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Xanadu

Play trailer Poster for Xanadu PG Released Aug 8, 1980 1h 36m Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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31% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Struggling artist Sonny Malone (Michael Beck) is trapped in a dull job painting album covers. He is instantly attracted to Kira (Olivia Newton-John), an anonymous woman randomly photographed in the background of one of his assignments, but no one is able to identify her. Visiting the auditorium where the cover was shot, Sonny finds the mysterious beauty, an ageless Greek muse, who encourages him to team up with old-fashioned Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) to build a roller-skating disco.
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Xanadu

Xanadu

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Critics Consensus

Not even spandex and over-the-top musical numbers can save Xanadu from questionable acting, unimpressive effects, and a story unencumbered by logic.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Shales Washington Post "Xanadu" cannot possibly be described as a good movie, but it can be recommended to those who can tolerate large amounts of intravenous marzipan. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review William Thomas Empire Magazine This modern musical with tunes written by Where Are They Now pop band ELO falls flat on its face simply because the premise is so utterly ludicrous. Rated: 2/5 Apr 1, 2019 Full Review Jeff McLaughlin Boston Globe The acting is wooden, the direction and cinematography confused, the special effects largely out of place, the dramatic interest nonexistent. Apr 28, 2018 Full Review Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap The much-pilloried roller disco musical went on to become a Broadway hit and cult classic, and upon further reconsideration... still deserves its reputation as an all-time dud. Rated: 1.5/5 Nov 25, 2024 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending It is one of the dumbest movies of the 1980s, and one of the most joyful movies of the 1980s. Rated: 1/5 Aug 13, 2024 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …This may not be Xanadu as Orson Welles or Coleridge imagined it, but it you’re looking for a gaudy pleasuredome with Gene Kelly dancin’ to ELO, you’re absolutely welcome to this one… Rated: 3/5 Oct 24, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ky W Beyond amazing campy cheesy family fun. Great music. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/22 Full Review Blu B It's bizarre but also strangely boring for stretches as well. The pacing isn't good in general. At least it never stays bizarre the entire way but this alternates between bizarre and boring like clockwork. The editing isn't good either. The plot is just...A struggling artist gets visited by the daughter of a Greek God in 1980 jumping out of a graffiti picture with a mission to build a 1940's & 80's hybrid dance club with Gene Kelly supporting. It's as weird as you'd think it is. The plot is very unfocused and muddled. Kelly musicals always had weak razor thin plots to begin with ironically enough. But they never were this bizarre. To it's credit the one thing this has is a great sundtrack but the music overall is decent mainly because the musical numbers are very inconsistent, bizarre, and oddly boring at times. Everything else is ok. Beck is the weakest thing acting. Kelly is good but doesn't get the same time as the others. O.N.J. is ok....when she sings she's basically Lady Gaga and her voice just dominates. But with Beck she's ok and isn't the most gifted actress. The dialouge also is very clunky as well. Everyone else is forgettable. The direction is basic as anything and the visuals are colorful but very weird. It's like a fever dream and reminds me of something like The Wiz. The music numbers at times are so boring to look at despite great vocals and a catchy song. Like the Kelly number with John in his head. It's so boring to look at along with the other one with Beck and John dancing in the studio. They drag also so that doesn't help things. But the ending is so bizarre, catchy music, and fully embraces the craziness that you can't help but like the crazy vibing that's going on. Honestly the ending helped push it over to a 3 for me despite a very boring and bizarre time. I struggle recommending this to anyone. Is it the worst movie ever made? No far from it. Worst musical? Nope (Cats) Is it good? Not even close despite having some good things about it and entertaining in a unintentional way. It deserves its reputation while also deserving more for better or for worse. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/24/25 Full Review Jonzer S I started off feeling like I was high watching all the awesome 80s after effects. But then when the movie settled down to reality type stuff and Olivia showed her smoker teeth on the left side of her jaw and the way she brushed away her romantic companion made me want to throw up. This movie sucks. Then the whole mish mash terrible 1950s band merging with the 1980s was so bad in the crap complex that the painter and the old tap dancing loser went together on. I couldn't watch anymore which is unlike me. I literally stopped watching. This movie is sooo bad. That's why I have never seen it or heard of it before and I'm 51. Anybody that can literally watch this movie all the way through is super hardcore. I couldn't do it. And I can usually watch anything all the way through even really bad movies. This movie is a torture device. The only good use of this movie is to dare somebody to watch it from start to finish as a bet. It's horribad. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/20/25 Full Review Aye E Love this for an historical time-warp, and I LOVE Olivia Newton John. The music is a let-down for being made just after the height of disco, especially with the heavily disco influenced style. Just a couple a great songs that Olivia sings but when she's not singing the music is terrible. Everyone but Olivia and Gene Kelly seem like they were cast from Star Search that were just told to go out to do their thing, with little coordination, super weird and underwhelming choreography. There's no chemistry with the romantic leads, weird unsatisfying ending and overall. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Jacob G With an extraordinary soundtrack and abundant nostalgic content, this cult classic and definitive time capsule of the early 1980s transports its audience on an enchanting journey. Aided by the consistently remarkable performances of Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, XANADU constantly evokes a sense of excitement in its audience. While XANADU is not without flaws and imperfections, these only serve to enhance its unique qualities and make it more captivating. The most endearing aspect of XANADU is its unparalleled uniqueness, akin to its elusive title, playful mythology, and unconventional style. This exclusivity makes it all the more alluring and fascinating. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/11/25 Full Review Anders C 2 Stars for movie 5 Stars Music Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Xanadu

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Xanadu

Xanadu: Official Clip - All Over the World Xanadu: Official Clip - All Over the World 3:48 Xanadu: Official Clip - Don't Walk Away Xanadu: Official Clip - Don't Walk Away 2:20 Xanadu: Official Clip - I'm Alive Xanadu: Official Clip - I'm Alive 3:56 Xanadu: Official Clip - Dancin' Xanadu: Official Clip - Dancin' 4:48 Xanadu: Official Clip - Suddenly Xanadu: Official Clip - Suddenly 3:54 Xanadu: Official Clip - Fool Country & Xanadu Reprise Xanadu: Official Clip - Fool Country & Xanadu Reprise 3:22 Xanadu: Official Clip - Suspended in Time Xanadu: Official Clip - Suspended in Time 3:33 Xanadu: Official Clip - Whenever You're With Me Xanadu: Official Clip - Whenever You're With Me 4:36 Xanadu: Official Clip - Xanadu Xanadu: Official Clip - Xanadu 3:00 Xanadu: Official Clip - Drum Dreams Xanadu: Official Clip - Drum Dreams 3:23 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Struggling artist Sonny Malone (Michael Beck) is trapped in a dull job painting album covers. He is instantly attracted to Kira (Olivia Newton-John), an anonymous woman randomly photographed in the background of one of his assignments, but no one is able to identify her. Visiting the auditorium where the cover was shot, Sonny finds the mysterious beauty, an ageless Greek muse, who encourages him to team up with old-fashioned Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) to build a roller-skating disco.
Director
Robert Greenwald
Producer
Lawrence Gordon
Screenwriter
Richard Christian Danus
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 8, 1980, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 18, 2014
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Surround
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