Before the invention of motion pictures, stage plays were the medium of choice to tell stories to a wide audience. While movies may have surpassed plays in popularity, they are still a big part of our culture and we even see the influence plays have had on movies.
While classic work like the plays of William Shakespeare have always been represented on the big screen since the early days of the film industry, there are some great movies you might not know got their starts on the stage. Though told in different ways, these movies had compelling enough stories to make the transition from the stage to the screen. Here are some must-see movies that are actually based on plays.
10 Moonlight
Moonlight is an unusual example of a movie based on a play that was never actually staged. This Oscar-winning movie was adapted by Barry Jenkins from the unpublished play called "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Despite the play never reaching an audience, you can see how this story might have been told on the stage. The story is separated into three acts that explore the life of a young black man struggling with his own identity. While we don't know how effective the story would have been on stage, the film tells the story beautifully.
9 The Ides Of March
The Ides of March is a dense and complex political thriller directed by George Clooney and it's hard to imagine how this story might have been portrayed on the big screen. The film is based on the play "Farragut North" by Beau Williamson, the writer behind House of Cards.
The film follows a young campaign manager (Ryan Gosling) of a promising Democratic senator running for president (George Clooney). When mistakes are made and secrets revealed, they each juggle their own morals with their big ambitions. The all-star cast including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, and Paul Giamatti make this an engrossing thriller.
8 My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is the surprise success story of what can happen when these little plays make it to the big screen. Actor Nia Vardalos wrote this one-woman show about her experiences bringing her non-Greek husband into her very Greek family.
The small show gained a following until Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson saw it and produced the film version. Vardalos wrote and starred in the film which became a massive sleeper hit. The movie became the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time and Vardalos was nominated for an Oscar for her screenplay.
7 Frost/Nixon
Given the restraints of the medium, plays need to find compelling stories to tell that require minimal sets and minimal performers. In that way "Frost/Nixon" was an ideal story to tell on the stage. It is a fictionalized retelling of the interviews between Richard Nixon and talk show host David Frost, Nixon's first interview since leaving office.
The play received wide acclaim, especially from its lead actors, Michael Sheen and Frank Langella who played Frost and Nixon respectively. Both actors were brought back to reprise their roles in the film which was directed by Ron Howard and was eventually nominated for several Oscars including Best Picture.
6 Killer Joe
While films like Dallas Buyers Club and Mud are often credited with Matthew McConaughey's comeback, Killer Joe proved ever earlier that the actor was still capable of some great performances. The movie stars McConaughey as a cop/hitman who is hired to kill a young man's mother for the insurance money.
The movie is based on a play by Tracy Letts and was praised for its pitch-dark humor. The film, directed by William Friedkin, maintains that humor in this twisted, disturbing and fascinating Southern gothic tale.
5 The Birdcage
Comedy on stage and comedy on film can be very different and it doesn't always make that transition too well. However, The Birdcage proved it could be done with great success. The movie is based on "La Cage aux Folles" about a gay couple who pretend to be straight to please their son's ultraconservative in-laws.
The story is filled with over-the-top situational comedy, misunderstandings and hilarious deception. Luckily the movie pulled together a wonderful cast including Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman to sell the outrageous material.
4 A Bronx Tale
Turning a one-man show into a full-length movie can be a daunting task. Luckily with A Bronx Tale, the story was rich enough and the talent behind the movie was strong enough to make it a successful adaption.
The movie is based on the autobiographical play by Chazz Palminteri. The movie served as the directorial debut of Robert De Niro in the story of a young boy living in the Bronx who is torn between the seduction of organized crime and the noble teachings of his working-class father. Palminteri plays a local gangster while De Niro plays the boy's father. It makes for a moving and unique coming-of-age story.
3 Fences
Movies based on plays can be a great way for stories by talented artists to reach a wide audience who might never see their work on stage. Fences is based on August Wilson's acclaimed play of the same name which deals with a working-class African-America family in the 1950s.
The play has been performed for decades and a revival starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis received wide acclaim. The two actors reprised their roles for the big-screen version which Washington also directed. The result is a powerful film with commanding performance by these two stellar actors.
2 Doubt
Good plays require excellent writing and exceptional actors to bring to life. This becomes even more essential for a film version of a play as audiences are less patient for dialogue-heavy stories. With Doubt, the writing and performances from its amazing cast are thrilling enough to capture the audience.
The film is based on the play by John Patrick Shanley who wrote and directed the film version. It stars Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis in the story of a conservative nun in a Catholic school who starts a crusade to bring down the new priest.
1 Glengarry Glen Ross
Great material can attract great talent and that is certainly the case with Glengarry Glen Ross. The film is based on the David Mamet play about the struggles of a group of real estate salesmen who spend their time complaining, struggling and deceiving.
The dialogue of the work is rich with intense, authentic and aggressive dialogue that actors who love to sink their teeth into. Unsurprisingly, it attracted one of the best casts ever put on film with the likes of Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, and Alan Arkin all giving remarkable performances.
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