perfect 2 birthed another sequel, Pitch Perfect 3, to complete the trilogy.
The movie reunites former college champion singing group The Bellas, with the goal of performing in one final competition. Pitch Perfect 3 was nowhere near as embraced as that of its predecessors, resulting in a 28% Rotten Tomatoes score. Both critics and fans alike felt that the movie was a dissatisfying closure to a story that had a magical beginning.
Cats – 19%
Adopting a popular Broadway musical to the silver screen is rather challenging, especially in attempts to stay faithful to the source material. After decades of failed efforts, a live-action film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats was released in 2019. While the film had Oscar bait written all over it, the hooks failed to catch on critically or financially.
Not even the all-star Cats cast could save the movie, which was a box office bomb with a $114 million loss for Universal Pictures. The film was heavily panned for its disastrous, creepy cat/human hybrid CGI.
Diana: The Musical – 12%
Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, is one of history’s most iconic figures. Her grace, philanthropy, and style made her not only The People’s Princess of The British Royal Family but a princess for the world. In 1997, Diana’s life was tragically cut short in a fatal car accident, with her legacy inspiring numerous productions in her honor.
Netflix released a filmed performance of the 2019 musical Diana in 2021. The presentation received derision over its depiction of Diana’s life. Even though Diana: The Musicalwas critically panned, it is still one of the better movies about Princess Diana.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – 11%
The Beatles are hands-down one of the most revered rock bands of all time, changing the face of music history. In addition to starring in movie adaptations of their classic albums, The Fab Four inspired many films based on their incredible legacy. Alas, not all of them were successful.
A 1978 jukebox musical inspired by and named after the revolutionary Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the story revolves around a small town band’s successful rise in the music industry. The film was anticipated to be a hit but majorly tanked as The Beatles post-breakup hype had greatly fizzled.
Basmati Blues – 10%
Winning an Academy Award can provide career security for an actor, but it doesn’t always guarantee a film’s success. This proved to be true with 2017’s Basmati Blues, starring 2015 Best Actress winner Brie Larson. Larson plays an American scientist who teams up with an Indian farmer (Utkarsh Ambudkar) to help other Indian farmers, falling in love along the way.
The film sparked controversy over its stereotypical and culturally insensitive depiction of Indian races. Additionally, despite the attempts to have the movie be a Bollywood homage in Hollywood form, audiences found the film’s portrayals of Indian culture to be superficial.
From Justin To Kelly – 8%
American Idol has had many successful alumni in both winners and runner-ups, but perhaps one of the most prominent is the competition’s debut winner Kelly Clarkson. Alongside Clarkson was runner-up Justin Guarini. The two of them captured America’s hearts with their incredible talents and endearing chemistry.
In an attempt to survive the beach blanket genre, a musical film entitled From Justin To Kelly was greenlit. Unfortunately, the 2003 movie would be a critical and commercial failure, holding an abysmal 8% RT score. The lackluster choreography even resulted in the creation of The Governor’s Award for the Golden Razzies.
Music – 7%
2021 would see avant-garde musician Sia make her directorial debut with Music. She had her protégé Maddie Ziegler of Dance Moms‘ fame in the lead role of an autistic little girl. While the efforts may have been earnest, the film was a disaster.
Music was lambasted for its insensitive and inaccurate depiction of the autism community, including the physical restraint of the titular character. This would not mar Ziegler’s rising career, as she would then star in the 2021 Academy Award Best Picture nominee West Side Story.
Standing Ovation – 6%
Standing Ovation could be considered Pitch Perfect for middle schoolers. The 2010 film revolves around five friends that assemble themselves as a singing group in order to win a music video competition. Overall, the film’s message was about the pursuit of one’s dreams despite the obstacles that may arise, which is perhaps Standing Ovation‘s only redeeming quality.
The movie failed to recoup its expenses and was torn apart by critics. What was supposed to be a heartfelt tale of friendship, dreams and talent was written off as an annoying and poorly acted kiddie flick.
House Party 3 – 0%
The House Party series is one of the most popular franchises to originate in the 1990s. Catapulting comedian Martin Lawrence, the movies are a similar setting to The Hangover, centering around the crazy adventures of a friend group. With the original film being a wild success, sequels were almost necessary.
Not only did House Party 3 have a poor performance, but it received unfavorable reviews. Fans had the same perspective about House Party 3 as they did about its predecessor, House Party 2. The overall opinion of the film was that it was a lazy endeavor of a classic.
