A great movie musical can truly stand the test of time, although that’s only if audiences actually want the movie to be a musical, unlike what happened with the highly divisive release of Joker: Folie à Deux. The commercial failure of Joker: Folie à Deux proved that not all viewers will respond well to a musical movie sequel and that this is a major risk with a significant chance of backfiring. With this in mind, it’s interesting to note the movies that would benefit from the musical sequel and imagine how they could successfully carry forward the series’ legacy.
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The best movie musicals have earned their way into the hearts of viewers who connect deeply with over-the-top theatrical narrative, beautiful renditions of heartwarming ballads, and magnificently choreographed dance routines of awe-inspiring wonder. Turning a non-musical movie into a musical for its sequel won’t work with every release, but if they could pull it off, they might just be spectacular. While studios may be wary of musicals after the lackluster response to the Joker sequel, these movie musical ideas all have the power to be something great.
10 Deadpool (2016)
A Deadpool musical could satirize the divisive response to Joker: Folie à Deux
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The Deadpool franchise has never been unafraid to poke fun at the conventions of the superhero genre, as Ryan Reynolds’ incredible characterization of Wade Wilson’s impeccable wit has made him a firm favorite among his Marvel counterparts. With two sequels already made, as Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine continued to take the character in hilarious new directions. This is one of the few superhero franchises that could get away with a musical sequel.
Not only would it be hilarious to see Reynolds show off his musical chops, as he previously did in the Christmas musical comedy Spirited in 2022, but it would also be a logical next step for the character. As Deadpool has continuously satirized other superhero movies, making a Deadpool sequel a musical would be a knowing reference to the backlash against Joker: Folie à Deux and a unique way to comment on the divisive nature of the Todd Phillips film. If done right, a Deadpool musical sequel would be the perfect antidote to the disappointment of Joker: Folie à Deux.
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16 9.1/10 Deadpool RSuperheroActionAdventureComedyFantasySci-Fi
The Merc With The Mouth gets his very own film in Deadpool, an action-adventure comedy movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero. When mercenary Wade Wilson discovers he has an aggressive type of cancer that threatens to cut his life short, he decides to take a shady offer from a businessman who promises to cure him. Tortured and left for dead, the treatment makes Wade immortal – and a little bit twisted – as he seeks out his tormentors for revenge.
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*Availability in US Director Tim Miller Release Date February 9, 2016 Studio(s) Marvel Entertainment , TSG Entertainment , Kinberg Genre , The Donners’ Company Distributor(s) 20th Century Fox Writers Rhett Reese , Paul Wernick , Geoff Johns , Rob Liefeld , Len Wein , Dave Cockrum Cast Ryan Reynolds , Morena Baccarin , T.J. Miller , Brianna Hildebrand , Karan Soni , Ed Skrein , Michael Benyaer , Stefan Kapicic Runtime 108 Minutes Sequel(s) Deadpool 2 , Deadpool & Wolverine Budget $58 Million Main Genre Action Expand
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9 Planet of the Apes (1968)
A Planet of the Apes musical would be a bold new direction for the franchise
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There have been countless instances of The Simpsons predicting the future, but one famous fake movie that has yet to come true was the Planet of the Apes musical starring Troy McClure, featured in the Season 7 episode “A Fish Called Selma.” While this may sound ridiculous initially, upon further reflection, it genuinely could work. The campy satire of the 1960s version was already packed with tongue-in-cheek humor, and a modern callback to the early films in the form of a musical sequel would be a lot of fun.
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Rather than featuring the state-of-the-art CGI of the recent reboot series, this musical sequel could harken back to the earlier days of the franchise and feature real people in ape costumes as it continued the story of Dr. Zira and Dr. Cornelius and their encounter with the intelligent human astronaut George Taylor. While monkey-based musicals may sound outrageous, the recent Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, which replaced the Take That singer with a motion-captured chimpanzee, proved that it could work.
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Planet of the Apes (1968) GSci-FiAdventure
George Taylor, an astronaut, finds himself on a strange planet ruled by apes after his spaceship crashes. In this topsy-turvy world, apes are the intelligent rulers while humans are mute and oppressed. Captured and held in captivity, Taylor’s struggle for survival leads him to an alliance with Zira and Cornelius, two chimpanzee scientists who recognize his intelligence. As Taylor uncovers the dark secrets of this civilization, he faces shocking revelations that challenge everything he knows about his own species and their future.
