Strictly Ballroom (1992)
91%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 19 wins & 18 nominations total
As emotionally rich as it is eye-catching, Strictly Ballroom uses its infectious energy as the fuel for a modern dance classic with all the right moves.
Strictly Ballroom is a movie that will make you want to dance, even if you have two left feet. Critics may have their opinions, but let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good underdog story with some flashy dance moves? Baz Luhrmann’s signature style is on full display, and while it may not be for everyone, it’s hard not to appreciate the sheer fun and joy that this movie brings. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to cha-cha your way to a good time with Strictly Ballroom.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
St George’s Theatre, Yarraville, Victoria, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild language and sensuality
Year of Release
1993
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 32m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1993 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Musical
Keyword(s)
starring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Barry Otto, Pat Thompson, Gia Carides, directed by Baz Luhrmann, written by Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce, comedy, musical, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anthony Lane, Philip Kemp, Owen Gleiberman, Glenn Lovell, Steven D Greydanus, Sandi Chaitram, Quentin Crisp, PJ Nabarro, David Nusair, Vanessa Letts, Malcolm Johnson, Keeva Stratton, PG, Miramax Films, Tristram Miall, National Championship, ballroom dancing, modern dance, unconventional, infectious energy, emotional, eye-catching, dreams, plain girl, left-footed, maverick style, disdain, conventionally-minded colleagues, top ballroom dancer, team, all the right moves, critic reviews, audience score, original language, release date, distributor, sound mix, aspect ratio, Paul Mercurio as Scott Hastings, Tara Morice as Fran, Bill Hunter as Barry Fife, Barry Otto as Doug Hastings, Pat Thompson as Shirley Hastings, Gia Carides as Liz Holt
Worldwide gross: $11,749,595
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $24,406,907
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,633
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,661,604
US/Canada gross: $11,738,022
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $24,382,867
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,345
US/Canada opening weekend: $145,977
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $303,231
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,540
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): A$3,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Tara Morice – Fran
Bill Hunter – Barry Fife
Barry Otto – Doug Hastings
Pat Thompson – Shirley Hastings
Gia Carides – Liz Holt
Director(s)
Baz Luhrmann
Writer(s)
Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce
Producer(s)
Tristram Miall
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
19 wins & 18 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (5)
It’s a good-humored ride for the senses, never too sickly sweet, and who can say no to that?
March 14, 2022
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
…touching and disarmingly lyrical…
February 6, 2020
Philip Kemp
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
July 15, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Glenn Lovell
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Though made for a fraction of [Moulin Rouge]’s budget and with no big stars,Strictly Ballroom is the better film in every way.
February 17, 2005 | Rating: A-
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
May 12, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Sandi Chaitram
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Strictly Ballroom contains everything that dancers hate about movies and dancing.
April 6, 2022
Quentin Crisp
Christopher Street
Even if it all feels a tad forced and not particularly funny (to me at least), there’s no denying that it’s carried through with a relentless farcical drive.
July 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
It’s clear right from the get-go that Luhrmann isn’t looking to deviate from the flashiness that would come to define his career…
December 17, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
A delight.
August 30, 2018
Vanessa Letts
The Spectator
The music ranges from good old-fashioned schmaltz to amplified synthesized elevator stuff, but mostly this mocking celebration of the foxtrot, waltz and rumba is strictly fun, a new-old movie that forces you to tap your feet with joy.
June 4, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Baz Luhrman is nothing short of a national filmmaking treasure.
September 15, 2017
Keeva Stratton
Rescu (Australia)…
Plot
Scott Hastings is a champion caliber ballroom dancer, but much to the chagrin of the Australian ballroom dance community, Scott believes in dancing “his own steps”. Fran is a beginning dancer and a bit of an ugly duckly who has the audacity to ask to be Scott’s partner after his unorthodox style causes his regular partner to dance out of his life. Together, these two misfits try to win the Australian Pan Pacific Championships and show the Ballroom Confederation that they are wrong when they say, “there are no new steps!”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Strictly Ballroom includes Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, and Gia Carides.
Baz-Luhrmann.jpg
