jukebox musical

American  

[jook-boks myoo-zi-kuhl] / ˈdʒukˌbɒks ˌmju zɪ kəl /

noun

1. a musical that uses songs that are not original to the play or movie and are integrated into the plot.

   This jukebox musical tells the tale of an uptight little town that comes alive to the tune of more than two dozen Elvis hits.

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Etymology

Origin of jukebox musical

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jukebox musical

So instead, Jackson’s family — who largely backed the film — producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua opted to refocus the film more squarely on his music, effectively turning it into a jukebox musical.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 26, 2026

It is a jukebox musical of Celine Dion hits, where Celine herself hijacks a museum tour about the Titanic cruise liner in order to narrate her version of what happened the night the vessel sank.

From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2025

In fact, “Better Man” might work better on the London stage as a jukebox musical than in cinemas.

From Salon ● Jan. 10, 2025

The result is a far cry from the standard jukebox musical in which it’s sometimes possible to hear a cash register ka-ching as a mega-hit is trotted out.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2024

A loosely autobiographical jukebox musical of songs by Alicia Keys, “Hell’s Kitchen” takes place in the 1990s, in the Manhattan neighborhood of the title.

From New York Times ● May 14, 2024