Top 10 Differences Between In the Heights Movie & Musical 

If you loved In The Heights, be sure to also watch our video for Every In the Heights Song: RANKED - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Pi5eapBtiM0.html and let us know if you agree!

i HATE when people say Vanessa is the female lead. they took so much away from Nina to give to Vanessa in this movie, but the plot revolves around Nina in the whole musical

The moment Sonny is revealed to be undocumented hearts immediately makes me cry. Even just the little clip here. Often people the way people talk about undocumented people it seems like they forget these are human beings we're talking about. When you see Sonny's face you have to see the humanity in the situation.

I know that Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace would have nailed Sunrise. They have amazing chemistry. I wish they gave me more of Benny and Nina. I absolutely love their story in the musical.

Y’all complain about everything that changed (as if it’s not the entire point of an adaptation) but don’t seem to realize how well the movie works on its own. Sure some things were changed, some elements and nuances were sadly lost, and the story is different ; but at the end of the day, it’s an EXCELLENT movie. Regardless of its source material.

As someone who's never seen the original show on Broadway and didn't have an emotional background going into the movie, I loved it. However, I can understand how people who went into it wanting to see it just like on Broadway would be upset with the changes. As a stand alone movie, it's fantastic.

wow i’m just noticing Olga played Abuela in the musical AND the movie. i love that

Cuca was like an "and Peggy" in the movie But then again i like Cuca

Oh can we agree that sonnys added story line was sooooo wonderful !

Blackout changed so much, it was literally the climax in the stage version

I’m still bitter with the fact that they cut Sunrise! It’s such a great and romantic song! 😭

Ok but why on earth would you remove "Everything I know", it was crucial in showing abuela's relationship with nina and rest of the block.

Also, I'm used to Nina having a powerhouse voice (though Leslie has a sweet voice and is also really talented).

Olga Merediz better get an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, that’s all I’m saying!

They should've kept the racism from Kevin to Benny in the musical, in the film. As a black woman, I know firsthand that sometimes members of the Latin community are racist towards dark skinned people. It would've been more impactful. Colorism shows that the darker you are, the more you're seen as less than. I'm really curious as to why they changed this very important part of the plot.

Nina and Benny had a lot more of a strained relationship in the play because of their different races. Ninas father didn’t approve of him because he wasn’t Latino and Benny blamed Nina when her father decided to sell the business making him lose his job

I love both versions, though honestly I love *most* of the movie & *all* of the stage show. My biggest issue was how diminished Abuela felt. The gut punch from Atencion is gone, replaced with the long walk of Pacencia y Fe (which, don't get me wrong, Olga does *brilliantly* and I agree she needs an Oscar for this role); Everything I Know is gone, and the biggest heartbreak for me is the mural and Usnavi's motivation change. I love Vanessa and the expansion of her role is great... until the end. In the play, Abuela is the main push for Usnavi to go back to the DR - he has no experience or memories from there, but she does, and they plan to go back together. Once she passes, Usnavi continues to follow that plan for her sake, in honor of her memory. But the mural of Abuela on the Bodega makes him realize that her family and his, their memories, their hearts, and their dreams, are all right where he is - in the Heights. He lets go of the past and someone else's dream, and gives her a much better memorial - doing what she would do, keeping the heart of the neighborhood beating and the wisdom from the past remembered.

I have a love/hate relationship with the changes. Some are really cool and interesting, like the use of Future Usnavi as a framing device for the story, which makes the bursting into song feel more realistic. Some, like the reason Nina left Stanford and the removal of her mother as a character make no sense to me. Also, the racism of Nina's father towards Benny and how that is resolved is something I would have liked to see the story address. I LOVED the extra plotline for Sonny.

I always related strongly to Nina. I was the first of my cousins to go go college and was always considered the one who would “make it” in my family. But sometimes that pressure is just too much. I really related to her just having more on her plate than she could handle. Changing it to racism seemed heavy handed to me. Racism will certainly an obstacle for us but regular issues like pressure and fear is just as relevant to any of us.

