To capture the hearts of the older generation and enchant the youth, musicals provide a short escape into a different world. This is a world that brings together spectacular costumes, songs, romance, and family-friendly plays. The 10 Top Grossing Musicals of All Time makes for fascinating reading.
Their success and popularity is hardly surprising. Here are the 10 top grossing musicals of all time.
- The Lion King
- Wicked
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Mamma Mia!
- The Book of Mormon
- Hamilton
- Chicago
- Jersey Boys
- Les Miserables
- Beauty and the Beast
Let’s have a look at why these works of art continue to enthral audiences with their splendour and magic.
The Lion King
First place in the list of top grossing musicals of all time is the rightful king of all musicals. It is also one of the highest-grossing musical films worldwide. The total worldwide box office revenue for the two-film series is about $2.6 billion.
The magnificent theatre production achieved significant commercial success for the first nine years of its long-standing run at New York’s 1,800 seater New Amsterdam Theatre. The show continued its hit run at the big apple’s Minskoff Theatre.
Based on Walt Disney’s Animated Studios 1994 animated feature film , the musical play is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Compared to the film there are changes incorporated and storyline additions. .
Spectacular Production sets it apart
The spectacular production is set against the majestic Serengeti Plains to evocative African rhythms. It’s an explosion of glorious, stunning colours and enchanting music.
Which adds to the dramatic effect in Simba’s timeless story of his epic journey, fulfilling his destiny as King of the Pridelands.
The massive successful run from November 13, 1997, has ensured the musical continues to sell box office seats. The gross figures (including tours) for this musical total $2 billion, with an average ticket price of $108.
When The New York Times stated, There is simply nothing else like it, they weren’t kidding.
It doesn’t seem likely that The Lion King will be dethroned from its place of honour, prestige, and originality, as the highest-grossing record holder anytime soon.
Wicked
Most of us are familiar with the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) film The Wizard of Oz,. It is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s (1900) children’s fantasy novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ .
Based on the setting and characters of this novel and the film, the musical ‘Wicked’ had its premiere in October 2003. The life and verve of the show are as mesmerising to perform as it is to watch. And the musical is renowned for producing stars on Broadway.
Standing second on the list of top grossing musicals of all time, it was labelled by The New York Times as ‘Broadway’s biggest blockbuster’.
The storyline of Wicked shows what happened in the Land of Oz before Dorothy Gale dropped in. A talented, fiery, and smart, but misunderstood young woman with emerald-green skin meets an exceptionally popular bubbly blonde. As their initial rivalry turns into a most unlikely friendship, the world labels one as good, and the other wicked.
The total gross figures of this phenomenal musical amounts to $1.8 billion.
The Phantom of the Opera
A favourite among lovers of musicals, Phantom is the longest-running musical show. It opened in 1986 in London’s West End and had its Broadway debut in 1988.
This musical has the most performances so far and is the only one that has exceeded 10,000 performances. That is no mean feat for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beautifully haunting romantic score and Maria Björnson’s marvellous costumes and eye-catching production designs.
One of the most spectacular and beautiful productions in history, the thrilling storyline is West End’s most haunting love story. Based on Gaston Leroux’s French novel from 1910, it’s the story of a pretty soprano. Living mysteriously in a subterranean labyrinth below the Paris Opera House is a masked musical genius who becomes obsessed with her.
It was termed as scarily good by the Evening Standard. It has been seen by over 130 million people in over 145 cities in 27 countries.
Total revenue of $1.5 billion makes it one of the top 10 grossing musicals of all time.
Mamma Mia!
If you’ve heard the 1975 chart-topper Mamma Mia by ABBA, you’ll know Mamma Mia is a jukebox musical. It includes the musical hits by ABBA.
It is the story of a young girl navigating love. Mother and daughter cross oceans of time and stand together in their experiences and understanding of each other. It has paved the way for some follow-up stunners like Jersey Boys.
Set to the iconic ABBA music, the story revolves around Sophie, from a small Greek island, dreaming of her perfect wedding. In her quest to find out who her father is, so she can include him in the wedding ritual of giving her away, she discovers three names from her mother’s old diaries. She secretly invites all three to the wedding. Then things get quite complicated.
Grossing $864 million, its original run lasted 14 years, from 2001 – 2015.
The productions still run in London’s West End and other international venues.
The Book of Mormon
Endorsing the positive power of service and love, this is a musical comedy. It took seven years to develop before its debut in March 2011.
The storyline follows two Latter-day Saints missionaries on a two-year mission in Uganda. In their attempt to preach the faith of the Church, they’re challenged by the differing interests of the locals. Their focus is more on poverty, famine, the AIDS epidemic, and the local warlord, than on religion.
