History has its eyes on Hamilton once again. The Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical has returned — not to Broadway this time but to movie theaters nationwide, marking its 10th anniversary with a big-screen celebration. For two weeks in September, audiences can relive Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking show as a cinematic event, complete with cast interviews and sing-along screenings.
Reviews of the theatrical release in student newspapers come from Kara Laber and Sophie Taylor at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, from Angeline Ontiveros at Frederick High School in Frederick, Colorado, and from Siena Mirandola at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
The story of Hamilton is nearly as improbable as Alexander Hamilton’s own rise from obscurity. The earliest iteration came in 2009, when Miranda performed what would become the show’s opening number at the White House for President Obama. What began as a passion project among friends soon evolved into a cultural juggernaut: debuting Off-Broadway in 2015, moving to Broadway that August, and quickly becoming the hottest and hardest-to-get ticket in New York.
By 2016, Hamilton had won 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The original cast recording was streamed millions of times, later earning a spot in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry as “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.” Tours named after characters (“Angelica,” “Eliza,” “And Peggy,” and “Philip”) carried the show across the US and beyond, with productions from Chicago to Manila, and even to the United Arab Emirates.
A Story and a Soundtrack that Lasts
What keeps Hamilton fresh a decade later is the way it blends history with innovation. Miranda’s use of hip-hop, rap, and layered vocals turned the Founding Fathers into something modern and magnetic. Audience favorites like “Wait for It” and “The Room Where It Happens” continue to dominate streaming charts, while other songs, including the fiery “Cabinet Battles” or the poignant “Blow Us All Away,” still spark conversation.
The movie version gives fans a chance to notice even more. “On the big screens, it can be much easier to spot smaller details,” said one Highlands student. “Each facial expression, choreographed dance, and even sound is enhanced and amplified.”
Movie Magic Meets Theater Magic
Seeing Hamilton live has always been a transformative experience. As another Highlands student put it after seeing the stage show in Cincinnati, “It definitely stuck with me, it’s even helped me do well in history classes like AP World.” But the movie brings a different kind of intimacy. Cameras zoom in on actors’ expressions and choreography, offering a perspective that even front-row seats can’t match.
The cinematic presentation is divided into two acts, with an intermission, mirroring the stage production. It never drags or rushes; instead, it sweeps viewers through Hamilton’s rise from Caribbean orphan to Revolutionary War aide, to his pivotal role in shaping the US government, to his tragic duel with Aaron Burr. As Angeline wrote in Colorado: the synergy of the cast, the humor, the passion, and the endlessly inventive music ensure audiences will leave the theater “aching from a three-hour film while humming the entire discography.”
Hamilton has become more than a musical. It’s a cultural touchstone. At Prospect High School, nearly half of the surveyed students reported having seen the show in some form, with many experiencing it for the first time via Disney+ in 2020. That release alone caused a 74% spike in Disney+ downloads the weekend it premiered. TikTok trends, classroom discussions, and national tours have kept the production alive in the years since.
And now, the 10th anniversary has inspired reunion performances, a Times Square block party with Miranda, and a renewed wave of Hamilton mania.
So is it worth seeing Hamilton in theaters, even if you’ve already streamed it or seen it live? Absolutely. The theater release honors the original cast, enhances the production’s detail, and invites both newcomers and superfans to join in.
As one Highlands student summed up: “I’ve seen both Hamilton live and Hamilton as a movie… I don’t know which I liked better but they were both great experiences. I definitely plan on seeing Hamilton in theaters.”
