Flashdance

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1:34

Flashdance

R

Released Apr 15, 1983

1h 35m

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

37%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

61%

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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).

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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.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Unlike its grittily romantic predecessors, Flashdance is pure glitz.

Mar 25, 2013

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Thomas J

One of the worse movies I have ever been subjected to. The love story is flat and the acting is weak. Truly a pathetic attempt at film making.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

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Brent A

20% rating ... The dance sequences were fine & Jennifer Beals delivered, but the storyline was bland and the romance seemed forced and unauthentic.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

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Kennedy J.

Great oldtimey movie. The production and plot isn’t the craziest, but it’s a cute and fun watch

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/11/25

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Richard D

If you can ignore the basic absurdity of the plot: welder performs avant garde dance routines in blue collar bar at night while dreaming of being a ballerina, a very enjoyable film but more for the songs than the story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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EGMR 9

Although the overall film still left quite a bit to be desired, it's still a memorable 1980s film staple for several reasons. Its soundtrack spawned a couple of big hits - namely, Irene Cara's title song and Michael Sambello's "Maniac", with the former winning for Best Original Song, and the choreography of its dance sequences are fantastic. The film is bookended with two iconic sequences in particular; it begins with the one that spawned the image of Alex basically getting rained on, and ends with the equally-famous audition sequence - which also happens to be my personal favorite. This is just another feel-good film all around, and definitely worth checking out.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/20/25

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Audience Member

Terrific movie, I grew up in the 80s and this is a great feel good movie, people today are way too uptight...I suggest people from the smartphone era dying for a great story to go watch a marvel movie instead....The dancing, music, drama was great and very nostalgic, I love it...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

Full Review

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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

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Flashdance: Trailer 1

1:34

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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)

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