I have a visceral reaction when someone brings up The Greatest Showman . The 2017 movie musical starring Hugh Jackman, Zendaya and Zac Efron is almost universally loved, but in me it fires up a deep, fiery – perhaps irrational – hatred. I find it saccharine, emotionally manipulative, and at times outright offensive.
It’s soulless, overly flashy while still boring, painfully earnest and (except Zendaya) is stuffed with hammy, cringey performances. Its success is a complete mystery to me. It’s not a popular opinion.
I’m often met with incredulity and accusations of being a miserable spoilsport. But sometimes someone will meet my eye with a knowing look, “I hate it too,” they whisper. And yet here we are, seven years on from its release (which earned an eyewatering $435m – around £335m – at the box office), still touting it as worthy of merit.
As well as the original soundtrack there’s a “reimagined” album, which features unbearable covers of the songs by the world’s blandest pop stars: Anne-Marie, Kelly Clarkson , Jess Glynne, Pink, James Arthur and the like. Singalong versions still regularly crop up in cinemas up and down the country and in 2019, for some reason unbeknownst to me, Jackman performed the opening and closing track, “The Greatest Show”, at the Brit Awards. Now, A new live “experience” based on the film, Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular , has been announced.
Set in a 700-seater big top, the show will feature al.