Dec. 08, 2021|United States|156 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Crime;Drama;Romance
Description: “West Side Story,” a 2021 American musical romantic drama, was directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner. This film marks the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name. It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler (her feature film debut), alongside Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno, who also served as an executive producer. Moreno had previously starred in the 1961 film adaptation.
The music, composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, adds depth to the film’s emotional narrative. Development began in 2014 at 20th Century Fox, with Kushner starting the screenplay in 2017. Spielberg joined the project in January 2018, and filming took place from July to September 2019 in New York and New Jersey. Justin Peck choreographed the dance sequences, and the film is dedicated to Spielberg’s father, Arnold Spielberg.
“West Side Story” premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater in New York City on November 29, 2021, and was released theatrically by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on December 10, 2021, after a COVID-19-related delay. While the film received critical acclaim and was named one of the best films of 2021, it struggled at the box office, grossing only $10.6 million in its opening weekend and $36.8 million worldwide against a $100 million production budget.
The film earned four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture – Musical/Comedy, and tied with “Belfast” for 11 Critics’ Choice Award nominations, solidifying its place as a noteworthy cinematic achievement despite its financial challenges.
Cast director: Steven Spielberg
Cast actor: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Rita Moreno, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Corey Stoll, Brian d’Arcy James, Josh Andrés Rivera, Mike Faist, Ana Isabelle
Original name: West Side Story