I love both versions of Paciencia y Fe. The number in the movie was beautiful but for me the stage version hit harder. Abuela Claudia revealing she has the winning ticket during the song is perfect. Getting to hear/see life through her eyes and the obstacles she and her mother had to overcome and then out of nowhere is the big reveal. She then continues her day like normal. Everyone else on the block had all these fantasies and dreams they wanted to chase but abuela literally just goes about her day. Then you’re left crying happy and sad tears because of the rollercoaster ride you just got off of. There’s also something about finding out she won the lottery before all the other characters that makes it brilliant too.

Fun Fact: In the book In The Heights: Finding Home, the screenwriter Quiara Alegria Hudes said that another reason they made Daniela and Carla a couple was because since Nina's mother was not a present character in the movie, they lost that relationship of a married couple, so they created a functional and happy married couple with Daniela and Carla. I love that they did that so so much. The movie was PHENOMENAL, even with the inevitable changes from the musical.

So you’re just gonna ignore that they cut out the racism from Kevin to Benny and the fact that kevin didn’t approve of Benny In the play lol

I really missed the song inútil, sang by Kevin in the stage play. I thought it added a lot of weight and depth to his character and why it was so hard for him that Nina dropped out. He felt useless like his father did before him. It makes his relationship with Nina that much sweeter in the end, when she decides to go back. But I LOVE both adaptations! ❤️

Camilla's songs being cut made me so sad, "Enough" is such an amazing song

I will never forgive them for cutting 70% of Benny and Ninas story, not to mention killing off Ninas mom. I mean I understand why but man it was pretty disappointing.

"In the heights, I can't survive without cafe. I SERVE CAFÉ!!!"

Hundreds of stories really puts an emphasis on Abuelas relationship with the block. So sad it wasn’t in the movie 💔

I feel like revealing abuela Claudia won the lottery was more emotional than after she died because she decided what to do with the money they discussed it and Usnavi Sonny and Abuela had plans that they're dreams were literally about to come true but they all just vanished just like that because she died. It would've been heartbreaking if that happened in real life. I feel like the movie version with revealing it after and cutting Hundreds of stories just lessens abuelas character.

Honestly I think some of these changes actually made the movie better

They made Vanessa seem so stuck up in the movie. Still loved it because In the Heights is my fave musical!

My main complaint is the way they changed blackout. It was supposed to be about Benny and Nina’s climax, Sonny and Pete protecting the bodega, the closely knit harmonies. They kept some of the things I liked but I didn’t like the replacement of Benny and Nina with Usnavi and Vanessa

*In The Heights* was such an amazing movie. Great story and even greater music! Definitely was worth the wait!

Anything remotely negative was cut. I think some should have stated specifically the bar fight at leas to have blackout make more sense. The vandals in blackout were missing. Kevin and Benny's relationship also. Blackout was one of my favorite songs originally but they modified it too much imo but I understand why.

Still mad that they cut Inútil, it would've had to much more impact in the movie now that Kevin was a single parent!

Benny and Nina/ the relationship between Benny and Nina's father was also a factor that was different in the film versus the stage play. Like in blackout, Nina and Benny are fighting due to her father closing the shop so she can have enough money for school. They getting this huge fight which was revamped in the film as Vanessa's and Usnavi fight. I thought I was going to feel some type of way about it but to be honest I love the new lyrics in Black out ❤️

cuca was a very unnecessary character. she literally added nothing. she was just there just to be there. most of the time she was just being a third wheel to daniela and carla. and she barely had any lines

The line “Manny Ramirez is in town this weekend” is switched to “Big Papi is in town this weekend” in Benny’s Dispatch

As a person who didn't have the opportunity to watch the musical i really appreciate this 😍

I noticed all these differences and was honestly surprised and confused. I don't think the changes were necessary, but it didn't bother me much.

I saw this gorgeous film a couple days ago. There were about fifteen of us in the movie theatre screen all dotted around. My heart broke for Sonny and I sobbed It hurt worse because he's a child. There was nothing he could do

I didn't notice Sonny was undocumented till the end of the movie or that Carla & Daneila were a couple in the movie till she mentioned it.

I watched the movie yesterday and I was moved to tears. I love everything LMM creates ♥️

I like how in the musical, the only reason he can leave is because abuela won the lottery. It gives the money more significance and makes the choice harder. Still a great movie regardless.

The changes were alright (of course I missed the original) but the line "I heard what you did for me" was so weak, because all Usnavi did was get Carla to sign off on the lease.

