Burlesque is a 2010 American backstage musical film written and directed by Steven Antin. It stars Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kristen Bell, Cam Gigandet, Eric Dane, Stanley Tucci, Julianne Hough, Alan Cumming, and Peter Gallagher, and features cameos from Dianna Agron and James Brolin.

The film tells the story of Ali (Aguilera), an aspiring singer who leaves her small hometown for Los Angeles, where she becomes a dancer at a struggling burlesque lounge owned by Tess (Cher). After a performance is sabotaged by her rival, Nikki (Bell), Ali sings the song herself, impressing Tess and leading to her becoming the main attraction of the lounge.

Burlesque marks Aguilera's first leading role, as well as Cher's first musical performance on screen since 1967's Good Times. Filming for Burlesque took place in California from November 2009 to March 2010. It was released in the United States on November 24, 2010, by Screen Gems. Its jazz-inspired soundtrack was released ahead of the film's release on November 19, 2010, by RCA Records and Screen Gems. Aguilera and Cher both contributed to the album.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cast's performance and the soundtrack but criticized the writing. Burlesque did modestly at the box office, grossing $91 million worldwide and earning an additional $42 million in domestic video sales. The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 68th Golden Globe Awards, where Cher's performance of "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", written by Diane Warren, won for Best Original Song. The soundtrack was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media in the 54th Grammy Awards. A stage musical adaptation of the film premiered in June 2024.

Plot

Alice "Ali" Marilyn Rose is a young waitress in Iowa who dreams of becoming a professional dancer ever since losing her mother a few weeks after her seventh birthday. After her selfish boss refuses to pay her salary, she takes what he owes her from the register and moves to LA, where she attends many auditions with little success.

One night, Ali comes across a burlesque club where its owner Tess Scali and an entourage of dancers perform an opening number. She also meets songwriter-bartender Jack Miller at the club's bar. He refers Ali to Tess for an audition, but she tells her to return another time and her assistant Sean ushers her out. Upon seeing their waitress shortage, Ali picks up a tray and begins serving. As a result, she manages to get a job waiting tables at the club.

When Georgia, one of the lead dancers, becomes pregnant, auditions are held in search of her replacement. Ali performs a difficult dance routine and eventually persuades Tess to hire her. This infuriates Nikki, a lead performer struggling with alcoholism.

One night after coming home from work, Ali realizes that her apartment at the Hotel Roselyn has been broken into. She runs to the toilet where she hid her money in the tank and discovers it has been stolen. She goes to Jack's apartment where he offers gives her the phone and gives her permission to call whomever she needs to for help, but she doesn't have anyone. He then allows Ali to stay the night in his apartment. The next morning, while it's pouring outside, she realizes that Jack was actually straight when she sees a photo of his fiance in his apartment. She goes to leave his apartment and it's pouring rain outside. He goes out to get her, carries her in, and said that because she doesn't have a place to stay, that she can stay there. She ends up staying at his apartment and helps chip in for her share, but only if he gives her the bedroom, making him sleep on the couch.

Ali replaces Nikki one night to host a performance after the latter is too intoxicated to perform. In a fit of rage, Nikki tries to sabotage it by turning off the music that the dancers usually lip sync to until Ali impresses everyone with her singing skills. Her performance is an instant success, and Tess casts her in an upcoming show. Despite the club's growing popularity, Tess struggles with a bank loan and a lien on her ownership rights of the building.

One night after the club closes, Tess is walking to her car, increasingly worried about her finances when a drunken Nikki shows up, accusing her of betraying their long friendship. In defense of Ali, Tess questions Nikki's lack of gratitude for the help she has received during her binges. In retaliation, the furious dancer quits after revealing to have slept with Tess' ex-husband Vince after their honeymoon. Tess leaves, angrily smashing a window of Nikki's convertible with a crowbar.

Meanwhile, Ali and Jack become romantically attracted. However, he is already engaged to Natalie, an actress working in NYC. Sean encourages Jack to end the engagement, as Ali is a better person than his shallow fiancée. Wealthy clubgoer Marcus Gerber becomes infatuated with Ali, who begins spending time with him, making Jack jealous.

The group later attends Georgia's lavish wedding to Damon, funded by his wealthy father who is delighted he is settling down and with the impending arrival of his grandchild. Jack appears to call off his engagement and gets drunk. That night, he and Ali sleep together.

In the morning, Natalie unexpectedly returns from New York and finds them in bed together. She angrily insists she and Jack never broke up, although he denies this yet asks Ali to leave. Feeling heartbroken and betrayed, Ali runs to Sean for support and learns that he is gay. Marcus calls her, and Sean encourages her to go out with him.

Seeing a model of Marcus' plans to build a skyscraper on the club's property at Marcus' house, Ali realizes that he is not merely interested in the "air rights" above it, as he claims to be. He wants to tear the club down and build a new apartment complex. She tells Tess about his plan, and they pay a visit to the developer of a new million-dollar condo building across the street.

Fearing the obstruction of his prospective purchasers' view, the developer buys the air rights to the club's property from Tess. She then uses the money to buy out Vince's share, pay off the bank, and redecorate the club in her own vision. Later, a sobered Nikki admits that she lied about sleeping with Vince out of anger. They reconcile, and Tess rehires her.

