By the Numbers is a statistical look at some of entertainment’s biggest figures, franchises, and more.
The official release of Elvis is upon us, and so is the return of Baz Luhrmann. The Australian filmmaker is best known for his vertiginous camera work and lavish productions, which fans can expect from his upcoming film. Luhrmann’s latest work at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, but it is now ready to start its theatrical run.
A Statistical Look at Baz Luhrmann
6: Movies directed by Baz Luhrmann. Over thirty years, the Australian artist built a solid reputation as a visionary director thanks to his jazziness and multicolored style. Luhrmann’s filmography includes Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Australia (2008), The Great Gatsby (2013), and Elvis (2022).
59: The age of Luhrmann. The highly regarded director was born Mark Anthony Luhrmann to a ballroom dance teacher and a movie theatre manager in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 17, 1962. He made his debut behind the camera when he was 30, directing Strictly Ballroom. The story follows the life of Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio), the son of a family of ballroom dancers.
165: Minutes of Australia, Luhrmann’s longest film. The epic drama story takes place in the first years of World War II and covers some dramatic events for Australia, such as the bombing of Darwin. The movie stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman as Lady Sarah Ashley and a nameless drover, respectively. The cast includes David Wenham, Bryan Brown, and Jack Thompson, among others.
RELATED: Elvis Featurette Highlights Austin Butler’s 3-Year Preparation for the Role
8: Oscar nominations for Moulin Rouge! Christian (Ewan McGregor) is a young writer who madly falls in love with Satine (Kidman), even if she’s a courtesan working at Paris’ Moulin Rouge. Many critics still consider the story one of the most hauntingly beautiful love stories. The movie piled up nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Cinematography, among others, but ultimately it won just the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
2: The times Luhrmann collaborated with Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio. Luhrmann and DiCaprio first teamed up for Romeo + Juliet, where DiCaprio portrayed the stunningly handsome son of Lord Montague, Romeo. The pair then worked again on 2013’s The Great Gatsby, with DiCaprio starring as the titular character. Kidman is another actress with more than one credit in Luhrmann’s movies, appearing in both Moulin Rouge! and Australia.
RELATED: Elvis Trailer Teases the King of Rock’s Unstoppable Nature
353: U.S. million dollars grossed by The Great Gatsby. In 2013, the Australian director adapted F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel, featuring an ensemble cast with DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton. The movie polarized critics but became Luhrmann’s most significant commercial success. The Great Gatsby won the Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
3: The movies in the Red Curtain Trilogy, which is composed of Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge! Not only are the three installments motif-related since they are love stories, but the same visual style also connects them. However, they do not share any characters. Overall, the three movies grossed over $500 million at the box office. Critics praised all the Red Curtain Trilogy films, but Strictly Ballroom has the highest rating on Rotten Tomatoes, sitting at 89% approval based on 46 reviews.
