Features

20 films for theatre fans on Netflix

Here’s how to fill your evenings and still be stagey from the comfort of your sofa

Andrew Garfield and Alexandra Shipp
Andrew Garfield and Alexandra Shipp
© Macall Polay/NETFLIX

Here are 20 films perfect for a Netflix binge! You can read our bountiful list of stage shows you can watch online for free here!


Miss Saigon

The 25th anniversary West End production was a milestone in the careers of the likes of Eva Noblezada and Rachelle Ann Go, so it's a great treat for anyone wanting a quiet night in.

tick, tick…Boom!

Already courting Oscar buzz, Lin-Manuel Miranda's movie is based on Jonathan Larson's intimate musical – here transformed into a wonderful exploration of creativity.

Gypsy

Imelda Staunton stars in the hit musical, taped during its West End run at the Savoy Theatre.

Diana the Musical

Love it or hate it, sometimes it's great just to watch live performers do what they do best. The show concerns the much-revered 20th-century figure.

Shrek the Musical

The hit Broadway production heads to UK and Ireland Netflix for the first time! Brian D'Arcy James takes on the titular role. Find out more.

Vivo

Lin-Manuel Miranda lends his voice to this brand-new musical animation which is released on 6 August – truly a hoot!

The Prom

A brand new musical film version of the iconic Broadway show is on Netflix! You can find out more about the starry piece here.

The Boys in the Band

The film version of the recent Broadway revival features an all-star cast. Find out more here.

Been So Long

Michaela Coel, Mya Lewis, Arinzé Kene and George MacKay bring Coel's stage play to the streaming site.

Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall

Platt's solo concert is a tour-de-force in performance and quite frankly the perfect tonic to the lockdown blues. Read an interview with Platt here.

Once

We've been falling slowly in love with this movie (and the subsequent stage version) for many a year, and now you can too!

Springsteen on Broadway (2019)

The music legend had a residency on Broadway recently, and the whole experience was captured for your consuming pleasure online!

Glee (2009)

One of the biggest smash hit TV shows of the last couple of decades, you can now watch all of Glee, with its ridiculous back catalogue of musical covers, in its entirety. Who's up for a binge-watch?

Jingle Jangle (2020)

A raft of Broadway legends join this festive musical bonanza – which should be on your must-see list this winter! Expect some proper earworms. Release on 13 November.

Matilda (1996)

Playing to packed out audiences in the West End is the RSC, Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly's hit musical version of Roald Dahl's novel. It's an absolute scream and while we don't think the film is anywhere near as great as the stage version, it's still pretty fun, featuring a great comic performance from Danny DeVito.

Watch it on stage instead

Funny Girl (1968)

There might be a lot raining on everyone's parade right now, but not with the cracking film musical starring Barbra Streisand.

Barbra Streisand, The Music… The Mem'ries… The Magic! (2017)

The iconic Barbra Streisand has some UK appearance dates, but she's currently ruling the roost on Netflix with this specially recorded concert, featuring some immense performances.

Latin History for Morons (2018)

Theatre on Netflix may start becoming a more regular fixture, and John Leguizamo's one-man show is ahead of the curve. Having originally premiered in 2016, Leguizamo's play is a whimsical and entertaining exploration of two millenniums of oppression. As informative as it is drole.

Annie (1982 and 2014)

Tomorrow is only a day away in Annie's world, so why not raise some spirits with this fantastic musical film that has won the hearts and minds of audiences across the globe. Two versions are available on Netflix.

Oh Hello on Broadway (2017)

Recorded live on the Great White Way, this comedy special promises gags aplent with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney (Mulaney is a massive musical nut, judging by his SNL sketches) playing two hasbeens who while away the hours.

Opening Night (2017)

Stage stars including Lesli Margherita appear in this musical comedy film, which takes place in real time, backstage on the opening night of a Broadway musical. If you can't be there then why not see what it would be like!

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015)

Four series of a musical romantic comedy is more than bingeable for anyone with long stays at home, so we wholly suggest cashing in on this fantastic cockle-warming series.

Mamma Mia!

It's back on Netflix just in time the summer, which means your annual ABBA bonanza can carry on.

Les Misérables

Love it, hate it, it's impossible not to get swept up in the immense score of the iconic show, brought to life by Tom Hooper.