10 Movies That Could Get Away With A Musical Sequel (Unlike Joker)

A great movie musical can truly stand the test of time, although that’s only if audiences actually want the movie to be a musical, unlike what happened with the highly divisive release of Joker: Folie à Deux. The commercial failure of Joker: Folie à Deux proved that not all viewers will respond well to a musical movie sequel and that this is a major risk with a significant chance of backfiring. With this in mind, it’s interesting to note the movies that would benefit from the musical sequel and imagine how they could successfully carry forward the series’ legacy.

The best movie musicals have earned their way into the hearts of viewers who connect deeply with over-the-top theatrical narrative, beautiful renditions of heartwarming ballads, and magnificently choreographed dance routines of awe-inspiring wonder. Turning a non-musical movie into a musical for its sequel won’t work with every release, but if they could pull it off, they might just be spectacular. While studios may be wary of musicals after the lackluster response to the Joker sequel, these movie musical ideas all have the power to be something great.

10 Deadpool (2016)

A Deadpool musical could satirize the divisive response to Joker: Folie à Deux

The Deadpool franchise has never been unafraid to poke fun at the conventions of the superhero genre, as Ryan Reynolds’ incredible characterization of Wade Wilson’s impeccable wit has made him a firm favorite among his Marvel counterparts. With two sequels already made, as Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine continued to take the character in hilarious new directions. This is one of the few superhero franchises that could get away with a musical sequel.

Not only would it be hilarious to see Reynolds show off his musical chops, as he previously did in the Christmas musical comedy Spirited in 2022, but it would also be a logical next step for the character. As Deadpool has continuously satirized other superhero movies, making a Deadpool sequel a musical would be a knowing reference to the backlash against Joker: Folie à Deux and a unique way to comment on the divisive nature of the Todd Phillips film. If done right, a Deadpool musical sequel would be the perfect antidote to the disappointment of Joker: Folie à Deux.

9 Planet of the Apes (1968)

A Planet of the Apes musical would be a bold new direction for the franchise

There have been countless instances of The Simpsons predicting the future, but one famous fake movie that has yet to come true was the Planet of the Apes musical starring Troy McClure, featured in the Season 7 episode “A Fish Called Selma.” While this may sound ridiculous initially, upon further reflection, it genuinely could work. The campy satire of the 1960s version was already packed with tongue-in-cheek humor, and a modern callback to the early films in the form of a musical sequel would be a lot of fun.

Rather than featuring the state-of-the-art CGI of the recent reboot series, this musical sequel could harken back to the earlier days of the franchise and feature real people in ape costumes as it continued the story of Dr. Zira and Dr. Cornelius and their encounter with the intelligent human astronaut George Taylor. While monkey-based musicals may sound outrageous, the recent Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, which replaced the Take That singer with a motion-captured chimpanzee, proved that it could work.

8 Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

A Punch-Drunk Love musical sequel would be an effective way to continue the story

Although director Paul Thomas Anderson has avoided making sequels to any of his acclaimed movies, one unique idea for a sequel would be a musical follow-up to Punch-Drunk Love. This unconventional rom-com starring Adam Sandler told the story of the lonely and socially awkward bathroom supply salesman Barry Egan, whose love for his sister’s co-worker Lena was jeopardized when he becomes the victim of extortion. With an incredible score by Jon Brion and the effective use of “He Needs Me” from Robert Altman’s Popeye musical movie, a song-filled sequel to Punch-Drunk Love could work very well.

The movie world created by Anderson already has a kind of heightened realism that would lend itself well to a musical sequel. As a deeply emotional and surreal film, a sequel focusing on Barry and Lena’s continued relationship could lean into the dreamlike nature of the original movie, as music could add the anxiety, anger, and love that Barry feels in a way traditional dialogue cannot. Anderson has always played with movie conventions and tone, and a Punch-Drunk Love musical sequel feels like a natural progression to his cinematic tendencies.

7 The Simpsons Movie (2007)

A Simpsons musical movie could stop this sequel feeling like an extended episode of the show

The Simpsons Movie was a hit with critics and audiences alike and felt like a real cinematic event that paid homage to the longstanding legacy of Springfield’s most infamous family. While this movie featured memorable musical moments such as Homer’s spider-pig song or Green Day doing their own rendition of The Simpsons theme tune, a sequel could lean into the show’s musical history and, in the process, differentiate it from feeling like an extended episode of the still-airing TV show.

The Simpsons have never shied away from featuring music in the TV show, so it makes logical sense that heightened expectations of a movie sequel could give itself over fully to being a musical. This certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented, as The Bob’s Burgers Movie from 2022 did just that and featured many incredible songs. Having already been responsible for classic songs like “Do the Bartman,” “See My Vest,” and “We Put the Spring in Springfield,” a Simpsons movie musical could be the perfect way to finally conclude the longest-running animated comedy of all time.

6 Groundhog Day (1993)

Groundhog Day has already shown its musical potential with a Broadway show

The fantasy comedy Groundhog Day has become so iconic that the phrase itself has entered the popular lexicon as shorthand for endlessly repetitive circumstances. Telling the story of Bill Murray as a cynical weatherman forced to relive the same day over and over again, Groundhog Day was a comedic triumph that was made even better due to its hilariously original premise. The movie has already shown its musical potential as a Broadway show with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, which opened to great success in 2017.

