5 Musical Movies to Look Out For
Anime has recently become mainstream. The popularization of shows like My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan are leaving the kids from your high school anime club saying: told you so! However, don't get too comfortable at the cool kids table manga-lomaniacs. There's a different kind of nerd lying in wait to take your spot. Theater kids are getting ready because the new age of the movie musical is here.
The marquee of the Broadway musical 'Come From Away' together with other broadway marquees are seen prior to their re-opening after the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown in New York, on September 8, 2021. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)
Back in March of 2020, Broadway closed its doors. Theaters across the country went dark and turned on their ghostlights for the foreseeable future. The performers, however, sashayed their way from the Great White Way to the silver screen. Superstars of the stage Lin Manuel Miranda and Anthony Ramos appeared in theaters in the show In The Heights. Snippets from the show were viral on TikTok for weeks. You know what that sound is? That's the sound of musical theater becoming cool.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 20: Lin-Manuel Miranda is seen on the film set of 'In the Heights' on June 20, 2019 in New York City.
If you still don't believe that the musical movie is the next anime, check out these five amazing shows about to hit a screen near you.
1.Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Tomorrow, September 10th, your movie theater is going to be filled with triple threats going to see Everybody's Talking About Jamie. The show, based on a true story, follows the journey of Jamie (Max Harwood), a high schooler, who is ridiculed after deciding he is going to wear a dress to prom. This relevant musical appeared on the West End, but has never been on Broadway, meaning its premier on Amazon Prime and in theater's in the states is going to have EVERYBODY talking about Jamie!
2.Dear Evan Hansen
The show that swept the Tony Awards in 2017, Dear Evan Hansen, comes to the screen on September 24th starring, the original Evan Hansen. Ben Platt is returning to again play the socially anxious high schooler caught in a web of lies surrounding a classmate's suicide. If you missed seeing Platt on Broadway, don't worry. Come the 24th you will be able to watch him "for forever..." (As soon as musical theater replaces anime in the mainstream, everyone is going to get that reference).
3.Tick, Tick...Boom!
Unlike Dear Evan Hansen, Tick, Tick...Boom! does not have an overwhelming modern notoriety. This is the hipster theater kid's time to shine, because the second this movie comes out, everyone will be singing the catchy songs while some endlessly repeat I knew it before it was popular. This incredible musical by Johnathan Larson follows the life and struggles of an aspiring composer. The incredible story and music are coming to the screen on November 12th starring the phenomenally talented Andrew Garfield, Bradley Whitford, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, and so many others. This movie is going to be the Tick, Tick...Best!
4.West Side Story
Alright, strap in for a classic. West Side Story will be hitting the screen on December 10th. This classic love story based on Romeo and Juliet and set in 1950s New York City, has stood tall as a classic for years. The original movie musical of West Side Story came out in 1961 and still remains a favorite among many. However, the new movie will in no way pale in comparison to the original. They will be like comparing apples and oranges. This reimagining of the show will star powerhouse performers Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno. Also it's being directed by STEPHEN SPIELBERG. Yes. You read that right! Timeless musical plus the directorial stylings of Stephen Speilberg? It's a safe bet that West Side Story is about to break box office records.
TELLURIDE, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 03: Peter Dinklage speaks on a panel at the Telluride Film Festival on September 03, 2021 in Telluride, Colorado.
5.Cyrano
On December 31st, the classic but lesser known Cyrano will be coming to movie theaters. The musical explores the love triangle between Cyrano de Bergerac, Roxana, and Christian de Neuvillette. The movie musical stars Peter Dinklage as Cyrano. Not only will the musically addicted be coming out in droves to see the movie, Game of Thrones fans will also be called out of their homes to see this adaptation of a classic piece. What did I tell you anime fans? Musicals are coming!
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2020/06/19: Everybodys Talking About Jamie sign seen at the Apollo Theatre. Britains performing art sector is facing ruin without urgent government investment, 98 actors, directors, writers, and creatives backed a letter warning of the threat facing opera, theatre, and dance due the coronavirus crisis.
Even More are On Their Way
Musicals are returning with a vengeance. The lineup for the rest of 2021 is stacked and star-studded. I have not even talked about what's coming up later. Musicals that are on their way to the screen included The Little Mermaid, 13, Matilda, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Color Purple, Guys and Dolls, and so many others that, if I were to list them all, you would be here until they all came out. There are so many musical movies coming out, you'll be hard pressed to find one where the characters aren't breaking out into song.
Musical Theater is Officially Everywhere
The popularization of musicals through movies is so important. It allows the genre of musical theater to be accessible to the majority of the country. While the pandemic caused many problems, the coincidental resurgence of musical movies is a blessing. A unique genre is being persevered and popularized while promoting the creation of new work. It has opened the gateway for shows like Apple TV's Schmigadoon. Schmigadoon is a show that perfectly combines the classic Broadway sound with content that only could have been created this year.
So, get ready world. Musical theater is about to become the coolest kid on the block.
