Where to Watch 9 Popular Musicals: Have a Night Out on Broadway Without Leaving Home
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you could watch your favorite musical from anywhere at any time, you’re in good company. While live theater is amazing, it’s not always feasible to see a professional stage production whenever our hearts desire — especially when you consider how steep Broadway ticket prices can be.
Thanks to streaming, it’s now easier than ever to sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite popular musicals from the comfort of your couch. You can even sing along without being shushed!
From classic big screen musical adaptations to professionally shot stage shows, there's a great variety of popular musicals available on streaming services, allowing you to bring Broadway to your own home. Read on for a look at nine of our favorites.
1. Annie (1982)
There have been many celebrated productions of Annie, the famous story that launched a hopeful little red-haired orphan and her adorable canine sidekick into the hearts of audiences everywhere. The most beloved is the original film adaptation from 1982.
Based on the award-winning 1977 Broadway musical by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Thomas Meehan, the film is directed by John Huston (who had previously directed '40s classics like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and Key Largo) and features iconic performers like Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking and Tim Curry.
Click through to watch Annie on Netflix.
2. Mamma Mia! (2008) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
Before being turned into a fan-favorite film franchise, Mamma Mia! was a jukebox musical beginning on the West End before transferring to Broadway in 2001. Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and based on songs recorded by the Swedish pop group ABBA and composed by members Benny Andersson and Bj?rn Ulvaeus, the first film takes place on a Greek island where a young woman commemorates her impending wedding by inviting her mother’s past lovers so she can finally figure out which of them is her biological father.
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The films mix undeniably catchy tunes with an A-list cast (including Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Christine Baranski), gorgeous scenery and a healthy dose of campy, escapist fun. After all, who can resist hits like "Dancing Queen"?
While the first film can't be beat, the sequel gets points for alternating between the present day and the late '70s and featuring none other than Cher.
Click through to watch Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again on Amazon Prime Video.
3. West Side Story (1961)
While Steven Spielberg revamped this historic star-crossed-lovers story in 2021, there’s something even more heartfelt and classic about the original 1961 West Side Story. One of the most popular musicals of all time, this film won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The evocative musical classic stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn as young adults from opposite sides of the tracks in gritty midcentury New York City.
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Boasting seminal showtunes including “Maria,” “America” and “Somewhere,” the film adaptation is based on the 1957 Broadway production from Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (in his Broadway debut) and a book by Arthur Laurents. Musicals don't get more iconic than this!
Click through to watch West Side Story on Amazon Prime Video.
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4. Funny Girl (1968)
Barbra Streisand made her film debut in the role that would skyrocket her to Broadway legend status (and an Oscar) as singer, actress and comedian Fanny Brice. Audiences are taken on a stylish journey as she pursues stardom, navigates the trials and tribulations of showbiz and romance and belts timeless hits like “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
Click through to watch Funny Girl on Amazon Prime Video.
5. Hamilton (2020)
The 11-time Tony Award-winning juggernaut burst onto the scene in 2015 and remains one of the most popular musicals on Broadway and in our cultural lexicon. Hamilton was professionally recorded at the Richard Rogers Theatre in 2016 and made available to stream in 2020.
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The powerful production features the original cast, including the multitalented creator, writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda along with charismatic entertainers like Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Reneé Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Combining history, entertainment, comedy and heartbreak, Hamilton tells the story of the turbulent life, loves and career of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton through a trailblazing score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and classic musical theater.
Click through to watch Hamilton on Disney+.
6. Into the Woods (2014)
There's no need to worry if you missed the recent revival of this Stephen Sondheim fantasy with a twist. Into the Woods was made into a star-studded musical movie led by Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and James Corden in 2014.
Based on the 1987 Tony Award-winning Broadway production by Sondheim and James Lapine, the story follows the intersecting and often daunting journeys of characters from classic fairytales including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel. At the center of it all is a baker, his wife and the witch who has given them a roadmap to break the curse she placed on their family.
Click through to watch Into the Woods on Disney+.
7. Hello, Dolly! (1969)
Barbara Streisand stars in the big-screen adaptation of the 1964 Broadway musical from Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart. The original production earned a slew of Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical.
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Streisand takes on the titular role of mastermind matchmaker Dolly Levi as she schemes to win the marital hand of the very man for whom she is supposed to be working to find love.
Click through to watch Hello, Dolly! on Disney+.
8. Mr. Saturday Night (2022)
While this show on its own might not rank as one of theater's most popular musicals, Billy Crystal is a national treasure. He made a triumphant return to Broadway in 2022 with Mr. Saturday Night, and was nominated for five Tony Awards.
Based on the 1992 film of the same name, Crystal reprised his role as comedian Buddy Young, Jr., who lets his own arrogance ruin his career and his relationships with his family, and eventually tries to mend what he can in the hopes that it’s not too late.
Click through to watch Mr. Saturday Night on BroadwayHD.
9. Cats (1998)
Cats is the popular musical classic that gave us “Memory.” While the 2019 film adaptation received less than stellar reviews, this 1998 recorded production of Cats (hailing from London’s prestigious West End) is the real deal.
The Tony Award-winning musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber follows a tribe of cats called the Jellicles on the night they choose who among them will transform to a new life. Cats is known as one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, and this production will make you feel like you're right there among the singing felines.
Click through to watch Cats on BroadwayHD.
