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Dirty Dancing 1987

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.

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.

Does Dirty Dancing have end credit scenes?

No!

Dirty Dancing does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Dirty Dancing

Explore the complete cast of Dirty Dancing, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Dirty Dancing

See how Dirty Dancing is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Dirty Dancing stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

65

Metascore

7.2

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

19%

TOMATOMETER

review

35%

User Score

IMDb

7.1 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

73

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Dirty Dancing Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Dirty Dancing with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Dirty Dancing Quiz: Test your knowledge on the iconic 1987 film Dirty Dancing with this diverse quiz.

What is Frances 'Baby' Houseman's aspiration during the film?

Awards & Nominations for Dirty Dancing

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Discover all the awards and nominations received by Dirty Dancing, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how Dirty Dancing and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


The 60th Academy Awards 1988

Win

Music (Original Song)

45th Golden Globe Awards 1988

Nomination

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Patrick Swayze
Nomination

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actor)

Patrick Swayze
Jennifer Grey
Nomination

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actress)

Jennifer Grey
Nomination

Best Original Song

3rd Independent Spirit Awards 1988

Win

Best First Feature

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Dirty Dancing

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Read the complete plot summary of Dirty Dancing, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


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.

On arrival, Baby and her older sister Lisa (played by Jane Bruckner) participate in a merengue lesson led by the talented former Rockette Penny Johnson (Cynthia Rhodes). As evening falls, Baby sneaks into the main house where she overhears Max instructing the waiters to ensure that all young women, “even the dogs,” have a good time. When the entertainment staff arrives, including the enigmatic Johnny Castle (played by Patrick Swayze), Max sets down the rules: teach the guests to dance but keep everything appropriate, much to Johnny’s silence.

At dinner, we discover Baby’s aspirations: she is enrolled to study economics at Mount Holyoke College and intends to join the Peace Corps, while Lisa dreams of being an interior decorator. Max introduces the sisters to his grandson, Neil (Lonny Price), who studies hotel management at Cornell. After an uncomfortable dance with Neil, Baby hears Johnny’s mambo track, watching him and Penny’s luxurious dance, which Max disrupts to remind them of their purpose.

Eager to escape Neil’s stale company, Baby sneaks into the staff quarters, drawn by the sultry music of “Where Are You Tonight?”. There, she meets Johnny’s cousin Billy Kostecki (Neal Jones) and helps him carry watermelons to a staff party where she is overwhelmed by the sight of couples engaging in dirty dancing to “Do You Love Me?”. Enchanted by Johnny’s charisma, Baby finds herself captivated, and he teaches her some of the finer points of dirty dancing.

The following evening, while taking a stroll with Neil, Baby spots Lisa and Robbie Gould (Max Cantor), a Yale medical student and waiter, amidst a quarrel stemming from Robbie’s indecent advances. Later, Baby discovers Penny in distress in the kitchen, and learns that she is pregnant, mistakenly believing Johnny is the father. When Baby confronts Robbie about his role in Penny’s situation, he coldly dismisses her, prompting her to take action.

Determined to help Penny, Baby seeks out her father for $250, reluctantly sharing a glimpse of the dire situation Penny is in. After a few questions, he hands over the money. She returns to give it to Penny, who initially refuses. However, realizing the urgency, she ultimately volunteers to fill in for Penny’s dance gig with Johnny—to whom she’s drawn more than she realizes.

Their dance journey begins slowly—full of sweet struggle—under Johnny’s patient mentorship. After moments of conflict and fiery exchanges, Baby’s determination earns Johnny’s respect, and they practice lifts in a picturesque meadow. The blossoming intimacy between them further intensifies as they share quiet moments, leading to a passionate night together.

Tragedy strikes soon after as Penny suffers complications from her abortion, and Baby’s father rushes to help, mistakenly believing Johnny is responsible for Penny’s plight. After saving Penny’s life, Dr. Houseman forbids Baby from seeing “those people,” but her burgeoning feelings for Johnny compel her to defy him.

As the story unfolds, Baby navigates family expectations, her love for Johnny, and the harsh realities of class differences and manipulation around her. The resort’s finale showcases Johnny’s defiance after being wrongfully accused of theft, leading to his firing. However, Baby—standing true to her principles—steps forward and declares the truth in front of everyone, culminating in Johnny retrieving her from the sidelines with those legendary words: > “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

The two perform their dance to I’ve Had The Time of My Life, enveloped in wild energy as the entire hall comes alive, symbolizing a break from the past and a celebration of freedom and love. Ultimately, the promise of new beginnings fills the air as Baby and Johnny reconnect in a heartfelt dance that resonates with the audience and the essence of change.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Dirty Dancing

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Dirty Dancing. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Trailer

Official 35th Anniversary Trailer

Dirty Dancing (1987) Theatrical Trailer [4K] [FTD-1169]

BTS - 'The Eureka Moment'

BTS - 'Screentesting Patrick Swayze & Jennifer Grey'

BTS - 'Dancing'

BTS - 'It Was Only Jennifer For Me'

Cars Featured in Dirty Dancing

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Explore all cars featured in Dirty Dancing, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Chevrolet

1957

Bel Air

Chevrolet

1956

Corvette C1

Chevrolet

1954

unknown

Ford

1956

Fairlane Crown Victoria

Ford

1956

Thunderbird

Oldsmobile

1963

Dynamic 88

Studebaker

1956

Flight Hawk

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


coming of age1960steenagerdancingdanceabortiondance instructordancerclass differencesforbidden lovecatskill mountains new yorkyear 1963summer romancefather daughter relationshipdance lessonfirst lovesmashing a car windowchevrolet bel airillegal abortionbotched abortionnational film registrydoctorfamous songfalse accusationsexual euphemismmother daughter relationshipvacationfamily vacationsister sister relationshipsexual awakeningwatermelon1957 chevroletblockbustertank topoldsmobileoldsmobile dynamic 88ticklishnessmerenguebandsawing a woman in half magic tricknaivetewigarroganceasking for moneytraining montagekeys locked in a carbalancing oneself on a beamlakelogsecret

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