The Greatest Showman
The brief
Hugh Jackman throws himself into this P.T. Barnum biopic with the manic energy of a one-man Broadway revival, belting out catchy pop anthems that have zero historical accuracy but maximum earworm potential. The film plays like a sanitized, sparkly fever dream that turns the problematic circus founder into a misunderstood dreamer fighting for outcasts, all while looking like a two-hour music video with cotton candy lighting. Michelle Williams gets stuck playing the worried wife role while Zac Efron and Zendaya handle the romantic subplot with competent chemistry. Perfect for anyone who loved La La Land but wished it had more sequins and fewer jazz clubs.
The verdict
If you love catchy musical numbers and can embrace pure escapist entertainment over historical accuracy, this is a dazzling crowd-pleaser with infectious energy and spectacular performances. If you prefer grounded storytelling or care about the real P.T. Barnum's problematic legacy, you'll find this glossy whitewashing frustratingly shallow.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Perfect for musical theater fans and families
- ⚠️ History buffs may find the whitewashing frustrating
Heads up
- Historical whitewashing of problematic figure (moderate)
- Brief carnival accident sequences (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Michael Gracey
- Cast
- Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Keala Settle, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Official synopsis
The story of American showman P.T. Barnum, founder of the circus that became the famous traveling Ringling
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Walk the Line (2005)
Both celebrate passionate performers who transform entertainment through music and spectacle.
Total runtime: 1h 45m + 2h 16m = 4h 1m
