Louisiana's Favorite Musicals
According to a recent survey, Louisianans adore musical movies the most.
The study, was carried out by the musical theater ticketing firm SeatPlan, examined the most renowned cinematic musicals in America, as determined by the total number of monthly searches on Google utilizing the tool known as Google Keyword Planner. After that, the study was divided in the top 10 films for every state, according by number of searches.
1. The Color Purple (2023)
The Color Purple is a 2023 American musical period drama film directed by Blitz Bazawule and is based on 1982 novel by Alice Walker. It is the number one favorite musical film in Louisiana, according to the survey, with searches for it happening 16,246 times a month on average.
At the 2024 Oscars, the film received extraordinarily little attention; actress Danielle Brooks received the lone nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. However, it received 11 awards at the NAACP Image Awards.
2. The Little Mermaid (1989)
The second most popular film is Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), with 14,301 monthly average results. The original animated picture, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was a commercial success when it was released in 1989.
It made $84 million in its first domestic run at the box office plus $235 million for its lifetime revenue globally, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of that year. It also ushered in what was known as the Disney Renaissance.
3. Wonka (2023)
Wonka (2023) is next on the ranking with an average of 11,088 searches each month. This film, which starred Timothée Chalamet in the key role, made over $632 million at the box office worldwide and is the sixth highest-grossing movie of 2023. Having an average of over 37,800 searches every month, Wonka searches were highly popular in 28 states, with Illinois getting the most searches.
The film tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a central character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, depicting his early days as a chocolatier, and serves as a prequel to the first film based on Dahl's novel, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
4. The Grinch (2018)
The Grinch (2018) is the forth most searched book in the state, with 9,008 searches per month on average. The animated film, based on Dr. Seuss' 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Angela Lansbury, and Pharrell Williams.
It generated over $540 million at the box office, over $200 million higher than the previous installment, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), even though it cost $75 million to create. Before the film's release, various billboards appeared for the film, each featuring an image of the Grinch, accompanied by a mean or ironic message.
5. Trolls (2016)
Trolls (2016) was the fifth most searched-for musical motion picture, with 8,495 searches made per month. Inspired by the well-known doll figurines in assorted sizes, the film, starring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, was a box office hit after it first came out and eventually spawned two sequels.
The movie, which had a $125 million budget, generated $347 million globally, making it the sixth highest-grossing kids' movie of 2016. A sequel, Trolls World Tour, was released in 2020, while a third film, Trolls Band Together, was released in 2023.
6. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
With 6,684 searches each month, The Princess and the Frog (2009) comes at number six for Louisiana's favorite movie musicals. Disney's 2009 princess feature had originally tried casting Tyra Banks and Jennifer Hudson as Tiana's voice actresses. To the delight of fans, Anika Noni Rose was chosen instead.
With $271 million in box office receipts worldwide, the film is the seventh highest-grossing animated film of 2009. It received three Oscar nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards: one for Best Animated Feature and two for Best Original Song.
7. The Little Mermaid (2023)
Following in line with an average of 6,403 searches per month on Google, The Little Mermaid (2023) was listed as Louisiana's seventh most popular movie. This movie serves as a remake of the original 1989 movie.
After making its cinematic premiere the year before, the film earned over $568.3 million worldwide, making it the 10th highest-grossing film of 2023. Actress Halle Bailey, whose performance of "Part of Your World" went viral and currently has over 22 million views on YouTube, landed her first significant role with this film.
8. Moana (2016)
With over 6,108 searches per month, Moana (2016) is the eighth highly searched-for film in Louisiana. This cherished film grossed over $687 million worldwide at the box office and has an immensely popular soundtrack of songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
"How Far I'll Go," the track featuring the highest Spotify play count, has been heard over 600 million times. A sequel to the movie is set to be released during the fall of 2024.
9. Cinderella (1950)
Ninth on this list of favorites is Disney's Cinderella (1950). Every month, there are over 5,065 searches made for the film in Louisiana. Disney's second princess film was a tremendous success in 1950, bringing in $182 million at the box office globally during its time.
Cinderella received critical acclaim and was a box office success, making it Disney's biggest hit since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The live-action adaptation, which made $540.5 million at the box office in 2015, proved that people remain intrigued by the princess and her story.
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) ranks as the 10th most searched for musical film in the state with 4,737 searches every month. This movie, based on "Snow White" by the Brothers Grimm, was the very first animated feature film produced in the United States.
Snow White was nominated for Best Musical Score at the Academy Awards in 1938 and producer Walt Disney was awarded an honorary Oscar for the film the following year. The film, which will celebrate its 90th birthday in 2027, was the first Disney princess film ever made.
Movie Magic
Musical films are a unique and captivating genre of film that combines drama, music, and storytelling to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. From classic musicals like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to contemporary blockbusters like The Color Purple, the genre continues to
