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Dancer in the Dark

Play trailer Poster for Dancer in the Dark R 2000 2h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 120 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in a factory in rural America. Her salvation is passion for music, specifically, the all-singing, all-dancing numbers found in classic Hollywood musicals. Selma harbors a sad secret: she is losing her eyesight and her son Gene stands to suffer the same fate if she can't put away enough money to secure him an operation. When a desperate neighbor falsely accuses Selma of stealing his savings, the drama of her life escalates to a tragic finale.
Dancer in the Dark

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dancer in Dark can be grim, dull, and difficult to watch, but even so, it has a powerful and moving performance from Bjork and is something quite new and visionary.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek Mar 7, 2018
Dancer is like no other movie around. Shot in bleached-out video colors in rough, hand-held style, the film is at once aggressively modern and deliberately, melodramatically, old-fashioned. Go to Full Review Peter Matthews Sight & Sound Dec 2, 2002
The situations that writer-director Lars von Trier serves up here might be embarrassingly florid, but the coupling of his manipulative skills and Björk's showy intensity results in a movie with the force of an emotional bulldozer. Go to Full Review Liam Lacey Globe and Mail Mar 19, 2002
2.5/4
At least Dancer in the Dark is bad in a complicated way. Go to Full Review Theo Estes The Spool Oct 8, 2020
Dancer in the Dark critiques the relentless optimism of mid-century movie musicals, but it also puts the American cultural narrative under the microscope. Go to Full Review Michael J. Casey Boulder Weekly Jul 25, 2020
4/5
Björk plays Selma, a Czech immigrant suffering from a degenerative eye disorder. It's a rare, hereditary disease, and it'll steal her sight but not the song in her heart. Go to Full Review Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Aug 5, 2019
4/4
A sweeping denunciation of the myth of the American dream-the idealized America put forth by escapist Hollywood fare. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 25, 2026 Dancer in the Drark = a *4* star Movie! See more Eye C @ECinc Jun 29, 2026 This movie is not getting easier to watch, on the contrary the story is so hard and unfair. But the voice of Björk is one of the most beautiful voices is the world, only her could sing numbers with such passion and pain. See more Lay L @Lawrence69 Apr 14, 2026 Must see. Great storytelling character development & real acting See more Noah H. @Noah85 Jan 26, 2026 Great music by Bjork and really cool visuals but the ending was WAAAAAAAY too depressing for me. See more Richard M. @Poncy Dec 6, 2025 Excellent movie and outstanding performance from Bjork See more Roberto d @RT16186931 Nov 9, 2025 Absolutely incredible and devastating movie. Bjork shine so bright with her shy and valorous Selma. Bjork delivers amazing songs and Spirituous act. All that you don’t expect of a musical. A Beautiful and Brutal movie. You must watch it. See more Read all reviews
Dancer in the Dark

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Lars von Trier

Director

Björk

Selma Jezkova

Catherine Deneuve

Kathy

David Morse

Bill

Cara Seymour

Linda

Peter Stormare

Jeff

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Dancer in the Dark

Dancer in the Dark (2000) Dancer in the Dark (2000) Dancer in the Dark (2000) Dancer in the Dark (2000) Dancer in the Dark (2000) Dancer in the Dark (2000) Selma (Björk). Selma (Björk). Director Lars von Trier on the set. Selma (Björk) and cast. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in a factory in rural America. Her salvation is passion for music, specifically, the all-singing, all-dancing numbers found in classic Hollywood musicals. Selma harbors a sad secret: she is losing her eyesight and her son Gene stands to suffer the same fate if she can't put away enough money to secure him an operation. When a desperate neighbor falsely accuses Selma of stealing his savings, the drama of her life escalates to a tragic finale.
Director
Lars von Trier
Producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv
Screenwriter
Lars von Trier
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Production Co
Trust Film Svenska, Pain Unlimited GmbH Filmproduktion, France 3 Cinéma, arte France Cinéma, Zentropa Entertainment France, Zentropa Entertainment, Slot Machine
Rating
R (Some Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 6, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.2M
Runtime
2h 20m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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