Underrated classic which earned ‘its place in history’ now streaming on Netflix

An era-defining film from the 1980s has recently been added to Netflix, with fans hailing it a ‘milestone movie’ and a ‘heartwarming classic’.

Produced by blockbuster powerhouse Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Fatal Attraction filmmaker Adrian Lyne, the film stars Jennifer Beals as 18-year-old welder Alex in Pittsburgh who moonlights as a cabaret dancer but dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer.

Co-starring Michael Nouri as her boss-turned-older boyfriend Nick, the romantic drama became famous for its popular soundtrack and dance numbers, aligning it closely with more of a musical categorisation.

Flashdance went on to win an Oscar and a Golden Globe for its title song Flashdance… What A Feeling, sung by Irene Cara, which also reached number one on the Billboard charts in May 1983.

Other songs featured included Maniac, Lady, Lady, Lady, and Manhunt, with Laura Branigan’s 1982 hit song Gloria used in a pivotal scene in the film but not included on the official soundtrack.

While reviews felt the film was found distinctly wanting, with famous critic Roger Ebert even placing it on his ‘most hated’ list in 2005 alongside the likes of Staying Alive, Resident Evil and Armageddon, Flashdance was a surprise box office smash.

Eventually making $201.5million (£151.8m) on a budget of just $7m (£5.2m), it was the third highest grossing movie of the year in the US behind Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and Tootsie.

Plenty of its success was also attributed to the way Flashdance presented its songs as self-contained music videos within the film, meaning cable channel MTV was able to lift the segments of the film and run them as such – then a wildly popular and new concept – giving the movie free promotion.

While it has been dismissed by the media as ‘crudely made in just about every possible way’ and ‘one of the shallowest things you ever will see’, audiences have had the last laugh.

‘Fun 80s feelgood movie. Strong vibes, great shots,’ observed Nicholas W, while another fan wrote alongside a five-star review: ‘This is such an underrated 80s classic. The story is super good, the acting is amazing, music is catchy, and the story is very emotional and well done. I highly recommend this movie.’

‘Forty years later, good or bad doesn’t even apply. You watch this like you go see the Mona Lisa…not because you like it or not, but because of its place in history!’ argued Arby W. ‘THIS was the milestone movie where critics rightly pointed out that it was the first movie length ‘music video’ ala the brand-new cultural phenomenon, MTV.’

‘I really love this movie. It’s campy and certainly all style and no substance but I don’t care. It’s fun and iconic. I love the 80s fashion, music and dancing. If you can just roll with it, you’ll enjoy it,’ promised another fan, while many insisted that the critics ‘are wrong’.

Despite its quality being questioned at the time, Flashdance ended up with four Academy Award and four Bafta Film Award nominations – recognising its music, editing, sound and cinematography.

Its five Golden Globe nods included best picture and also best actress for Beals, both in the musical or comedy category.

Flashdance was recognised by the American Film Institute with its inclusion in the 2004 list AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs, where Flashdance… What A Feeling was ranked at 55.

In 2008, it was adapted as a stage musical, premiering at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, while both Jennifer Lopez and Spice Girl Geri Halliwell borrowed extensively from the film’s climactic audition scene for their music videos for the songs I’m Glad (2002) and It’s Raining Men (2001) respectively.

Netflix has also recently added the likes of brand-new rom-coms Office Romance (also starring Lopez) and Voicemails for Isabelle to its platform – but if you’re in the mood for something ‘gleefully gruesome’ instead then Renée Zellweger horror film Case 39 is also streaming.

Flashdance is streaming now on Netflix in the UK.