View Full Version : Musicals that were huge hits on stage and flops on screen


TMC
06-14-2016, 07:48 PM
The Producers and Rent both come immediately to mind: both shows were box office record shattering phenoms on stage and on tour, both were made into movies, and neither movie made back it's relatively middle range budget in the theaters. (They may have in the back end.) Phantom of the Opera generated billions of dollars onstage and its film made a profit, but wasn't anywhere near the Titanic sized hit the studio was anticipating.

Can you think of any others that fit in this category?

And what do you attribute the audience not following it from stage to screen (where the tickets are much cheaper)?

MrCleveland
06-15-2016, 02:41 PM
I heard The Wiz was great on stage, but on screen...it was criticized!

Also 1776 was great on stage, but flopped on screen!

And ironically...

William Daniels played John Adams in 1776...

http://images.bwwstatic.com/columnpic7/42551882-DCC2-9712-78C45E4B4CAE0146.jpg

And the school that was portrayed in Boy Meets World was also named John Adams High School, and Daniels also played the High School Principal George Feeny!...

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/3523225970/fea57764ded4004d353a33f927ce35c9_400x400.png

I dunno if that's odd, creepy, or ironic?:eek: :eek: :eek:

Vahan
06-15-2016, 04:53 PM
Are we even sure that the OP is referring to the recent film adaptation of The Producers, and not the 1967 version?

JamesG
06-15-2016, 05:21 PM
Tom Cruise's Rock of Ages (2012) was both a commercial and critical bomb.



Regarding The Phantom of the Opera, the movie itself wasn't great at all but I loved the opening scene. It was epic!

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Janice
06-15-2016, 07:03 PM
Although I still love it, I used to be obsessed with the play, The Phantom of the Opera. I saw it four times onstage. To hell with critics, I loved the movie version. It's the sound track and the story that really get me. I listen to the CDs often.

James, you should see that chandelier rise up in the theater, so close that it feels like you can touch it. :)

visaman666
06-16-2016, 08:38 AM
I would have thought Mama Mia and Jersey Boys would have topped the list.

Liza
06-16-2016, 03:06 PM
I wouldn't say they were flops, but Camelot, Into the Woods, and Les Mis were all HORRIBLE adaptations of fabulous shows.