“You Said You Want To See The World THROUGH My “Eyes”, Right?” “Yeah.” “Come With Me.”

One thing they took from Vanessa: Her history with her parents

I didn’t even notice the relationship between Carla and Daniela but I love it

Okay I’m gonna be honest. I loved the movie so much. I cried a good 4 times. I do wish sunrise was in the movie, but I still loved it so much. I was mostly glad Vanessa was expanded in the movie, I felt like I could relate to the song “It won’t be long now” because I want to go places when I finish school and chase my dreams, but there are things stopping it. But overall, really good movie, amazing songs, amazing choreography, amazing acting. If you’re going to disagree PLEASE be respectful.

Overall, I liked the changes. New Sonny`s plotline (my poor boy, I teared up when he said he can`t go to college!) was great, Vanessa`s dream about being the designer gave her more depth, revealing about the ticket made me cry for the secong time. I was happy to see new Blackout. I love the drama happening between Nina and Benny in the original musical, but let`s be honest: Benny was unpleasantly rude to her. So I`m glad he is a very decent guy in this version. I also liked how they changed Kevin`s attitude, tho original version again has more drama, which is also interesting and good. Only thing I DO really miss is Camila`s character, especially when they added two new characters. Okay, the scene with Sonny`s father was great, one little conversation hit SO hard. But Cuca... Why she`s even there? They may give that little screen time to Camila and even that would make more sense, imo.

That's really too bad they didn't keep Nina's storyline, about her juggling multiple classes and it becoming too overwhelming, and then losing her scholarship. It would've made a larger, emotional impact. Sure, the racism idea is common among university because we have to "work harder" to get the appreciation, recognition and respect that we deserve, but to be honest, this film was already dealing with the storyline of the DREAMers and immigration. The film piled too many social justice points in here where it almost felt forced. The stage production was quite subtle in the way the Latino community was portrayed and pushing racism down our throats didn't help. Yes, it happens, unfortunately, I've experienced it, but Nina's original reason why she left university would've shown a different perspective. We already have enough films and TV shows dealing and discussing race. This movie didn't need to become one too.

They simply could not include everything from the stage musical. I felt they really had to use the advantages that the new medium (film) offered. Dramatic elements had to be heightened. Social issues of interest had to be given more focus. More time and character development had to be given to ones that were closest to the main protagonist. I was bummed out about the missing elements too but I get it, and I enjoyed the film tremendously.

Sunrise, Hundreds of Stories, and Everything I Know deserved SO MUCH MORE, they were some of my favorite songs from the original. I love the movie so much but I don't care if it had to be 3 hours to fit all of the songs, gimme gimme

I watched the movie twice in theaters and *cough* multiple bootlegs *cough* and LOVED both, but wowwww there were a lot of changes!

I wish there was an extended cut of this movie with all the cut songs and plotlines

Sonny and Abuela Claudia made me cry 😭

still can't forget the my waterworks for Paciencia Y Fe

Yes more In the heights content love it 😍

Omg I swear, as some one who hasn't heard of or seen the musical only the movie, I thought Daniela was the mother of Carla and Cuca 🤯

Oh dip, I honestly though Daniella and Carla were mother and daughter.

so many of the changes to the movie really infuriated me. i wish they hadn't changed the lyrics of blackout. it feels so choppy and out of place the way that they did it, as much as i liked benny not blaming nina for what kevin did

The film is good on its own to a person who’s never seen the musical, but as a person who loved the musical and saw it live this film just is okay. Putting Marc Anthony in there was a complete waste of time, they could’ve given us one song instead of that scene that was completely unnecessary.

hamilton cut congratulations, in the heights cut sunrise😭

very very great epic list I like it a lot very great job mis mojo one of my very favorite list ever ❤

Sunrise is one of my favorite songs and I was sad it was left out, but I liked the movie

More of Vanessa was really good, and I agree strongly with #6. Taking advantage of the cinematic platform was such a key thing. But #3 was a really bad change. The original is what happens to so many students it was much more relatable, imo. The difference in the film could have worked if it was something more serious, but the story she tells is like, really? Welcome to having roommates.

