Flashdance, the era-defining 1983 film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Adrian Lyne, has been added to Netflix in the UK. The movie stars Jennifer Beals as Alex, an 18-year-old welder who moonlights as a cabaret dancer in Pittsburgh while dreaming of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Michael Nouri co-stars as her boss and older boyfriend Nick.
Box Office Success Despite Critical Dismissal
Produced on a budget of just $7 million (£5.2 million), Flashdance grossed $201.5 million (£151.8 million) worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film in the US in 1983 behind Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and Tootsie. Despite this commercial success, the film received harsh criticism, with Roger Ebert placing it on his 'most hated' films list in 2005 alongside Staying Alive, Resident Evil, and Armageddon.
Award Recognition and Cultural Impact
Flashdance won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for its iconic title song 'Flashdance… What a Feeling,' performed by Irene Cara, which also reached number one on the Billboard charts in May 1983. The film earned four Oscar nominations and four BAFTA nominations, recognizing its music, editing, sound, and cinematography. It also received five Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Beals in the musical or comedy category. The American Film Institute ranked the song at number 55 on its 2004 list AFI's 100 Years…100 Songs.
Audience Reception and Lasting Legacy
While critics dismissed the film as 'crudely made' and 'one of the shallowest things you ever will see,' audiences have embraced it. One fan on Rotten Tomatoes wrote: 'This is such an underrated 80s classic. The story is super good, the acting is amazing, music is catchy, and the story is very emotional and well done. I highly recommend this movie.' Another viewer noted: 'Forty years later, good or bad doesn't even apply. You watch this like you go see the Mona Lisa… not because you like it or not, but because of its place in history!'
The film's presentation of songs as self-contained music videos within the movie allowed MTV to air those segments, providing free promotion. In 2008, Flashdance was adapted as a stage musical, premiering at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. Jennifer Lopez and Geri Halliwell also paid homage to the film's climactic audition scene in their music videos for 'I'm Glad' (2002) and 'It's Raining Men' (2001), respectively.
Streaming Now on Netflix
Flashdance is now streaming on Netflix in the UK. The platform has also recently added other titles such as the rom-com Office Romance and the horror film Case 39 starring Renée Zellweger.
