Chicago (2002)
Kernel Score: 79% · 2,859 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Released: 2002-12-10
Runtime: 113 minutes
Is Chicago worth watching?
Worth watching. A slick, jazzy musical about two women chasing fame on death row. It is sharp, cynical and very well staged, with great numbers, though the story is thin beneath the showiness.
Watch it if you
- love musicals
- enjoy cynical comedy
- like 1920s settings
Skip it if you
- dislike musicals
- want a deep story
Best for: Musical night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Chicago
- Stream: Paramount+
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.
Chicago parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Chicago is a PG-13 musical about two women on death row for murdering their lovers, featuring burlesque dancing and dark satirical crime themes.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Involves murder, executions, and hanging as central plot elements, including on-screen death row scenes.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Features burlesque dancers and showgirl costumes with sensualized musical numbers.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Chicago
If you liked Chicago, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Bullets Over Broadway (1994) — 80%: Stagey, witty film set in the 1920s
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) — 79%: Classic Hollywood musical
- Burlesque (2010) — 80%: Glossy musical about performers chasing fame
- The Sting (1973) — 88%: Period caper full of charm
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) — 84%: Dark farce about murder
- The King of Comedy (1982) — 86%: Dark comedy about the hunger for fame
Director
Rob Marshall
Cast
- Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart
- Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly
- Richard Gere as Billy Flynn
- Queen Latifah as Matron Mama Morton
- Ekaterina Chtchelkanova as Katalin Helinski "Hunyak"
- John C. Reilly as Amos Hart
- Christine Baranski as Mary Sunshine
- Lucy Liu as Kitty Baxter
- Taye Diggs as Bandleader
- Colm Feore as Harrison
Chicago FAQ
Is Chicago worth watching?
Worth watching. A slick, jazzy musical about two women chasing fame on death row. It is sharp, cynical and very well staged, with great numbers, though the story is thin beneath the showiness.
Where can I watch Chicago?
In the US you can stream Chicago on Paramount+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Chicago OK for kids?
Chicago is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Chicago is a PG-13 musical about two women on death row for murdering their lovers, featuring burlesque dancing and dark satirical crime themes.
What movies are like Chicago?
If you liked Chicago, try Bullets Over Broadway, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Burlesque and The Sting.