One of the most successful musicals of all time, the Book of Mormon has grossed over $820 million and rightfully earned its place in the top 10 grossing musicals of all time. Funnily enough, one of the show’s creators described the musical as an atheist’s love letter to religion.
Hamilton
When Lin-Manuel Miranda transformed Ron Chernow’s biography – Alexander Hamilton into a sung-and-rapped-through musical, he took the world by storm and won the Pulitzer Prize.
A musical about American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, that casts non-white actors as these historical figures, has been described by Miranda as America then, as told by America now. Taking an autobiography and breathing vibrant, colourful life into the story is what this musical does with heart, humour, and respect.
The portrayal of Hamilton’s political mastermind has been termed the most exciting and significant musical of the decade. Since its debut on August 6, 2015, it has run successfully, grossing $817 million, and is one of the top 10 grossing musicals of all time.
Chicago
A musical spectacular, Chicago is based on the 1926 play by a reporter about real-life murders and trials. The 1975 American musical is a dazzling and satirical take on justice, fame, and celebrity criminal. The story follows Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and is arrested, and lands in the Cook County Jail.
Timeless lyrics that are catchy and sensational, with a hint of satire do justice to its popularity. While it didn’t rise to the same kind of fame, its revival completely eclipsed the 1975 musical, A Chorus Line. The number of performances, 9,000, were ten times more than when it was first aired.
It’s beautiful and well-received performances made it second on the list of longest-running shows in Broadway history. First in the list of longest-running musicals that were American, and first again on the list of successful revivals as well.
While the musical ran from June 3, 1975, to August 27, 1977, the revival began on November 14, 1996. The 2002 film version finds its place in the list of highest-grossing musicals of all time.
Jersey Boys
A jukebox musical, Jersey Boys revolves around the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll group The Four Seasons. This is their inspiring rags-to-riches tale.
While Mamma Mia! drew inspiration from imagination, Jersey Boys drew its inspiration from reality and the lived experiences of The Four Seasons. Rather than create an original life story grounded in music and chaotic island characters, it chose to put forth life and life choices through the stage, turning the everyday ordinary into musical extraordinaire
The true story and its chart-topping catalogue of music was a result of sheer hard work. It not only resonated with its audiences but also enjoyed a Broadway run at the August Wilson Theatre. It ran for a total of 12 years and 4,642 inspiring performances.
The formation, success, and break-up of the group has been presented in a documentary-style format. From singing under streetlamps to international stardom, the musical’s structure is four seasons. Each group member takes turns in narrating his perspective of its music and history.
This international musical phenomenon grossed $740 million from its run between November 6, 2005, to January 15, 2017.
Les Miserables
An iconic musical, Les Miserables is an adaptation of the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo. This sung-through musical was an original French musical that premiered in Paris in 1980.
Set in 19th century France, following the French revolution, a former convict Jean Valjean seeks redemption. Breaking parole to start a new life, he’s hunted by Inspector Javert who refuses to let him escape justice, pursuing him for most of the play. Carried into the barricades of the Student Revolution in Paris, and the battle for the soul of Paris, he discovers the meanings of salvation and love.
Told with great delicacy and care for the subject matter, the production budget allowed for a soundtrack of the theatre’s most powerful, epic, and explosive ballads. The numbers showcase the immediacy of the French Revolution as the characters experience it and keep a close eye on the movement and class war that was occurring at the time in 19th-century up in arms France.
With an original run from March 12, 1987, to May 18, 2003, there were revival runs in 2006 and 2014, each lasting two years; grossing $546 million. Its film adaptation in 2012 was also a great success which made it to the list of highest-grossing opening weekends, amounting to $31 million.
Beauty and the Beast
A fairy tale, an animated film, a musical, and a film, Beauty and the Beast has appeared in most of our lives at some point. This Disney stage musical is based on the 1991 hit Disney animated feature film. The classic fairy tale appeals to audiences, both young and old.
The story shows Belle, attempting to rescue her imprisoned father, being captured by the Beast who was transformed by an enchantress as a punishment for his selfish ways. His only way to become human again is by learning to love and be loved back.
The famous New York Times writer, Frank Rich commented on the production. He wrote that the original animated film was a result of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s genius. It was the best among the Broadway musical offerings of 1991, even though it wasn’t being performed on Broadway at the time.
This musical had a 13-year run from 1994 to 2007 and grossed $539 million. There were two films with the same title. There was a 1991 animated film and a 2017 musical film.
The highest-grossing film was the 2017 one, with about $1.2 billion worldwide revenue.
Final Thoughts
It isn’t easy to quantify, but the effort that goes into delivering a musical to an audience is appreciable. Narrating a story with music that captures the hearts and minds is a big undertaking.
But a successful production makes it a magical experience for everyone.
