Chicago (2002 film)

Chicago
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Rob Marshall
Screenplay by	Bill Condon
Based on	Chicago by Bob Fosse Fred Ebb Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Produced by	Martin Richards
Starring	Renée Zellweger Catherine Zeta-Jones Richard Gere Queen Latifah John C. Reilly Lucy Liu Colm Feore
Cinematography	Dion Beebe
Edited by	Martin Walsh
Music by	John Kander Danny Elfman Steve Bartek
Production companies	Producer Circle Co. Zadan/Meron Production
Distributed by	Miramax Films
Release date	December 27, 2002 (2002-12-27)
Running time	113 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$45 million[2]
Box office	$306.8 million

Chicago is a 2002 American musical black comedy crime film based on the 1975 stage musical of the same name which in turn originated in the 1926 play of the same name. It explores the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Chicago during the Jazz Age.^[3] The film stars an ensemble cast led by Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere. Chicago centers on Roxie Hart (Zellweger) and Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones), two murderers who find themselves in jail together awaiting trial in 1920s Chicago. Roxie, a housewife, and Velma, a vaudevillian, fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Rob Marshall, who also choreographed the film, and was adapted by screenwriter Bill Condon, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Chicago received critical acclaim, with particular praise for the performances of the cast. The film went on to win six Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture, making it the first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968.^[4] For her performance, Zeta-Jones won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress. Zellweger won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, and Gere won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.