Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Kernel Score: 86% · 4,781 ratings · Rated PG-13

Genres: Drama, Romance, Music

Released: 2001-05-18

Runtime: 128 minutes

Is Moulin Rouge! worth watching?

Depends on your taste. Baz Luhrmann's frantic musical is gorgeous, loud and emotionally big, built from pop songs. It's one that people either swoon over or find exhausting, and there's not much between.

Watch it if you

  • like musicals and bold, over-the-top style
  • enjoy doomed romance with lush visuals
  • don't mind pop songs reworked into the story

Skip it if you

  • want subtle, realistic drama
  • get tired by fast cuts and nonstop spectacle

Best for: Date night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Moulin Rouge!

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-22.

Overview

A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet, who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star.

Moulin Rouge! parents' guide: ages 13+

Parents need to know that Moulin Rouge! is a romantic musical drama set in a nightclub with prostitution themes and a character's terminal illness, rated PG-13.

  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Set in a Parisian nightclub with courtesan and prostitution themes.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Moulin Rouge!

If you liked Moulin Rouge!, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • The Great Gatsby (2013) — 84%: Same director's glittering, excessive take on a tragic romance
  • Elvis (2022) — 84%: Luhrmann again, with flashy music-biopic energy
  • A Star Is Born (2018) — 84%: Big, emotional music-driven love story
  • Walk the Line (2005) — 84%: Music, passion and a damaged love story
  • The Sound of Music (1965) — 86%: Classic musical with soaring songs
  • Sing Street (2016) — 87%: Joyful, music-led story of young people chasing a dream

Director

Baz Luhrmann

Cast

  • Ewan McGregor as Christian
  • Nicole Kidman as Satine
  • John Leguizamo as Toulouse-Lautrec
  • Jim Broadbent as Harold Zidler
  • Richard Roxburgh as The Duke
  • Garry McDonald as The Doctor
  • Jacek Koman as The Unconscious Argentinean
  • Matthew Whittet as Satie
  • Kerry Walker as Marie
  • Caroline O'Connor as Nini Legs in the Air

Moulin Rouge! FAQ

Is Moulin Rouge! worth watching?

Depends on your taste. Baz Luhrmann's frantic musical is gorgeous, loud and emotionally big, built from pop songs. It's one that people either swoon over or find exhausting, and there's not much between.

Where can I watch Moulin Rouge!?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Moulin Rouge! OK for kids?

Moulin Rouge! is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that Moulin Rouge! is a romantic musical drama set in a nightclub with prostitution themes and a character's terminal illness, rated PG-13.

What movies are like Moulin Rouge!?

If you liked Moulin Rouge!, try The Great Gatsby, Elvis, A Star Is Born and Walk the Line.