Overview
In a world where love and rivalry collide, two gangs fight for their turf amidst the chaos of 1950s New York City.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- romantic
- gritty
- passionate
- musical movie night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Spielberg's visually ambitious, emotionally powerful musical adaptation, especially its choreography, direction, and supporting performances, while noting weaknesses in the central male lead.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Songs and dance numbers directly express the lovers' desire, gang identity, racial tension, and mounting conflict.
Tony and María's relationship crosses the boundary between the Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks.
The San Juan Hill tenements face demolition, making territory, belonging, and displacement central pressures on the gangs.
Street confrontations, gang rituals, and romantic encounters are staged through elaborate dance across the neighborhood.
Films like West Side Story, and why
Romeo + Juliet
shared forbidden romance, musical spectacle, interracial tension, and emotionally tragic social conflict
In the Heights
shared contemporary musical storytelling, star-crossed lovers, vibrant choreography, and urban cultural conflict
Moulin Rouge!
shared musical romance, gangland danger, stylized dance sequences, and tragic emotional intensity
The Namesake
shared social realism, ethnic prejudice, immigrant identity, and romantic melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Release Date
- 2021-12-08
- Runtime
- 156 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1849)
Cast
- Ansel Elgort
- Rachel Zegler
- Ariana DeBose
- David Alvarez
- Mike Faist
- Brian d'Arcy James
- Corey Stoll
- Rita Moreno
- Josh Rivera
- Ana Isabelle
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow
- Rent
- 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 West Side Story about?
- As demolition threatens a divided 1950s Manhattan neighborhood, a tender romance between rival gang communities collides with territorial violence and ethnic prejudice.
- What is West Side Story like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of West Side Story as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is West Side Story violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in West Side Story as moderate.
- What did critics think of West Side Story?
- Critics broadly praised Spielberg's visually ambitious, emotionally powerful musical adaptation, especially its choreography, direction, and supporting performances, while noting weaknesses in the central male lead.
- Which films are like West Side Story?
- Films with a similar feel include Romeo + Juliet, In the Heights, Moulin Rouge!, and The Namesake.
- How long is West Side Story?
- West Side Story runs 156 minutes.
- Where can I watch West Side Story?
- In United States, West Side Story streams on Disney Plus, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow.
