Chicago (film)

Chicago (film)
Name	Chicago
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Rob Marshall
Producer	Martin Scorsese, Barbara De Fina, John Kilik
Based on	Chicago by Maurice Zola; stage musical by Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb, John Kander
Starring	Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly
Music	John Kander (score), lyrics by Fred Ebb
Cinematography	Dion Beebe
Editing	Pietro Scalia
Studio	Miramax Films, Kylin Films, FilmEngine
Distributor	Miramax Films
Released	December 27, 2002
Runtime	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$45 million
Gross	$306.8 million

Chicago (film) Chicago is a 2002 American musical crime comedy-drama directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Martin Scorsese. Adapted from the 1975 stage musical by Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb, and John Kander, the film stars Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere in a stylized Prohibition-era narrative about fame, murder, and media spectacle. The film won multiple awards and revitalized Hollywood interest in the movie musical, featuring choreography and a jazz-influenced score.

Plot

Set in 1920s Chicago, Illinois, the narrative follows Roxie Hart, an aspiring vaudevillian who murders her lover and becomes a media sensation. Roxie's story intersects with Velma Kelly, a vaudeville star accused of murdering her husband and sister, and with lawyer Billy Flynn, who maneuvers publicity and courtroom theatrics to secure acquittal. The film charts themes of celebrity, sensational journalism, and show business through scenes in the Cook County Jail, on vaudeville stages, and in the offices of tabloid figures such as the fictional reporter and gossip columns. The plot culminates in performances at venues reminiscent of The Chicago Theatre and courtroom sequences that echo trials covered by real-life papers like the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times.

Cast

The principal cast includes Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, Richard Gere as Billy Flynn, Queen Latifah as matron Mama Morton, and John C. Reilly as Amos Hart. Supporting performances feature Taye Diggs, Christine Baranski, Lucy Liu, Dominic West, and Colm Feore, connecting to careers spanning Broadway, West End, and Hollywood cinema. Behind the scenes, the creative team included choreographers who worked on Broadway productions and collaborators with institutions such as the Royal Ballet and Joffrey Ballet for movement consultation.

Production

Development began when Miramax acquired rights to adapt the stage musical, following the legacy of Bob Fosse's choreography and Fred Ebb and John Kander's score. Rob Marshall, previously known for Chicago (stage)-adjacent stage work, made his feature debut directing the film, with Martin Scorsese attached as producer, reflecting ties to directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Thelma Schoonmaker. Principal photography took place on soundstages in Los Angeles with production designers recreating 1920s Chicago, Illinois settings and Prohibition-era clubs inspired by historic venues such as The Cotton Club and The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. Cinematographer Dion Beebe employed stylized lighting and rear-projection techniques influenced by filmmakers like Fritz Lang and Busby Berkeley. Choreography adapted Fosse's aesthetic, incorporating movement vocabulary associated with Broadway and Hollywood musicals, supported by a dance ensemble drawn from conservatories including Juilliard School.

Release and box office

Distributed by Miramax Films, the film premiered at the USA Film Festival before opening wide in December 2002, positioning it for awards-season consideration alongside releases from studios such as DreamWorks Pictures and Warner Bros. Chicago grossed approximately $306.8 million worldwide against a $45 million budget, outgrossing contemporaneous musical films and influencing subsequent studio investments in adaptations of stage works. The commercial success paralleled soundtrack sales and renewed Broadway ticket interest, affecting producers and theatrical institutions like Nederlander Organization and Shubert Organization.

Reception and awards

Critics praised performances by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger and the film's faithful yet cinematic adaptation of Bob Fosse's choreography and Kander and Ebb's score. Chicago received numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, joining a lineage with previous winners from studios such as Paramount Pictures and United Artists. Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress; other wins included awards for film editing and production design at ceremonies hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The film's success reinvigorated interest in Hollywood musicals and influenced projects helmed by directors like Baz Luhrmann and producers connected to Columbia Pictures.

Soundtrack and choreography

The soundtrack featured recordings of Kander and Ebb compositions, including "All That Jazz" and "Razzle Dazzle," performed by the principal cast and backed by jazz orchestration in the style of 1920s ensembles associated historically with musicians from Harlem Renaissance venues. The film's choreography paid homage to Bob Fosse's signature moves—turned-in knees, jazz hands, and stylized isolation—while integrating cinematic techniques such as montage and cross-cutting reminiscent of Busby Berkeley spectacles. Musical direction involved arranging Kander's score for film orchestration, collaborating with conductors and musicians linked to institutions like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic for period authenticity. The visual staging of numbers drew on theatrical traditions from Broadway and cinematic precedents set by classic Hollywood musicals.

Category:2002 films Category:American musical films Category:Films set in Chicago Category:Films directed by Rob Marshall