Movies adapted into other media: 9 films that became musicals and cartoons
Nine movies that were adapted into other media, from Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and Beetlejuice to The Lion King, Men in Black, Billy Elliot, Legally Blonde, Shrek and Mean Girls.
Sometimes a film outgrows the screen. This list gathers nine movies that became stage musicals or animated series, in release order, with posters and what each one turned into.
Each title below comes with the story of how it jumped to a new medium: who adapted it, what changed on the way and how the new version was received. Some became Saturday morning cartoons, others became some of the longest running shows on Broadway and in London's West End.
What makes a movie easy to adapt
Not every hit can become a musical or a cartoon. The films that travel best usually have a simple central idea that can be explained in one sentence: ghost hunters in New York, a teenager stuck in the past, a boy who wants to dance. That idea can then be stretched into many new episodes or reshaped around songs.
Strong, recognizable characters also matter. A cartoon needs heroes who can carry a new adventure every week, and a stage show needs characters with clear wishes that can be turned into big numbers. Elle Woods, Shrek or the Ghostbusters work in almost any format because the audience already knows exactly who they are.
Finally, a built in audience reduces the risk. Producers of animated series and stage musicals spend a lot of money before the first ticket or toy is sold, and a famous title brings fans who are curious to see their favorite story told in a new way. That is why so many musicals today start on the big screen.
How we chose
We chose films that were adapted into another medium, such as a stage musical or an animated TV series. This is not a numbered ranking, and we list only the main adaptations.
We focused on films whose adaptations had a real life of their own, with full seasons on television or long runs on stage, and not only a one off special. The original films are listed in release order, and we mention the main adaptation of each one.
The list mixes comedies, family animation and coming of age stories, because these genres are the ones that most often make the jump. For each title, we tell you what to look for in the film and whether the adaptation is worth seeking out as well.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Animated series: The Real Ghostbusters (1986).
Why it matters: Written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters mixed comedy and special effects in a way that felt new in 1984. Ray Parker Jr.'s theme song was nominated for an Oscar. The cartoon was called The Real Ghostbusters because another studio already owned a show with the plain Ghostbusters name.
Watch how Bill Murray plays the whole thing almost straight, reacting to ghosts and demons with dry jokes instead of panic. The effects, from the green ghost Slimer to the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man walking through Manhattan, are part of the fun, and the film never takes itself too seriously.
The animated series ran for several seasons and helped turn the franchise into a toy and video game hit for a generation of children. The film later got sequels and new versions. It is a perfect pick for a family movie night, with a few mild scares and many lines people still quote.
Back to the Future (1985)
Animated series: Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991). Stage musical: Back to the Future: The Musical (2020).
Why it matters: Back to the Future was directed by Robert Zemeckis from a script he wrote with Bob Gale. Michael J. Fox replaced Eric Stoltz after filming had already started, a famous casting change. The film won the Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing, and years later its stage musical won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in London before opening on Broadway.
Pay attention to how carefully the script is built: details planted in 1985, like the clock tower flyer, all pay off in 1955. The time travel rules are simple and clear, and the DeLorean became one of the most famous cars in film history. Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown gives the film its manic energy.
The animated series followed Doc Brown and his family on new adventures, with Christopher Lloyd appearing in live action segments. The musical brings the DeLorean on stage with clever effects. The film itself is ideal for viewers of all ages and often works as a first step into eighties cinema.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Animated series: Beetlejuice (1989). Stage musical: Beetlejuice (2019).
Why it matters: Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice turned a ghost story upside down: the dead couple are the victims and the living family are the intruders. Michael Keaton appears for a surprisingly short time as the chaotic bio exorcist, and the film won the Oscar for Best Makeup. A sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, arrived in 2024.
Watch the dinner party scene where the guests are forced to dance to Harry Belafonte's Day O, one of the most famous moments in Burton's career. The handmade effects, the waiting room of the afterlife and Winona Ryder's gothic teenager Lydia give the film a style nobody else could copy.
The cartoon reimagined Beetlejuice and Lydia as friends having adventures in the Neitherworld, and it was a success with children. The Broadway musical opened in 2019, closed and then came back by popular demand, which is rare. The film suits viewers who like dark humor that is more funny than scary.
The Lion King (1994)
Stage musical: The Lion King (1997).
Why it matters: The Lion King became one of the biggest hits in animation history and won two Oscars, for Hans Zimmer's score and for Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John and Tim Rice. Its stage version, directed by Julie Taymor, opened on Broadway in 1997 and became one of the most successful shows in theater history.
Pay attention to the opening, Circle of Life, where the animals gather at Pride Rock without a single line of dialogue. The story borrows from Hamlet, with a king murdered by his brother and a son who must return. The stampede sequence mixed hand drawn and computer animation in a way that impressed audiences.
On stage, Taymor used giant masks and puppets that let the audience see the actors, and she became the first woman to win the Tony Award for directing a musical. The film also inspired television series like Timon and Pumbaa and a computer animated remake. It is ideal for children and nostalgic adults alike.
Men in Black (1997)
Animated series: Men in Black: The Series (1997).
Why it matters: Men in Black, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, is based on a little known comic book by Lowell Cunningham. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones became one of the best pairs of the decade, and Rick Baker's alien designs won the Oscar for Best Makeup. Smith's theme song was also a big hit.
