The Greatest Showman (2017)

Celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Director:

Michael Gracey

Writers:

Jenny Bicks (screenplay by), Bill Condon (screenplay by)

Stars:

Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Jackman	...	P.T. Barnum
Michelle Williams	...	Charity Barnum
Zac Efron	...	Phillip Carlyle
Zendaya	...	Anne Wheeler
Rebecca Ferguson	...	Jenny Lind
Austyn Johnson	...	Caroline Barnum
Cameron Seely	...	Helen Barnum
Keala Settle	...	Lettie Lutz
Sam Humphrey	...	Tom Thumb
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II	...	W.D. Wheeler
Eric Anderson	...	Mr. O'Malley
Ellis Rubin	...	Young Barnum
Skylar Dunn	...	Young Charity
Daniel Everidge	...	Lord of Leeds
Radu Spinghel	...	O'Clancy

Storyline

Orphaned, penniless, but ambitious and with a mind crammed with imagination and fresh ideas, the American entertainer, Phineas Taylor Barnum, will always be remembered as the man with the gift to blur the line between reality and fiction. Thirsty for innovation and hungry for success, the son of a tailor manages to open a wax museum; however, he soon shifts focus to the unique and the peculiar, introducing extraordinary, never-seen-before live acts on the circus stage. Now, some people call Barnum's rich collection of oddities, an outright freak show; but, when Phineas, obsessed for cheers and respectability, gambles everything on the opera singer, Jenny Lind, to appeal to a high-brow audience, he will lose sight of the most crucial aspect of his life: his family. Will Barnum, the greatest showman, risk it all to be accepted?

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Plot Keywords:

circus | singing | bearded lady | social outcast | social prejudice | 

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Taglines:

Experience the award-winning music!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements including a brawl

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Hugh Jackman, the film's nine-year development process from conception to completion was, in part, due to studios' unwillingness to take a risk on an original musical. What finally sold the deal at 20th Century Fox was the future Oscar-nominated song "This is Me", which had literally been written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul during the two-hour flight to the studio meeting where the film was green-lit.

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Goofs

At one point during the song "The Other Side", Phillip Carlyle jumps down from the bar, onto a barstool, and then onto the tile floor. You can briefly see a raised square underneath the barstool, covered in the same tile as the floor. This is obviously a platform that the barstool is attached to so that it is stable enough for Carlyle to jump onto without it tipping over.

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Quotes

P.T. Barnum: Hyperbole isn't the worst crime. Men suffer more from imagining too little than too much.

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Crazy Credits

The opening and closing credits are done in the style of silent movie intertitles.

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Connections

Referenced in WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Anticipated Releases of December 2017 (2017)

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Soundtracks

String Quartet No. 6 in C Major, Op. 1, No. 6, Hob.III:6, II. Menuet
Written by Joseph Haydn

User Reviews

Forget the critics - Just enjoy the movie

As usual, the critics fail to grasp the obvious. Does the movie entertain? Yes, it does. Absolutely. Sure, it may not match the real story, and many things are not based in reality, but that's the point! It's a movie! It is a fun musical, very well done and enjoyable.If it was a made up story about John G. Pigglestack, then the critics would have nothing to complain about. I actually likes this much better than La La Land. Guess it's more upbeat. Musicals are a rare breed. Enjoy them while you can.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Greatest Showman

Filming Locations:

1 E 78th St, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$84,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,805,843, 24 December 2017

Gross USA:

$174,340,174

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$435,108,144

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bona Film Group, Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1