Broadway vs Hollywood

Wicked's 2024 movie release saw both box-office success and critical acclaim, while the Broadway musical itself continues to soar, rapidly becoming one of the highest-grossing musical adaptations. However, not all Broadway-to-film productions have experienced the same level of success.

The team at Spin Genie slots have assessed the success of Broadway shows and their movie adaptations by analysing a combination of film and show awards, attendance figures, critic reviews, and earnings. By comparing these factors, we've determined which has achieved greater overall success and proven to be the most profitable.

The shows that performed better on Broadway than at the box-office

1. Rent
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 35 points

Rent is a groundbreaking Broadway musical that ran from 1996 to 2008 at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City, captivating audiences for 12 years with over 5,000 performances.

The rock musical, set in the days of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York’s East Village, averaged over $1.1 million in weekly earnings by 2008, with an average capacity of 65%. Throughout its run, Rent garnered 12 awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical, cementing its place in theatre history.

In contrast to its Broadway success, the 2005 film adaptation of Rent received a more lukewarm reception. The film earned an IMDb rating of 6.8/10 and grossed an average of $51.5 million at the box office. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a fair 47% Tomatometer score.

2. South Pacific
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 33 points

South Pacific is a musical that debuted on Broadway in 1949 and became an immediate hit, running for 996 performances during its 2008 revival. Set during World War II, the story revolves around US military personnel, nurses, and locals on a remote Polynesian island.

Between 2010 and 2011, the show generated impressive weekly earnings averaging over $793,000 and maintained an 85% average capacity. South Pacific earned 13 awards, including the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and a Grammy Award. It was the first musical to sweep all four acting Tony Awards, a testament to its powerful performances.

While not as successful, the 1958 film adaptation of South Pacific earned a 6.8 IMDb rating and won a Grammy Award for Best Sound in 1959. The movie grossed over $5.2 million globally (adjusted for inflation) and holds a respectable 75% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.

3. The Phantom Of The Opera
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 32 points

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which tells the tragic story of Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious and disfigured musical genius living in the underground labyrinth beneath the Paris Opéra House.

Premiering in 1988, this romantic melodrama captivated audiences for over thirty years, running an impressive 13,981 performances. In 2023, it reached an average weekly revenue of $1.8 million (adjusted for inflation). Widely regarded as one of the most visually stunning and grand productions in theatre history, the musical garnered 14 awards, including seven Tony Awards in 1988, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

The 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera was a box office success, grossing over $260.1 million worldwide and earning a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. However, it underperformed critically on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a modest 33% Tomatometer score.

The movies that performed better at the box-office than on Broadway

1. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 25 points

Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American musical comedy film starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, widely regarded as one of the greatest Hollywood musicals of all time. The film follows the story of a silent film star who falls for a chorus girl while navigating the transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood, all while dealing with his delusionally jealous screen partner. The movie was a major success, grossing over $25 million worldwide (adjusted for inflation), earning an IMDb rating of 8.3, and achieving a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

In 1983, the beloved film was adapted into a stage musical, bringing its iconic songs and dance numbers to life in a live performance. While the stage version ran for a respectable 367 performances, it was less commercially successful than its cinematic version. Set in the waning days of the silent film era, the show featured unforgettable moments, including the title song, "Singin' in the Rain," where Don joyfully dances in the rain to express his love for Kathy. Between 1985 and 1986, the stage production achieved impressive weekly revenues of $760,761 (adjusted for inflation), though it saw an average attendance rate of 56%.

2. Sunset Boulevard
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 20 points

Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 American black comedy film that follows the tragic story of Norma Desmond, an ageing silent film star who seeks to revive her career with the help of a screenwriter. This cinematic classic grossed over $4 million worldwide (adjusted for inflation) and boasts an impressive IMDb rating of 8.4/10, along with a 98% Tomatometer score. The film earned 19 prestigious awards, including the Bodil Award for Best American Film and a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.

