Moulin Rouge!

Critics Consensus

A love-it-or-hate-it experience, Moulin Rouge is all style, all giddy, over-the-top spectacle. But it's also daring in its vision and wildly original.

76%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 199

89%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 505,103
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Movie Info

The third film from pop-music-obsessed director Baz Luhrmann tweaks the conventions of the musical genre by mixing a period romance with anachronistic dialogue and songs in the style of his previous Romeo+Juliet (1996). Ewan McGregor stars as Christian, who leaves behind his bourgeois father during the French belle époque of the late 1890s to seek his fortunes in the bohemian underworld of Montmartre, Paris. Christian meets the absinthe- and alcohol-addicted artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo), who introduces him to a world of sex, drugs, music, theater, and the scandalous dance known as the cancan, all at the Moulin Rouge, a decadent dance hall, brothel, and theater that's the brainchild of Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent). Christian also meets and falls into a tragically doomed romance with the courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman), who becomes the star of the play he's writing, which parallels the couple's romance and utilizes rock music from a century later, including songs by Nirvana, Madonna, the Beatles, and Queen, among others. Loosely based on the opera Orpheus in the Underworld, Moulin Rouge was shown in competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Cast

Nicole Kidman
as Satine
Ewan McGregor
as Christian
John Leguizamo
as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Jim Broadbent
as Harold Zidler
Richard Roxburgh
as Duke
Kylie Minogue
as Green Fairy
Christine Anu
as Arabia
Matthew Whittet
as Satie
Kerry Walker
as Marie
Caroline O'Connor
as Nini
David Wenham
as Audrey
Lara Mulcahy
as Mome Fromage
Natalie Jackson Mendoza
as China Doll
Garry McDonald
as The Doctor
Jacek Koman
as The Unconscious Argentinian
Deobia Oparei
as Le Chocolat
Linal Haft
as Warner
Keith Robinson
as Le Petomane
Peter Whitford
as Stage Manager
Norman Kaye
as Doctor
Arthur Dignam
as The Father
Carole Skinner
as Landlady
Jonathan Hardy
as Man in the Moon
Kiruna Stamell
as La Petite Princess
Laszlo Lukas
as Conductor
Anthony Young
as Orchestra Member
Wilson Alcorn
as Audience Member
Kerry Casey
as Audience Member
Peter Collingwood
as Audience Member
Tim Eliott
as Audience Member
Nicole Fantl
as Audience Member
Judy Howard
as Audience Member
Harold Kissin
as Audience Member
Paul Maybury
as Audience Member
Caroline Nahlous
as Audience Member
Scott Peters
as Audience Member
David Whitford
as Audience Member
Judii Eldred
as Female Patron
Ray Chambers
as Fan Bearer
Darrell Dixon
as Fan Bearer
Otto Luppo
as Fan Bearer
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
as Fan Bearer
Adrian Sicari
as Fan Bearer
Alexander Houle
as Stagehand
Geoffrey Kiem
as Stagehand
Peter Muirhead
as Stagehand
Pat Evans
as Seamstress
Tara Morice
as Prostitute
Daniel Scott
as Absinthe Drinker/Guitarist
Angus Martin
as Pawnbroker
Byron Barriga
as Musician
Waldo Garrido
as Musician
Reginald Larner
as Musician
Coralie Eichholtz
as Moulin Rouge Girl No. 1
Jabe Bromhall
as Moulin Rouge Girl No. 2
Robert Yearley
as Coach
John Pagan
as Old Crone
Patrick Harding-Irmer
as Waiter
Albin Pahernik
as Waiter
Aurel Verne
as Waiter
Dee Donavan
as Character Rake
Johnny Lockwood
as Character Rake
Don Reid
as Character Rake
Greg Poppleton
as Nervous Nellie
Matt Wilson
as Slave Trader
Trent Harlow
as Dancer
Troy Harrison
as Dancer
Simon Kriszyk
as Dancer
Chris Pickard
as Dancer
Thern Reynolds
as Dancer
David Scotchford
as Dancer
Veronica Beattie
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Lisa Callingham
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Rosetta Cook
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Fleur Denny
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Kelly Grauer
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Jaclyn Hanson
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Michelle Hopper
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Fallon King
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Wendy McMahon
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Tracie Morley
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Sue-Ellen Shook
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Jenny Wilson
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Luke Alleva
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Andrew Aroustian
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Stephen Colyer
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Steven Grace
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Mark Hodge
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Cameron Mitchell
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Deon Nuku
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Shaun Parker
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Troy Phillips
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Rodney Syaranamual
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Ashley Wallen
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Nathan Wright
as Montmartre Dance Team Member
Susan Black
as Paris Dance Team Member
Nicole Brooks
as Paris Dance Team Member
Danielle Brown
as Paris Dance Team Member
Anastacia Flewin
as Paris Dance Team Member
Fiona Cage
as Paris Dance Team Member
Alex Harrington
as Paris Dance Team Member
Camilla Jakimowicz
as Paris Dance Team Member
Rochelle Jones
as Paris Dance Team Member
Caroline Kaspar
as Paris Dance Team Member
Mandy Liddell
as Paris Dance Team Member
Melanie Mackay
as Paris Dance Team Member
Elise Mann
as Paris Dance Team Member
Charmaine Martin
as Paris Dance Team Member
Michelle Wriggles
as Paris Dance Team Member
Michael Boyd
as Paris Dance Team Member
Lorry D'Ercole
as Paris Dance Team Member
Michael Edge
as Paris Dance Team Member
Glyn Gray
as Paris Dance Team Member
Craig Haines
as Paris Dance Team Member
Stephen Holford
as Paris Dance Team Member
Jamie Jewell
as Paris Dance Team Member
Jason King
as Paris Dance Team Member
Ryan Males
as Paris Dance Team Member
Harlin Martin
as Paris Dance Team Member
Andrew Micallef
as Paris Dance Team Member
Jonathan Schmolzer
as Paris Dance Team Member
Bradley Spargo
as Paris Dance Team Member
Kip Gamblin
as Latin Dancer
Dennis Dowlut
as Cocoliscious Brother
Darren Dowlut
as Cocoliscious Brother
Nandy McClean
as Twin
Maya McLean
as Twin
Pina Conti
as La Ko Ka Chau
Joseph 'Pepe' Ashton
as Tobasco Brother
Jordan Ashton
as Tobasco Brother
Marcos Falagan
as Tobasco Brother
Mitchel Falagan
as Tobasco Brother
Chris Mayhew
as Tobasco Brother
Hamish McCann
as Tobasco Brother
Adrien Janssen
as Tobasco Brother
Shaun Holloway
as Tobasco Brother
Scott Gregory
as Stagehand
Brett Praed
as Stagehand
Tony Lynch
as Stagehand
Sotiri Sotiropoulos
as Stagehand
Ian Lind
as Stagehand
Nash Edgerton
as Stagehand
Greg Robinson
as Stagehand
Chris Elliott
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News & Interviews for Moulin Rouge!

