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Biographical musical

The Greatest Showman (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Greatest Showman (2017) movie poster

The Greatest Showman is a 2017 biographical musical directed by Michael Gracey, starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, Michelle Williams and Austyn Johnson. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $469.1 million worldwide on a $84 million budget. It won 2 awards from 6 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
56%
worldwide gross
$469.1M
awards won
2
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The Greatest Showman (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Michael Gracey
Original language
English
Budget
$84M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Greatest Showman About?

The premise of The Greatest Showman without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Driven by ambition and a talent for spectacle, P.T. Barnum rises from poverty to build a dazzling circus in 19th-century America. He assembles an extraordinary collection of performers – including an acrobat, a bearded lady, and a tightrope walker – offering them a stage and a chance to shine. Barnum's innovative and extravagant show quickly becomes a global sensation, forever changing the landscape of entertainment and captivating audiences worldwide.

The Greatest Showman Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • singing
  • circus
  • bearded lady
  • social outcast
  • social prejudice
  • circus act
  • success
  • opera
  • dancing
  • bank loan
  • mansion
  • showman
+38 more
  • three word title
  • female acrobat
  • ringmaster
  • opera singer
  • falling in love
  • husband wife relationship
  • museum
  • younger version of character
  • interracial love
  • father daughter relationship
  • interracial relationship
  • acrobat
  • oddity
  • live act
  • singer
  • discrimination
  • family man
  • friendship
  • freak show
  • tattooed man
  • giant
  • elephant
  • ballet
  • ballet shoes
  • dancer
  • trapeze artist
  • tailor
  • dog boy
  • obese man
  • party
  • protest
  • demonstration
  • fight
  • lantern
  • kiss
  • theatre critic
  • ticket taker
  • lion
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Cast & crew

The Greatest Showman Cast & Characters

Hugh Jackman leads the cast as P.T. Barnum, with Michelle Williams as Charity Barnum and Austyn Johnson as Caroline Barnum. Directed by Michael Gracey; 16 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Greatest Showman

· 12 more
Ratings

The Greatest Showman Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Greatest Showman 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (50).

68 /100

The Greatest Showman Echo Score Breakdown

The Greatest Showman delivers a vibrant cinematic experience that excels in spectacle but undercuts itself with an uneven narrative structure. Its direction and visual flair earn praise for bold color palettes and dynamic choreography, yet critics and viewers alike observe noticeable lapses in character depth and storytelling coherence. The pacing alternates between exhilarating musical set pieces and slower transitional scenes that disrupt engagement. Overall the film offers memorable sensory appeal but falls short of narrative consistency.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents bold production design and polished cinematography with an emphasis on colorful backdrops and expansive set pieces. Direction frequently opts for lavish staging and rhythmic editing during musical numbers, though some sequences feel visually overloaded. The overall visual approach is striking yet occasionally excessive.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    In terms of character and emotion, the performances are generally engaging with a standout lead offering consistent charisma and warmth. Supporting portrayals vary in depth, with some relationships feeling underdeveloped and dialogue occasionally lacking natural nuance. Overall, acting quality bolsters the film’s appeal despite uneven emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 50

    When it comes to story and flow, the narrative displays moments of originality but leans on predictable tropes and formulaic structure. Pacing shifts between urgent musical set pieces and slower connective scenes, which can undermine engagement. While thematic intent is clear, coherence falters in transitional passages. Ultimately, the plot feels uneven in its execution.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers a dynamic soundtrack and polished sound design that amplify its theatrical flair. Visual style is cohesive throughout, with vibrant lighting and fluid camera movement. Musical numbers are sonically engaging and emotionally resonant. Overall, the sensory elements provide a compelling audiovisual spectacle.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s energetic musical sequences and charismatic lead performance encourage repeat viewings. While narrative weaknesses may lessen some long-term appeal, many viewers find the memorable songs and vibrant staging sufficient to warrant revisits. Overall, its replay value remains solid for enthusiasts.

Plot

The Greatest Showman Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Greatest Showman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

P. T. Barnum, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, captivates audiences with his circus production in “The Greatest Show”. The performance transitions to a flashback of Barnum’s childhood, showing his close relationship with his father, Philo, played by Will Swenson. Together, they catered to the Hallett family’s needs, which introduced young Barnum to their daughter, Charity, played by Michelle Williams. Despite Benjamin’s warning to stay away from her, Barnum’s love for Charity flourishes, leading them to maintain correspondence even when Charity leaves for finishing school.

Full summary

The whole story of The Greatest Showman, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Greatest Showman Box Office & Budget

The Greatest Showman grossed $469.1 million worldwide on a $84 million budget, 5.6 times what it cost. $174.3 million came from the US and Canada and $294.7 million (63%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$469.1M

5.6× its budget

US & Canada
$174.3M
International
$294.7M
Budget
$84M
US & Canada 37% Rest of the world 63%
Awards

The Greatest Showman Awards & Nominations

The Greatest Showman won 2 awards from 6 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 2018, with 1 win from 3 nominations.

2 wins6 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

The Greatest Showman Trailers & Videos

13 videos: 2 trailers, 2 clips, 4 featurettes and 5 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 13 videos
Official HD Trailer #1
  • Trailer Official HD Trailer #2
  • Clip Rewrite The Stars
  • Clip This is Me
  • Featurette Art of the Musical
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Greatest Showman?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of Phineas Taylor Barnum?

Details

The Greatest Showman Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “Muhteşem Şovmen” and “위대한 쇼맨”.

Also known as
  • Muhteşem Şovmen
  • 위대한 쇼맨
  • 马戏之王
  • El gran showman
  • Величайший шоумен
  • Найвеличніший шоумен
  • Величанствени шоумен
  • Król rozrywki
  • Muhteşem Showman
  • האמן הגדול מכולם
  • O Rei do Show
  • Най-великият шоумен
+16 more
  • A legnagyobb showman
  • Největší showman
  • 大娛樂家
  • Najveći Showman
  • グレイテスト・ショーマン
  • Najväčší showman
  • O Grande Showman
  • Izklaides karalis
  • Bậc Thầy Của Những Ước Mơ
  • Le maître de la scène
  • Omul spectacol
  • Didysis šou meistras
  • โชว์แมน บันลือโลก, დიდი შოუმენი
  • Največji šovmen
  • أعظم رجل استعراضي
  • Maailma suurim showmees

Seen The Greatest Showman?

FAQ

The Greatest Showman FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Greatest Showman, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Greatest Showman?

The Greatest Showman runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was The Greatest Showman released?

The Greatest Showman was released on December 20, 2017.

Who directed The Greatest Showman?

The Greatest Showman was directed by Michael Gracey.

More films by Michael Gracey

Who is in the cast of The Greatest Showman?

The Greatest Showman stars Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, Michelle Williams as Charity Barnum and Austyn Johnson as Caroline Barnum, among 16 credited actors.

How much did The Greatest Showman make at the box office?

The Greatest Showman grossed $469.1 million worldwide ($174.3 million domestic, $294.7 million international) on a budget of $84 million.

How is The Greatest Showman rated?

The Greatest Showman has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 79% on TMDB.

What awards did The Greatest Showman win?

The Greatest Showman won 2 awards from 6 nominations, including Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2018.

Does The Greatest Showman have a post-credit scene?

No. The Greatest Showman has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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