Cover image for the movie adaptation of “West Side Story.” Image available via licensing under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 (No changes made)
West Side Story (2021)
“West Side Story” originally debuted as a 1957 musical, and storytellers have rewritten and retold it for decades. Based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, “West Side Story” depicts two rival gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, in Manhattan, New York. Maria and Tony, members of these enemy gangs, fall in love and navigate their relationship amid the dramatic feud with their families.
Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort bring this timeless story to life as Maria and Tony in the 2021 adaptation. The film showcases fantastic elements, such as costumes, sets, casting, and dance numbers. The costumes vibrantly fit the story, especially with the styles and color palette. For instance, the two gangs distinguish themselves by their clothing colors: the Sharks, a gang of Puerto Rican immigrants, wear shades of red, orange, and yellow, while the Jets, the white American gang, dress in pastel blues and pinks.
The musical numbers feature advanced choreography and musicality, especially in group numbers like “Cool”, “Jet Song,” and “A Boy Like That.” The performance of “America” stands out most, particularly for its upbeat choreography. “America” remains one of the most important songs, as it outlines the story while maintaining an upbeat, theatrical tone. The casting also excels, with Rachel Zegler (Maria) and Ansel Elgort (Tony) offering a fresh perspective and successfully modernizing the story.
Rachel Zegler made her film debut as Maria, winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress-Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. This film undoubtedly boosted her acting career, leading her to star in numerous popular films, such as “The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” as Lucy Gray and “Snow White” in 2025.
Mike Faist, who plays Riff, adds another casting highlight. With a background in musical theater, Faist starred as Connor Murphy in the original Broadway cast of “Dear Evan Hansen” and in the 2024 film “Challengers.” The inclusion of these new talents in a fresh adaptation enhances the film’s appeal and marketability.
Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
The story of “Dear Evan Hansen” intrigues and puzzles audiences. When the movie remake starring Ben Platt premiered, viewers did not receive it well. The film follows Evan Hansen, an anti-social boy struggling with anxiety. Early in the movie, he meets Connor Murphy, who then commits suicide. Evan fabricates a story to Connor’s family about their friendship to date Connor’s sister. Intended as a coming-of-age story and a narrative about suicide awareness, the movie seemed distasteful, almost mocking suicide.
Critics accused the movie of serving as a cash grab rather than raising suicide awareness. They also criticized its casting choices. Ben Platt, who played Evan on Broadway, reprised his role in the film, but many viewers said he looked too old to portray a high school student. While Ben Platt is extremely talented, audiences wished to see a younger actor, like Andrew Barth Feldman, who played Evan in 2019 as the youngest actor in the role.
The film is more known for its soundtrack than its story, leaving many viewers disappointed or offended. Critics commonly suggested leaving the story as a stage adaptation. Despite the questionable storyline, the movie features some good songs and vocals, such as “Sincerely, Me” and “Waving Through A Window.”
Tick, Tick…Boom! (2021)
“Tick, Tick…Boom!” seemed destined for success, thanks to director Lin-Manuel Miranda and star Andrew Garfield. Both Miranda and Garfield have extensive experience in acting and performing. Additionally, Lin-Manuel Miranda has a background in directing, writing, and performing in musicals, such as “Hamilton” and “Encanto.” This movie portrays Jonathan Larson’s struggles with adulthood. Throughout the film, viewers see his creative process in working on his monologue and his relationships.
The movie earns praise for raising AIDS awareness. Set in 1992, it captures the era’s lack of precautions around this issue. Steven Levenson, who later wrote “Rent”, penned “Tick, Tick…Boom!”, and similar themes appear in his later work. This film marks Andrew Garfield’s musical debut, although he previously achieved success in films like the “Spider-Man” series.
Casting such an A-list actor bolstered the film’s success and added a new dimension to Garfield’s filmography. The songs express Jonathan’s experiences, including his struggle with writer’s block, clearly through the music and cinematography. The film arranges the music well, featuring unique choreography and filmography, with dance numbers set in exclusive spaces like a swimming pool or rooftop. “Therapy,” performed by Andrew Garfield and Vanessa Hudgens, stands out for its fast pace and layered vocals, enhancing the movie’s overall theatricality.
Mean Girls (2024)
“Mean Girls” disappointed eager fans. The 2018 musical captured the original 2004 film’s humor and intent, but the musical remake fell short. From poor autotune to cheap-looking costumes and unfortunate casting, “Mean Girls” flopped.
On a positive note, Renee Rapp reprised her iconic role as Regina George, which she played on Broadway. Ironically, many viewers cited this as the film’s only redeeming feature. Besides Renee Rapp and Avantika Vandanapu, who played Karen Smith, critics questioned many casting decisions.
