Strictly Ballroom

Name: Strictly Ballroom
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: February 12, 1993
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice

1993

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

See All

7.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: February 12, 1993 | TV-PG

Starring: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice

Summary: Strictly Ballroom is the magical story of a championship ballroom dancer who's breaking all the rules, and his ugly duckling dancing partner. (BV Entertainment)

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 94 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Desson Thomson

Grabbing every backstage musical cliche by the lapels, it sends each one pirouetting, then sprawling hysterically across the floor. It's hard not to love this kind of tribute. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The movie is funny, energetic, and enjoyable -- the perfect film for a night or an afternoon out, regardless of what mood you're in. While the plot and characters don't boast any special depth, there's enough freshness to hold just about anyone's interest. Read full review

Rita Kempley

It practically celebrates convenience of plot, over-the-top acting and follow-the-footprints dialogue, but mostly it is a salute to sequins and sashay. With just a hint of sarcasm. Read full review

Noel Murray

Luhrmann works aggressively for laughs early in the picture, playing up the gaudiness and piggishness of the old-guard dancers in camera angles as extreme and unflattering as a mid-'80s David Lee Roth video. Read full review

Roger Ebert

What's best about the movie is the sense of madness and mania running just beneath its surface. Read full review

Anthony Lane

The movie is over before you know it, and is not one to linger in the mind, or indeed pass through the mind at all; but it's a good-humored ride for the senses, never too sickly, and who can say no to that? Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

A festival favorite in 1992, this flamboyant Australian crowd pleaser and first feature by Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") struck me then as one of the more horrific and unpleasant movies I'd seen in quite some time. Read full review

SEE ALL 16 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Habibiehakim

Jun 18, 2022

Baz Luhrmann's debut film feels like a Wes Anderson film way before Wes Anderson, specifically the style, but with a beautiful and glorious choreography and cinematography that Luhrmann's own, coming to this film with no expectation and excitement, because when i read the synopsis i feelBaz Luhrmann's debut film feels like a Wes Anderson film way before Wes Anderson, specifically the style, but with a beautiful and glorious choreography and cinematography that Luhrmann's own, coming to this film with no expectation and excitement, because when i read the synopsis i feel like this is just gonna be another romance film with a possibility of me not liking it, and the result is even way better than i thought, i am one of those people who have such a critical opinion on most of romance film, and those critical opinion is on the main couples of the film, i hate when it's either it happens way too fast that i don't feel and care on their relationship, or the man or the woman characters is the one that unlikeable, in these Scott and Fran did not just met and then falling in love instantly then they do whatever they do, they take times, slowly but effective, we can see most of Scott background and personality first, and so do Fran, with that Scott and Fran are not just became likeable but loveable characters and couples and so when they together it works perfectly and for me that's already a high points, also that is how to made a convincing great main couples in romance movie, i root for them, and i love them together, and not to mention the rest of the supporting cast is also great and convincing, Strictly Ballroom ended in the most glorious way possible, a great danceable ending that make me also dance and groove, overall Strictly Ballroom is a fantastic debut from Baz Luhrmann's.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AndrewN.

Dec 3, 2008

"Are we gonna do that Bogo-Pogo?!" "What did you think of the way I danced on the weekend?" "I dunno, you didn't win did ya." "Yeah but what did you think of it?" "I dunno. Now are we gonna do that Bogo-Pogo?!" "I'm asking what you thought of the way I danced on the weekend?!" "I "Are we gonna do that Bogo-Pogo?!" "What did you think of the way I danced on the weekend?" "I dunno, you didn't win did ya." "Yeah but what did you think of it?" "I dunno. Now are we gonna do that Bogo-Pogo?!" "I'm asking what you thought of the way I danced on the weekend?!" "I told you, I don't know!!" "Jesus Wayne!"… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Mglovesfun

Jun 14, 2021

One of the most fun movies to watch I have ever seen. The fact that the cast seems to be having an incredibly good time making it massively adds to it. While not my favorite movie, it's not far off.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Apr 11, 2019

Luhrmann's first and probably best film with good acting and a more controlled stylism that's missing in Luhrmann's later films.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

liamexe

Jun 9, 2023

With some very wide, almost slapstick humour, Baz Luhrmann is creating a strange satire of a dance movie. It's enjoyable and enjoyable to giggle at the characters. The formulaic story is the only issue. It is almost uncomfortably clawing in its unsettling after. The frumpy female is sportingWith some very wide, almost slapstick humour, Baz Luhrmann is creating a strange satire of a dance movie. It's enjoyable and enjoyable to giggle at the characters. The formulaic story is the only issue. It is almost uncomfortably clawing in its unsettling after. The frumpy female is sporting her normal specs. She only needs to take them off and get dressed up. The main character comes off as a little stiff and stern. Overall, the broad strokes are enjoyable and mostly make me smile. The formula does grow monotonous after a while.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

[Anonymous]

Dec 6, 2008

Romantic comedic pseudo docudrama which is too silly to be dramatic and too leaden to be funny. It engages every clice of the romance genre with aplomb - so much so that it could almost be mistaken for satire. However, it is ironic that the entire plot is predicated on the protagonist Romantic comedic pseudo docudrama which is too silly to be dramatic and too leaden to be funny. It engages every clice of the romance genre with aplomb - so much so that it could almost be mistaken for satire. However, it is ironic that the entire plot is predicated on the protagonist disengaging from standard ballroom technique and creating original moves, whilst the movie itself plods along in a predictable two dimensional style.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

BigAlienBoss

Dec 31, 2012

Dull rom-com pseudo-docudrama. that is about a subject that it doesn't even take seriously (as it's a comedy). Shame it isn't in the least bit funny.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS