21 Important Changes Steven Spielberg Made To His Adaptation Of "West Side Story"

That Steven Spielberg just might know what he's doing when it comes to this movie stuff.

Steven Spielberg's West Side Story is currently in theaters, and it's the perfect opportunity to re-acquaint yourself with a classic...or see it for the first time if you never have before!

20th Century Fox

West Side Story was originally a Broadway musical that premiered in 1957, but the version most people have seen is the 1961 film co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins.

United Artists

Robbins also directed and choreographed the original Broadway production, which featured a (legendary) score by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The 2021 movie is technically an adaptation of the 1957 musical, not a remake of the 1961 movie.

Well, it's been 60 years since then, so it stands to reason that there might be a some changes between the old film and the new one. So here are all the differences between West Side Story (1961) and West Side Story (2021):

Evelina Zaragoza Medina/BuzzFeed

Just two little disclaimers: 1) I'm about to spoil this whole movie — you've been warned. 2) West Side Story is West Side Story, which is my way of saying that none of these changes are big enough to meaningfully change the plot. Everyone who dies still dies, sorry. 

1. The songs are in a different order, and there is one new song in the 2021 movie.

Evelina Zaragoza Medina/BuzzFeed

The new song is an alternate, revolution-minded version of "La Borinqueña," the Puerto Rican national anthem, which the Sharks sings after their initial brawl with the Jets as a way of asserting their national pride. "Cool" has the same lyrics but is sung in a totally different context (more on that later). "I Feel Pretty" is exactly the same song as always, but putting it right after the rumble gives it a huge heap of irony. Poor Maria is singing about being in love without knowing that her boyfriend just killed her brother.

2. Despite the plot being largely similar, the dialogue is completely new.

3. The costumes are just as era-appropriate as they were in the original film, but they're more discreetly color coded for the gangs.

United Artists/20th Century Fox

In the original movie, the Sharks almost exclusively wore red, purple, and black. The Jets wore blue, beige, and white. Those color designations are still visible in this movie, just not quite as obviously.

4. Anita's "America" dress is yellow, not purple.

United Artists/Niko Tavernise / 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

It's the most iconic costume in all of West Side Story, so I have to make note of this change. But don't worry! The color of the dress has no bearing on the amazing-ness of the number, which remains the best one in West Side Story.

5. The 2021 movie incorporates more specific Puerto Rican cultural references, including a large portion of Spanish dialogue.

The opening number features a mural with a quote from Puerto Rican luminary Pedro Albizu Campus, the Sharks sing "La Borinqueña," and the characters incorporate accurate Puerto Rican slang into their conversations. Most noticeable of all is the sheer amount of (not subtitled) Spanish in this movie. 

6. The Puerto Rican characters are all played by Latinx actors.

United Artists/Niko Tavernise / 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

The 1961 film is kinda (in)famous for casting white American actors as Puerto Rican characters — particularly in the leading roles of Maria and Bernardo — and using brown makeup to make them look more tan. For the 2021 version, Spielberg announced that the Sharks would all be played by Latinx actors. 

7. The historical and social context of both gangs is more fleshed out.

The movie mentions the US and Puerto Rico's confusing relationship (PR isn't a state, but Puerto Ricans are US citizens) and clarifies that the Sharks are seen as heroes by their community for defending them from harassment. The Jets sing about their many disadvantages in "Gee, Officer Krupke," but the movie also includes more details about their past conflicts with other gangs.

8. Rather than reusing the original choreography by Jerome Robbins, the 2021 movie features new moves by Justin Peck.

United Artists

Peck and associate choreographer Patricia Lucía Delgado did include a few steps from the original choreography, but it's almost all new.

9. The fight choreography is more realistic and violent.

The fight moves still have a balletic quality to them, but the Sharks push a nail through Baby John's earlobe in the opening number.  

10. Doc isn't in the new movie, and has been replaced by Valentina — 6who is played by Rita Moreno, aka Anita from the original movie.

Niko Tavernise / 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

Valentina is a Puerto Rican woman who married an American and sees herself reflected in Tony and Maria's story. Like Doc was in the original movie, Valentina is Tony's boss and gives him advice.

11. Tony's backstory is expanded, and we learn that he left the Jets after spending a year in prison for almost killing someone during a rumble.

12. Chino's role is expanded, and he isn't a member of the Sharks this time around.

United Artists/ 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

He's still Bernardo's best friend, but he's a shy university student who Bernardo tries to keep away from gang life. This version of Chino is so lovable that I was really hoping he wouldn't kill Tony at the end...my wish was not granted.

13. There is more depth to the family dynamic between Bernardo, Anita, and Maria.

Bernardo wants to marry Anita and move back to Puerto Rico, but she wants to stay in the US and refuses to marry him unless he leaves the Sharks. Bernardo moved to the US five years before Maria, during which time she was taking care of their father in PR. 

14. "America" is a huge number in this version and features slightly different lyrics.

Niko Tavernise / 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

The song is basically the same, but it incorporates a few lyrics from the original Broadway production at the beginning. In the 1961 movie, Anita and Bernardo sing the song from the top of their building along with the other Shark. In the 2021 version, the songs starts in their apartment, then moves to different places on their block, and ends with all of the other Sharks dancing in the street.

15. The movie (briefly) addresses racism and colorism within the Puerto Rican community by mentioning Anita's skin color and having her call Bernardo "jincho."

Niko Tavernise / 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita, is Afro-Latina, a fact that's incorporated into the movie when Anita asks Bernardo if he's excluding her from family discussions because she's "prieta" (dark-skinned). In "America," Bernardo sings that things are easier if you're "white in America," and Anita quickly reminds him that's he's "jincho," which means pale or white.

16. Anybodys explicitly identifies as a man and is played by nonbinary actor Iris Menas.

20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner decided to make this change, and it was approved by the estate of Arthur Laurents (who wrote the book of the original musical).

17. Tony and Maria spend more time together, and they go on an actual date, which didn't happen in the original movie.

It's a small addition, but it helps to sell the whole "we fell in love in a matter of hours" bit.

18. "Cool" happens before the rumble and has been reformulated as a confrontation between Tony and Riff.

20th Century Fox

After Riff buys a gun, Tony tries to take it away from him, but the Jets outnumber him. In the original movie, Ice sings "Cool" as a way to get the remaining Jets to calm down after the rumble.

19. Riff doesn't sing the lead part in "Gee, Officer Krupke." In fact, he's not even in the number.

The song is basically the same in both versions, just sung by different members of the Jets.

20. Valentina sings "Somewhere" when she learns about the tragic events of the rumble.

It was originally sung by Maria.

21. Finally, the scene in which the Jets attack Anita is different in both movies.

20th Century Fox

In the 1961 movie, the Jets shouted slurs at Anita and pushed her around, and it seemed liked they were possibly going to rape her before being stopped by Doc. The scene is choreographed like a dance, leaving the actions themselves open to interpretation. The 2021 scene is more literal and leaves no doubt as to what the Jets were going to do. Anybodys and two of the Jets' girlfriends try to help Anita, but it isn't until Valentina intervenes that the attack stops.

Did you have a favorite version? Can't decide and love them both equally? Discuss, please!

I actually think I prefer the new one?? Sue me.