Overview
In the roaring 1920s, two women fight for survival and fame in a world of crime and ambition.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sardonic
- glamorous
- musical movie night
- theater lovers gathering
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a dazzling, energetic revival of the movie musical, especially for its performances, choreography, and parallel montage, while some found its streamlined screenplay thin.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rob Marshall intercuts courtroom, jail, and publicity events with theatrical song-and-dance sequences, making parallel montage a defining cinematic device.
Roxie and Velma pursue fame because notoriety may protect them from execution, while Billy Flynn turns publicity into legal strategy.
The courtroom, prison, press coverage, and stage world all operate through theatrical presentation rather than straightforward moral judgment.
The 1920s Chicago setting, showgirl costumes, jazz-inflected numbers, and performance personas merge murder trials with vaudeville spectacle.
Films like Chicago, and why
Moulin Rouge!
stylized musical spectacle, media satire, and ambitious performers pursuing fame
Cabaret
stage-to-screen musical craft, show-business ambition, and vivid choreography
All That Jazz
satirical celebrity culture, morally compromised protagonists, and energetic musical presentation
Showgirls
female rivalry, theatrical performance, and ruthless competition for public attention
Movie Details
- Director
- Rob Marshall
- Release Date
- 2002-12-10
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (2989)
Cast
- Renée Zellweger
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Richard Gere
- Queen Latifah
- John C. Reilly
- Colm Feore
- Dominic West
- Christine Baranski
- Ekaterina Chtchelkanova
- Lucy Liu
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Chicago about?
- Two murderesses turn death row, courtroom publicity, and jazz-age showmanship into a ruthless bid for celebrity and survival.
- What is Chicago like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chicago as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Chicago violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Chicago as mild.
- What did critics think of Chicago?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a dazzling, energetic revival of the movie musical, especially for its performances, choreography, and parallel montage, while some found its streamlined screenplay thin.
- Which films are like Chicago?
- Films with a similar feel include Moulin Rouge!, Cabaret, All That Jazz, and Showgirls.
- How long is Chicago?
- Chicago runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chicago?
- In United States, Chicago streams on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
