The Greatest Showman

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2:15

The Greatest Showman

PG

Released Dec 20, 2017

1h 45m

Musical

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

263 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by age 12. After trying his hands at various jobs, P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey circus. Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers and daring acrobatic feats, Barnum's mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.

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Critics Consensus

The Greatest Showman tries hard to dazzle the audience with a Barnum-style sense of wonder -- but at the expense of its complex subject's far more intriguing real-life story.

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Audience Says

The story might not be anything special, but if it's a singing, dancing extravaganza you seek, The Greatest Showman delivers.

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Chris Bennion

The Times (UK)

Give in. Roll up. Sing along.

Aug 22, 2023

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Sam Adams

Slate

Like Barnum himself, it's an elegant fraud, nice enough to look at as long as you don't look too close.

Dec 4, 2018

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Esther Zuckerman

Marie Claire

[This] kind of insanity is really fun to watch. The Greatest Showman is a lot of things, but it's not boring.

Jan 12, 2018

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Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

The vivid cinematography by Seamus McGarvey and the exquisite costumes by Ellen Mirojnick capture the magic of Barnum’s circus and give the picture an attractive period feel.

Dec 15, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Quite incongruously, The Greatest Showman suggests that Barnum is a heroic figure, a woke entertainer and family man, who also capitalized on animal suffering and the veritable prostitution of human oddity.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 16, 2022

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

The movie is a big, loud explosion of color and excitement but one the party's over, somebody's got to clean it all up.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 11, 2022

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Willy

First viewing, amazing film even better soundtrack.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

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Mei

THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/22

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Katie D

Such a great, fun, feel-good movie! I really enjoyed it - listen to the audience ratings, not the critic reviews! don't expect historical accuracy, but definitely expect a good time, heartfelt music and amazing performances!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/21

Full Review

Jacob S

The critics don’t understand. It’s a pg Disney movie. You really think they are going to show animal suffering and prostitution? Also the songs are so memorable. I had this is me stuck in my head for a month

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

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Edward W

Soundtrack and story is superb. One of the best musical films in the 21st century.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

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Ozbej M

Best musical and Disney movie ever. A true modern masterpiece. The soundtrack is just perfect. 10/10.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

Full Review

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Michael Gracey

Director

Hugh Jackman

P.T. Barnum

Zac Efron

Phillip Carlyle

Michelle Williams

Charity Barnum

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Synopsis

Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by age 12. After trying his hands at various jobs, P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey circus. Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers and daring acrobatic feats, Barnum's mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.

Director: Michael Gracey
Producer: Laurence Mark, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping
Screenwriter: Jenny Bicks, Bill Condon
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox, TSG Entertainment, Chernin Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|A Brawl)
Genre: Musical, Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $174.0M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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