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is usually available via paid platforms.

7.5 IMDb

56 Rotten Tomatoes

Where To Watch The Greatest Showman

The Greatest Showman is a vibrant musical drama inspired by the life and imagination of P. T. Barnum, the legendary American showman who helped popularize the modern circus. The story follows Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman, as he rises from humble beginnings and builds an extraordinary spectacle by bringing together people who are often rejected or marginalized by society. Alongside his devoted wife Charity Barnum (Michelle Williams), Barnum assembles a remarkable troupe that includes Lettie Lutz (Keala Settle), Anne Wheeler (Zendaya), W.D. Wheeler (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), and other performers. He also partners with the ambitious Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron) and recruits celebrated singer Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson). As Barnum's show becomes a sensation, fame and ambition begin to challenge his family, relationships and original ideals. The film combines spectacle, romance and original songs into a story about identity, acceptance, ambition and the courage to be different.

Biography Drama Historical Musical Romance

Release Date: December 20, 2017
Director: Michael Gracey
Genre: Musical , Biography , Drama , History , Romance
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Language: English
Starring: Hugh Jackman — P. T. Barnum
Box Office: Worldwide Gross: $471.81 million
Where To Watch: HBO Max

More details about The Greatest Showman and where you can watch

One of the most interesting aspects of The Greatest Showman is that it turns the controversial real-life figure P. T. Barnum into the center of an inspirational musical. The movie deliberately emphasizes imagination, acceptance and spectacle rather than presenting a strict historical biography. This is important because the real Barnum’s career was considerably more complicated than the optimistic story shown on screen. The film’s music became a major part of its cultural impact, with songs such as “This Is Me,” “A Million Dreams,” “Rewrite the Stars,” and “The Greatest Show” becoming particularly recognizable.

The movie was also Michael Gracey’s feature-film directorial debut. Hugh Jackman was already deeply experienced with musical performance and reportedly helped champion the project, making his role as Barnum particularly suited to the film’s combination of acting, singing and choreography.

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Did You Know

The filmmakers used Barnum’s life as a foundation but substantially reshaped events and characters for a modern musical story. For example, the film’s relationships, chronology and several performers are fictionalized or heavily dramatized. This makes The Greatest Showman better understood as a fantasy-inspired musical about Barnum rather than a conventional historical biography.