The Greatest Showman
Overview
The Greatest Showman is a 2017 biographical musical drama film directed by Michael Gracey, based on the life of P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman), the founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The film is a highly fictionalized and sanitized version of Barnum's life, focusing on his rise from poverty to fame, and his creation of a "circus" of "oddities" — people with physical deformities who were rejected by society. The film follows Barnum as he falls in love with Charity "Charity" Hallett (Michelle Williams), the daughter of a wealthy family. He starts a museum of curiosities, and he eventually creates a show featuring a bearded lady, a dwarf, a giant, a tattooed man, and other "freaks." The film is a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and the power of imagination. It features a catchy, pop-infused soundtrack, including the hit songs "The Greatest Show," "This Is Me," and "A Million Dreams." The film was a surprising commercial success, earning over $435 million worldwide on an $84 million budget. The soundtrack was even more successful, topping the charts in multiple countries. The Greatest Showman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "This Is Me."
