Flashdance

Play trailer

1:34

Flashdance

R

Released Apr 15, 1983

1h 35m

Drama

Romance

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

37%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) is a beautiful young woman who works a day job in a steel mill and dances in a bar at night. When Alex discovers that her handsome boss, Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), is both interested in her and supportive of her performing career, she renews her efforts to get accepted into a prestigious dance conservatory. Although Alex is frightened of failure, she is cheered on by Nick, as well as by her mentor, former ballet performer Hanna Long (Lilia Skala).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

All style and very little substance, Flashdance boasts eye-catching dance sequences -- and benefits from an appealing performance from Jennifer Beals -- but its narrative is flat-footed.

Read Critics Reviews

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Unlike its grittily romantic predecessors, Flashdance is pure glitz.

Mar 25, 2013

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Virtually plotless, exceedingly thin on characterization and sociologically laughable, pic at least lives up to its title by offering an anthology of extraordinarily flashy dance numbers.

May 23, 2008

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Depressing to think that this was a huge hit on the back of the Irene Cara hit single, since there's absolutely nothing to it.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

There's quite an impressive list of achievements for a film best described as, well, dopey.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 16, 2023

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jennifer Beals can dance like a maniac under an electrifying soundtrack, but I have the impression that her role is not enough to invigorate a narrative that stumbles too much between the camp and the videoclip routine. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Jun 19, 2022

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

The fact that this was considered a "hit" boggles my mind. I did not enjoy this. The 80's was a wild time.

Rated: 1/5

Mar 31, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Larry K

Awesome dancing and Jennifer Beals is beautiful. Not much of a story though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

Fabrícia F

A vontade de vencer através da dança leva uma jovem bailarina a percorrer o caminho mais difícil para chegar longe e conquistar uma chance. E nessa jornada, ela tem os cinéfilos como torcida garantida. Absolutamente incrível e cheio de ritmo.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

Nicholas W

Fun 80s feel good movie. Strong vibes, great shots.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

Carlos I

Some movies have a legacy for reasons beyond me. While the dancing in this and soundtrack is great (and I guess that's all that really matters) the rest is corny and melodramatic.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

Full Review

Arby W

Forty years later, good or bad doesn’t even apply. You watch this like you go see the Mona Lisa…not because you like it or not, but because of its place in history! THIS was the milestone movie where critics rightly pointed out that it was the first movie length “music video” ala the brand-new cultural phenomenon, MTV. It is hard to see things thru the eyes of another era but this is worth the effort. MTV was so new and huge that motels added to their “Air Conditioned Rooms” signs the phrase “Free MTV”. A flashy (pun intended) new visual style was being pioneered by a new generation of music video directors. Just like John Williams who composed every movie sound track ever (ok exaggeration) cut his teeth writing themes for 60s TV shows, directors like David Fincher went from winning best music video awards on to a lifetime of directing big movies starting with Alien3, Seven, Fight Club, etc, etc. So, was this movie the harbinger of the downfall of Hollywood or not? At the time, people didn’t care since the eye-candy of this new style for the new BIG EIGHTIES decade was enough.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/24

Full Review

Jon A

Movie is so ass, no real couple is that happy fake movie , just makes your wife question your love because your not waiting for her with her stolen dog and huge bow while she "stuns" the judges with energy only true love can give. If you want a divorce see this movie together

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Adrian Lyne

Director

Jennifer Beals

Alex Owens

Michael Nouri

Nick Hurley

Cynthia Rhodes

Tina Tech

Lilia Skala

Hanna Long

Sunny Johnson

Jeanie Szabo

Flashdance: Official Clip - Alex Doesn't Want Nick's Help

0:44

Flashdance: Official Clip - Who's the Blonde?

1:41

Flashdance: Official Clip - You're Scared

1:17

Flashdance: Official Clip - Alex Gets Comfortable

1:44

Flashdance: Official Clip - Nick Gets Turned Down

0:42

View more videos

Endless Love

26%

51%

Endless Love

Watchlist

Vision Quest

63%

78%

Vision Quest

Watchlist

Nine 1/2 Weeks

58%

56%

Nine 1/2 Weeks

Watchlist

Wild Orchid

9%

44%

Wild Orchid

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

What to Watch This Week: Renfield, Barry, and More

87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us

What I’m Watching: With Sam Trammell

Flashdance: Trailer 1

1:34

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) is a beautiful young woman who works a day job in a steel mill and dances in a bar at night. When Alex discovers that her handsome boss, Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), is both interested in her and supportive of her performing career, she renews her efforts to get accepted into a prestigious dance conservatory. Although Alex is frightened of failure, she is cheered on by Nick, as well as by her mentor, former ballet performer Hanna Long (Lilia Skala).

Director: Adrian Lyne
Producer: Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter: Thomas Hedley Jr., Joe Eszterhas
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 15, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now