Movie · 2002 · Comedy, Crime, Drama · 1h 53m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 8.2/10 (706.3K ratings)
If you can't be famous, be infamous.
Overview
Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.2/10
IMDb: 7.2/10
Letterboxd: 4.01/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Metacritic: 81
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
Rob Marshall
Production
Miramax, The Producer Circle Co., Storyline Entertainment
Cast
Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, Ekaterina Chtchelkanova, John C. Reilly, Christine Baranski, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, Colm Feore, Dominic West, Mya, Deidre Goodwin, Denise Faye, Susan Misner, Cliff Saunders, Jayne Eastwood, Bruce Beaton, Roman Podhora, Rob Smith
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, cynical, and hugely entertaining musical satire that turns murder, celebrity, and media manipulation into a razzle-dazzle spectacle. Its performances, choreography, and sharp tonal control make it one of the most distinctive movie musicals of the 2000s.
Best for
musical fans who like showmanship with a dark edge
viewers interested in fame, performance, and tabloid culture
fans of stylish, high-energy ensemble filmmaking
people who enjoy satirical crime stories with big numbers
Skip if
you dislike musicals or performance-forward storytelling
you want a straightforward crime drama
you prefer emotional realism over theatrical irony
you are turned off by cynical, antihero-driven narratives
Overview
Chicago is a brash, glittering machine built on vanity, violence, and applause. It takes a true-crime setup and filters it through vaudeville, courtroom theater, and tabloid fantasy, making every song feel like both confession and self-promotion. The result is less about justice than about who can control the story.
Worth noting
What makes it endure is how confidently it commits to the bit. The editing, production design, and choreography keep the film in constant motion, while the cast sells the satire with precision and bite. It is knowingly artificial, but that artificiality is the point: everyone is performing for the public, and the public is hungry.
Bottom line
It can feel cold by design, but that chill is part of its appeal. If you like your musicals sharp, sexy, and a little mean, this is a standout. If you want warmth or sincerity, this one will probably leave you admiring the craft more than feeling the heart.
Top Letterboxd reviews
clownhead (5★) · 16367 likes
OH YES OH YES OH YES WE BOTH OH YES WE BOTH OH YES WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN THE GUN THE GUN THE GUN OH YES WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN FOR THE GUN OH YES OH YES OH YES THEY BOTH OH YES THEY BOTH OH YES THEY BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN THE GUN THE GUN THE GUN OH YES THEY BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN FOR THE GUN
Robin (5★) · 12376 likes
moral of the story: kill men, become famous
meli (5★) · 8348 likes
cell block tango > the beatles
john (5★) · 7824 likes
Being an influencer was so much easier in 1924.
mia lee vicino (5★) · 7561 likes
kept waiting for amy dunne to show up during cell block tango like "my darling husband nick loved a girl i was pretending to be. 'cool girl.' men always use that, don't they? as their defining compliment. 'she's a cool girl.' cool girl is hot. cool girl is game. cool girl is fun. cool girl never gets angry at her man. she only smiles in a chagrined, loving manner, then presents her mouth for fucking. anyway, he dragged me, penniless, to… more kept waiting for amy dunne to show up during cell block tango like "my darling husband nick loved a girl i was pretending to be. 'cool girl.' men always use that, don't they? as their defining compliment. 'she's a cool girl.' cool girl is hot. cool girl is game. cool girl is fun. cool girl never gets angry at her man. she only smiles in a chagrined, loving manner, then presents her mouth for fucking. anyway, he dragged me, penniless, to… more
1996 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 59m · R · Curator 7.8/10 (359.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
A crowd-pleasing satire of performance, identity, and public image with sharp comic timing.