Even if you do not like musicals you will have a smile on your face the whole time you watch The Greatest Showman. I say that as a guy who is not typically a fan of musicals, but this one here really stuck with me. Let me tell you why.
How to Stream or Download The Greatest Showman
This 2017 movie can be streamed or it can be downloaded from iTunes. It is available in several language versions with subtitles. To begin your download, click on the button located below the review. And if you like musicals check out also Mamma Mia! (2008) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).
The Film Review
The fact that this movie even got made is a testament to how much passion people like Hugh Jackman had for this story. Seriously do yourself a favor and if you get the DVD or Blu-Ray watch the extras that show the effort they had to go through to get the funding just to make this movie happen.
The story of the movie is a loose (and from what I understand a very lose) account of the life of P. T. Barnum. No matter if you know who P. T. Barnum is or if you do not it really does not matter. Hugh Jackman plays the role of P. T. Barnum who finds life rather boring and wants to give his wife (Michelle Williams) and his daughters everything they could dream of.
He starts what is basically a freak show, giving those who society finds odd an opportunity to shine in the spotlight. While some people in the city embrace this, others hate it and start to harass the acts, eventually leading to the whole thing going up in flames…. Literarily.
https://youtu.be/AXCTMGYUg9A
The story of how P. T. Barnum goes from nothing to something, to losing everything and then to getting the chance to get it all back is truly inspiring stuff and you cannot help but root for the guy.
I know that Hugh Jackman gets all the attention for this movie, but Zac Effron who plays Phillip Carlyle is an absolute star in this movie. He plays Barnum’s partner and the song with the two of them in the bar where Barnum is trying to convince him to join his endeavor is fantastic as is his duet with Zendaya.
Speaking of Zendaya she plays Anne Wheeler who eventually becomes romantically involved with Carlyle which is not something that was socially acceptable back then. There is a rather awkward scene where Carlyle along with Wheeler run into his parents. Another stand out performance is Keala Settle who plays the bearded lady. What a voice! Is all I have to say about her.
The Greatest Showman is one of those movies that the critics were not exactly kind to when it was released. I though think that it is a very fun movie, a movie that has a lot of heart and some awesome songs that will have you tapping your toes the whole time. You do not have to be a fan of musicals to have a good time with this.
Hopefully, the way the movie watching public has latched onto this movie will encourage studios to take more of a chance when it comes to bringing musicals to the big screen. Heck, it was even re-released as a sing-along version a year after it originally was released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you stream The Greatest Showman (2017) in 4K Dolby Atmos?
As of November 2026, director Michael Gracey’s hit original musical The Greatest Showman (2017) starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya streams in 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on Disney+ and is available on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Did Zendaya and Zac Efron perform their own trapeze stunts in Rewrite the Stars?
Yes – Zendaya trained extensively on high aerial rigs with circus choreographer Ashley Wallen so she and Zac Efron could perform many of their sweeping spinning rope duets as trapeze artist Anne Wheeler and playwright partner Phillip Carlyle without stunt doubles.
Who sang Jenny Lind’s Never Enough and wrote the chart-topping soundtrack?
Oscar-winning La La Land songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul penned eleven anthems – including Keala Settle’s Golden Globe-winning “This Is Me” and powerhouse vocalist Loren Allred singing “Never Enough” for Rebecca Ferguson – sending the album atop global charts for months.
Which newer musical drama showcases Hugh Jackman’s crowd-pleasing stage charisma?
Musical fans eager for another heartfelt true-inspired stage duo starring Hugh Jackman can check out Song Sung Blue.