Notably, they criticized casting Angourie Rice as Cady Heron and Christopher Briney as Aaron Samuels. Christopher Briney mentioned in an interview that he initially declined the role because he didn’t want to sing, but accepted when producers removed the singing requirement. This disappointed fans since Aaron’s character sings in the musical, but producers cut those parts.
Overall, the movie’s musical elements felt forced and less genuine than the stage adaptation. While the original 2004 film’s costumes were iconic, the remake missed the mark. Most costumes appeared cheap or poorly matched. The original outfits fit the times and current fashion trends, but the remake’s appeared over-the-top and off-brand. The Plastics should dress classily and femininely, so fans questioned why Regina wore baggy pants in promotional material. Producers scrapped iconic outfits, like Regina’s bunny Halloween costume. Though not terrible, the movie underwhelmed given the original’s fame and influence.
In The Heights (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda also wrote “In The Heights,” which tells the story of Usnavi, a convenience store owner dreaming of leaving Washington Heights for the Dominican Republic. Critics praised the film for representing Latino-Americans and immigrants.
“In The Heights” highlights issues and racism Hispanic immigrants face in modern New York, while maintaining an upbeat theme of family and community. The movie is known for its extensive dance numbers, vibrant filmography, and music, with “96,000” and “Blackout” standing out.
The film won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and four consecutive Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards. The casting was another notable feature, with Anthony Ramos starring as Usnavi after playing John Laurens and Phillip Hamilton in the original Broadway production of “Hamilton.” Other “Hamilton” cast members, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson, made surprise guest appearances.
13 (2022)
“13” offers an uplifting, comedic coming-of-age story about 12-year-old Evan Goldman facing preteen challenges following his parents’ divorce, before his Bar-Mitzvah. The original 2008 musical starred A-list actresses like Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies. However, the remake lacked the original’s charm and humor.
Similar to the “Mean Girls” remake, “13” felt forced and like a cash grab. Critics noted significant plot differences from the original, with six songs cut, including favorites like “It Can’t Be True,” “Hey Kendra,” and “All Hail The Brain.”
Producers also failed to do justice to iconic musical numbers like “Opportunity.” The plot felt watered down to be more kid-friendly. Many scenes and performances appeared cringey and childish compared to the stage adaptation.
Wicked (2024)
“Wicked” was one of the most anticipated musical-to-movie adaptations. Serving as a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” it tells the Wicked Witch of the West’s story. When producers announced a movie remake, the internet buzzed with excitement. “Wicked: Part 1” released last year, winning two Academy Awards. The film portrays Elphaba Thropp, ridiculed and ostracized for her green skin, as she attends Shiz Academy and challenges the Wizard of Oz alongside her friend, Glinda Upland.
The musical resonates with many for its creativity and detailed storytelling, as well as its depiction of a prejudiced individual overcoming her circumstances, which many viewers find relatable. The Wizard’s character, initially seen as powerful, reveals himself as a power-hungry dictator, drawing parallels to America’s political climate, particularly Elphaba standing against a dictator.
These key themes are well-reflected in the remake. “Wicked” achieved box office success, grossing $744.2 million globally, making it the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation film. “Wicked: For Good” is set to release in 2026, continuing from “Defying Gravity.”
The Prom (2020)
“The Prom” contrasts starkly with “Wicked’s” success. Despite popular casting, Netflix’s version flopped. Starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, and Ariana DeBose, “The Prom” tells the story of Broadway has-beens Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman seeking roles and stardom. To boost their publicity, they travel to Indiana to help Emma Nolan, who was barred from her school’s prom for being a lesbian. Together, they try to change the PTA’s decision so Emma can attend prom with her girlfriend.
While the film promotes a positive message and good songs like “Love Thy Neighbor” and “You Happened,” it fares better as a stage adaptation. Critics say it focuses too much on adult storylines with insufferable, stuck-up characters, rather than the teen narratives.
Intended to empower LGBTQ+ teens, the film suffers from unnecessary adult storyline clutter.
Dreamgirls (2006)
“Dreamgirls” is an iconic, empowering story celebrating R&B music’s roots. It follows the “Dreamettes,” a girl group striving to build their career as backup singers while facing racism in the predominantly white music industry. The film boasts a stellar cast, including Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Hudson.
Hudson won a Golden Globe as Effie White. The actors’ immense talent shines throughout the film in standout numbers like “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” “It’s All Over,” and “Step Into The Bad Side.” The musical numbers are big and booming, with great vocals and costumes.
The film highlights black history and music, loosely based on the 1960s girl group “The Supremes.” Overall, it stands as one of the most iconic and inspiring musical movies.
