Seven Murder Musicals That Kill It (Literally)

Break A Leg...

1. CHICAGO

Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together in 1920s Chicago and fight for the fame that will keep them in the spotlight and out of prison. CHICAGO opened on Broadway in 1975 and is now the longest running American musical in history.

The show was turned into a feature film starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly. With showstoppers such as "And All That Jazz," "Roxie," "Cell Block Tango," and "Razzle Dazzle,"

the musical movie took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2003 - the first and last musical to do so since 1968.

2. LONDON ROAD

BBC Worldwide North America

LONDON ROAD documents the true events that occurred in 2006, when the town of Ipswich was shattered by the discovery of the bodies of five women. When a local resident was charged, and then convicted, of the murders, the community grappled with what it meant to be at the epicenter of this tragedy.

Hailed as a remarkable, ground-breaking work during the stage production’s two sell-out runs at London's renowned National Theatre, this film reunites the award winning cast and creative team for a truly unforgettable experience. Starring Olivia Colman, Anita Dobson, and Tom Hardy, BBC Worldwide North America will release the musical in theaters September 9.

3. SWEENEY TODD

Benjamin Barker - AKA Sweeney Todd - is a barber who was wrongfully imprisoned for years by a corrupt judge. He returns to England seeking revenge — a revenge that turns murderous, leading his resourceful accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, to bake his victims into meat pies. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton joined forces in 2008 to bring Stephen Sondheim's hit Broadway musical to the big screen.

4. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS opened Off-Broadway in 1982 and has gone on to become a cult hit about a flesh-eating plant and the man who feeds people to it. The movie starring Rick Moranis (before he went M.I.A.) premiered in 1986. Jake Gyllenhaal recently made his musical theatre debut in LITTLE SHOP as Seymour, opposite Ellen Greene who originated the role of Audrey over 30 years ago. The musical is now a go-to show for community theaters.

5. A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2014, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER tells the story of Monty Navarro, an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by—you guessed it—eliminating the eight pesky relatives who stand in his way. All the while, Monty has to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s also his cousin), and the constant threat of landing behind bars!

6. CLUE THE MUSICAL

CLUE THE MUSICAL never quite made it to Broadway but the show was based off the popular board game turned 1985 movie starring Tim Curry. The murder musical is now a beloved classic that can often be seen in community and regional theaters nationwide. Did the butler do it?

7. JEKYLL & HYDE

Jekyll & Hyde tells the story of a London scientist named Dr. Henry Jekyll who creates a potion that turns him into a murderous alter ego dubbed Edward Hyde. As Hyde's violent rampage continues throughout London, Jekyll must figure out a way to stop the transformations before it results in deadly consequences for his fiancée Emma and a prostitute named Lucy, who has fallen for the doctor. David Hasselhoff famously played the title role on Broadway in 2000.