20 movies that should be adapted into musicals

It feels like Joe Dante would be enthused to see one of his films turned into a musical. After all, his sequel “Gremlins 2” is so delightfully bonkers, and even features a rendition of “New York, New York” by Brain Gremlin and company. Remaking “Gremlins” with songs would certainly track, and also probably be quite fun.

We could use a good, new Christmas musical. In lieu of coming up with an original idea, we could remake a Christmas flick that could easily be ported over into a musical instead. “Elf,” which is breezy and bubbly and silly, would make sense.

“Titanic” gave us a huge hit song in “My Heart Will Go On.” We could put that song right into the movie this time! Plus, so many musicals are built upon doomed romances. Just make sure Billy Zane’s character gets a song in the process.

Turning a horror film into a musical? It’s bold, to be sure, but why not? The question becomes what horror film would work best in terms of adaptation? The “Elm Street” films got increasingly campy and self-aware as they went on, so we figure Freddy Kreuger is a fine choice to be the slasher center of a musical. Besides, a horror movie set in people’s dreams is perfectly for fantastical song-and-dance numbers.

We want to see a superhero film turned into a musical. Why go with the ‘60s version of “Batman?” Well, it’s already a comedy. The energy is perfect for musical adaptation. Also, Riddler, Joker, Penguin, AND Catwoman are all in it. They can all have their own songs! We look forward to hearing, “Some Days You Just Can’t Get Rid of a Bomb.”

Back in the day, musicals used to win Best Picture all the time. So why not turn a Best Picture winner into a musical and see how that shakes out? What non-musical winner would work best? Well, “Forrest Gump” is bombastic, melodramatic, and feels like it could work. Although, singing while doing Forrest Gump’s accent might prove tricky.

Maybe “Top Gun” would work best as a jukebox musical, with people breaking into popular songs. After all, in the original they sing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” in a bar. Maybe this time they could also actually sing “Danger Zone.” Plus, the planes flying could be reconfigured as dance scenes.

Sure, adding songs to the “Star Wars” universe did not work out with the “Holiday Special,” but that was a made-for-TV cash grab. This time, it will be a different story. Although, we dare not ask Harrison Ford to consider singing a song. We imagine that conversation going poorly.

Reality doesn’t matter to “Anchorman” as is. A man throws a trident. It just tracks to turn it into a musical comedy. As a bonus, if we get Adam McKay signed on, that will prevent him from making another overwrought, thunderingly-obvious political “comedy.”

Now, “Garfield” got another shot at the big screen, this time with Chris Pratt and not Bill Murray as the voice. We aren’t looking to get Murray to sing, but we’re just talking about trying a “Garfield” film again, this time with singing and dancing. Although, technically Garfield doesn’t talk, we just hear his thoughts…and Odie doesn’t seem to even have thoughts…you know, this might be a challenge, but we’re up for it.

Historical fiction and musicals. These are two genres that work together. In “The King’s Speech,” the king has to overcome a speech impediment. Now, imagine if when he overcomes it, he breaks into song. It’s like “My Fair Lady,” but with royalty and World War II involved. The studio out there that does this should clear out space on its shelves for all those Oscars.

There aren’t enough sports musicals. “Moneyball” is the story of scrappy underdogs, not unlike “Annie” or “Oliver!” or what have you. The original film played a little fast and loose with reality. You might as well take that to the next level and add in some songs.

The aesthetics of Wes Anderson’s films scream “musical adaptation.” Of course, Anderson is such a distinct filmmaker, he’d have to handle the direction himself. Give him a writer who knows a thing or two about writing songs and we imagine the collaboration could pop. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” seems like the best option.

“Clueless” remains a ‘90s classic. It got a TV adaptation back in the day. It got a Super Bowl ad a couple years ago. In a way, it kind of presaged “Mean Girls.” All we ask is that the musical is still set in the ‘90s.

“Die Hard” is perhaps the best action film ever. Now, it has the chance to become the best action film turned into a musical. Sure, John McClane bursting into song would, in theory, make his whereabouts known to Hans Gruber and his gang, but musicals play fast and loose with reality as is. That’s no problem.

Sure, we go back to the superhero realm, but with good reason. When Taika Waititi took over the “Thor” films they became funnier, sillier, and also more successful critically and commercially. Given that, maybe the thing to do is go back to that first film and reimagine it as a musical comedy. We feel like Chris Hemsworth would be up for it. Anthony Hopkins? Not so much.

The Coen Brothers’ cult classic has dream sequences, oddball characters, and incredible cinematography. It is loaded with iconography and memorable lines that could, say, be recontextualized into song. If any Coens film is ripe to be turned into a musical, it’s the story of The Dude and his rug.

When adjusted for inflation, “Gone with the Wind” remains the highest-grossing film of all time. While it was the biggest hit of its time, and arguably ever, the cultural legacy of another 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” has lasted longer. Maybe what “Gone with the Wind” needs is a musical adaptation. Plus, rewriting and remaking it could, you know, remove some of the problematic elements.

Steven Spielberg always wanted to direct a musical. He finally did it when he remade “West Side Story,” and he proved capable. This time, he can do it again, but with his own movie. There can be songs about bigger boats, keeping the beach open for Independence Day, and of course, smiling, you son of a…

Now, we will note that there was a stage musical adapted from the ‘80s dark comedy. However, it only ran Off-Broadway in 2014, and it did not have the same cultural cache as “Beetlejuice,” so we figured we’d end with this one. The blueprint for the “Heathers” film is right there already! Don’t like the idea? All we can say is: What’s your damage?