I would love a Mormon movie, but the musical I think would make the best movie is Catch Me.
They have the variety show structure which could make people bursting into song more believable, like the way Chicago had all the songs framed as being in Roxy's mind.
Wicked isn't my favorite among these shows, but it is the best possible material for a movie. Making movies of the best show in the bunch, Mormon, and the worst, Memphis, are both terrible ideas.
I like the idea of "Jersey Boys" just because of the material alone. On the other hand, it would probably just follow the same format of the show so you would probably be better off filming the show live.
Mormon or Memphis would be a smash HIT at the box offices. With Mormon's comedy and Memphis's style of music and movement, they would be unstoppable!
Wicked I'm kinda effy about, I mean sure it's the highest grossing show currently on Broadway. But I'm scared that they might just blow it and ruin the magic that the show has.
I'd also add Phantom of The Opera and Rent to SeanMartin's list. A smash hit on Broadway does not always translate to a smash hit on the big screen.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
I think a good movie musical is always possible, but they are certainly rare.
The best movie musicals will sacrifice songs, set pieces, and even characters as long as it makes for a better film. I always hate when people protest movie musicals that alter things a little bit. If it helps out in the long run, why not? Look at Chicago! Yes, I adore many of the songs they cut, but they weren't really helping to tell the story. On the other end, you have Nine, which completely missed the fun of both the stage show and the original film it was based off of.
Out of these shows, How to Succeed and Jersey Boys could be fun. I'd rather see Next to Normal myself with a good strong actress like a Toni Collette or Kate Winslet in the lead role.
Wicked, much like Phantom, is one of those shows that really doesn't have the best book in the world, but it does have a few decent songs. If I were to make it, I'd go directly back to the original source material and re-write the entire book, keep all the big songs, and call it a day. As is, it wouldn't work at all as a film. What's exciting and magical on stage, would be old hat and possibly even silly on film. I mean, really! Big deal! She's flying! They did that in the Wizard of Oz yeeeeaaars ago. I remember someone saying that it might be neat as an animated film and I must admit that sounds like it could be a lot of fun.
The 60s film versions of HOW TO SUCCEED and LIL ABNER are pretty much case studies in how to do it right. But somewhere along the way -- I guess when MY FAIR LADY was filmed -- producers decided they needed to go really, really big or go home. So we get monster misfires like CAMELOT and DOLLY or stylistic WTFs like MAME and NIGHT MUSIC and FORUM, all properties that should have been utterly bulletproof and arrived DOA.
And it certainly doesnt work when someone takes a film musical and tries to rework it for the stage. CALAMITY JANE, anyone? SEVEN BRIDES? Bottom line: they serve completely different audiences with utterly different styles of approach.
Of course, if you want the ultimate Broadway/Hollywood mash-up, check out RED GARTERS. Arguably one of the strangest pieces ever put to film and doing so by trying consciously to look like a play.
Oh, I definitely agree with OLIVER. KING AND I aint too shabby either. There have been some good ones, but certainly not many recently. CHICAGO, yes. NINE, not so much.