Watch how the film treats aliens as a normal part of New York life, hidden in plain sight among taxi drivers, celebrities and morgue workers. The neuralyzer, the small device that wipes memories, became an instant pop culture symbol. The film is short, fast and full of visual gags.
The animated series ran for four seasons and expanded the universe with new agents and creatures. The movie got several sequels and a spinoff. It is a great choice for viewers who want science fiction with comedy, and it works well for teenagers discovering nineties blockbusters.
Billy Elliot (2000)
Stage musical: Billy Elliot the Musical (2005).
Why it matters: Billy Elliot, directed by Stephen Daldry from a script by Lee Hall, follows a boy from a mining town who chooses ballet over boxing during the miners' strike of the 1980s. Jamie Bell was a teenager when he played the role. The film received three Oscar nominations, and the stage musical, with music by Elton John, later won many awards in London and New York.
Pay attention to how the dance scenes express anger and frustration, not only joy. The film shows a community under pressure, a father who struggles to accept his son and a teacher, played by Julie Walters, who sees what nobody else sees. The soundtrack uses T. Rex and other rock songs.
The musical ran for more than a decade in London and won the Tony Award for Best Musical on Broadway. It became a starting point for many young dancers. The film is ideal for viewers who like stories about family and class, and it is moving without being heavy.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Stage musical: Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007).
Why it matters: Legally Blonde, based on a novel by Amanda Brown, made Reese Witherspoon a major comedy star as Elle Woods, a fashion lover who enters Harvard Law School to win back her boyfriend. The film was a surprise hit and led to a sequel, and the musical opened on Broadway in 2007.
Watch how the film refuses to make fun of Elle. Her knowledge of beauty and fashion is not a joke in the end but the key to solving a case. The pink wardrobe, the chihuahua Bruiser and the line "What, like it's hard?" became pop culture favorites.
The musical was broadcast on MTV and inspired a reality show to choose a new actress for Elle, which helped it reach a young audience. It later had a successful run in London. The film is perfect for a light and uplifting evening, and works for anyone who has ever been underestimated.
Shrek (2001)
Stage musical: Shrek the Musical (2008).
Why it matters: Shrek, from DreamWorks Animation, was based on a picture book by William Steig and became the first winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, created that year. It also competed for the Palme d'Or in Cannes, which is rare for an animated comedy. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz voiced the main characters.
Pay attention to the many jokes aimed at fairy tales and at other animated films, from Pinocchio to the three little pigs. The film works on two levels: slapstick for children and parody for adults. The soundtrack, with Smash Mouth's All Star and I'm a Believer, became part of its identity.
Shrek the Musical opened on Broadway in 2008 and has since been staged in many countries. The film launched a franchise with sequels and spinoffs about Puss in Boots. It is ideal for families, and many adults find that the jokes land even better on a second viewing.
Mean Girls (2004)
Stage musical: Mean Girls (2018).
Why it matters: Mean Girls was written by Tina Fey, inspired by a nonfiction book by Rosalind Wiseman about teenage girls and their social groups. Lindsay Lohan plays the new student and Rachel McAdams the queen bee Regina George. The film grew into a cult classic, and Fey herself adapted it into a Broadway musical in 2018.
Watch how the film uses the language of nature documentaries to describe high school, as if the cafeteria were a savanna. The jokes are sharp, but the film also talks about cruelty, gossip and the pressure to fit in. Lines like "On Wednesdays we wear pink" are quoted to this day.
The musical later became a new film in 2024, which brought the story full circle, from screen to stage and back again. The original is ideal for teenagers and for adults who want to remember what school was like. It is funny, quick and smarter than it first appears.
Where to start
Pick by mood or by the kind of adaptation you are curious about:
- Family movie night: The Lion King or Shrek.
- Eighties adventure: Back to the Future, then Ghostbusters.
- Something a little spooky: Beetlejuice.
- Science fiction comedy: Men in Black.
- Feel good and inspiring: Billy Elliot or Legally Blonde.
- High school comedy: Mean Girls.
If you love musicals, start with the films whose stage versions are most famous, like The Lion King and Billy Elliot, and then compare how each story was changed for the theater. You will notice that the stage often adds songs for characters who barely spoke in the film.
If you grew up with Saturday morning cartoons, try Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice or Men in Black and then look for an episode of the animated series. It is fun to see which jokes survived and which characters were softened for a younger audience.
Frequently asked questions
Which movies became stage musicals?
Examples include The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Legally Blonde, Shrek, Mean Girls, Beetlejuice and Back to the Future.
Which movies became animated TV series?
Examples include Ghostbusters (The Real Ghostbusters), Beetlejuice, Back to the Future and Men in Black.
Why are films adapted into other media?
A well-loved story and characters can find a new audience on stage or television, and the original film brings built-in fans.
Which movie musical adaptation is the most successful?
The Lion King is the best known example. Its stage version opened on Broadway in 1997 and became one of the most successful shows in theater history.
Are the stage musicals the same as the movies?
Not exactly. They follow the same story but add new songs, cut or merge scenes and sometimes change the tone to fit the stage.
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Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
