Chicago poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly ... see more see more... , Christine Baranski , Lucy Liu , Taye Diggs , Colm Feore , Dominic West , Jayne Eastwood , Roman Podhora , Rob Smith , Ken Ard , Denise Faye , Robbie Rox , Cliff Saunders , Bruce Beaton , Sean Wayne Doyle , Steve Behal , Susan Misner , Mya Harrison , Joey Pizzi , Ekaterina Chtchelkanova , Deidre Goodwin , Scott Wise , Marc Calamia

A starry-eyed would-be star discovers just how far the notion that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" can go in this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Chicago, originally directed an... read more read more...d choreographed by Bob Fosse. In the mid-'20s, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a small-time chorus dancer married to a well-meaning dunderhead named Amos (John C. Reilly). Roxie is having an affair on the side with Fred Casley (Dominic West), a smooth talker who insists he can make her a star. However, Fred strings Roxie along a bit too far for his own good, and when she realizes that his promises are empty, she becomes enraged and murders Fred in cold blood. Roxie soon finds herself behind bars alongside Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a sexy vaudeville star who used to perform with her sister until Velma discovered that her sister had been sleeping with her husband. Velma shot them both dead, and, after scheming prison matron "Mama" Morton hooks Velma up with hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), Velma becomes the new Queen of the scandal sheets. Roxie is just shrewd enough to realize that her poor fortune could also bring her fame, so she convinces Amos to also hire Flynn. Soon Flynn is splashing Roxie's story -- or, more accurately, a highly melodramatic revision of Roxie's story -- all over the gutter press, and Roxy and Velma are soon battling neck-to-neck over who can win greater fame through the headlines. A project that had been moving from studio to studio since the musical opened on Broadway in 1973, Chicago also features guest appearances by Lucy Liu and Christine Baranski. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

409,805 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

211 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Rob Marshall

Release Date: December 27, 2002

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: August 19, 2003

Get It:

Stats: 23,735 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Chicago movie poster Chicago Queen Latifah aka Matron " MAMA " Motron Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago THE Velma Kelly Chicago Matron Mama Morton Catherine Zeta Jones as Velma Kelly Velma Kelly ! Chicago Chicago (2002) Chicago "Ms. Velma Kelly in an act of desperation..."
Upload a Photo | View All Chicago Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (23,735)

  • spielberg00
    November 18, 2011
    spielberg00
    Ostentatious musical takes a sarcastic look at the story of two murderesses and their rise (or rises, one could say) to fame on the stage. This was the first musical in 33 years to win Best Picture, the previous being OLIVER! in 1969, and I can now honestly say that this didn't ... read moredeserve to win Best Picture, but it did not deserve to lose, either. Before I had seen this, I was almost positive that THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS should have been the film to win Best Picture in '02; now, I am stuck between the two.

    The sarcastic taste of CHICAGO was intelligent and, at times, ironic, but it did not completely throw me like I had expected. Almost everything here, in fact, is sarcastic in one way or another. It all ranges from the subtle (such as a sarcastic line here and there) to the utterly ridiculous (such as the fact that one of the women in jail murdered her husband only because he was popping his gum and getting on her nerves). If you can't stand that, then this film is not for you, because without all the sarcasm and razzle-dazzle, CHICAGO simply would not be CHICAGO.

    Full Review: http://wp.me/p1Urcx-sR
  • CreedsDelight
    August 8, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    A very well choreographed film, with good acting and songs. It isn't my cup of tea, to be honest.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    A great musical!
  • brownman83
    June 19, 2011
    brownman83
    Chicago is a very original movie. And that's what people are looking for these days. Every award they received, including Best Picture, was well given from the Academy. Catherine-Zeta Jones was an excellent supporting actress, and she did earn her Best Supporting Actress award, b... read moreut truly, I think Renee Zellweger did a better job as an actress. The cinematography was simply amazing. The transitions between reality and stage were definitely enjoyable. The way the audience saw the stage performances was excellent, and the way they saw reality was interesting as well. And at that fact, the stage performances is what made this film extravagant. No breaking into song in reality. All of the singing was as if they were feeling it, and we were witnessing their feelings. The the songs were real catchy, and definitely masterpieces to listen to. But there were a few flaws in Chicago. One was some of the speech. It was hard to understand without subtitles or going back a few times to hear it again, but not all of it was like that, only some. Then the fact that one of the characters (the innocent and "invisible" one) never got what he deserved. This was the sad point in the film. But I guess that's reality, folks. And the best part of Chicago was... That it was better than the musical. I saw the musical, and it was boring and dull compared to the film. But there is one last flaw. The 1 hour 57 minute film left out a bit from the 3 hour musical. You got to know the characters more in the musical. All in all, I give Chicago a 80/100.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 17, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A impressive musical with a mediocre story, top notch acting, and incredible songs. I never believe in overrated movies but this is one of them, espically for the Best Picture Oscar.
  • jamers2011
    June 9, 2011
    jamers2011
    Catherine Zeta-Jones gives a great and memorable performance. Great film, but I'm not quite sure it deserved Best Picture!
  • fb100001493964409
    April 27, 2011
    fb100001493964409
    Now THIS is a musical film. Worthy of the Best Picture Oscar it received? No. Not even close. But is it good? You can bet your life on it. "Chicago" is darkly humorous, beautifully shot and choreographed, and filled to the gills with catchy/awesome songs. Highly recommended for a... read morenyone, even those who don't like musicals. This might convert you over.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 2, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Great cast, numbers, costumes, and atmosphere. Movie musicals are rare nowadays, and Chicago lets us remember the Golden Age and how far we've come since.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    July 19, 2010
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    A great musical film! Acting was incredible, probably the best acting portrayal of the top 3 actors in this film in there career. Great film and I recommend it to all musical fans out there.

