Top 10 Disney Movies That Should Have Been Musicals
#10: “The Princess Diaries” (2001)
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Can you imagine waking up one morning to learn that you’re the Princess of a small country called Genovia? That’s the premise of “The Princess Diaries,” so it should have been a musical based on the plot alone. The film has so many moments that were worthy of a number, like Mia being made over, and telling her best friend that she’s royalty. Plus, the film stars Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews as the Princess and Queen, respectively. They’re two vocal powerhouses, so Mia and her grandmother could have sung a beautiful duet! Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. But considering the recent surge of teen movies being turned into musicals, maybe “The Princess Diaries” will make a royal debut on Broadway one day?
#9: “Monsters, Inc.” (2001)
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This 2001 flick technically does have a musical in it. Of course, we’re referring to “"Put That Thing Back Where It Came From or So Help Me"” which was written, directed, and produced by Mike Wazowski. Based on the brilliance of this short piece, we think it’s safe to say the movie as a whole deserved to be filled with music. From Mike and Celia’s inevitable duet to Sully mourning the loss of Boo, this Pixar classic had room for numerous heart-wrenching and endearing songs. Plus, there’s no doubt that Randall, Mike and Sully’s nemesis, could’ve had an insanely cool villain tune! Monsters are cool, but singing monsters would have been better.
#8: “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001)
Created by the producer and directors of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” wasn’t designed to be a musical. But that doesn’t mean we can’t imagine what might have been. Set primarily in 1914, the film follows Milo as he and his ragtag team of explorers investigate the lost city of Atlantis. The crew alone should have had a song where each member introduces themselves. And Kida, one of the most underrated Disney Princesses ever, deserved the chance to sing about her culture. Plus, the filmmakers were reportedly inspired by a number of different architectural styles when designing Atlantis itself, including Mayan and Tibetan. So we can easily imagine musical numbers that incorporate these histories, for a rich and complex result.
#7: “Treasure Planet” (2002)
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Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel “Treasure Island,” “Treasure Planet” takes Jim Hawkins and John Silver and plops them in the middle of outer space. Instead of sailing the seven seas, they sail through the cosmos. The cast included some amazing singers, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Hyde Pierce, both of whom have voices that are ideal for singing some space shanties. Jim’s initial unhappiness with his life would have been perfect for a classic “I Want” track, while B.E.N., a robot that the crew encounters, should have had a song about how difficult it is to lose your memory. We could go on, but the possibilities were endless!
#6: “Zootopia” (2016)
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A musical version of “Zootopia” would have included more songs from Gazelle, which would have meant more Shakira, which we can always use. If we’re being honest, the pop star’s involvement was reason enough to turn this film into a full-blown musical. But the story itself also warrants it. Hustling fox Nick could have rapped about the grind, while bunny cop Judy could have slayed a ballad about trying to fit in. With themes like discrimination and prejudice running throughout the film, it was a breeding ground for music! A duet between Judy’s fighting neighbors would have been a must, too. And can you imagine how striking a huge ensemble number would have been at the end?
#5: “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)
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Considering the fact that there are so many movies that take place in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” universe, it’s a bit surprising that none of them are musicals. The first film, which introduced us to the smarmy Jack Sparrow and his crew, was perfect musical fodder. From a romantic ballad between Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner to a song about being a cursed pirate, “The Curse of the Black Pearl” needed to be a musical. A new film starring Margot Robbie as a fiery lady pirate is currently in development, so we’re hoping for at least one show stopping number!
#4: “Lilo & Stitch” (2002)
This tale of a mischievous alien Stitch and his loyal gal pal Lilo, does feature numerous tunes by the King himself, Elvis Presley. “Lilo & Stitch” would have been a great jukebox musical, as the characters could have sung and danced to his songs. Stitch doesn’t seem like much of a crooner, but he could have put a unique twist on things! The film also has some great Hawaiian music and dancing, but not nearly enough. We don’t think asking for Stitch to hula some more would be unwarranted! And while a Nani-David love song would be epic, we’d have especially liked a duet between Dr. Jumba and Agent Pleakley, who are #goals.
#3: “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961)
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Cruella de Vil, arguably the most fashionable Disney villain, already has an iconic song about her, courtesy of Roger. Given the fact that he’s quite literally a songwriter, we can’t wrap our heads around the entire film not being a musical! Roger, Anita, Pongo, and Perdita could have had their own quartet about love, while the Twilight Bark gossip chain could have easily been a musical chant. “Cruella,” which told the origin story of Miss de Vil, does have many swinging songs from 1970s London. But we wish the animated film had explored its musical potential, too.
#2: “Hocus Pocus” (1993)
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The Sanderson sisters do have a hypnotizing musical moment in “Hocus Pocus” when they sing their own saucy rendition of “I Put a Spell On You.” As spellbinding as this performance is, it just leaves us hungry for more! Bette Midler played head witch Winifred, and should have had a plethora of chances to belt about how powerful she is. Sarah Jessica Parker, another Broadway star, does sing a captivating lullaby-style tune at one point. But considering how incredible her pipes are, she could have tried to mesmerize every single character. “Hocus Pocus 2” is slated to be released soon, and this time around we better get more magical musical moments! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Big Hero 6” (2014) Can You Imagine a Singing & Dancing Baymax?! “Brave” (2012) Considering How Beautiful Scottish Music Is, Merida Should Have Sung at Least One Ballad “Meet the Robinsons” (2007) This Movie Has Everything You Need for a Musical, From Time Travel to Family to Jealousy “The Black Cauldron” (1985) The Horned King Could’ve Had a Sinister Number That Put Other Disney Villains to Shame “Brother Bear” (2003) This Movie Already Has a Great Soundtrack, so Why Not Make It a Full-Blown Musical?
#1: “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)
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Before this film found its groove, it was going to be an epic tale with loads of music called “Kingdom of the Sun.” However, it eventually became clear that the movie wasn’t working. That’s how we ended up with the looney comedy we all love and know today. Still, it could’ve been nice to see the original musical numbers kept in. The late great Eartha Kitt’s Yzma had a fun song called “Snuff Out the Light”, which you can hear on the soundtrack. And considering how catchy the final movie’s opening number is, it’s clear that “The Emperor’s New Groove” had the potential to be a super entertaining musical. You know what they say, it’s never too late to make things right…!
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