INTRODUCTION
An inarguably controversial piece, the musical, RENT, hit the Broadway stage in 1996 to mixed reviews. Even some of the cast members were skeptical when they first read the synopsis for the show. Anthony Rapp, the original Mark who returned to play the same character in the film version recounts, “East Village. Rock opera. AIDS. It could be the ultimate Cheez Whiz [sic], or it could be something interesting” (Stoll, 48). A dramatic mesh of loud, edgy tunes and more emotional rock ballads, the musical has kept fans entertained for over a decade. The fan base that built up throughout the years spawned the idea for a feature film. Plot in place, actors in place, it seemed like a wonderful idea. However, when the film released to the masses, RENT, the movie, lacked the success that critics and fans alike hoped it would be. This left people questioning what exactly about the film hindered it from acquiring the same success as the stage version had done before. Other films based from Broadway musicals like Chicago or Hairspray gained far greater film success. What did these two films possess that RENT seemed to not have on the big screen? By comparing the film to its stage counterpart, we have the opportunity to understand what prevented RENT's theatrical success and what audiences generally prefer to see from Broadway shows that move to the big screen. Knowing the answers to these questions would enable future films derived from this genre to obtain the success that RENT missed. There are plenty reasons that could be, or have been, listed regarding the flop of the feature film. Still, those many reasons could be compressed down to three main problems with this particular film, reasons that didn't exist when it was just a stage show: the intensity of the film, its inconsistency to the original stage play, and its lacking relevance in our current culture. Those who saw the original Broadway production would have found a problem in all three areas. Critics had a field day nitpicking the many flaws. Even those who hadn’t seen the production live would have noticed some strangeness about how the film was done.

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