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Flashdance
Metascore
35 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 5 out of 9
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  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    63
    Flashdance makes liberal use of jump cuts, strobe lighting and hard-edged, post-punk chic in its dance sequences, it registers as the end product of energy being released by an essentially lyrical temperament. It charms us, makes us want to refrain from scrutinizing it too closely. [31 Jul 1983, p.1]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Janet Maslin
    40
    With a score by Giorgio Moroder, and with ingenious costumes that are utterly au courant, Flashdance contains such dynamic dance scenes that it's a pity there's a story here to bog them down.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    40
    Watching Flashdance is pretty much like looking at MTV for 96 minutes. Virtually plotless, exceedingly thin on characterization and sociologically laughable, pic at least lives up to its title by offering an anthology of extraordinarily flashy dance numbers.
  4. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    40
    Glitz with no mind and lots of fancy visuals, edited with a pounding beat.
  5. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    38
    If Flashdance had spent just a little more effort getting to know the heroine of its story, and a little less time trying to rip off "Saturday Night Fever," it might have been a much better film.
  6. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Stephen Godfrey
    38
    Cranked up at double speed, the plot of Flashdance could almost be a satirical fantasy about dance students. Although Flashdance doesn't admit it's a fantasy, neither does it succeed in looking realistic. [16 Apr 1983, p.E5]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    38
    Punchy, cleverly stylized, but utterly empty yarn about a feisty young woman who welds by day, disco-dances by night, and dreams of the day when she can devote her life to her art.
  8. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    30
    Like Saturday Night Fever and, for that matter, the Rocky films, Flashdance has made it big by taking experiences of black youths and playing them in whiteface. But unlike its grittily romantic predecessors, Flashdance is pure glitz.
  9. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    25
    Although the "story" is almost wholly without depth or plausibility, it's carried off with great style.
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User Reviews

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User Score
4.2 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 3 out of 3
  1. CritiqueGirl
    1
    I saw this on TV many years after it came out in the....80's? Not good at all. All it did was promote ripped shirts and big hair and wild dancing everyone did for a good laugh.… Full Review »
  2. JoshuaE.
    0
    Could not stay awake thru this borring, poorly thought out film.
  3. [Anonymous]
    3
    An extended music video with about three minutes of plot. Flashy but not trashy.
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