Moulin Rouge! turns 25, and its impact on movie musicals is still felt today.
The film burst onto screens 25 years ago, bringing with it a frenzy of glittery chaos and musical mischief. It redefined how we saw cinema and what it could be, breaking free from the conventions of traditional movie musicals. By the time the last notes of the golden age sounded in the 1960s, audiences had largely fallen out of love with watching actors singing their feelings at each other on screen. But Baz Luhrmann changed all that with his raucous, melodramatic, and pretty bonkers tale of a courtesan who falls in love with a penniless poet.
The movie opened the Cannes Film Festival in May 2001 and became a word-of-mouth sensation, earning eight Oscar nominations and building a legacy that still sees it considered one of the best films made in the past few decades, of any genre. Composer Craig Armstrong stood by Luhrmann's side for this risky gamble, and his music remains one of the most iconic and enduring aspects of the film.
Armstrong has had a long and distinguished career, clocking up a Grammy, two Baftas, an Ivor Novello, and a Golden Globe for his work on films like Love Actually, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and Plunkett & Macleane. He's collaborated with Luhrmann four times, starting with 1996's Romeo + Juliet, which will mark its 30th anniversary in November.
But it was Moulin Rouge! that redefined and repopularized the movie musical. Armstrong recalls the risk involved in making the film, but says it was a chance he was willing to take. "I remember when Baz asked me to do it, he said, 'If this does work, it'll be great. And if it doesn't work, we'll never work again!'" he says with a smile.
The film's soundtrack became a bestseller in its own right, featuring iconic tracks like David Bowie's version of Nature Boy, Elton John's Your Song, and the famous Elephant Love Medley. Armstrong has worked on numerous other films and projects, including The Great Gatsby, Love Actually, and Ray, for which he won a Grammy.
Despite his success, Armstrong remains humble and grounded, saying he doesn't see himself as a film composer, but rather as a musician. He's currently working on an orchestral song album and has collaborated with artists like Sir Elton and Elbow's Guy Garvey. One unfulfilled ambition of his is to pen a musical, and he's inspired by the likes of Baz Luhrmann and The Wizard of Oz.
Craig Armstrong appeared at the Sands International Film Festival in 2026, where he spoke about his work and his love of music. The festival will return in 2027, and Armstrong's music continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by audiences around the world.
