Xanadu

Name: Xanadu
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Musical
Released: August 8, 1980
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 31
Cast: Olivia Newton-John

1980

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

See All

6.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.2	Your Score
6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Xanadu

Now Playing: Xanadu

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: August 8, 1980 | PG

Starring: Olivia Newton-John

Summary: The 40s meet the 80s in XANADU, a very special love story and the first lavish, old-fashioned musical to utilize today's music. Stars Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly.

Director: Robert Greenwald

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Musical

Rating: PG

Runtime: 93 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Phil Hall

How does Xanadu qualify as the greatest movie musical? Simple: it offers nothing but pure wall-to-wall fun and nonsense to keep a smile on one’s face from the opening credits (which cleverly spoof the logo of Universal Pictures) through the end of the picture. [11 Aug 2005] Read full review

James Berardinelli

The film is too energetic, too jaw-droppingly campy, and too silly not to be enjoyed and celebrated on some level. "Cheesy" doesn't even begin to describe it, yet that's at the heart of its perverse charm. Now, that's entertainment! Read full review

Eric Henderson

While the soundtrack is evenly split between Newton-John ballads and power-pop from ELO, neither of which sounded particularly revolutionary at the turn of the decade, Xanadu's collage of musical styles and fads inadvertently suggests the utopia of post-disco no wave, hip-hop's emerging legacy of sampling and the DIY spirit of mash-ups. (I mean, if you want to be kind.) Read full review

Tom Shales

Xanadu cannot possibly be described as a good movie, but it can be recommended to those who can tolerate large amounts of intravenous marzipan. The music is highly enjoyable -- though perhaps more so once one gets the record album home and isn't bothered with the story -- and the film so unerringly airy that it has a beneficent, tranquilizing, bemusing effect.

Dave Kehr

This big-budget bubble-gum musical is appalling but compulsively watchable; it's the perfect crystallization of a 13-year-old girl's taste, circa 1980, complete with roller discos, dreamy boys, fashion shows, and fantasy father figures. Director Robert Greenwald has a lot of ideas, all of them bad: his style could be described as rapid misfire. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine

Trying to appeal to both old and young audiences, the movie ends up shooting itself in the foot. Read full review

David Ansen

Michael Beck (of "The Warriors") shows no discernible talent for musical romanticism Olivia ("Totally Hot") Newton-John sings prettily but is totally tepid, and the ever graceful Gene Kelly deserves a medal for keeping a straight face. Robert Greenwald, the director, should look into another line of work. Perhaps opening a disco? [18 Aug 1980, p.85]

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

suzippoh

Jan 1, 2018

To the critic who gave a bad review re: the choreography of the bandstand ensemble, it was a "terrible mess" having no style: you must be an old coot who has no appreciation for anything but stiff, monotone numbers that , for the rest of us, would be extremely boring. I dont know what peopleTo the critic who gave a bad review re: the choreography of the bandstand ensemble, it was a "terrible mess" having no style: you must be an old coot who has no appreciation for anything but stiff, monotone numbers that , for the rest of us, would be extremely boring. I dont know what people like this expect, but I certainly got more than I could have asked for, ie. a whole lotta fun and entertainment! Those of us who enjoyed this number happen to be under 50, enjoy our jobs, play with our kids, own pets, lean toward comedy films and feel good movies. We're not serious movie critics, but we have a good eye for dance, and this scene was fabulous fun!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Martimus98

Mar 14, 2019

Honestly this was a movie that was made around an awesome soundtrack. The music, in and of itself, is awesome.

The story itself is a time capsule about roller disco's of the 1980's, yea they were a thing. Olivia Newton John, aka Olivia Neutron Bomb, was phenomenal. She is both beautifulHonestly this was a movie that was made around an awesome soundtrack. The music, in and of itself, is awesome.

The story itself is a time capsule about roller disco's of the 1980's, yea they were a thing.

Olivia Newton John, aka Olivia Neutron Bomb, was phenomenal. She is both beautiful and superbly talented in this movie. Gene Kelly is, well, Gene Kelly. He was an incredibly talented actor and dancer in his day and has great screen presence.

The story line was silly but what can one expect from a modern story whose main character is a muse (one of nine Goddesses from Greek mythology). The animation wasn't all that good but that was not unusual for the late 1970's. Given the size of the case, I feel sorry for those people who had to create and maintain all of those creative and unusual costumes.

Was this an award winning movie? Absolutely not! It's a silly yet fun musical where guy meets Goddess, guy loses Goddess, and guy gets Goddess.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Rcavey92212

Aug 23, 2020

Olivia Newton John headlines this queer musical classic about a muse that falls in love with her target. A fabulous record album artist who decides with a stranger to open up a roller skating rink with magical results. Or at least I think that is what it's about. The whole movie is likeOlivia Newton John headlines this queer musical classic about a muse that falls in love with her target. A fabulous record album artist who decides with a stranger to open up a roller skating rink with magical results. Or at least I think that is what it's about. The whole movie is like being high on shrooms. It's super colorful and wonderfully gay. But besides a visual feast and a great soundtrack nothing's really going on. It tries desperately to connect the muicals of yesterday and modern day at the time but never finds the right vibe. The charachters are pretty but lack personality and depth and so does the story. On that aspect it was really hard for me to be completely engaged. That being said my fiancee and best friend love this movie and will probably murder me after reading it, so I'll end on a positive note. It's pretty and fun.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Feb 8, 2013

GREAT soundtrack. So yes, it's a cheesy movie which was probably taken far too seriously 30+ years ago, but I'm giving it a break. It's charming. And the description on my VHS jacket is brilliant.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 4 REVIEWS