On October 18th, 1961, the first film adaptation of the musical "West Side Story" was released to theaters in the United States. Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, and written by Ernest Lehman, the film starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, and more. Upon release, "West Side Story" received praise from critics and viewers alike, and grossed $44.1 million in the box-office to become the highest-grossing film of 1961. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 10 of them, including Best Picture, becoming the record holder for most wins by a musical. "West Side Story" is often considered one of the best films of all time, and a second film adaptation by Steven Spielberg was released in December 2021.