The change of placing for pasencia y fe changed how i felt about that song, i always akipped it but now i feel like i need to, its also my grandmas story and my grandpas and so many others

They took out all my favorite songs and I’m never gonna get over it. I was so disappointed.

Graffiti Pete's line from 96,000 was changed from "I got more hoes than a phone book in Tokyo!" to "I got more flows than Obi-Wan Kenobio". It's very corny, but significantly better than the original line, which managed to be both sexually & racially offensive.

I lost my shit when I saw Marc Anthony on screen haha

It really bothers me that they fit in prigua and and the reprise but cut everything I know.

FYI - Sunrise IS in the movie version, but it’s merged as an instrumental in the Nina/Benny dance scene on the fire escape! Lin-Manuel talked about it in a few interviews. 😉

the way paciencia y fe goes SO HARD in both the movie and the musical

It's been updated. I love the lyric changes especially in 96,000. the singing is great. I do wish it was closer to the stage musical at times. Abuela's death crushed me in the film. In the musical, you don't see her death. Both are heartbreaking.

I kinda wish they kept the reason why Nina quit school. I think there were great moments to show the racism and it’s complexities the latino community experiences. That being said, I get it. Those experiences are real and aren’t unrealistic.

unpopular opinion: i LOVE the movie.

Quiara Alegria Hudges is the one who did that changes from her original stage book along with LMM

And the blackout thing where it goes “don’t make me laugh I’ve been trying all night” Benny says that but in the movie it was usnavi

i think cutting out Nina’s mom was absolutely unnecessary. they had to change so much just so that they could change it to “she died” when one of my favorite things in the musical is that relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Rosario which then leads to the amazing “Enough”

I didn't even notice they were a couple. Thats cool though

Damn, it kind of gives you an idea on what could happen with a "Hamilton" adaptation

i'm not surprised with the song order, West Side Story did the same thing, officer Krupke was supposed to be after the rumble.

I’ve seen both the stage show when it was in the U.K. and the movie and honestly I live both for separate reasons, the movie is good and they were always going to have to change things for the movie to work

idky i was screaming when sonny was rapping 🤩🤩🤩.

Buen video, cuca es la peggy de esta película 🤭

when they changed abuela's story during pacienca y fe for the cinematic effect, i couldnt stop crying. it wasnt a bad touch at all i was just so sad that abuela had to go T^T the only other sad thing due to this change was not getting to hear Hundreds of Stories.. i LOVE that song so much

Honestly nothing beats the classic but the new one just as good, I personally just like musicals better than movies

Sunrise deserves justice 😭

You missed: In the musical, it felt like Benny and Nina were the main couple. In the movie, it felt like Usnavi and Vanessa were. (I love both btw)

Either In the heights, 96000 or tell me something i dont know should get oscar nomination

I need to rewatch the movie after this

I love them both. This movie is AMAZING! 😍😍😍

I still can't decide if I like Nina's new reasons for dropping out honestly. Like that kind of isolation and the effects on mental health through a particular traumatic experience (being searched) are fully valid but I also kind of liked that Nina's reasoning was more socioeconomic originally. People are cruel and that's harder to change but I feel like the original shines a light on a genuine problem we could be trying to fix.

Y’all better get over the complaining and anger. This movie is fantastic! Lin improved on the musical and made things current.

If I am being honest , the reason why Nina leaves stanford is better in the stage version , at least in my opinion because the movie version felt a like a little too much …. Not saying it doesn’t happen because it does we get stupid comments from people all the time but idk I guess I just relate to the stage version Nina more ….

Ms mojo can you do top 10 Phineas and Ferb that makes no sense

i’m so salty about blackout that’s the best part of the whole things is everyone singing over each other and looking for each other

I don’t think I can watch it without sunrise in it…

I'm so upset that Sunrise and Everything I Know weren't in the musical

This brilliant film should at least be nominated for Oscars

True I have noticed that there were some things that were different from the movie than the play trust me I seen it myself it was incredible but the movie was more astonishing to be fair I am actually saying that it was a good idea to cut out some things to make the film a little bit less complicated to put some things together and some new ideas to make it more breathtaking and they left out something usNavy‘s father he was never mentioned in the play and I like how they added him they did a good job with his usNavy and Vanessa‘s entrance love them both they picked out perfect actors to play the parts