A summer resort, a dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks and a lift that every fan has tried at least once - Dirty Dancing has been charming audiences since 1987. Made on a modest budget, it became one of the biggest surprise hits of the decade, and its soundtrack is one of the best-selling of all time.
Fans have also been following news of a long-planned sequel at Lionsgate, with Jennifer Grey set to return as Baby. Here is our fan guide to the film. Browse more classics in our movies collection.
Dirty Dancing Fact File
| Released | 21 August 1987 (US); premiered at Cannes in May 1987 |
|---|---|
| Director | Emile Ardolino |
| Writer | Eleanor Bergstein |
| Producer | Linda Gottlieb |
| Studio | Vestron Pictures |
| Main cast | Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes |
| Setting | Kellerman's resort in the Catskills, summer 1963 |
| Filmed in | Lake Lure, North Carolina and Mountain Lake, Virginia |
| Budget | Around $5 million |
| Box office | Around $214 million worldwide |
Cast and Characters
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Patrick Swayze | Johnny Castle |
| Jennifer Grey | Frances "Baby" Houseman |
| Jerry Orbach | Dr. Jake Houseman |
| Cynthia Rhodes | Penny Johnson |
The table lists the main cast. Writer Eleanor Bergstein based much of the story on her own childhood summers.
The Story
In the summer of 1963, teenager Frances "Baby" Houseman holidays with her family at Kellerman's, a resort in New York's Catskill Mountains. She is drawn into the world of the resort's dance staff and their after-hours parties, and ends up partnering dance instructor Johnny Castle for a big performance.
What follows is a story about growing up, family and standing up for what is right, set to an irresistible soundtrack of 1960s classics and 1980s hits.
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Making the Film
Eleanor Bergstein drew on her own memories of family holidays in the Catskills. The small independent studio Vestron Pictures backed the project, with Emile Ardolino, a documentary maker with a dance background, in the director's chair.
Rather than New York, filming took place at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia, which stood in for Kellerman's, and in Lake Lure, North Carolina, where scenes including the famous lake lift were shot. Patrick Swayze, a trained dancer, also co-wrote and sang "She's Like the Wind" for the soundtrack.
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The Soundtrack Phenomenon
The soundtrack spent 18 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 32 million copies worldwide. Its showstopper, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, as well as a Grammy.
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Legacy
The film went on to earn more than $200 million worldwide and inspired a stage show, Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, which opened in Australia in 2004 before reaching London's West End. A prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, followed in 2004, and an ABC television remake aired in 2017. A sequel with Jennifer Grey returning has been in development at Lionsgate since 2020.
Awards
Academy Awards
- Best Original Song: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
Golden Globes
- Best Original Song: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
Grammy Awards
- Grammy win for "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
Soundtrack
- 18 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200
- More than 32 million copies sold worldwide
Behind the Scenes
Patrick Swayze trained in ballet and modern dance before acting, which allowed him to perform the demanding routines himself. Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia still welcomes fans who want to see where the film was made.
FAQs
When did Dirty Dancing come out?
Dirty Dancing premiered at Cannes in May 1987 and was released in US cinemas on 21 August 1987.
Where was Dirty Dancing filmed?
It was filmed in Lake Lure, North Carolina, and at Mountain Lake in Virginia, standing in for the Catskills.
Who played Johnny and Baby in Dirty Dancing?
Patrick Swayze played Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey played Frances "Baby" Houseman.
What year is Dirty Dancing set in?
The film is set in the summer of 1963.
Did Dirty Dancing win an Oscar?
Yes. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Is there a Dirty Dancing sequel?
A sequel with Jennifer Grey returning as Baby has been in development at Lionsgate since 2020.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Back to the Future (1985) Film Story and Jaws (1975) Film Story.
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