If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission.
Theater fans, the time has finally come! Most of Broadway’s theaters are set to open in September or October after being shuttered since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020.
Audience members, however, will have to wear face coverings and show proof they are fully vaccinated when they enter the theaters until at least the end of October, the Broadway League said in a news release at the end of July.
To celebrate the return of Broadway after a long, long year and a half, we’ve compiled our favorite film adaptations and onstage recordings of popular Broadway shows.
See below for our picks in alphabetical order.
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
The film version of the popular stage musical following Tevye the Milkman, a Jewish peasant in pre-Revolutionary Russia as he tries to maintain his Jewish values under a devastating Czar.
Fiddler on the Roof is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video here.
Hair (1979)
This film adaptation of the musical Hair captures the spirit of the Age of Aquarius as an Oklahoma Vietnam draftee gets adopted by a group of NYC “flower children.”
Hair is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video here. Hair can also be streamed free with a Netflix subscription here.
Hamilton (2020)
The production of the Tony-winning hip-hop historical musical Hamilton was filmed live onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York over three days in 2016.
Hamilton is available to stream online on Disney+ here. While Disney+ does not currently have a free trial promotion, if you are a Verizon customer, you can get a free subscription to Disney+ for six months as part of their “Disney+ on Us” deal.
In the Heights (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s film adaptation of his Broadway musical, In the Heights, follows the story of a Washington Heights bodega owner who debates closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune.
While there is no way to stream In the Heights online free, the film is available exclusively on HBO Max. The streaming service recently lowered its monthly subscription prices so you can watch In the Heights on HBO Max starting at just $9.99 a month here. Sign up for HBO Max once and you can watch In the Heights online as many times as you want.
Jersey Boys (2014)
Clint Eastwood directed the onscreen version of the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys, which tells the tale of four men who come together to form The Four Seasons rock group.
Jersey Boys is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video here.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
The star-studded Mamma Mia! film stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and more. 20-year-old Sophie (Seyfriend) invites three men from her mother’s (Streep) past to her upcoming wedding, hoping to find out who her father is.
Mamma Mia! is available to stream free with a Peacock subscription. While Peacock offers a free tier with no subscription required, the free tier will only get you a limited amount of content. You can also watch Mamma Mia! online free via Peacock Premium, which offers a 7-day free trial here (before going up to $4.99/month).
Theater fans can also rent or buy Mamma Mia! on Amazon Prime Video here.
The Music Man (1962)
The Music Man follows traveling con man, Harold Hill, as he tricks the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize, though he intends to flee once he gets the money.
The Music Man is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video here.
Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008)
The iconic musical follows a group of young artists struggling to create a life in Manhattan’s East Village in the days of bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Rent or buy Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway on Amazon Prime Video here.
Rock of Ages (2012)
The songs of Journey, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and more underscore the tale of aspiring singer Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) as she chases their dreams, but a misunderstanding involving rockstar Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) threatens her journey.
Rock of Ages is available to stream on Hulu here. Hulu is currently offering a 7-day free trial which you can use to watch Rock of Ages online free.
Rock of Ages is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime here.
Springsteen on Broadway (2018)
Bruce Springsteen shares personal stories from his life in this one-man show, plus performs acoustic versions of some of his best-known songs.
Watch Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix here.
