Year: 2013
Runtime: 143 min
Language: English
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Budget: $105M
In 1922 New York, Nick Carraway leaves the Midwest for the excitement of city life. He becomes neighbor to the mysterious Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man known for his extravagant parties. Nick is drawn into Gatsby’s world, discovering a poignant story of ambition, romance, and the illusions of the American Dream. As Nick learns more about Gatsby's past and his relentless pursuit of a lost love, he witnesses the tragic consequences of chasing an unattainable ideal.
Get a spoiler-free look at The Great Gatsby (2013) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the summer of 1922, a restless Midwestern graduate arrives in New York, trading his quiet hometown for the glittering promise of the city’s bright lights. He settles in the modest enclave of West Egg, a place where freshly minted fortunes sit beside modest homes, and the air hums with the restless energy of jazz, speakeasies, and endless possibility. The world he steps into is a delicate balance of opulence and yearning, a landscape where every party seems to whisper of deeper ambitions and forgotten dreams.
There, he meets the enigmatic neighbor whose name haunts the gossip of every gathering. Jay Gatsby is a figure shrouded in mystery, known for his lavish soirées that draw the city’s elite and hopeful alike. Though his wealth is on display, his true motives remain an alluring secret, hinted at in the wistful glances he casts toward a distant past. Alongside him, the charismatic Daisy Buchanan, a woman of effortless charm, and her charismatic yet guarded husband Tom Buchanan navigate their own tangled social currents, while the cool, observant Jordan Baker offers a sharp, modern perspective on the world’s fickle pursuits.
Through the narrator’s keen, slightly disillusioned eyes, the film paints a portrait of an era intoxicated by the idea of reinventing oneself. The tone drifts between the dazzling glow of midnight parties and the quiet melancholy that follows each sunrise, suggesting that beneath the glitter lies an undercurrent of longing for something unattainable. As the newcomer becomes drawn deeper into this glittering maze, he discovers that the pursuit of the American Dream can be both intoxicating and hollow, setting the stage for a story that is as much about the allure of hope as it is about the shadows it casts.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 06:30
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where a beautiful ideal leads to a devastating, inevitable downfall.If you were captivated by the tragic pursuit of an unattainable dream in The Great Gatsby, explore these similar movies. This collection features stories of obsessive love, the hollowness of wealth, and characters whose grand illusions lead to heartbreaking consequences, perfect for fans of heavy, melancholic dramas.
These stories typically follow a protagonist who constructs their entire life around attaining a single, idealized goal—often a person from their past or a symbol of success. The plot builds steadily as they get closer to this dream, only to have it crumble, revealing it was an illusion all along, resulting in profound disillusionment or tragedy.
Movies in this thread share a core narrative of a futile quest for an ideal, a melancholic tone, and a heavy emotional weight. They connect through themes of memory, obsession, and the stark contrast between dazzling appearances and inner desolation, creating a cohesive experience of tragic beauty.
Lavish period pieces where wealth and excess mask spiritual emptiness and corruption.Fans of the lavish 1920s setting and critique of the wealthy elite in The Great Gatsby will love these movies. Discover similar films set in gilded ages where fabulous parties and immense wealth hide profound loneliness, adultery, and a tragic sense of disillusionment with the world.
The narrative often uses an outsider's perspective to enter a world of extreme wealth and privilege. The story methodically peels back the layers of glamour to expose the corruption, infidelity, and spiritual bankruptcy of the characters, culminating in a event that shatters the illusion for everyone involved.
These films are grouped by their shared setting of historical opulence, a critical lens on class and corruption, and a pervasive mood of nostalgia mixed with anxiety. They offer a visually rich but emotionally heavy exploration of how external splendor conceals internal ruin.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Great Gatsby in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Great Gatsby is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of The Great Gatsby, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Great Gatsby with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Great Gatsby. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Great Gatsby: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Great Gatsby that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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