Twenty-five years after Dreamgirls opened on Broadway, the film adaptation was released in theaters. Directed and written for the screen by Bill Condon, the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Chicago, the 2006 release was a critical and box office smash, just one more reminder that movie musicals had reached a level of popularity not seen since the days of West Side Story and Hello, Dolly!

With an all-star cast including Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Anika Noni Rose, Bill Condon and producer Laurence Mark took no chances in guaranteeing the success of the movie. Production designer John Myhre translated the minimalist, theatrical staging of the original show into glamorous sets of car dealerships and performance stages, making the world of Dreamgirls come to life in a way that made the story more accessible to wider audiences.

Adding to an already unforgettable score, composer Henry Krieger composed four new songs for the motion picture: "Love You I Do," "Patience," "Listen," and "Perfect World." Three of these songs were nominated for the Best Original Song Academy Awards in 2007. Additionally, Eddie Murphy was nominated for his performance as James "Thunder" Early and Jennifer Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Effie White, the same role that won Jennifer Holliday a Tony 25 years prior.

With a contemporary yet faithful approach to the source material, the film version of Dreamgirls reached a new generation of potential theatergoers and delighted previous generations who already considered the show one of Broadway's greatest.