11 Movies That Should Be Musicals

Films that need to shift from screen to stage...

The Thing (1982)

The film: American scientists on an Antarctic expedition encounter a shapeshifting alien that assumes the form of its kills.

Why It ought to be a musical: It's a prop designer’s wet dream. We’d buy a ticket just to see how they translated Rob Bottin’s monstrous movie animatronics to the stage.

Plus, seeing MacReady and crew battle it out with flamethrowers while belting out the songs is a mouthwatering prospect.

With enough blood and gore to satisfy fans of bloody gore, it's Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with more aliens…

Music & lyrics by... Working from Ennio Morricone’s broody original score, Stephen Sondheim's the man to explore the themes of inner rage, enemies within and, umm, shapeshifting aliens.

Hit songs: 'First Goddamn Week Of Winter', 'Maybe We're At War With Norway', 'Nobody Trusts Anybody', 'Voodoo Bullshit', 'I Just Wanna Go To My Shack And Get Drunk' and a triumphant, show-closing update of 'Burn Baby Burn'.

Producer’s notes: For authenticity, chill the theatre down to near-freezing and have the audience wear snowsuits. Health & Safety permitting...

Next: Dazed And Confused

Comments

    • jollieoldtime

      May 20th 2009, 20:30

      They totally made Evil Dead a musical off-Broadway. They basically spent the entire time throwing blood on the audience. It was awesome.

      Alert a moderator

    • mic2803

      May 20th 2009, 22:49

      definately 300 the musical starring john barrowman as Leonidas. giant elephants with the same technique as the west-end lion king. music and lyrics by muse perhaps?

      Alert a moderator

    • ebrown2112

      May 22nd 2009, 9:35

      Kevin Smith's ok, but New Jersey's finest? You're forgetting John Sayles.

      Alert a moderator

    • Kelisha888

      May 22nd 2009, 12:11

      Well, at least you mentioned Sondheim - who at least knows how to write a musical. I can't help but thinking Andrew Lloyd Weber should write the music to Blade Runner.

      Alert a moderator

    • jws1272

      May 22nd 2009, 20:01

      There's a production of Evil Dead:The Musical playing here in Cleveland, Ohio, USA right now. I've got tix for May 29! Not in the Splatter Zone (yes, they do spray blood at the audience), but tix nonetheless. Can't wait to see it. I've seen some footage from the Toronto production, & they DO reference the Boomstick speech from AOD.

      Alert a moderator

    • Phoenixtorn

      May 22nd 2009, 22:28

      I saw the Evil Dead musical twice when it was here in Toronto (and saw the cast perform some of the songs at a convention). It was great and so much fun! An army of Darkness Sequel would be pretty spectacular. lol

      Alert a moderator

    • dgoodswen

      May 23rd 2009, 1:40

      It has become an unrelenting priority to get tix to the Evil Dead musical... in the splatter zone!

      Alert a moderator

    • MovieDearest

      May 23rd 2009, 7:07

      I'm pretty sure I just read recently that "Heathers" is being turned into a musical ... so one down, 10 more to go! And don't forget the odd rumor that "Fight Club" may be turned into a musical, as well as "Wet Hot American Summer".

      Alert a moderator

    • shovel

      May 23rd 2009, 23:12

      Heathers! the Musical. awesome. but it can't happen without "cornnuts," either a rock ballad or dancy number for heather's last words. ooh. perhaps the old jingle "bust a nut" can be used.

      Alert a moderator

    • magic8387

      May 24th 2009, 23:37

      "The Jerk". It's already got a couple of musical pieces in it, and room for so many more. Open with his black family singing on the porch, the big dance number where he finds his rythym, along with "I'm somebody now!", "He hates these cans", "I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit", A musical pitch of the Opti-grab, "I AM A n****r!" and of course "All I need is..." It'd be perfect.

      Alert a moderator

    • gwobblewopkins

      Dec 10th 2009, 5:22

      Get to the Chopper's already a song... Anyone else heard of Austrian Death Machine? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdZYvPZhT1c

      Alert a moderator

    • vicdoe

      Dec 30th 2010, 12:16

      I don't know about you, but I don't think that movies with a certain success should be turned to musicals. Usually, when things like that happend the success rate is very low. look at books written after movies. usually, those books, are awfull! imagine how would it be if No Ordinary Family would be a musical. it's true that this is a TV show, but it is a great success and someone could try something with it... either a musical or a book. i really think that musicals should be thought as musicals from the begining and books as books. never mix up.

      Alert a moderator

Leave a comment

Most Popular

  • News

    1. Reviews

      1. Features

        1. Video

          Close

          Log In to Total Film

          Forgotten your password?

          Close

          Join Total Film

          Registration is quick and easy

          Hint: The film starred Michael J Fox as accidental time traveller Marty McFly.

          As you are registering with Total Film, we would like to think that you'd enjoy receiving the following emails. If you'd rather not receive them, please untick the boxes:

          * Mandatory fields