The Color Purple” is the latest Broadway musical to become a Hollywood film production.  Since it’s release n Christmas Day, the film has earned $29 million at the box office.

Also based on a musical, “Wonka” has surpassed the $100 million mark in the United States and is well on the way to earning $300 million internationally since its December 15 release.

Since the turn of the century there has been 25 musicals turned into films.  And while the success of some films may not be a surprise, the number one film is somewhat surprising considering the starring roles were actors and not singers.

The top grossing Broadway musicals turned Hollywood films:
Released in 2008 “Mamma Mia!” earned a whopping $694,640,739 at the box office worldwide.

Released in 2012 “Les Misérables” earned $442,299,309 at the box office worldwide.

Released in 2002, “Chicago” earned $306,776,732 at the box office worldwide.

After being released for only two weeks, “Wonka” has earned a worldwide total of over $270 million.

Released in 2014 “Into the Woods” earned a total of $212,902,372 at the box office worldwide.

Released in 2007, “Hairspray” topped the $100 million mark at home to earn a worldwide total of $203,627,753.

Released in 2006 “Dreamgirls” earned $155,430,335 at the box office worldwide but also garnered BAFTA and Academy Awards.

While the Broadway musical closed last year after 35 years, the latest “Phantom of the Opera” film was released in 2004; earning $154,674,241 at the box office worldwide.

Currently seeing success on Broadway; the film version of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” was released in 2007 and earned only $153,383,627 worldwide.

The most recent film release of “Annie” came out in 2014 and earned $136,853,506 at the box office worldwide.

Also a remake, “West Side Story” was released in 2021; earning just $76,016,171 at the box office worldwide – a little over half of that, $38,530,322 was from U.S. box office receipts.

With a film budget of $95 million, “Cats” was released in 2019 but brought in only $75,558,925 at the box office worldwide.

Released in 2014 “jersey Boys” earned a total of $67,647,013 at the box office worldwide.

For its 2012 release, “Rock of Ages” had a budget of $75 million but failed to meet that figure when it earned just $59,418,613 at the box office worldwide.

“Nine” was released in 2009 and earned $54,004,950 at the box office worldwide.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” was released in 2021 amidst a global pandemic and earned a total of $45,175,167 million at the box office worldwide.

“The Producers” was released in 2005 and earned $38,075,318 at the box office worldwide.

“Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” was released internationally in 2022 – no domestic release – and earned $34,706,541 at the box office.

The film version of “Rent” was released in 2005 and earned just $31,670,620 at the box office worldwide.  Just $2,593,073 of that was from international box offices.

With a film release on Christmas Day, “The Color Purple” has brought in $29 million in domestic theatres.

Still running on Broadway, “Dear Evan Hansen” was released to film audiences in 2021 while many theatres were still closed and brought in just $19,133,454 at the box office worldwide.

With a film budget of just $6 million, “Hedwig and the Angry Itch” was released in 2001 and brought in only $3,660,081 at the box office worldwide.

Based on an Off-Broadway musical “The Last Five Years” was released in 2014 and earned just $292.092 at the box office worldwide.

Released only to international audiences, The Prom” came out in 2020 amid the pandemic; bringing in just $187,430.

Based on the Off-Broadway musical “tick, tick…BOOM!” was released in 2021 to international audiences and brought in $112,777 at the box office.

Based on the Off-Broadway musical, “The Fantasticks” was released only to domestic audiences and earned just $49,666 at the box office.

Based on the Off-Broadway music, “Naked Boys Singing!” was released in 2007 only to domestic audiences and brought in just $25,526 at the box office.