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*Availability in US Director Franklin J. Schaffner Release Date April 3, 1968 Distributor(s) 20th Century Fox Writers Michael Wilson , Rod Serling , Pierre Boulle , John T. Kelley Cast Charlton Heston , Roddy McDowall , Kim Hunter , Maurice Evans , James Whitmore , James Daly , Linda Harrison , Robert Gunner Runtime 112 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi YouTube Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0-dUM_A-Cg Expand
8 Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
A Punch-Drunk Love musical sequel would be an effective way to continue the story
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Although director Paul Thomas Anderson has avoided making sequels to any of his acclaimed movies, one unique idea for a sequel would be a musical follow-up to Punch-Drunk Love. This unconventional rom-com starring Adam Sandler told the story of the lonely and socially awkward bathroom supply salesman Barry Egan, whose love for his sister’s co-worker Lena was jeopardized when he becomes the victim of extortion. With an incredible score by Jon Brion and the effective use of “He Needs Me” from Robert Altman’s Popeye musical movie, a song-filled sequel to Punch-Drunk Love could work very well.
The movie world created by Anderson already has a kind of heightened realism that would lend itself well to a musical sequel. As a deeply emotional and surreal film, a sequel focusing on Barry and Lena’s continued relationship could lean into the dreamlike nature of the original movie, as music could add the anxiety, anger, and love that Barry feels in a way traditional dialogue cannot. Anderson has always played with movie conventions and tone, and a Punch-Drunk Love musical sequel feels like a natural progression to his cinematic tendencies.
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10/10 Punch-Drunk Love RComedyThrillerRomanceDrama
Punch-Drunk Love is a 2002 rom-com starring Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Sandler stars as Barry Egan, the only boy in a group of eight siblings who his sisters always pick on. Despite being successful in life, Barry is lonely and decides to call a phone-sex hotline. But that makes things complicated with his sister’s friend Lena who he thinks has a crush on him.
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*Availability in US Director Paul Thomas Anderson Release Date November 1, 2002 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Columbia Pictures Distributor(s) Columbia Pictures , New Line Cinema , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Paul Thomas Anderson Cast Robert Smigel , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Emily Watson , Adam Sandler , Luis Guzman , Philip Seymour Hoffman Runtime 95 minutes Budget $25 million Expand
7 The Simpsons Movie (2007)
A Simpsons musical movie could stop this sequel feeling like an extended episode of the show
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The Simpsons Movie was a hit with critics and audiences alike and felt like a real cinematic event that paid homage to the longstanding legacy of Springfield’s most infamous family. While this movie featured memorable musical moments such as Homer’s spider-pig song or Green Day doing their own rendition of The Simpsons theme tune, a sequel could lean into the show’s musical history and, in the process, differentiate it from feeling like an extended episode of the still-airing TV show.
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The Simpsons have never shied away from featuring music in the TV show, so it makes logical sense that heightened expectations of a movie sequel could give itself over fully to being a musical. This certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented, as The Bob’s Burgers Movie from 2022 did just that and featured many incredible songs. Having already been responsible for classic songs like “Do the Bartman,” “See My Vest,” and “We Put the Spring in Springfield,” a Simpsons movie musical could be the perfect way to finally conclude the longest-running animated comedy of all time.
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7/10 The Simpsons Movie PG-13AnimationAdventureComedy
Based on the long-running animated sitcom of the same name, The Simpsons Movie followed Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie as their hometown of Springfield is quarantined by the EPA due to Homer irresponsibly polluting the town’s lake. The film stars the entire main cast of The Simpsons and includes famous guest stars like Albert Brooks, Tom Hanks, and the members of the band Green Day.
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*Availability in US Director David Silverman Release Date July 27, 2007 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Jon Vitti , Mike Reiss , Al Jean , John Swartzwelder , David Mirkin , Matt Groening , matt selman , George Meyer , James L. Brooks , Mike Scully , Ian Maxtone-Graham Cast Julie Kavner , Nancy Cartwright , Hank Azaria , Dan Castellaneta , Harry Shearer , Yeardley Smith Runtime 87 minutes Franchise(s) The Simpsons Budget $75 million Expand
6 Groundhog Day (1993)
Groundhog Day has already shown its musical potential with a Broadway show
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The fantasy comedy Groundhog Day has become so iconic that the phrase itself has entered the popular lexicon as shorthand for endlessly repetitive circumstances. Telling the story of Bill Murray as a cynical weatherman forced to relive the same day over and over again, Groundhog Day was a comedic triumph that was made even better due to its hilariously original premise. The movie has already shown its musical potential as a Broadway show with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, which opened to great success in 2017.
Now that the musical potential of this story has been proved, it would be a great time for Bill Murray to reprise his role in a movie musical sequel that sees Phil Connors once again caught in an endless time loop. Having already faced this predicament before, there’s endless potential for catchy songs that capture the horror, hilarity, and hopelessness of his unfortunate circumstances. Groundhog Day already had many fantastical elements, so a musical sequel would feel like a natural progression for the series.
