Top 5 Movie Musical Castings That Worked & 5 That Killed the Movie

Tim Curry debuted as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the original 1973 London stage production of “The Rocky Horror Show,” practically building the character much like Frank builds Rocky. However, it was the 1975 film adaptation that catapulted him to stardom and cultivated his dedicated fanbase. He’s a character of many layers. Whoever steps into those heels has to be able to terrify and charm audiences, make them love and hate him, and maybe even find themselves questioning their attraction. Curry nails it, accent and all (plus, he looks great in fishnets!). He’s the gold standard against which we measure all other Franks. We always “shiver with antici…pation” to see if they can rise to the challenge.

Elizabeth Taylor is widely seen as one of the greatest actors of her time. So, naturally, it makes sense that she was cast to attract wider audiences. There was just one problem: she couldn’t really sing. Sondheim fans know his songs demand vocal power, which Taylor sorely lacked. This made it tough for her to delve into the depths of Desiree Armfeldt’s character, resulting in a performance that felt a bit lackluster. Sadly, this was also true when she wasn’t singing. Anyway, take her rendition of “Send in the Clowns,” which lacked the usual emotional wallop. This left audiences struggling to connect with the character and didn’t do justice to Sondheim’s masterpiece.

Although she was already a Tony-winner Liza Minnelli was brushed off as “inexperienced” for the original Broadway cast. It seemingly took bagging an Oscar for her to get noticed. After landing the part, Minnelli turned to her father, famed director Vincente Minnelli, for acting tips. His suggestion to take cues from actress Louise Brooks totally transformed the character. Minnelli brought Sally to life with depth and strength, brilliantly interpreting the subtext of her character and the story. Thanks to her, Sally became this unapologetic symbol of empowerment, standing firm in a chaotic world. There have been many Sallys since then, but still, no one quite like Liza. Oh, did we mention it earned her another Oscar?

The heart of “The Prom” lies in its messages of tolerance, acceptance, and pride. Audiences, especially fans of the stage show, were baffled by the casting of James Corden, a straight man, as Barry Glickman, a gay Broadway actor. Many theater fans could probably easily fill the film’s run time with names of more suitable choices for the role. Corden’s performance seemed like a throwback to every tired stereotype of a gay man that we had hoped had been retired ages ago. It’s no wonder the film received mixed reception from critics and audiences. Corden’s portrayal felt shallow and forced, sacrificing depth for easy laughs. It’s disappointing at best and downright offensive at worst.

Although Andrews had missed out on making her film debut in “My Fair Lady,” the winds of fortune soon blew “Mary Poppins” her way. Incidentally, she’d beat out Audrey Hepburn for the Oscar that year. With her natural talent, warmth, and charm, Andrews became a household name in no time. Balancing humor, sternness, and more heartfelt moments, her portrayal truly was “Practically Perfect in Every Way.” Dick Van Dyke as Bert was another spot-on casting choice, even if he Son ‘n Daughter’d the accent. Flash forward to 2018, and Emily Blunt had the tough job of stepping into Andrews’ boots, but just like her predecessor, her performance was like “A Spoonful of Sugar.”

If you ever needed proof that singing and dancing skills and a strong following don’t guarantee success in leading a movie musical, this is it. Madonna essentially brought her pop star persona to the role, which meant she lacked the depth to explore the character’s complexities and intricacies. While yes she can sing, she doesn’t make Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score soar like, say, Patti LuPone or Elaine Paige. Even then, Argentinian President Carlos Menem (a Peronist) blasted it as “an insult to Argentinan women.” Yeesh! This was definitely one of those times stunt casting hurt the material. Don’t just take our word for it; even LuPone wasn’t a fan, and she knows her stuff.

“Chicago” boasts a killer cast, from John C. Reilly as Amos Hart to Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. Even Taye Diggs, as The Bandleader, leaves his mark. Renée Zellweger also became “the name on everybody’s lips,” wowing audiences with her triple-threat talents. Of course, she’s just one half of this “perfect double act.” Catherine Zeta-Jones slays as Vaudevillian performer Velma Kelly, bringing sass, sex appeal, and fierce determination to the role while keeping audiences hooked on her every word and move. Like Minnelli, she also apparently took inspiration from Louise Brooks but made the character her own while showing excellent musicality. She earned several awards, including the well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

The Phantom is rather picky about the Opera House's prima donna's vocal style. Sadly, he had no say in casting for the musical's movie adaptation. Maybe if he had, we might have had a Phantom with a suitable High Baritone or a Tenor. Instead, we got Gerard Butler, who had zero singing experience and reportedly only took four lessons before auditioning for Andrew Lloyd Webber. But apparently, Webber wanted someone who’s “not a conventional singer” and who had a “rock and roll sensibility,” so we guess he fit the bill! Still, fans would've been happier if they'd waited for Hugh Jackman to become available or if they’d just dropped the chandelier on this whole approach.

Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable mentions.

Worked: Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick... Boom!” (2021)
Proof That When Lin-Manuel Miranda Asks If You Can Sing You Say “In What Key?”

Worked: John Cameron Mitchell, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2001)
We’re Definitely Not Angry About This Casting; Mitchell Nailed Every Inch of the Character

Worked: Chaim Topol, “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971)
Keeping with “Tradition,” Topol Played Tevye the Milkman & The Movie Was Richer for It

Killed the Movie: Emma Watson, “Beauty and the Beast” (2017)
Unfortunately, She Failed to Charm Audiences; We Wanted So Much More Than Her One-Dimensional Approach

Killed the Movie: Daniel Day-Lewis, “Nine” (2009)
His Performance Was a Bit Like a Big Cloud on a Star-Studded Night

When “Funny Girl” made its way from stage to screen, it took its leading lady with it, jumpstarting her film career. With her Broadway roots, Streisand effortlessly embodies the character of Fanny Brice with natural confidence and charisma. Even as a newbie to film, she exudes star quality, captivating audiences with her unique humor, vulnerability, and stage presence. Her powerful vocals breathe life into the music, while her impeccable comedic timing brings Fanny’s humor to life. Plus, she effortlessly belts out the film's big numbers and delivers on its emotional ballads. Needless to say, Streisand sets a high bar, making her a tough act to follow. She truly is “The Greatest Star.”

We “Dreamed a Dream” that every actor in the 2012 “Les Mis” movie was as perfectly cast as Anne Hathaway. Alas, that was not the case. In the cast’s defense, film actors rarely sing live, so maybe stage veterans would’ve been better suited here. Take Russell Crowe, for instance. Surprisingly, he has a musical background and has even dabbled in musical theater. Tom Hooper cast him mostly to provide a tough adversary to Hugh Jackman’s Jean Valjean. Unfortunately, as soon as Crowe opened his mouth to sing, it was like a glaring spotlight on his lack of vocal chops. Let’s just say audiences were practically pleading for him to spare us from “One [Note] More.”

Which movie musical casting do you think was genius and which felt like a cast-igation? Let us know in the comments.