Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton has become a true pop culture phenomenon. Detailing the life of the first secretary of the treasury, the show was noted for incorporating hip-hop instead of just traditional singing. While most of the historical figures featured in the play are white, Hamilton incorporated people of color to play these roles. As Miranda has said in describing this casting choice, Hamilton is “America then, told by America now.”
This year, Hamilton was presented to a wider global audience with its original production being released as a three-hour-long film on Disney+. Here are a few movies that might interest you if you’re a fan of Hamilton, from other musicals to just movies about important historical eras.
Les Miserables (2012)
Based on the famed Broadway production, the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables is melodramatic and powerful in its approach, bolstered by the ensemble of Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, and Hugh Jackman. Jackman plays Jean Valjean, a prisoner who broke parole to start a new life by adopting a young girl, but his tragic past eventually catches up with him.
The only thing that’s off-putting about Les Miserables might be its overlong duration, but it lives up to its epic ambitions and themes of revolution.
Django Unchained (2012)
This violent tale of a slave seeking revenge in the 19th century isn’t a musical, but writer/director Quentin Tarantino gets pretty innovative with the film’s soundtrack, heavily influenced by hip-hop and Ennio Morricone’s classic Western movie scores. Whether Django is simply riding his horse or is engaged in an epic gunfight, each song choice is deliberate and plays a key role in setting the tone.
From start to finish, music plays a major role in this recent Tarantino classic that redefined the Western and historical drama genres.
Evita (1996)
Based on the stage musical of the same name, Evita portrays the life of Eva Perón, the wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. Played by pop star Madonna, the film chronicles Eva’s rise from rags to riches, her controversial political career, and then her death at the age of 33. Antonio Banderas also stars as Ché, a narrator who changes guises during various phases of Eva’s life.
It proved to be one of the most acclaimed performances of Madonna’s rather hit-or-miss film career, and its soundtrack drew universal praise— including the song “You Must Love Me,” which won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
Dreamgirls (2006)
Dreamgirls traces the rise of R&B music in the 1950s and ’60s and stars a talented ensemble led by Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, and Eddie Murphy. The story follows the formation of a fictional girl group that is inspired by real groups like The Supremes, trying to navigate the grimy— and often racist— music industry of the era.
The cast displays vibrant energy in the musical portions of the film, serving as a fitting tribute to all the African-American artists who revolutionized popular music through the creation of genres like R&B and jazz.
Marie Antoinette (2006)
Like Hamilton‘s incorporation of a style of music that didn’t exist at the time the story takes place, Sofia Coppola’s unabashedly stylish Marie Antoinette takes a similar approach. Even though it’s inspired by the life of the titular 17th-century monarch during the French Revolution, the film incorporates several modern elements, most notably a soundtrack that is primarily drawn from 1980s synth and new wave bands.
Kirsten Dunst plays the title role with great charm, reinterpreting the character as one who dwells in solitude in a male-dominated world and giving her a sympathetic spin.
Black Is King (2020)
Beyoncé shows her iconic sense of artistry with this retelling of The Lion King that fared better among critics and audiences than Jon Favreau’s motion-capture adaptation (that she also starred in). Black is King depicts the tale of an exiled African prince, very similar to The Lion King‘s original plot.
Filled with stunning visuals and a culturally rich soundtrack, the musical film functions as a personal and political testament for Beyoncé and a bold project for Disney, especially given recent criticisms that the company has issues with representing diversity in its films.
The Wiz (1978)
A modern musical reinterpretation of The Wizard Of Oz with an African-American cast, The Wiz initially opened to mixed reviews but later developed a cult following. The movie was a star-studded affair on both sides of the camera, directed by Sidney Lumet, scored by Quincy Jones, and starring Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, and Richard Pryor as the titular Wiz.
Dorothy is re-imagined as a Harlem schoolteacher who mysteriously ends up at Oz, a mythical land that’s projected as a Utopian version of New York City. The film was also praised for Jones’ score, as well as its costume and production design.
Rent (2005)
The original Broadway musical Rent deals with the trials and tribulations of a group of Bohemians who struggle with sexuality, gender identity, and substance abuse as the AIDS pandemic looms large. While Chris Columbus’ film adaptation doesn’t come close to the theatrical production by any means, it’s still a worthy and entertaining effort.
Anthony Rapp, Rosario Dawson, and Jesse L. Martin lead the ensemble— along with a then-up-and-coming singer and actress by the name of Idina Menzel— all reprising their roles from the Broadway original.
Guava Island (2019)
Guava Island clocks in at just 55 minutes, but that’s enough for lead actor Donald Glover to make an impact. A musical tale set on the titular Guava Island, Glover plays a local musician called Deni Maroon who sets to liberate the oppressed people of the island by fighting its authoritarian regime and holding a music festival.
Rather than a traditional movie, Guava Island feels more like an extended music video with a narrative. It’s at times formulaic, but also ends up feeling fresh thanks in large part to Glover’s talent and charm.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert (2018)
A staged concert performance of the legendary rock opera of the same, John Legend stars as Jesus Christ in this TV special that aired on NBC on Easter Sunday in 2018. Filmed live, the show told the story of Jesus’s final days from the perspective of Judas, the apostle who betrayed him.
Jesus Christ Superstar adds a fresh spin to the religious narrative, filled with Legend’s dazzling energy and an equally talented musical ensemble featuring fellow musicians Sara Bareilles and Alice Cooper, among others. Apart from high ratings, it was also nominated for multiple Emmys.
