Dirty Dancing (1987): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 romantic drama directed by Emile Ardolino, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $214.6 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song), and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 19% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Emile Ardolino
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Vestron Pictures
- Budget
- $6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Dirty Dancing About?
The premise of Dirty Dancing without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During a summer vacation at a Catskills resort, young Frances "Baby" Houseman finds herself drawn to Johnny Castle, a skilled dance instructor. As their connection deepens, she challenges her family's expectations and explores a passionate romance, navigating social divides and personal growth against the backdrop of music and dance.
Dirty Dancing Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- coming of age
- 1960s
- teenager
- dancing
- dance
- abortion
- dance instructor
- dancer
- class differences
- forbidden love
- catskill mountains new york
- year 1963
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- summer romance
- father daughter relationship
- dance lesson
- first love
- smashing a car window
- chevrolet bel air
- illegal abortion
- botched abortion
- national film registry
- doctor
- famous song
- false accusation
- sexual euphemism
- mother daughter relationship
- vacation
- family vacation
- sister sister relationship
- sexual awakening
- watermelon
- 1957 chevrolet
- blockbuster
- tank top
- oldsmobile
- oldsmobile dynamic 88
- ticklishness
- merengue
- band
- sawing a woman in half magic trick
- naivete
- wig
- arrogance
- asking for money
- training montage
- keys locked in a car
- balancing oneself on a beam
- lake
- log
- secret
Dirty Dancing Cast
Jennifer Grey leads the cast, with Patrick Swayze. Directed by Emile Ardolino.
- Director Emile Ardolino
Dirty Dancing Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Dirty Dancing 19% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
-
IMDb 7.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 19% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 35%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 65 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
Dirty Dancing Plot Summary
What happens in Dirty Dancing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
During the opening credits, the Ronettes serenade us with Be My Baby as images of couples twirl together in harmony. As the music fades, radio DJ Cousin Brucie announces the next track, the Four Seasons’ Big Girls Don’t Cry, which lingers as the film unfolds.
This story is set in the summer of 1963, centering on Frances “Baby” Houseman (played by Jennifer Grey), who is traveling in the backseat of her family’s car. Baby, along with her affluent Jewish family, is on their way to Kellerman’s Mountain House, a Catskills resort where her father, Dr. Jake Houseman (portrayed by Jerry Orbach), serves as the personal physician to Max Kellerman (played by Jack Weston), the resort owner.
Full summary
The whole story of Dirty Dancing, scene by scene
Dirty Dancing Box Office & Budget
Dirty Dancing grossed $214.6 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, 36 times what it cost. $64.6 million came from the US and Canada and $150 million (70%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$214.6M
36× its budget
- US & Canada
- $64.6M
- International
- $150M
- Budget
- $6M
Dirty Dancing Awards & Nominations
Dirty Dancing won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song), and 2 awards in all.
2 wins6 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 1988 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best First Feature
-
Oscars 1988 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Music (Original Song)
-
Golden Globes 1988 4 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Nominated Best Original Song
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actor) – Patrick Swayze
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actress) – Jennifer Grey
Dirty Dancing Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 3 trailers, 1 clip and 4 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Official 35th Anniversary Trailer
- Trailer Dirty Dancing (1987) Theatrical Trailer [4K] [FTD-1169]
- Clip Dirty Dancing Outtakes
- Behind the Scenes BTS - 'The Eureka Moment'
How Well Do You Know Dirty Dancing?
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 Frances 'Baby' Houseman's aspiration during the film?
Cars in Dirty Dancing
7 cars on screen, including the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and the 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88.
-
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Important role -
1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Important role -
1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Background role -
1954 Chevrolet unknown Background role
Dirty Dancing Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “Wirujący seks” and “ダーティ・ダンシング：1987”.
- Also known as
-
- Wirujący seks
- ダーティ・ダンシング：1987
- Dança Comigo
- Dirty Dancing - Balli proibiti
- Грязные танцы
- Hříšný tanec
- İlk Aşk
- İlk Dans
- 辣身舞
- Piszkos tánc
- Ντέρτι Ντάνσινγκ
- Dans murdar
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- Hriešny tanec
- ריקוד מושחת
- Dirty Dancing: Ritmo Quente
- Danse lascive
- 더티 댄싱
- Брудні танці
- Мръсни танци
- 熱舞17
- Baile caliente (Dirty Dancing)
- Purvini šokiai
- ダーティ・ダンシング
- رقص کثیف
- Dirty Dancing - kuuma tanssi
- Prljavi ples
- เดอร์ตี้ แดนซ์ซิ่ง
- Umazani ples
- Vũ Điệu Hoang Dã
- Прљави плес
- Räpane tants
Seen Dirty Dancing?
Movies Like Dirty Dancing
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Dirty Girl and Dirty Love.
Dirty Dancing FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Dirty Dancing, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Dirty Dancing?
Dirty Dancing runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was Dirty Dancing released?
Dirty Dancing was released on August 25, 1987.
Who directed Dirty Dancing?
Dirty Dancing was directed by Emile Ardolino.
More films by Emile Ardolino Who is in the cast of Dirty Dancing?
Dirty Dancing stars Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.
How much did Dirty Dancing make at the box office?
Dirty Dancing grossed $214.6 million worldwide ($64.6 million domestic, $150 million international) on a budget of $6 million.
How is Dirty Dancing rated?
Dirty Dancing has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 19% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
What awards did Dirty Dancing win?
Dirty Dancing won 2 awards from 6 nominations, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 1988.
Does Dirty Dancing have a post-credit scene?
No. Dirty Dancing has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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