Dancer in the Dark (2000): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Dancer in the Dark is a 2000 drama musical directed by Lars von Trier, starring Björk. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes and earned $40.1 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 20m (140 min)
- Director
- Lars von Trier
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Fine Line Features
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Dancer in the Dark About?
The premise of Dancer in the Dark without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A Czech factory worker and single mother, facing progressive blindness, finds escape and joy through her love of American musicals. Selma tirelessly works to save money for her son's operation, but a misunderstanding and false accusation lead to a devastating chain of events and a tragic turn of fate. The film explores themes of hope, despair, and the power of music in the face of adversity.
Dancer in the Dark Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- factory
- czech immigrant
- tragedy
- blindness
- daydream
- dancing
- singing
- blind protagonist
- physically disabled protagonist
- secret
- reference to oldrich novy
- ends with quotation
+38 more Show fewer
- female protagonist
- spontaneous choreography
- director on camera
- surrealism
- false accusation
- prison
- visually impaired person
- digital film
- betrayal
- mother son relationship
- police
- death row
- capital punishment
- factory worker
- immigration
- woman wears eyeglasses
- domestic drama
- melodrama
- psychological drama
- tragedy drama
- period drama
- reference to fred astaire
- love
- christmas
- christmas tree
- money
- washington state
- optimism
- year 1964
- women's prison
- execution
- riding a freight train
- overture
- murder
- blind woman
- loss of eyesight
- movie theater
- intended dilettantism
Dancer in the Dark Cast
Björk stars in Dancer in the Dark. Directed by Lars von Trier.
-
Director Lars von Trier
More from Lars von Trier
More films directed by Lars von Trier, best-rated first: Medea, Breaking the Waves, Melancholia and The Five Obstructions.
Dancer in the Dark Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Dancer in the Dark 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.
-
IMDb 7.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 70% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 91%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 8.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 79% User score
See on TMDB
Dancer in the Dark Plot Summary
What happens in Dancer in the Dark from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Selma is a young Czech mother residing in Washington state during the early 1960s. She is passionate about musicals; however, her vision is rapidly deteriorating, posing a significant threat to her employment at a local factory, and even jeopardizing her safety. At work, she assists her friend Cathy, who finds herself increasingly overwhelmed by Selma’s mounting workload, which includes the tedious task of pinning hairpins to unbent cardboard as a side job.
Full summary
The whole story of Dancer in the Dark, scene by scene
Dancer in the Dark Box Office
Dancer in the Dark grossed $40.1 million worldwide. $4.2 million came from the US and Canada and $35.9 million (90%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$40.1M
- US & Canada
- $4.2M
- International
- $35.9M
Dancer in the Dark Awards & Nominations
Dancer in the Dark won 1 award from 2 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2001, with 1 win from 1 nomination.
1 win2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 2001 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best International Film
-
Oscars 2001 1 nomination- Nominated Music (Original Song)
Dancer in the Dark Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 1 trailer, 4 clips and 1 featurette.
- Clip I've seen it all
- Clip I've Seen It All
- Clip In The Factory
- Clip Ending Scene (107 Steps - Next To Last Song)
How Well Do You Know Dancer in the Dark?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of Selma, the main character?
Cars in Dancer in the Dark
18 cars on screen, including the 1947 Chevrolet Advance-Design 3100 and the 1961 Oldsmobile 98.
-
1947 Chevrolet Advance-Design 3100 Main role -
1961 Oldsmobile 98 Important role -
Kenworth 524 Minor role -
Allis-Chalmers C Background role
Dancer in the Dark Also Known As
36 alternative titles, including “Bailarina en la oscuridad” and “Danser dans le noir”.
- Also known as
-
- Bailarina en la oscuridad
- Danser dans le noir
- Taps
- Horevontas sto skotadi
- Raghsandeh dar tariki
- 어둠 속의 댄서
- Bailar en la oscuridad
- Bailando en la oscuridad
- Dançando no Escuro
- Танцьорка в мрака
- Plesačica u tami
- Tanec v temnotách
+24 more Show fewer
- Tantsija pimeduses
- Χορεύοντας στο σκοτάδι
- Táncos a sötétben
- Myrkradansarinn
- ダンサー・イン・ザ・ダーク
- Танцующая в темноте
- Dejotāja Tumsā
- Šokėja tamsoje
- Tańcząc w ciemnościach
- Dansând cu noaptea
- Tanečnica v tme
- Plesalka v temi
- 在黑暗中漫舞
- Karanlıkta dans
- Та, що танцює у пітьмі
- 黑暗中的舞者
- רוקדת בחשיכה
- Та, що танцює у темряві
- 어둠속의 댄서
- 天黑黑
- Ballar en la foscor
- จังหวะชีวิต ลิขิตด้วยเพลง
- Dansatoarea din întuneric
- Ples u tami, სიბნელეში მოცეკვავე
Seen Dancer in the Dark?
Movies Like Dancer in the Dark
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Dancers in the Dark, Dancers and The Dancer.
Dancer in the Dark FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Dancer in the Dark, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Dancer in the Dark?
Dancer in the Dark runs 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).
When was Dancer in the Dark released?
Dancer in the Dark was released on September 22, 2000.
Who directed Dancer in the Dark?
Dancer in the Dark was directed by Lars von Trier.
More films by Lars von Trier Who is in the cast of Dancer in the Dark?
Dancer in the Dark stars Björk.
How much did Dancer in the Dark make at the box office?
Dancer in the Dark grossed $40.1 million worldwide ($4.2 million domestic, $35.9 million international).
How is Dancer in the Dark rated?
Dancer in the Dark has 7.9/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 79% on TMDB.
What awards did Dancer in the Dark win?
Dancer in the Dark won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best International Film at the Spirit Awards 2001.
Does Dancer in the Dark have a post-credit scene?
No. Dancer in the Dark has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
