The modern musical has struck a chord with moviegoers, raking in some of the highest box office returns since the genre's heyday 50 years ago, according to film industry experts.
The two largest-grossing musicals in film history came back-to-back with the 1964 hit "Mary Poppins" earning $649 million and the 1965 "Sound of Music" a staggering $1.2 billion since their release. Those totals,
calculated by Box Office Mojo and other box office watchdogs, are based on ticket sales adjusted for today's $8.30 average per ticket.
The most recent musical blockbuster "Into the Woods" has earned a healthy $127.88 million domestically and $199 million worldwide since opening on Christmas Day in 2014. The Broadway-based release is now
the sixth-highest grossing musical since 1974, according to Broadway World.
Musicals are defined as
films driven by characters "breaking out in song" versus those about a musician or soundtrack, according to Box Office Mojo. Here is a list of the top 10 modern musicals since 2000 that domestically have made the most box office sales since opening:
1. "Chicago" (2002)
$171 million
The oldest film on the list and
the gold standard for modern musicals, according to critics like the late Roger Ebert. Giving a nod to 2001's "Moulin Rouge" as the start of the new musical era, Ebert described "Chicago" as a "big, brassy" film that embraced the heart and soul of storytelling through music.
2. "Les Miserables" (2012)
$149 million
This classic story by author Victor Hugo featured an all-star cast including Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. The film received mixed critical reviews, but the box office was tremendous.
3. "Mamma Mia!" (2008)
$144 million. Meryl Streep stars in this musical, which is a romantic comedy about a wedding and a mother's past.
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4. "Into the Woods" (2014)
$128 million
Another fantasy musical and Broadway remake, the film stars hefty names like Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp in a Grimm's fairy tale composite. "Into the Woods" is the fifth-highest grossing Broadway-based musical since 1974.
5. "Enchanted" (2007)
$128 million
A successful hybrid of Disney animation and live actors, the film opened on Nov. 21, 2007, with a weekend gross of $34 million.
6. "Hairspray" (2007)
$119 million
Another Broadway remake, this upbeat musical directed by John Waters
appealed to a general audience on the young side, according to the Los Angeles Times.
7. "Dreamgirls" (2006)
$103 million
This film remake of a Broadway hit starred singer Beyonce. Based loosely on the experiences of Diana Ross and The Supremes, the movie earned $52 million internationally, bringing the total box office total since release to $155 million.
8. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (2008)
$91 million
The first theatrical release in a Disney-produced musical series made an impressive showing at the box office. The film capitalized on the success of the Disney Channel series.
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9. "Annie" (2014)
$85.9 million
This family remake has earned close to $30 million more than its 1982 predecessor. The film's opening weekend brought in $15.8 million from moviegoers in 3,116 theaters nationwide.
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10. "Moulin Rouge!" (2001)
$57.3 million
Directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, this musical set in early 20th century Paris stars Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, and John Leguizamo and won two Academy Awards.
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