Stephen Sondheim's recent passing is a gigantic blow to the musical theatre world. Over his decades-long career, Sondheim has penned some of the best and most beloved musicals ever, such as Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. His beautiful musical works had inspired generations of new Broadway talent such as Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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Overall, Sondheim's resume of work is one of the most impressive of all time: full of hit after hit that are staples for any lover of musicals. Over the years, his masterpieces have made the jump to the silver screen from the stage. Some, such as West Side Story, even appeared multiple times. Sondheim himself has made some feature film musical appearances and is one of the best characters in the new Netflix adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick...Boom!

Currently, there are three more film adaptations of Sondheim's musicals either about to be released or in pre-production. West Side Story releases in theaters on December 10th, while Merrily We Roll Along and Follies are in pre-production. For fans of Sondheim's work, IMDb has the rankings for the best film adaptations of his musicals.

A Little Night Music (1977) - 5.6

Anne reads a letter inviting her to a party in A Little Night Music

Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film Smiles on the Summer Night and starring the legendary Elizabeth Taylor as Desiree Armfeldt, A Little Night Music tells the story of a semi-problematic union between a middle-aged lawyer, Frederick, and his very young bride, Anne. A bit vain and naive, Anne refuses to sleep with Frederick to protect her virginity.

Frederick goes to see his old flame, Desiree. When she hosts a dinner party to seduce him, her other married lover and his wife show up and chaos ensues. The content of this musical hasn't aged very well, with the adultery and large age gaps, but the music remains classically beautiful. In particular, Sondheim kept much of the music in 3/4's time, making the waltzes between the characters all the more memorable.

Into The Woods (2014) - 5.9

into the woods cast and characters all together, led by the Witch

One of the most recent film adaptations of Sondheim's work was Into The Woods, which boasted a star-studded cast that includes Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, James Corden, Johnny Depp, and Meryl Streep. The show takes classic fairytale characters and gives them a realistic twist.

The film version of Into The Woods was well-received by critics and audiences, making $212.9 million at the box office. The familiar faces of the cast combined with the likability of the fairytale characters made for an instant hit. More importantly, the ode to the dark roots of the classic Grimm Brothers stories captivated audiences. The film, in particular, focuses on the theme of wish fulfillment and its consequences. Don't, however, bring this adaptation up to theatre lovers as the most dedicated genuinely despise this film.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1966) - 6.9

close up of Zero, Hero, and Philia speaking in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

This old-school Sondheim show was inspired by the farces of Ancient Rome by using puns, cases of mistaken identity, and a satirical social commentary. The concept itself is interesting, even if the subject matter becomes a bit dated, especially with a present-day audience versus one in 1969. A recurring yet odd theme in Sondheim's earlier works is the focus on a woman's virginity, which got phased out over time.

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This show and film follow a Roman slave (and the narrator), Pseudolus, who wants to win his freedom by setting up his master, Hero, with a courtesan from next door. With classic farcical comedy, the show aims to get lots of laughs, which especially succeeds with Pseudolus's hilarious asides. As a result, the film has a great rating.

Gypsy (1962) - 7.1

Still shot of burlesque dancers from Gypsy (1962)

This is the first of two film adaptations of Sondheim's famous musical, starring Hollywood darling Natalie Wood as Louise Hovick. Gypsy chronicles the life of a famous burlesque dancer and her controlling stage mother. Rose Hovick is one of the most nuanced and complex roles within the realm of musical theatre with actresses having to find a balance between her vulnerability and monstrous actions.

Rosalind Russell, who played Rose Hovick, won a Golden Globe for her work on the film where she went up against co-star Wood. The two stars were up against many talented actors from the best Hollywood movies of the 1960s in the musical and comedy category, and Russell was able to snag the win.

Gypsy (1993) - 7.2

Mama Rose and Louise in Gypsy (1993)

The next version of Sondheim's Gypsy came over three decades later, and starred resident Broadway superstar, Bette Middler, as Mama Rose. For those who aren't familiar with Broadway stars, Middler is most likely familiar with her role as Winifred Sanderson from the cult classic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus

Gypsy Lee Rose, who the show and movie were based on, was a real-life person. Her autobiographical book was the inspiration for the many works that followed, including the Sondheim musical. Bette won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Film for her role as Mama Rose, and it's just one of her many talented performances.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007) - 7.3

Todd and Lovett look at a razor blade

With acting powerhouses like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter leading the cast as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, this film was bound to be a success. Something fans of Sweeney Todd may not know is that Sondheim's musical was not the first adaptation of the murderous tale of the demon barber.

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The String Of Pearls was a production in 1847 that was marketed as being based on a true story, and that rumor followed Sweeney Todd when it eventually was created around the source material. To this day, some are convinced that there is some truth in the events from the show, which adds to its intrigue.

West Side Story (1961) - 7.5

The Sharks And Jets fight in the streets in West Side Story

West Side Story was the very first film adaptation of one of Sondheim's musicals. The iconic reimagination of the tale of Romeo and Juliet features gangs of white and Latinx characters dealing with conflict and prejudice based on their preconceived notions of each other. It's a very poignant commentary on discrimination and violence that still rings true today. It is set to beautiful music and amazing choreography.

The first West Side Story stars Sondheim musical familiar face Natalie Wood as Maria and Richard Beymer as Tony. Rita Moreno plays Anita, who additionally stars in the 2021 version of the film as a new character, Valentina. Moreno also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role in 1961.

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