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9/10 Groundhog Day PGComedyDocumentaryDramaFantasyRomance
In Groundhog Day, the arrogant weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself living the exact same day over and over for what feels like an eternity. To cope with his curse, he learns a variety of skills in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and tries to earn the heart of his colleague Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell) while he adapts to the time loop.
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*Availability in US Director Harold Ramis Release Date February 11, 1993 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures Distributor(s) Columbia Pictures Writers Danny Rubin , Harold Ramis Cast Bill Murray , Andie MacDowell , Chris Elliott , Stephen Tobolowsky , Brian Doyle-Murray , Marita Geraghty Runtime 101 minutes Budget $14.6 million Expand
5 Shrek (2001)
A Shrek musical sequel would be a natural progression for this animated franchise
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From the iconic opening music of Smash Mouth’s “All-Star” to the Fairy Godmother’s unmatched performance of “Holding Out for a Hero,” the Shrek franchise has never shied away from musical endeavors. However, Shrek has never fully embraced its musical styling with an outright musical. This would be a natural progression for the series, and if it could capture the heights of the best musical moments of previous installments, it could ensure its place as the best sequel in the entire series.
A stage show titled
Shrek the Musical
premiered in Seattle in 2008, opened with a successful run on Broadway in 2010, toured in America, and a revamped West End version opened in 2011.
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The last Shrek feature film was Shrek Forever After in 2010, and after such a long break, audiences will be excited to return to the swamp for the release of Shrek 5 in 2026. Coming out a quarter of a century after the first movie, the fifth Shrek should break from convention to be a fully fledged musical. This would signal both the excitement of having such an iconic franchise back again and differentiate it from the previous movies in a natural and exciting way.
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8/10 Shrek PGAnimationAdventureFantasyComedyFamily
Based loosely on the children’s book of the same name by William Steig, Shrek tells the story of an ogre (Michael Myers) who sets with his new friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy) out to regain his swamp from fairytale characters. Tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) in return for the restoration of his solitude, Shrek discovers that he’s not the loner he always thought he was, and that looks aren’t always everything.
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*Availability in US Director Vicky Jenson , Andrew Adamson Release Date May 18, 2001 Writers Ted Elliott , Roger S.H. Schulman , Joe Stillman , Terry Rossio Cast Cameron Diaz , Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , John Lithgow Runtime 90 minutes Franchise(s) Shrek Sequel(s) Shrek 2 , Shrek the Third , Shrek Forever After Budget $60 million Expand
4 Home Alone (1990)
A Home Alone musical sequel could be a chaotic triumph
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Home Alone has maintained its place as an undisputed holiday classic for over three decades, and its beloved sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was an equally effective follow-up. While these first two films made a star out of Macaulay Culkin and have become annual viewing for countless families, the same cannot be said for the rest of the franchise. In the years since, the Home Alone series has had several lackluster sequels that simply retread the same premise of the original to disappointing diminishing returns.
One way to inject some energy back into the Home Alone series would be with a musical sequel, as the chaotic action of its carefully laid traps would lend itself wonderfully to theatrical song and dance numbers. Macaulay Culkin could even return to reprise his role as an older Kevin McCallister, as he’s already showcased his musical talents with his comedy rock band, The Pizza Underground. There are so many directions that a legacy sequel of Home Alone could go, as a cunning nephew of Kevin’s could reveal himself to be equally talented at stopping the bad guys through song.
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Home Alone PGComedyFamily
Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McAllister, an eight-year-old who is left behind in his Chicago home when his family flies to Paris for the holidays. Not only must Kevin keep himself safe while his mother flies back across the world, but he must protect his home from the Wet Bandits – serial burglars who are targeting the McAllister House. Kevin must use every trick in the book to keep the Wet Bandits from stealing Christmas before his mother returns.
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*Availability in US Director Chris Columbus Release Date November 16, 1990 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers John Hughes Cast Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci , Daniel Stern , John Heard , Roberts Blossom , Catherine O’Hara Runtime 103 minutes Sequel(s) Home Alone 3 , Home Alone 2: Lost in New York , Home Alone 4 Budget 18 million Expand
3 Kill Bill (2003/2004)
A third volume of Kill Bill could embrace musical stylings the same way the original did with kung fu
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The intricate choreography of martial arts cinema and movie musicals has plenty in common, as the intense battles of sword-fighting scenes require many of the same skills as an over-the-top dance number. For this reason, it would be incredible if Quentin Tarantino finally decided to return for a third volume of Kill Bill with a kung fu musical the likes of which the world has never seen before. Uma Thurman already showed off her dance skills as she boogied with John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, so this wouldn’t be an unprecedented development in the Tarantino-verse.