Ali rekindles her relationship with Jack after he tells her that he broke up with Natalie because she cared more about her job than their relationship. Nikki finally accepts Ali, who then performs "Show Me How You Burlesque", a song written by Jack, with all of the dancers on stage, delighting the crowd.

Cast

Cher as Tess Scali Christina Aguilera as Alice Marilyn "Ali" Rose Eric Dane as Marcus Gerber Cam Gigandet as John "Jack" Miller Julianne Hough as Georgia Alan Cumming as Alexis Peter Gallagher as Vincent "Vince" Scali Kristen Bell as Nikki Stanley Tucci as Sean Dianna Agron as Natalie Glynn Turman as Harold Saint David Walton as Mark the DJ Terrence Jenkins as Dave Chelsea Traille as Coco Tanee McCall as Scarlett Tyne Stecklein as Jesse Paula Van Oppen as Anna Michael Landes as Greg Blair Redford as James / Bumper Band Member James Brolin as Mr. Anderson Stephen Lee as Dwight

Production Development Steven Antin's sister Robin was a member and creator of the girl band the Pussycat Dolls. Circa 2002, the group performed at the Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, with many artists—among them Christina Aguilera—and Steven Antin directed some of these shows. The first outline of the screenplay was written by Antin and Clint Culpepper, the Screen Gems' president. It was about "a girl escaping her life", showing up in a neo-burlesque club and launching a career as a performer.

Cher accepted the supporting role of Tess Scali because she wanted to sing in a movie and thought this would be her last opportunity to do so. While on the film set, she went on to praise co-star Christina Aguilera's acting abilities, revealing to Entertainment Tonight: "She was keeping up, and she was hot. I mean, it was, like, she was really up there. Her game is good." Canadian actor Shawn Roberts, who was previously cast in another Screen Gems production Resident Evil: Afterlife, was briefly considered for the role of Jack Miller. Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Biel auditioned for the role of Nikki.

Filming Burlesque started shooting on November 9, 2009 and ended on March 3, 2010. Although director Steven Antin wrote the original screenplay, Diablo Cody (Juno) revised it uncredited. It was later further revised by Susannah Grant, also uncredited. Burlesque is Screen Gems' most expensive film, with the exception of the Resident Evil films, with costs of $55 million.

Filming locations included the exterior and adjacent parking as the "Burlesque Lounge" of the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, as well as the interior of the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana.

Music

Musical numbers

"Something's Got a Hold on Me" – Ali and the Burlesque Lounge Troupe (performed by Christina Aguilera) "My Drag" – The Burlesque Lounge Troupe (a song by Deva Dragon & Squirrel Nut Zippers) "Welcome to Burlesque Tango" – The Band "Welcome to Burlesque" – Tess and the Burlesque Lounge Troupe (performed by Cher) "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (Swing Cats Remix)" –written by Leo Robin and Nikki, Georgia and the Burlesque Lounge Troupe (a song by Leo Robin and Jules Styne for the musical Gentleman Prefer Blondes]) "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" – Ali (outro by Christina Aguilera) "Long John Blues" – Nikki (performed by Megan Mullally) "Nasty Naughty Boy" – Ali (a song by Christina Aguilera/instrumental version) "Wagon Wheel Watusi" – Ali (a song by Elmer Bernstein) "Ray of Light" – The Burlesque Lounge Troupe (a song by Madonna) "That's Life" – Alexis (performed by Alan Cumming; DVD/Blu-ray special feature) "Tough Lover" – The Burlesque Lounge Troupe (a song by Etta James) "Tough Lover" – Ali (performed by Christina Aguilera) "But I Am a Good Girl" – Ali (performed by Christina Aguilera) "A Guy That Takes His Time" – Ali (performed by Christina Aguilera, originally by Mae West) "Express" – Ali and the Burlesque Lounge Troupe (performed by Christina Aguilera) "Jungle Berlin (Instrumental)" – Alexis and The Contortionists "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" – Tess (performed by Cher) "Bound to You" – Ali (performed by Christina Aguilera) "Show Me How You Burlesque" – Ali and the Burlesque Lounge Troupe (performed by Christina Aguilera)

Soundtrack

The soundtrack album features ten tracks: eight performed by Aguilera including "Express"; and two performed by Cher which are her first original recordings in 7 years. The soundtrack includes a mix of original and cover songs. Both the ballads from the soundtrack – "Bound to You" performed by Aguilera and "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" performed by Cher – were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Cher's "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", which was written by Diane Warren, won the award. In the United States, the soundtrack was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies in October 2011.

Release Marketing The theatrical trailer was attached to screenings of Step Up 3D and Easy A. The first TV spot premiered during the season 2 premiere of Fox's Glee on September 21, 2010. A third TV spot also aired the following day during Dancing with the Stars, later followed by another during MTV's Jersey Shore. Several teasers have been released for promotional purposes including the Etta James's "Something's Got a Hold on Me". This was then followed by the track "But I Am a Good Girl" which was released in November 2010.