    Fame hungry Roxie Hart dreams of a life on the Vaudville stage, and spends her nights ... read morejazzing it up in the bright lights of Chicago, continually hoping that she'll find her lucky break, and be shot into 1920's stardom, so able to flee her boring husband Amos. In awe of seductive club singer Velma Kelly (who is subsequantly arrested for the murder of her husband and sister - after discovering their affair), Roxie meets Fred Cassely a man who convinces her he can 'make her showbiz career take off'. However after Roxie has undergone the 'casting couch' treatment, and Fred has had his wicked way with her, he reveals that he has no more connections in showbusiness than she does. This is the final straw for Roxie, and her constant anger at rejection explodes. She shoots Fred Cassely and kills him. Upon discovering her infidelity, Roxie's husband Amos refuses to take the blame for the murder and Roxie is sent to jail, pending hanging. In jail she finally meets tabloid darling Velma Kelly, currently receiving huge media attention for the double murder she committed earlier in the tale. Sharing the clink with Velma, are a collection of other sly females, all awaiting trial for the murders of their own partners. Velma is aloof to Roxie, however the prison Warden Mrs Morton offers Roxie the opportunity of representation by slick Chicago lawyer Billy Flynn. Billy is more a showbiz P. R agent than a legal lawyer and minipulates the tabloids into thinking Roxie is no more than an innocent 'good time girl' who took the wrong path, than a scheming murderess. The tabloids go crazy for the new girl on the cell block, and Roxie finally becomes a star. However due to Roxie's new found fame, Velma is forgotten about. She is forced to approach Roxie with an offer of a part in her Vaudville act (filling the gap left by her murdered sister), but Roxie turns down her offer flat, thinking she needs no support in topping the bill. However, just as Velma's star fell, so does Roxie's, when Go-to-hell Kitty arrives at the jail on a multiple murder charge, the press forget Roxie and now she and Velma are in the same boat. With one more trick up her sleave Roxie manages to bring the media attention back onto her, and her day in court arrives. Billy is now ready to play the ultimate showman!
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    June 24, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    C

View All Chicago Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
February 6, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

This Oscar-laden movie rendition, directed by Rob Marshall, suffers from the kind of ants-in-your-pants MTV editing that prevents you from simply watching and enjoying the musical numbers. Full Review

Jack Mathews
April 22, 2003
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Scintillating, jazz-hot adaptation. Full Review

Wesley Morris
February 14, 2003
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

This film adaptation, written by Bill Condon, is somewhat kinder and gentler than the stage versions that preceded it. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
January 16, 2003
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Chicago is, in many ways, an admirable achievement. Full Review

David Ansen
January 14, 2003
David Ansen, Newsweek

Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones put on quite a show in Rob Marshall's dazzling cinematic rethinking of the 1975 Kander and Ebb musical directed by Bob Fosse.

Peter Travers
January 9, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Leggy Zeta-Jones is so hot in the 'All That Jazz' number, she's flammable. And Zellweger defines delicious.

Roger Moore
January 3, 2003
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It prances. It struts. It kicks up its heels. It bumps and grinds and gyrates and works up a sweat and has a cigarette afterwards.

Owen Gleiberman
January 3, 2003
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

By the end of Chicago, just about everyone in it has razzle-dazzled someone, and so has the movie, which leaves you thrilled at how good it feels to see life, death, and girl power turned, once again,... Full Review

David Edelstein
December 29, 2002
David Edelstein, Slate

Rob Marshall's film of Chicago isn't just the most explosively entertaining movie musical in a couple of decades. It's going to be the most influential. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
December 28, 2002
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

With few respites, Marshall keeps the energy humming, and his edits, unlike those in Moulin Rouge, are crisp and purposeful without overdoing it. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Moulin Rouge!
    Moulin Rouge! (78%)
  • Rent
    Rent (74%)
  • Burlesque
    Burlesque (94%)
  • The Artist
    The Artist (71%)

More Movies like Chicago

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Roxie Hart: Baby what baby? Oh!.. Jesus...
    • Roxie Hart: You want some advice, well here's a piece of advice from me to you, lay, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
    • Matron Mama Morton: I'd like to be your friend, if you let me. So if there's something that upsets you or makes you unhappy in any way, don't shoot your fat ass mouth off to me, 'cause I don't give a shit. Now move it out!
    • Velma Kelly: He was trying to burgle me.
    • Assistant District Attorney Martin Harrison: From what I hear, he's been burgling you three times a week for the past month.
    • Assistant District Attorney Martin Harrison: This is hanging case, and we're ready to go to in front of the jury tomorrow.
    • Roxie Hart: Wha-Wha-What do you mean hanging?
    • Assistant District Attorney Martin Harrison: You're not so tough now, are you?
    • Velma Kelly: What do ya mean hanging?
    • Velma Kelly: Why, sure. I'm not a complete idiot.
Submit a Fact | View All

Chicago : Watch Free on TV

Chicago Trivia

  • This actress has been stuck in Traffic and at The Terminal. She can be seen hanging out in Chicago and is a friend to Zorro. Who is she?   Answer »
  • quote: 'I don't mean to toot my own horn, but if Jesus Christ lived in Chicago today, and he had come to me and he had five thousand dollars, let's just say things would have turned out differently. '   Answer »
  • Richard Gere sang and danced his way to a Golden Globe musical/comedy award with this movie.   Answer »
  • Which Actress Played Roxie Hart In Chicago?  Answer »
More Chicago Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Chicago Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Chicago to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Chicago News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

jepp84 Skin by jepp84
348 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins