Singing from your sofa: movie musicals to enjoy at home

Grace Pak

SING ALONG: With the shutdown of theaters, including Broadway, movie musicals have been a popular replacement for those craving a little song and dance on stage. Which movie musicals are your favorites? Share with us in the comments below.

For this guest review, we welcome freelance writer and CHS sophomore Grace Pak! If you would like to be a guest writer, please contact our adviser Kate Muir at [email protected].

During this pandemic, both movie theaters and Broadway theaters have been closed, leaving many longing for their usual sources of entertainment.  Since it is uncertain when it will be safe to enjoy movies and performances as we did before, movie musicals can provide a fun escape from the boredom of working from home.  Whether you’re a fan of musicals, or just enjoy listening to music, there is a movie musical that you can enjoy while being safe at home.  Here is a list of some of the best: 

Rocketman

Rating:  R

Runtime:  2 hours 2 minutes

Release Date: May 31, 2019

Starring:  Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden

Where to Watch:  Amazon Prime Video, Hulu

A biopic highlighting the ups and downs of the life of Elton John, Rocketman is a fun movie for fans of his music.  You can sing and bop along to some of his greatest hits while learning more about how Reggie Dwight became the star we know today as Elton John. 

What's your favorite movie musical?

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Into the Woods

Rating:  PG

Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes

Release Date:  December 25, 2014

Starring:  Meryl Streep, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick

Where to Watch: Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime

In this Broadway musical-turned-movie, childhood fairytales come together into one story.  A baker and his wife are on an exciting quest to reverse a spell cast by the witch who lives next door.  Along the way, they cross paths with Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and more as they journey into the woods. 

 

Yesterday

Rating:  PG-13 

Runtime:  1 hour 57 minutes

Release Date:  June 28, 2019

Starring:  Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon

Where to Watch:  Hulu, Amazon Prime

When aspiring musician Jack Malik gets hit by a bus, there is an unexplained global blackout.  After waking up in a hospital, he finds that no one remembers the Beatles except for him.  Classic tunes are woven into the story of how he attempts to bring their music back to the world.  

 

Hamilton

Rating:  PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes

Release Date:  July 3, 2020

Starring:  Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jonathan Groff, Leslie Odom Jr., Jasmine Cephas Jones

Where to Watch: Disney+

For those who are really missing live theatre, the hit Broadway musical Hamilton was recorded as a movie, on stage with its original cast.  It tells Alexander Hamilton’s story from an immigrant to a founding father of the United States.  Sung straight-through, it is a great choice if you want the feel of a live performance. 

 

What are your favorite movie musicals?  Let us know in the comments, as well as what you think if you watch any of these recommendations!