After watching Wicked, fans will want to check out the two movies that helped pave the way for Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s beloved Broadway musical. Reviews for Wicked praise the director’s glamorous and affecting theatrical vision which, paired with its visuals, costumes, acting, and musical performances, is perfectly suited for the big screen. Chu’s experience directing another acclaimed Broadway cinematic adaptation explains his skill in creating choreographed scenes that palpate with emotion in Wicked. 276w2o

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is already proving to be one of the most important and popular releases of 2024 so far, but it’s not the first time that the successful director has benefited from a major box office hit. The Wizard of Oz prequel takes place many years before the original story, following the intersecting lives of two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, as they uncover a sprawling conspiracy in the Emerald City. Wicked seems to be 2024’s big commercial hit, with the film’s success triggering many viewers to return to Chu’s earlier catalog.

In the months leading up to the movie adaptation of the Wicked musical, In The Heights is the must-see movie musical to watch. In The Heights is a Broadway musical of the same name that was adapted into a film in 2021. Most importantly, it is directed by Wicked director Jon M. Chu, meaning the movie may provide an insight into what should be expected from Wicked.

The songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda have ensured that his career continues to go from strength to strength. Miranda got his start working on plays, and he went on to create the Broadway musicals In the Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015). He also worked on film scores and even got to move behind the camera at one point in his career. He won a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Grammy Awards, and he even earned two Oscar nominations. However, he is best known for his talents as a musical artist.

Disney's live-action Moanafound its director with Hamilton and In The Heights' Broadway director Thomas Kail. The 2016 animated Disney musical saw Auli'i Cravalho's titular character embark on a perilous journey across the ocean with Dwayne Johnson's demigod Maui to return a powerful stone to its rightful owner and save her island home. Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda produced the movie's original songs. In April 2023, Cravalho and Johnson announced they would produce a new live-action adaptation, with the Maui actor confirmed to reprise his role.

In the Heightsstar Melissa Barrera reflects on the film’s box office failure with a brighter outlook. Barrera played female lead Vanessa in the screen adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical. Despite its hype and studio backing, In the Heights was a massive flop during its summer 2021 release, having only grossed just over $45 million against its $55 million production budget, falling well short of its reported $200 million break-even point.

She played Carla in 2021 musical In The Heights, and here's a guide to Stephanie Beatriz's movie and TV career so far. Beatriz's career began with a series of guest roles on series like The Closer - starring future Brooklyn 99 guest star Kyra Sedgwick - Southland and the short-lived Hello Ladies. In 2013, Beatriz's made her movie debut with 2013's Short Term 12, an acclaimed drama starring Brie Larson and Rami Malek. This was the same year the actor had her breakthrough with a role on sitcom Brooklyn 99.

If you haven’t had a chance to experience the world of Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights on stage, now is your chance to go home to the Heights. Once you learn where to watch In the Heights, you’ve got your own Broadway-style ticket to see the acclaimed, award-winning musical with its iconic setting and unique, show-tune adaptations of Latin-American rhythms in an array of styles ranging from hip-hop to salsa and merengue.

With fans flocking to see Hugh Jackman in The Music Man, which hit the stage in February of 2022, it's clear there is still a large audience for classic musicals of yesteryear.  Long-time favorites like Phantom and The Lion King have been running for decades, but there's so much more to see and experience.

A yearning for live theater has driven pent-up artistic energy toward other mediums. Almost a quarter of the way through the decade, the 2020s have given audiences a profusion of musical movies. With some that can already be considered instant classics, the Rotten Tomatoes' aggregate has compiled a catalog of musicals that received the highest amount of praise.