West Side Story
Seen it?1961 | 153 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 10 Oscars, people are still talking about it and it made about 7 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and romantics. If you loved West Side Story or Romeo + Juliet, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 2 hr 33 min.
- Made in 1961: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In Manhattan’s Upper West Side, rival gangs of Polish-Americans and newly arrived Puerto Ricans clash for control of the neighborhood, even as two young members from opposite sides fall dangerously in love.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 10 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Motion Picture, Academy Awards: Best Director, Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress and 6 more. Won 3 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. Won 1 DGA Award: Directors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Written American Musical. Won 1 PGA Award: Producers Guild of America Awards: Best Director. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar, 2 more Golden Globes and 1 BAFTA. Plus 5 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$44 million worldwide on a $6 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 405K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
- Natalie WoodMaria
- Richard BeymerTony
- Russ TamblynRiff
- Rita MorenoAnita
- George ChakirisBernardo
- Simon OaklandSchrank
- Ned GlassDoc
- William BramleyKrupke
- Tucker SmithIce
- Tony MordenteAction