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The back-to-back releases of Kill Bill Vol.1 and Vol. 2 in 2003 and 2004 already blended many genres as they paid tribute to kung fu, Western, and action movies. With a world categorized by a heightened sense of reality, this long-awaited sequel could benefit from some exciting musical numbers as it continued the story of the Bride and her now grown-up daughter. This would be new territory for Tarantino, but if anyone could pull it off, it would be him.
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10/10 Kill Bill RThrillerCrimeAction
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a classic tale of betrayal and revenge. When the Bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a four-year coma, she sets out to settle the score with the team of assassins that betrayed her at the behest of her former boss, Bill (David Carradine). Tracking and killing the world-class assassins isn’t easy, but the Bride uses all the tools at her disposal in her relentless pursuit of revenge.
Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 10, 2003 Writers Quentin Tarantino Cast David Carradine , Michael Madsen , Uma Thurman , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu , Vivica A. Fox Runtime 111 minutes Franchise(s) Kill Bill Sequel(s) Kill Bill Vol. 2 Budget $30 million Expand
2 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
A Scott Pilgrim musical sequel would fit right in with the original’s aesthetic
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While Scott Pilgrim vs. the World may have bombed at the box office, it’s also earned its place among the most enduring cult classics of the 2010s. From directing visionary Edgar Wright and starring a perfectly cast Michael Cera, this quirky rom-com had a unique aesthetic that embraced a video game sensibility with an idiosyncratic sense of humor. With plenty of music, as the characters took part in a battle of the bands competition, a great idea for a sequel would be to embrace its musical nature and become a fully fledged musical movie.
A Scott Pilgrim musical sequel could give more time over to Scott’s role as the bass player for the unsuccessful indie garage band Sex Bob-Omb. It would also be fascinating to hear more from Scott’s ex-girlfriend Envy Adams’ rock group, The Clash at Demonhead, or even Crash and the Boys, the band behind the “I’m So Sad, So Very, Very, Sad” and “We Hate You, Please Die.” With a movie world already populated by several rock bands, a Scott Pilgrim musical feels like a no-brainer.
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8/10 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World PG-13ActionAdventureComedyFantasyRomance
Based on Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World follows the titular slacker musician (Michael Cera) as he strives to earn a record deal by winning the Battle of the Bands organized by music mogul Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman). After meeting and falling in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Scott learns that he must also defeat her seven evil exes. Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, and Brie Larson round out the film’s star-studded and quirky ensemble.
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*Availability in US Director Edgar Wright Release Date August 12, 2010 Studio(s) Marc Platt Productions , Big Talk Films , Closed on Mondays Entertainment , Dentsu Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Edgar Wright , Michael Bacall Cast Michael Cera , Alison Pill , Mark Webber , Johnny Simmons , Ellen Wong , Kieran Culkin Runtime 113 minutes Franchise(s) Scott Pilgrim Budget $60 million Main Genre Action Expand
1 The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride lends itself perfectly to a movie musical sequel
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Out of all the non-musical movies in the world that lend themselves to a musical sequel, none work better than The Princess Bride. With an incredible mix of comedy, fantasy, and romance, The Princess Bride was a thrilling fantasy adventure and a cult favorite from director Rob Reiner. As a delightfully postmodern fairytale, The Princess Bride’s unique mix of swashbuckling adventure, heartfelt romance, and damsel-in-distress narrative could only be improved by the inclusion of catchy musical numbers and toe-tapping dance sequences.
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As one of the best films of the 1980s, if The Princess Bride were to return for a long-awaited sequel, a musical follow-up would be the perfect way to develop it. It seems the musical potential of this story has already been considered, as Disney Theatrical Productions announced a stage musical version in 2013 (via Broadway), although that project has yet to premiere. While audiences are excitedly awaiting that stage show, a musical movie sequel could help fill the gap and please fans who have been waiting decades for more from The Princess Bride.
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9/10 The Princess Bride PGFantasyFamilyAdventure
Based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a comical fantasy adventure film that tells a swashbuckling tale of a hero and a princess, read to a young, sick boy in bed by his grandfather. The story itself follows farmhand Westley, who embarks on an epic journey to save his beloved princess from an evil prince as he meets strange but reliable companions along the way.
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*Availability in US Director Rob Reiner Release Date October 9, 1987 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers William Goldman Cast Mandy Patinkin , Chris Sarandon , Robin Wright , Cary Elwes , Christopher Guest Runtime 98 minutes Budget $16 million Expand
Source: Broadway