Forty years ago this monthmarks the release of one of the most improbable box office phenomenons of all time.Flashdance,a romantic drama film directed by Adrian Lyne in his sophomore feature film effort and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and the late Don Simpson, became a cultural phenomenon upon its release.
The music television industry was in its infancy, and many of the videos on rotation were poorly shot and hastily thrown together to market a band or album.Flashdance’scatchy soundtrack and expertly edited videos were tailor-made for the newly formed MTV and mainstays on other music video programming of the day.
Flashdancewas released on July 01, 2025, on a budget of approximately $7 million.Critics were not kind to the film, but word of mouth and the constant airplay of the soundtrack helped in makingFlashdancebecome one of the highest-grossing films of 1983. The movie was able to tap into the zeitgeist of the culture like few others have done and changed the way movies were marketed, making Jennifer Beals a household name and fashion icon. The soundtrack toFlashdance,which featured songs such as “Flashdance…What a Feeling” and “Maniac,” was a huge success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and earning song co-author Irene Cara an Academy Award for best original song.
Flashdancecenters around Alex Owens, played by Jennifer Beals, a young woman with a passion for dancing who works as a welder at a steel mill. Alex dreams of becoming a professional dancer but faces numerous obstacles in achieving her dream. When not working at the steel mill owned by Nick Hurley, played by Michael Nouri, Alex dances at Mawby’s, a bar frequented by the steel mill workers and other rough customers. It is here where Alex catches Nick’s eye, and the two begin to fall in love and open up to one another. Nick discusses his failed marriage that ended in divorce, and Alex shares her dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
Related:Jennifer Beals Didn’t Know She Was In The Book Of Boba Fett When She Arrived On Set
The film had massivestaying power at the box office, showing up in the top ten films from its release on Apr. 15 until the last week of July and then quickly re-entering the top ten.Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the JediandTootsiewere the only films that grossed more that year. The summer belonged toFlashdance, on the big screen on the airwaves of every radio station and even on television, where the music videos were played non-stop.
Flashdance Cast & Crew
Jennifer Beals (The Book of Eli, The L Word) was an unknown student at Yale University. Her only other film work at the time was an uncredited role in the coming-of-age dramaMy Bodyguard. She landed the role of Alex Owens and left school. She had no formal training as a dancer prior to the film and had to work extensively for the position.
She has had a successful 40-year career in Hollywood post-Flashdancebut will always be remembered for her turn as Alex. Michael Nouri (Damages, The Hidden) was a successful actor in television at the time he was cast as Nick Hurley. He was not the first choice but was able to win out due to his maturity and charisma. Nouri has had a decades-long career in film and television and can be seen in theNetflix streaming seriesThe Watcher.
Related:Best Adrian Lyne Films, Ranked
The biggest breakout from theFlashdancephenomenon was director Adrian Lyne who would have a string of hits throughout the rest of the 1980s and nineties. Projects like9 1/2 Weeks, Fatal Attraction,and the criminally underratedJacob’s Ladderwould follow. Lyne had significant box office success withIndecent Proposaland received critical praise for his work onLolitaandUnfaithful.
Release Date
Flashdancereturns to the big screenin limited engagements the week of April 30.
Everything Else We Know
The soundtrack was catchy, and the chemistry of the leads had audiences returning to the theater in droves to watchFlashdanceon the big screen.The script, which was the second work green-lit by ’80s and 90’s mainstay Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct, Showgirls), somehow struck a chord with men and women of all ages who were longing for a good old-fashioned love story disguised as a slick commercial film.
Much of the credit can go to Eszterhas and director Adrian Lyne, but the real stars of the show continue to be Michael Nouri and, of course, Jennifer Beals. Michael Nouri is terrific as Nick Hurley, a divorcee who begins to pursue Alex and then genuinely falls in love with her. He brings a gravitas to the proceedings that keep the improbable story grounded. Then there is Beals, a force of nature, a true star turn that culminates in her magnificent dance audition to close out the film.
Forty years later, Beal’s performance as Alex is still paid homage in film and television. The raw star-making performance by Beals is often imitated but never duplicated, so be sure to revisitFlashdancewhen the film hits the big screen again this month.
