Lights, camera, stage! A double dose of theatrical magic on the West End

A hotbed of creativity, the West End is where stories leap from the silver screen to the stage - and sometimes, from the stage right back onto the screen. Here are some of the best West End movie adaptations, where iconic films are reimagined for the stage and beloved plays are brought to life on the big screen.

From screen to stage

1. Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Based on the 2001 film, this glitzy, over-the-top spectacle brings the iconic Baz Luhrmann story to the stage at the Piccadilly Theatre.

2. The Lion King

Adapted from the 1994 Disney animated film, this timeless classic has roared its way onto the stage at the Lyceum Theatre.

3. Les Misérables

Victor Hugo's seminal 1862 novel was first adapted with the 1980 musical that eventually made its way onto the big screen with a 2012 film starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Rusell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, and Amanda Seyfried. The latest adaptation brings the French Revolution to life at the Sondheim Theatre.

4. Mamma Mia!

Inspired by the iconic Swedish pop quartet ABBA, Mamma Mia! began as a 2008 film starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. This feel-good tale was eventually adapted into a musical that brought the Greek island of Skopelos to the West End stage at the Novello Theatre.

5. Phantom of the Opera

Adapted from Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, this masterpiece has seen plenty of iterations. Perhaps one of its most famous, however, was the 2004 film starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum. The Andrew Lloyd Webber stage adaptation continues to captivate audiences at His Majesty's Theatre.

6. Matilda the Musical

Based on Roald Dahl's 1988 children's novel that was adapted into a film in 1996, this heartwarming story of a little girl with extraordinary gifts comes to life on stage at the Cambridge Theatre.

7. Back to the Future

Adapted from the 1985 film, Marty McFly and Doc Brown are back and better than ever in this high-energy, time-traveling adventure at the Adelphi Theatre.

8. The Devil Wears Prada

Based on the 2006 film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, this hilarious and stylish musical adaptation plays at the Dominion Theatre.

9. Mrs. Doubtfire

Adapted from the 1993 film starring Robin Williams, this heartwarming and hilarious musical comedy brings the beloved story to the stage at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

10. Mean Girls

Based on the 2004 film starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried, this hilarious and biting satire of high school life and teen friendships plays at the Savoy Theatre.

11. My Neighbour Totoro

Adapted from the stunning and beloved 1988 Studio Ghibli film by Hayao Miyazaki, this enchanting musical plays at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

12. Magic Mike Live

Fans of the original 2012 film starring Channing Tatum and a host of other hunks are in for a raunchy and exhilarating ride as this live show brings the magic to the stage at the Hippodrome Casino.

13. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Musical

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short story that was later adapted into a 2008 film starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, and Tilda Swinton, this thought-provoking and visually stunning play is currently being staged at the Ambassadors Theatre.

14. Clueless The Musical

Adapted from the 1995 film based on Jane Austen's Emma, this hilarious and nostalgic adaptation is currently playing at the Trafalgar Theatre.

15. Cabaret

The original Cabaret musical was based on the 1952 play I Am a Camera, itself an adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin. Set in 1930s Berlin, the iconic tale has been adapted multiple times throughout the decades since, though its most famous iteration was the 1972 film starring Liza Minnelli, which would go on to redefine the musical itself.

Stage to screen

1. Wicked

A prequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939), this spellbinding musical explores the untold story of the Witches of the West. The award-winning tale's run has found its way off the stage, going from the Apollo Victoria Theatre to the big stage in a 2024 two-part adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

It's hard to deny the power of a good adaptation. As nostalgia blends with the desire for comfort, the stage and the screen continue to inspire one another. Whether you're a film buff or a theater lover, there's something for everyone on the West End.