Studio 54: The Documentary

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Studio 54: The Documentary

2018

1h 38m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In 1977 college friends Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54, a nightclub that quickly becomes the most popular hot spot in New York City.

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Critics Consensus

Studio 54 offers audiences an engrossing close-up look at an emblem of a decade's decadence - as well as its sobering aftermath.

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Matthew Lickona

San Diego Reader

Nov 16, 2018

1/5

The movie tries hard to make the story of the club's rise and fall emblematic of an era, but in the end, it's about a couple of old friends from the neighborhood who got lucky, got greedy, and got caught.

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

Oct 25, 2018

2.5/4

The documentary is good on the gay aspect of 54, and disco generally.

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Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 19, 2018

3/4

In 98 minutes, Studio 54 captures the club on its best nights and on its worst mornings.

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David Reddish

Queerty

Mar 20, 2022

3/4

In the absence of a functioning time machine, none of us alive today can ever visit the mother of all discos. Studio 54 offers the next best thinga window into a moment where mainstream and queer history united, and a taste of one Hell of a great party.

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Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

Sep 1, 2021

4/5

While this documentary exposes the club's mechanisms for what they were, the pizzazz of what made Studio 54 what it was is still very much present.

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Zehra Phelan

Flavourmag

Aug 19, 2020

4/5

Embodies the hedonistic voice of the essential and legendary club; an end of a definitive era that strips bare the sugar coating with forthright honesty and absolutely no shame.

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Arthur N

@RT51554421 Sep 5, 2026

I thought the film captured the essence of the club accurately. As a NYC school teacher I attended frequently from 1977 through 1978. First introduced to the club by Suzanne Vento I was admitted without hesitation by Steve Rubell. Often bumped on the shoulder by the well depicted declining light towers. Movie took me back perfectly

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Jan 11, 2022

The documentary was everything that Studio 54 wasn't: predictable, dry and without surprise. Didn't find the telling of it's surge to fame, or its owner's fall to be all that intriguing.

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Aug 18, 2021

Studio 54: The Documentary is an amazing documentary bringing the history of the danceclub and its founders.

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Jan 20, 2020

Fascinating glimpse into this pop culture phenom. Despite the poor business and/or moral decisions they made, I came away loving Steve & especially Ian!

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david f

@dfulmer Aug 14, 2019

A great documentary about the famous NYC nightclub.

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Jul 30, 2019

Solid documentary on what the rise and the fall of the historic Studio 54.

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Matt Tyrnauer

Director

Ian Schrager

Self

Norma Kamali

Self

Bob Colacello

Self

Nile Rodgers

Self

Scott Bromley

Self

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Synopsis

In 1977 college friends Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54, a nightclub that quickly becomes the most popular hot spot in New York City.

Director: Matt Tyrnauer
Producer: John Battsek, Corey Reeser, Matt Tyrnauer
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films, Kino Lorber
Production Co: Passion Pictures, Altimeter Films
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $199.7K
Runtime: 1h 38m

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