Now that the musical potential of this story has been proved, it would be a great time for Bill Murray to reprise his role in a movie musical sequel that sees Phil Connors once again caught in an endless time loop. Having already faced this predicament before, there’s endless potential for catchy songs that capture the horror, hilarity, and hopelessness of his unfortunate circumstances. Groundhog Day already had many fantastical elements, so a musical sequel would feel like a natural progression for the series.

5 Shrek (2001)

A Shrek musical sequel would be a natural progression for this animated franchise

From the iconic opening music of Smash Mouth’s “All-Star” to the Fairy Godmother’s unmatched performance of “Holding Out for a Hero,” the Shrek franchise has never shied away from musical endeavors. However, Shrek has never fully embraced its musical styling with an outright musical. This would be a natural progression for the series, and if it could capture the heights of the best musical moments of previous installments, it could ensure its place as the best sequel in the entire series.

A stage show titled
Shrek the Musical
premiered in Seattle in 2008, opened with a successful run on Broadway in 2010, toured in America, and a revamped West End version opened in 2011.

The last Shrek feature film was Shrek Forever After in 2010, and after such a long break, audiences will be excited to return to the swamp for the release of Shrek 5 in 2026. Coming out a quarter of a century after the first movie, the fifth Shrek should break from convention to be a fully fledged musical. This would signal both the excitement of having such an iconic franchise back again and differentiate it from the previous movies in a natural and exciting way.

4 Home Alone (1990)

A Home Alone musical sequel could be a chaotic triumph

Home Alone has maintained its place as an undisputed holiday classic for over three decades, and its beloved sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was an equally effective follow-up. While these first two films made a star out of Macaulay Culkin and have become annual viewing for countless families, the same cannot be said for the rest of the franchise. In the years since, the Home Alone series has had several lackluster sequels that simply retread the same premise of the original to disappointing diminishing returns.

One way to inject some energy back into the Home Alone series would be with a musical sequel, as the chaotic action of its carefully laid traps would lend itself wonderfully to theatrical song and dance numbers. Macaulay Culkin could even return to reprise his role as an older Kevin McCallister, as he’s already showcased his musical talents with his comedy rock band, The Pizza Underground. There are so many directions that a legacy sequel of Home Alone could go, as a cunning nephew of Kevin’s could reveal himself to be equally talented at stopping the bad guys through song.

3 Kill Bill (2003/2004)

A third volume of Kill Bill could embrace musical stylings the same way the original did with kung fu

The intricate choreography of martial arts cinema and movie musicals has plenty in common, as the intense battles of sword-fighting scenes require many of the same skills as an over-the-top dance number. For this reason, it would be incredible if Quentin Tarantino finally decided to return for a third volume of Kill Bill with a kung fu musical the likes of which the world has never seen before. Uma Thurman already showed off her dance skills as she boogied with John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, so this wouldn’t be an unprecedented development in the Tarantino-verse.

The back-to-back releases of Kill Bill Vol.1 and Vol. 2 in 2003 and 2004 already blended many genres as they paid tribute to kung fu, Western, and action movies. With a world categorized by a heightened sense of reality, this long-awaited sequel could benefit from some exciting musical numbers as it continued the story of the Bride and her now grown-up daughter. This would be new territory for Tarantino, but if anyone could pull it off, it would be him.

2 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

A Scott Pilgrim musical sequel would fit right in with the original’s aesthetic

While Scott Pilgrim vs. the World may have bombed at the box office, it’s also earned its place among the most enduring cult classics of the 2010s. From directing visionary Edgar Wright and starring a perfectly cast Michael Cera, this quirky rom-com had a unique aesthetic that embraced a video game sensibility with an idiosyncratic sense of humor. With plenty of music, as the characters took part in a battle of the bands competition, a great idea for a sequel would be to embrace its musical nature and become a fully fledged musical movie.

A Scott Pilgrim musical sequel could give more time over to Scott’s role as the bass player for the unsuccessful indie garage band Sex Bob-Omb. It would also be fascinating to hear more from Scott’s ex-girlfriend Envy Adams’ rock group, The Clash at Demonhead, or even Crash and the Boys, the band behind the “I’m So Sad, So Very, Very, Sad” and “We Hate You, Please Die.” With a movie world already populated by several rock bands, a Scott Pilgrim musical feels like a no-brainer.

1 The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride lends itself perfectly to a movie musical sequel

Out of all the non-musical movies in the world that lend themselves to a musical sequel, none work better than The Princess Bride. With an incredible mix of comedy, fantasy, and romance, The Princess Bride was a thrilling fantasy adventure and a cult favorite from director Rob Reiner. As a delightfully postmodern fairytale, The Princess Bride’s unique mix of swashbuckling adventure, heartfelt romance, and damsel-in-distress narrative could only be improved by the inclusion of catchy musical numbers and toe-tapping dance sequences.

As one of the best films of the 1980s, if The Princess Bride were to return for a long-awaited sequel, a musical follow-up would be the perfect way to develop it. It seems the musical potential of this story has already been considered, as Disney Theatrical Productions announced a stage musical version in 2013 (via Broadway), although that project has yet to premiere. While audiences are excitedly awaiting that stage show, a musical movie sequel could help fill the gap and please fans who have been waiting decades for more from The Princess Bride.

Source: Broadway