Back in the day, movie studios used to get the rights to Broadway and West End shows and musicals. This was a fun way to bring live theater to the movies, and it usually ended up with some pretty cool movies. But times have changed. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a musical, but the trend is definitely changing. We’re now seeing a lot of beloved fantasy movies being turned into amazing stage musicals.
Think of all the movies that have been adapted into musicals – Back To The Future, Spirited Away, Beetlejuice, and Shrek The Musical to name a few. Plus, there’s the big one coming up – The Warriors The Musical. These adaptations have captured our imaginations and made us wonder if some of our favorite movies could be turned into magical musicals.
Let’s take a trip down the rabbit hole and see if we can turn some of our favorite fantasy movies into amazing musicals! We’ll look at how to combine the magic of fantasy storytelling with the magic of music to create a new kind of entertainment that will captivate people all over the world. So come join us and see what we can do!
Stardust
 | Stardust | |
| Genre Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Romance | Runtime 2 hour and 7 minutes | |
| Directed by Matthew Vaughn | 7.6/10 | |
| Cast Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Sienna Miller | ||
Stardust features a young Charlie Cox, who appeared in it before he played Matt Murdock in Daredevil, and it takes viewers on a coming-of-age trip through a fanciful film. The plot follows a young man from a little English village as he grows up through interactions with magic, love, and risky adventures.
Stardust is a magical movie written and directed by Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, Neil Gaiman, and others. It’s full of magical energy and mystical elements that could be used to create amazing stage visuals. If the movie could be brought to life on the big screen, it could be a beautiful musical that captures the magic and adventure of the original movie.
The Chronicles of Narnia
 | The Chronicles of Narnia | |
| Genre Adventure, Family, and Fantasy | Runtime 2 hour and 23 minutes | |
| Directed by Andrew Adamson | 6.9/10 | |
| Cast Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, and William Moseley | ||
The beloved book series The Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis, has been turned into a number of fantasy movies. With the release of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 2005, Disney noticeably started on this quest. The story follows a group of siblings dealing with the hardships of the Second World War, which leads them to seek refuge with an elderly man in the countryside. The kids are exploring the mansion when they come into a mysterious wardrobe that transports them from London to the enchanted land of Narnia. They discover a magical world filled with talking lions here.
We can use music and song to bring these characters to life as they walk through the wardrobe into the world of Narnia, where the impossible becomes possible. The catchy songs and enchanting melodies will bring to life the feeling of awe and enchantment as they first discover Narnia. As they encounter talking lions, courageous fauns and the evil White Witch, they will be brought to life by song and dance.
It’s not just the amazing visuals that would make The Chronicles of Narnia a great musical. It’s the underlying themes of bravery, camaraderie, and the fight between good and bad that can be brought to life with music. Every character can have their own unique style of music, and the epic battles between the White Witch and Aslan could be set to epic orchestral score.
Pan’s Labyrinth
 | Pan’s Labyrinth | |
| Genre Drama, Fantasy, War | Runtime 1 hour and 58 minutes | |
| Directed by Guillermo del Toro | 8.2/10 | |
| Cast Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López | ||
The artistically stunning fantasy picture Pan’s Labyrinth, a work of art by Guillermo del Toro, tells the narrative of a little girl named Ofelia, whose father is a harsh army officer in the year 1944. Ivana Baquero plays Ofelia, who escapes her stressful reality by discovering a parallel universe, rich with both magical and terrifying fae beings.
These elements could be used to create a stage musical that would be just as beautiful. If you were to make a musical out of this, it could be accompanied by some creepy, dreamy music that talks about the power of imagination and how it interacts with reality and fantasy.
Willow
 | Willow | |
| Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance | Runtime 2 hours and 6 minutes | |
| Directed by Ron Howard | 7.2/10 | |
| Cast Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis | ||
Ron Howard expertly helmed Willow a charming fantasy movie from the late 1980s that George Lucas conceptualized. The title character of the movie, played by Warwick Davis, is a young farmer who has been given the duty of rescuing a lost child from a wicked queen’s clutches while returning her to her rightful home. The story essentially unfolds as a hero’s trip, bravery, and a transformational journey.
This is a great story, but it doesn’t have the same kind of funny over-the-top exaggerations as the Shrek: The Musical. But it’s a great story to adapt for the stage which has all the fantastical elements that would make Willow a great musical. It can be easily made it into a grand theatrical show that feels like an epic musical tour.
Edward Scissorhands
 | Edward Scissorhands | |
| Genre Drama, Fantasy, Romance | Runtime 1 hour and 54 minutes | |
| Directed by Tim Burton | 7.9/10 | |
| Cast Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, and Dianne Wiest | ||
Even though Edward Scissorhands blurs the lines between science fiction and fantasy, many people think that this legendary Tim Burton work has the potential to be turned into a gripping and intense musical fairytale adaptation. This fantasy movie, with its lavish stage sets that perfectly match the original’s mix of black and white gothic style, could be a hit on Broadway in the same way that the successful Broadway musical was.
Even though younger actors might have to fill the shoes of Johnny Depp or Winona Ryder in the musical, it’s already shaping up to be a pretty cool concept. Maybe Edward and Kim will be singing some really sad ballads, and the cast will be doing some really fun ensemble numbers that will make the stage look really fancy and fun.
Labyrinth
 | Labyrinth | |
| Genre Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical | Runtime 1 hour and 41 minutes | |
| Directed by Jim Henson | 7.3/10 | |
| Cast David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, and Toby Froud | ||
Jim Henson created the cult masterpiece Labyrinth, which is adored by many. Due in part to Henson’s decision to cast David Bowie, a well-known rockstar of the 1980s, in the role of the mysterious Goblin King Jareth, this fantasy movie has an innate musical aspect.
The film contains a number of musical interludes, including the songs “Magic Dance,” “Chilly Down,” and “As The World Falls Down,” which are easily adapted for the stage. David Bowie’s untimely death creates a hole, but Trevor Jones, the movie’s co-composer, may be able to work with you to recruit a great skill for writing new songs in tribute to a musical adaptation. Essentially, Labyrinth is ready to be transformed into a musical experience that reflects its innate musicality.
The Princess Bride
 | The Princess Bride | |
| Genre Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, and Romance | Runtime 1 hour and 38 minutes | |
| Directed by Rob Reiner | 8.0/10 | |
| Cast Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Robin Wright | ||
The Princess Bride, like Stardust, is a charming Fantasy Movies that is easily adaptable to a theatrical musical. This well-liked fantasy film is primarily about genuine love, but it also deals with friendship and loyalty. It centers on Buttercup and Wesley, a couple torn apart by piracy and a villainous prince.
The villain song from Prince Humperdink, a passionate duet between Buttercup and Wesley, a ballad from Buttercup, and entertaining ensemble pieces from the local villages could all be included in a stage adaptation of The Princess Bride. Inigo and Fezzik can undoubtedly have their own solo songs as well.
Wrapping it up!
The entertainment industry has changed a lot in recent years when it comes to adapting stories for different mediums. In the past, popular stage shows and musicals were adapted into Fantasy Movies. But now, a lot of popular movies are being transformed into amazing stage musicals. This trend is a sign of how popular these stories are and how people want to see them brought to life in new and exciting ways.
