Burlesque

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Burlesque

PG-13

Released Nov 24, 2010

1h 56m

Drama

Musical

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Popcornmeter

37%

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177 Reviews

64%

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50,000+ Ratings

Ali (Christina Aguilera), a small-town gal with a great voice, leaves a troubled life behind and follows her dreams to Los Angeles. She lands a job as a cocktail waitress at the Burlesque Lounge, a once-majestic theater that houses an inspired musical revue led by Tess (Cher), the proprietor. Ali vows to perform there and, with the help of a savvy stage manager and a gender-bending host, she makes the leap from bar to stage, helping restore the club's former glory.

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Critics Consensus

Campy and clichéd, Burlesque wastes its talented cast (including a better-than-expected Christina Aguilera) on a movie that wavers uncertainly between "bad" and "so bad it's good."

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

Awful.

Mar 30, 2019

Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

It's impossible to know if [Christina Aguilera's] actually acting, since the music-video cutting rhythms don't give her time to sustain so much as a compound sentence, not that the script provides any.

Mar 28, 2019

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

As Burlesque ground along its obvious and well-worn path, my inner voice indeed shouted, "Take it off," though my request was directed toward the projection booth rather than the dancers onstage.

Rated: 1.5/5

Mar 28, 2019

Full Review

Alison Foreman

Mashable

The glory of what Burlesque does well outshines any mistake.

Nov 30, 2021

Full Review

James McMahon

NME (New Musical Express)

...most people unfortunate to be involved in them come away with deep rooted and painful psychological scars. I'll conclude by saying I can't see that being any different for anyone who spends any time with Burlesque.

Rated: 0.5/5

May 25, 2021

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

It has no story arc, no dramatic tension, just a lot of bump-and-grind. That'll be enough for people with a taste for camp but like the art form it is named after the movie is all tease and no follow through.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 31, 2021

Full Review

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David S

Netflix recommended this as one of the most rewatched movies on Netflix. Glad I watched it. Sometimes critics miss the mark on a classic but the data is in and critics are wrong about this one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/10/25

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Anitta M

If u dont like its ur problem… is A masterpiece!!! Love u Xtina and Cher …

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Karen M

I love this movie. Bought it on Amazon Prime and it's regularly played, whether I want an uplift from the songs, especially 46 mins into it or whether I want a great background movie. The soundtrack is amazing, a simple storyline and a good cast, I love Cher and since Burlesque, Christina Aguilera. If you like musicals, there is plenty in this to keep you happy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Mike L

Christina Aguilera's singing performances are as good as it gets since the invention of the phonograph. The dramatic side of the movie is cliche & predictable, but hearing C.A. dominate the entire history of female vocals makes it a must watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Alex M

Is the plot trash? Ok it is. A girl from nowhere but has the voice of Christina Aguilera moves to LA and … just wants to perform at a small burlesque club. Why? The intro to the club complete with band moving onto the stage and Alan Cummings is such a cabaret rip off it is almost cringe. The intro to the club also mentions a financial crisis at the first of the month, so her journey from being club waitress, dancer, singing star, falling in love, negotiating a financial deal and everything else that feels like months (to the point they have a time goes by video montage) happens in less than 30 days. That all being said it is so bad it’s wonderful. The club focus keeps the world small but personal. The overall plot is very different from cabaret — yet part of that strips it of depth and meaning. The bartender is a hottie while Cher and Christina are amazing. 5 stars, even if the plot is trash lol.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

Full Review

Nestor Daniel C

Although the script of Burlesque is not solid enough, the performances and staging are simply fascinating and entertaining, Christina Aguilera stands out in each musical performance and Cher is simply sublime.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/25

Full Review

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Steve Antin

Director

Cher

Tess

Christina Aguilera

Ali

Eric Dane

Marcus

Cam Gigandet

Jack

Stanley Tucci

Sean

Burlesque: Official Clip - Guy What Takes His Time

1:12

Burlesque: Official Clip - You Haven't Seen the Last of Me

2:30

Burlesque: Official Clip - Welcome to Burlesque

2:30

Burlesque: Official Clip - Cher Says Wagon Wheel Watusi!

3:02

Burlesque: Official Clip - Christina Aguilera BLOWS US AWAY with Tough Lover

2:14

Burlesque: Official Clip - Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

2:30

Burlesque: Official Clip - Christina Aguilera’s POWERFUL Bound to You Song

2:56

Burlesque: Official Clip - Something's Got a Hold on Me

2:27

Burlesque: Official Clip - But I Am a Good Girl

2:19

Burlesque: Official Clip - Show Me How You Burlesque

2:29

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Synopsis

Ali (Christina Aguilera), a small-town gal with a great voice, leaves a troubled life behind and follows her dreams to Los Angeles. She lands a job as a cocktail waitress at the Burlesque Lounge, a once-majestic theater that houses an inspired musical revue led by Tess (Cher), the proprietor. Ali vows to perform there and, with the help of a savvy stage manager and a gender-bending host, she makes the leap from bar to stage, helping restore the club's former glory.

Director: Steve Antin
Producer: Donald De Line
Screenwriter: Steve Antin
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Screen Gems, De Line Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Partial Nudity|Language|Sev. Suggestive Dance Routines|Sexual Content|Some Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 24, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.4M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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