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Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge!

The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love.... and be loved in return.

2001127 minPG-13Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Director
Baz Luhrmann
Starring
Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent

A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet, who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Moulin Rouge!?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Moulin Rouge! to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Moulin Rouge!?

Moulin Rouge! earns 12 badges, led by Oscar Winner and Universally Loved.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Moulin Rouge! worth watching?

Moulin Rouge!'s Midcredits score is the 92nd percentile of all films, from 921K ratings across 6 sources. 80% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

92nd percentile

Better received than 92% of films

94th percentile among Drama91st percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)91st
Approval (how many liked it)90th

75 /100

91st percentile of all films

93rd percentile among Drama91st percentile among 2000s

Critics 66 · Audience 76

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

80% liked it

90th percentile of all films

91st percentile among Drama89th percentile among 2000s
80% rated it 7–1020% rated it 1–6

Critics 75% · Audience 89%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

2 Oscars won · 6 Oscar noms · 40 wins / 54 noms overall

  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Costume Design

98th percentile

921K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Drama97th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$50M
Opening weekend$168K
Domestic gross$57M
Worldwide gross$185M

Returned 3.7× its budget — 98th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A visually stunning but aggressively over-the-top musical that divides audiences on its chaotic style.

Fans praised

  • dazzling visual spectacle and production design
  • emotional power despite chaotic style
  • infectious energy and unique musical blend

Detractors panned

  • frenetic editing and overwhelming noise
  • shallow characters and weak plot
  • campy, tonally inconsistent mess

What stands out

Atmosphere85

immersive dream-like world

OriginalityDivisive80

daring and unique, but not for everyone

Effects and spectacle80

magical set pieces and visual flair

Cinematography75

stunning visuals but blurry zooms and quick cuts

Sound and musicDivisive75

wonderful songs, but sometimes mutilated

Emotional impactDivisive70

moving moments, but not for all

CharactersDivisive40

no depth, hard to care

Pacing30

frantic editing, no room to breathe

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 10 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 6 points apart
  • Critics vs users 9 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Moulin Rouge! like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It is intense, has a few laughs and leaves you devastated. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
RomanticMelancholicManic
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
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Exuberant · 2% of films: Bursting with energy and joy in its own filmmaking.Romantic · 8% of filmsMelodramatic · 9% of films: Heightened emotion, played large.
Told as
Frame story · 5% of films: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film is played with extreme stylistic flourish and campy exuberance, yet its emotional core is deeply sincere and never ironic.
The rideThe film alternates between ecstatic musical numbers and tense drama, building toward a bittersweet, tearful finale that carries the emotional weight.
StructureThe story is bookended by Christian's grief as he writes in 1900, then unfolds as a flashback to 1899.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Devastated.

The answer rests on this: Devastating · 3% of filmsBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe tragic ending and the celebration of love leave a mix of heartbreak and appreciation.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% (this title) · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Doomed love: Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).

9% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe film centers on a love triangle between Christian, Satine and the Duke, which leads to a tragic outcome as Satine's illness and social constraints prevent their happiness.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% (this title) · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% (this title) · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsSacrifice · 4% of filmsArt · 4% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film is fundamentally about the transcendent, all-consuming power of romantic love and the willingness to sacrifice everything for it, all expressed through the creation of art.
StanceThe film wholeheartedly celebrates romantic love as the greatest thing, even as it mourns its loss, never questioning or satirizing the depth of that love.

The world

19th centuryUrbanInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral classicalPopJazzForeground music · hybrid · Craig Armstrong
SettingMontmartre's bohemian cabaret scene, specifically the Moulin Rouge nightclub in 1899-1900
MusicThe score integrates original compositions with exuberant pop-song mashups, most famously 'Elephant Love Medley' and 'El Tango De Roxanne'.

Content guide

Is Moulin Rouge! okay for kids?

PG-13

Moulin Rouge! is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for sexual content” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (45/100), sexual content at moderate (51/100), language at mild (30/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (36/100) and frightening material at moderate (42/100). Overall it is heavier than 46% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 37 other countries
  • UK12
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland12
  • New ZealandM
  • JapanG
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Argentina+13
  • Austria12
  • Belgium12
  • Czechia12+
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • GreeceK12
  • Hong KongIIA
  • Hungary16
  • IndiaA
  • Israel14
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoB
  • MY18SX
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • PhilippinesPG
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO12
  • Russia12+
  • SingaporePG
  • South AfricaPG
  • Spain7
  • Sweden7
  • Switzerland12
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 30% of all filmsHeavier than 46% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 48%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 91%
Profanity
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 20%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 69%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 46%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is sexual content, heavier than 91% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Moulin Rouge! have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Moulin Rouge!?

Cast

3 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 2 award-winning performances in the cast.

Ewan McGregor
as Christian
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Nicole Kidman
as Satine
Globe win: Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Leguizamo
as Toulouse-Lautrec
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion PictureTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jim Broadbent
as Harold Zidler
BAFTA win: BAFTA Award — Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Richard Roxburgh
as The Duke
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture
Garry McDonald
as The Doctor
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jacek Koman
as The Unconscious Argentinean
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Matthew Whittet
as Satie
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kerry Walker
as Marie
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Caroline O'Connor
as Nini Legs In The Air
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Moulin Rouge!?

Movies like Moulin Rouge! include Romeo + Juliet (1996), Bright Star (2009) and Casque d'Or (1952). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in Paris, and most are period dramas.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its subject: romantic love. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Moulin Rouge!?

1.7K other films share the rarest tag below, up against: tycoon. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.