Baz Luhrmann
Biography
Bazmark Anthony "Baz" Luhrmann AC (born Mark Anthony Luhrmann; 17 September 1962) is an Australian film director, producer, writer and actor whose various projects extend from film and television into opera, theatre, music and the recording industries. Some regard him as a contemporary example of an auteur for his style and deep involvement in the writing, directing, design and musical components of all his work. He is the most commercially successful Australian director, and four of his films rank among the top ten highest-grossing Australian films of all time.
On the screen, he is best known for his Red Curtain Trilogy, comprising the romantic comedy film Strictly Ballroom (1992) and the romantic tragedies William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge! (2001). Following the trilogy, projects included Australia (2008), The Great Gatsby (2013), Elvis (2022), and the Netflix television period drama The Get Down (2016). Additional projects include stage productions of Giacomo Puccini's La bohème for both Opera Australia and Broadway, and Strictly Ballroom the Musical (2014). In September 2025, his first documentary, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Luhrmann is known for his Grammy Award-nominated soundtracks for Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, as well as for his record label, House of Iona, a co-venture with RCA Records. Serving as producer on all his musical soundtracks, he also holds writing credits on many of the individual tracks. His album Something for Everybody features music from many of his films. Also, it includes his hit "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)".
Most directed genres
Recurring actors
Awards and nominations
- 2025 Companion of the Order of Australia
- 2023 Golden Globe Award for Best Director Nominated
- 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album Nominated
- 2014 AACTA Award for Best Film
- 2014 AACTA Award for Best Direction
- 2003 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical Nominated
- 2002 Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated
- 2001 European Film Award for Best Non-European Film
- 2001 European Film Award for Best Non-European Film Nominated
- 1999 Byron Kennedy Award
- 1998 BAFTA Award for Best Direction
- 1996 BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- — National Board of Review Award for Best Film
The career in numbers
- US$ 390 mi Total budget from 6 film(s) with data
- US$ 1.2 bi Total box office from 7 film(s) with data
- US$ 65 mi Average budget from 6 film(s) with data
- US$ 176 mi Average box office from 7 film(s) with data
- 7.2 Average rating from 7 film(s) with data
- 3.1× Return on investment from 6 film(s) with data
Budget and box office do not exist for every film in our records. Averages are computed over the films that carry the figure, and the count beside each one says how many.
Films directed
| Film | Year | Budget | Box office | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jehanne d'Arc
|
2028 | — | — | — |
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
|
2026 | — | US$ 23 mi | 8.2 |
Elvis
|
2022 | US$ 85 mi | US$ 289 mi | 7.4 |
Chanel N°5: The One That I Want
|
2014 | — | — | 9.0 |
The Great Gatsby
|
2013 | US$ 105 mi | US$ 351 mi | 7.3 |
Australia
|
2008 | US$ 130 mi | US$ 212 mi | 6.6 |
Moulin Rouge!
|
2001 | US$ 53 mi | US$ 179 mi | 7.5 |
Romeo + Juliet
|
1996 | US$ 15 mi | US$ 147 mi | 6.8 |
Strictly Ballroom
|
1992 | US$ 3 mi | US$ 34 mi | 6.6 |