In comparison, the 2024 Broadway adaptation of Sunset Boulevard has had 113 performances, with weekly earnings averaging $1.5 million. While the Broadway production has yet to win any awards, it continues to draw strong audiences, with average weekly attendance consistently reaching 95%. The show is still in production, making it a significant new chapter in Sunset Boulevard's legacy.

2. Meet Me in St. Louis
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 20 points

Meet Me in St. Louis is a 1944 American Christmas musical film that follows the lives of four sisters living just before the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. A critical and box-office hit, the film earned over $9 million globally (adjusted for inflation) and holds a 7.5 IMDb rating. It became the second-highest-grossing film of 1944, trailing only Going My Way, and was the production company's most successful musical of the decade.

The movie outshone the stage production in terms of success compared to its 1989 Broadway revival, which ran for 252 performances. The Broadway show saw average weekly earnings of $249,440 during its final year, with an average attendance rate of 56%, while the film's ongoing popularity continues to stand as a milestone in movie history.

2. West Side Story (1961)
Difference in Broadway and movie ranking: 20 points

West Side Story is a 1961 American musical film about the love story of Maria and Tony, two young lovers caught in the fierce rivalry between their respective gangster families. The film was a massive success, winning 10 Academy Awards and becoming the year’s highest-grossing film, grossing nearly $469 million worldwide. The film’s influence lasted, leading to a highly anticipated revival in 2021.

The original Broadway production of West Side Story ran for 748 performances, but it wasn’t until the 1961 film’s overwhelming success that the musical truly found its audience and gained widespread acclaim. The show’s popularity continued into later years, with its 2010-2011 run earning an impressive $714,519 in weekly ticket sales and maintaining a 69% attendance capacity.

The most successful film adaptation

1. The Lion King (1994)
Movie score: 9.07/10

The Lion King (1994) stands as one of the most successful movie adaptations in cinematic history, earning an impressive rating of 9.07 out of 10. Beyond being a box office sensation, the film was a triumph, winning two Academy Awards and laying the foundation for the smash-hit Broadway musical, which debuted in 1997.

With over $2 billion in gross worldwide earnings (adjusted for inflation), The Lion King holds an impressive 8.5/10 rating on IMDb. It also boasts a 93% score on the Tomatometer and has won 43 prestigious awards, solidifying its legacy as one of the most beloved films of all time.

The most successful Broadway musical that is still being performed

1. Wicked
Broadway score: 8.19/10

Wicked is the most commercially successful Broadway show to date. Premiering in 2003, it had run 8,265 consecutive performances as of January 26, 2025. The show’s immense success has led to various international productions, including a long-running West End show.

Between 2024 and 2025, Wicked has consistently grossed an impressive $2.5 million weekly, with an average audience capacity of 102%. The Broadway production has won nine prestigious awards, including the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Musical, cementing its place as a theatrical sensation.

The most successful Broadway musical that is no longer being performed

1. The Phantom of the Opera
Broadway score: 9.55/10

The Phantom of the Opera may no longer grace the Broadway stage, but its 35-year run remains a monumental success. During its time, the production set high standards, with weekly gross earnings averaging $1.8 million (adjusted for inflation) between 2022 and 2023. The show consistently filled 93% of its seats on average and won 14 musical awards, including Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical.

It held the title of Broadway's longest-running show until 2014, when The Lion King took the crown. With over 140 million global spectators, The Phantom of the Opera remains a staple in musical theatre history.

Methodology

Using various articles, including Fandango and Polygon, we created a seed list of Broadway musicals turned movies.

Using IBDB, we found each Broadway musical’s number of performances, average gross weekly earnings, average attendance (%) and number of award wins. This data is correct as of 18/02/25.

For each Broadway musical last performed prior to 2025, we used the US Inflation Calculator to adjust each show’s average weekly earnings with inflation. This data is correct as of 19/02/25.

For each Broadway musical’s movie counterpart, we collected the IMDb rating, global Box Office earnings, and award wins using IMDb. We also took each movie’s Tomatometer score from Rotten Tomatoes. This data is correct as of 18/02/25.

We used the PERCENTRANK formula in Google Sheets to give each movie and show a normalised score out of 10 before comparing the Broadway musical and its movie counterpart.