Baz Luhrmann entered Hollywood in the early ’90s with the cult classic hit, Strictly Ballroom. He has been a present and consistent voice ever since, raking in two BAFTA’s, one Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. His movies have, generally, all been well-received. A few have even spun cult followings.
Baz grew up in Australia to parents Barbara Carmel and Leonard Luhrmann. His mother, Barbara, was a ballroom dance teacher. Growing up around this scene would influence and ignite Baz’s creativity for years to come, specifically his first film. Despite how long Baz Luhrmann has been around the Hollywood scene, one might be surprised to find out he’s only completed five motion pictures since his start in the industry more than 30 years ago. Since then, he has been one of the most consistent and creative voices in the industry, and a true auteur. His highly anticipated Elvis biopic will be his sixth film, and will be coming out later this year.
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5 Australia (2008)

Australia is Baz’s weakest film, but it’s still a mostly fun ride. It may have been a technical misfire from start to end, but it isn’t without that classic Baz-style. The cinematography and framing are immaculate, and that quick, chaotic editing style is present as well. Australia is the last one on this list due to the story and pacing, which, while it may be Baz’s most ambitious work to date, also remains his most shallow.
The story is meant to be a grand epic about the country that Baz Luhrmann grew up in. Nicole Kidman stars as a woman who inherits a ranch in Australia. She hires Drover (Hugh Jackman) to accompany her there. It was met with mixed reviews by critics, but it did turn a profit at the box office. Baz brings a lot of fun and style to his films. Australia sadly lacks the former – and yet it is his longest film by more than 20 minutes. A long movie can still be great – but if it’s not, it can become a chore quickly. Australia is not without merit, but it doesn’t represent Baz at his best.
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4 The Great Gatsby

Based on the famous novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby seemed almost destined for Baz Luhrmann. It has everything that fits within the Baz spectrum: melodrama, glamour, big set pieces, and parties. It only made sense that Baz would eventually work his way towards this story.
It mostly works. If you’re a Baz fan, then this is another great entry in his filmography. If you were a fan of the book, however, you may end up feeling a little let down. The cast is great, featuring the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton. Everyone gives a good performance, but it’s really Leonardo DiCaprio who steals the show. The film itself is flawed and messy, but it’s a great time if you’re already a fan of the Baz aesthetic. The only thing keeping this film so low on the list, is the fact that every film above it is truly great. This was close, but didn’t quite get there.

3 Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is an incredible play that, like most of his works, has stood the test of time. However, for a lot of people, the play is simply something they’re forced to read for a class that they didn’t even like during high school. Its staying power for a lot of people is only there thanks to this adaptation. Like some of The Great Gatsby’s critics, there were some people that met it with hesitancy as it takes the original play and sets it in 1990s southern California. It keeps the original text, but the locations and characters were drawn from California in that era. Instead of swords and horses, they’re carrying pistols and driving convertibles.
Baz Luhrmann may not have been the first name that came to mind when adapting Shakespeare, but he was able to do it in a fun and exciting way that opened that world up to many people that might have never given it a second thought. It’s bombastic and silly. Glamorous and frenetic. It’s a perfect mixture of new and old, and may be Baz’s most stylish film to date. It easily features the best costume work of any of his films.
Many consider this film to be a star-turning moment for Leonardo DiCaprio, who hasn’t stepped out of the public eye since then. The cast also featured Claire Danes and John Leguizamo; both playing iconic and great parts. The film was met very favorably by critics, and became an instant cult classic for some. It would go on to get nominated for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration at the Academy Awards that year. Many consider it to be one of the best Shakespeare adaptations.

2 Moulin Rouge (2001)

Moulin Rouge, in the greater public eye, is probably considered to be Baz’s best work. It won two Oscars, and was nominated for seven total, including a nomination for Best Picture in a year when only 5 other films were nominated. It would go on to lose to A Beautiful Mind.
Like many of Baz’s other films, the soundtrack is a huge part of the core identity. It works as a full-on musical, but it draws all of its songs from modern and retro pop hits. It makes for an extremely unique viewing experience. The whole film is just dripping with character. Every set piece and costume is given so much care and attention. Even at a much bigger budget than his first project, Baz still finds a way to make it a deeply personal movie. There’s no one in the world that could have made this movie except Baz Luhrmann.
It features an incredible leading performance from Ewan McGregor, as well as great performances from the rest of the ensemble. In referring to the fantastic chemistry between leads, Baz had this to say with EW, “A young Heath Ledger was up for the role and I thought maybe the character could be very young…and it turned out they did really work together. And it was quite beautiful.”

1 Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Strictly Ballroom was an adaptation of a play that Baz Luhrmann wrote himself, and is him at his most unfiltered and uncompromising. It’s an homage to his childhood growing up with his ballroom dance teacher mother. It’s a purely Australian film that knows exactly what it’s doing, and is unabashed with its honesty and drive.
At it’s core – this film is simply about a group of ballroom dancers, living in Australia during the 1990s that are obsessed with winning the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dancing Championship. Scott (Paul Mercurio) struggles to find a balance between the traditionalist dance styles that normally win the competition, and how his heart tells him to dance. It’s a simple, but extremely effective story thanks to the performances by the cast, and Baz’s unique directorial style.
It’s also just a really fun time. Which is, sometimes, all you need when you watch a movie. A little heart, a little fun, and all brought together by people that are passionate about the project. Strictly Ballroom is number one on this list because it’s a glimpse into an unfiltered artistic project that perfectly represents everything that Baz would create throughout his entire career.

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