The 21 Most Memorable Movie Moments of the Past 21 Years: Vote for the Best Now!
21 Most Memorable Movie Moments: Satine Makes An Entrance in Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Troye Sivan’s Five Favorite Films
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Critic Reviews for Moulin Rouge!

All Critics (199) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (151) | Rotten (48)

  • Moulin Rouge seems to defy esthetic gravity: by reveling in all things artificial, it arrives, giddily, at the genuine.

    Mar 7, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • It's still a one-of-a-kind, we'll give it that. But its sense of fun is so relentless and excessive, it all ends up being extremely tedious and shallow.

    Feb 14, 2013 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    David Jenkins

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • Moulin Rouge is a tour de force of artifice, a dazzling pastiche of musical and visual elements at the service of a blatantly artificial story.

    Jul 6, 2010

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Mr. Luhrmann and his colleagues have worked like whirling dervishes to make the plot look like it's moving.

    Apr 27, 2007 | Full Review…

    Andrew Sarris

    Observer
    Top Critic

  • If it lacks the emotional punch of Luhrmann's earlier films, and drags towards the end, it is still great fun.

    Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • [Luhrmann] gives you way too much of what you didn't really want in the first place: soulless high jinks.

    Jan 22, 2002

    Peter Rainer

    New York Magazine/Vulture
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (199)

Audience Reviews for Moulin Rouge!

  • Feb 18, 2015
    Didn't think I'd ever sit through this film, yet, thanks to my girlfriend, here I went, and to my surprise, I really liked it.. Musicals are very rarely something I enjoy, but this was put together really well.. Felt like I was watching Romeo + Juliet for a while, had a strong influence from there I'm guessing, oh wait, it was done by the same guy wasn't it.. there we go.
    Shawn M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 06, 2014
    Moulin Rouge falls short of Luhrmann's masterpiece Romeo and Juliet but he successfully brings the high energy, visuals and a whole heap of out of place songs to make this sizzle. Many criticize the use of non original songs but I think they experience a new life in this film. Stop being so hard on it.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 13, 2013
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Mar 23, 2013
    Quirky, erratically shot, and goofy, the film appeals to anyone who loves a sappy love story and excellent singing.
    Jason 123 D Super Reviewer
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