Baz Luhrmann movies in order

By Alex Wiggan

Australian director, Baz Luhrmann (aka Mark Anthony Luhrmann) is one of the most imaginative directors in the movie industry. Thanks to his unique eye for detail, his creative flair, and his ability to mix strong storytelling with stunning visuals, Luhrmann has come to be regarded as an auteur and the most commercially successful Aussie film director of all time.

Luhrmann’s motion pictures have ranged from musicals and dance films, to historic features and sweeping epics. He has also turned his hand to Shakespeare in order to bring one of the Bard’s most famous plays to a whole new generation, and has tackled a film about a rock ‘n’ roll icon too.

In this post I am taking a look back at Baz Luhrmann’s film portfolio with a list of all his movies. Although this list may be pretty small, as you will come to see, it includes some fantastic pictures.

Ever wondered what all of the Baz Luhrmann movies are? Well, wonder no more!

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Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Luhrmann came to prominence in the 1992, when he released his romantic comedy, Strictly Ballroom. The film – based on Luhrmann’s stage play of the same name – told the story of professional dancer, Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio), who is determined to win a huge dancing competition.

During the course of the movie he is teamed with ‘beginner’ Fran (Tara Morice), in what appears to be a mismatch. However, the pair soon find their footing and dance their way into each others’ hearts.

Thanks to its quirky characters, its humorous dialogue, and its romantic storyline, Strictly Ballroom was a significant hit for Luhrmann. Budgeted at $3 million, the film went on to make $80 million at the box-office, and cemented Luhrmann as a director to keep an eye on. (94 mins)

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Four years after the release of Strictly Ballroom, Luhrmann returned to the big screen with the romantic crime drama, Romeo + Juliet. Based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name, the film centred its story across two star-crossed lovers who fall in love despite belonging to feuding families.

Conceived as a modern-day retelling of the classic tale, the film updated the story for a contemporary audience and was another huge hit at the box-office. Leonardo DiCaprio took on the role of Romeo, while Claire Danes played Juliet. (120 mins)

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Propelled by the success of Romeo + Juliet, Luhrmann dived head first into his next project, the jukebox musical, Moulin Rouge!. The film followed the story of a penniless writer who falls in love with a courtesan, with tragic results.

Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman headlined the film, playing the roles of Christian and Satine, respectively. They were joined by a supporting cast which included Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, and John Leguizamo, while the soundtrack boasted reworked hits from Elton John, Madonna, The Police, and Nirvana, amongst others. (128 mins)

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Australia (2008)

In 2008, Luhrmann released his fourth feature film: Australia. The movie – which starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman – was set during the events of World War II, and told an epic adventure story which highlighted significant historical events from Luhrmann’s home country.

Australia opened to mixed reviews from critics, and was not as well-received as his previous movies. However, the film was (and still is) severely underrated, and stands as another fine entry in his portfolio. (165 mins)

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Five years after the release of Australia, Luhrmann’s fifth film was an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. For this picture, he called upon Leonardo DiCaprio to take on the role of millionaire James Gatz/Jay Gatsby, with Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan cast as supporting players. (142 mins)

Elvis (2022)

Luhrmann’s next movie project was Elvis – a biographical musical about the life of legendary rock ‘n’ roll singer, Elvis Presley. Austin Butler took on the title role, while Tom Hanks stepped into the shoes of Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

Elvis was another critical and commercial hit for Luhrmann, and Butler was praised for his performance as the singer. The film led to Luhrmann’s next project, which also revolved around Elvis. (159 mins)

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2025)

Image: ©Sony Music Vision/Warner Bros. Pictures/Turner Entertainment

During the production of Elvis, Luhrmann uncovered some previously unseen footage of Presley, which was stored deep in the Warner Bros. film archives. He believed this could form the basis of his next project, the documentary feature, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. (100 mins)

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List of Baz Luhrmann directed movies in order

If you have never watched a Baz Luhrmann movie, don’t worry, you don’t have many to catch up on. Luhrmann takes his time to get his movies just right, which is why there are relatively few, but they are worth checking out when you have the time.

Here is a list of all Baz Luhrmann’s movies, presented in chronological order:

Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Australia (2008)
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Elvis (2022)
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2025)

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Editor/Writer/Film Watcher

Alex Wiggan

Alex is a writer, editor, and blogger specialising in movies, TV, comics, retro toys, and general geekery. He is a championing voice in nerd content, an expert in pop culture, and a trusted movie critic who publishes new reviews on a weekly basis. After graduating with a degree in film & television studies from the University of Derby in the UK, Alex went on to study journalism in Sheffield, before acquiring NCTJ accreditation. Prior to a career in blogging, Alex was a magazine editor, a senior copywriter, a features writer, and a freelancer.

Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Baz Luhrmann movies – I hope it proves useful. For more movie-related content, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.