History Film / Flashdance

* WhatsAnXLikeYouDoingInAYLikeThis: Nick poses the question to his Exotic Dancer [[AccidentalInnuendo cum]] Welder.

The film was a '''monster''' success (only Creator/RogerEbert dared to slam it) and a StarMakingRole for Beals. This is partly attributed to the then-newfangled {{Creator/MTV}}, which played excerpts from the film's dance numbers on a continuous loop. In effect, ''Flashdance'' became the standard for music videos produced in conjunction with big-budget movies.

* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Jeanie]]. Alex barely manages to bring her back to sanity.

* CoolCar: Nick's black Porsche.

* EpilepsyFlashingLights: Present during the infamous "Imagination" dance number, hence the title.

* {{Fanservice}}: LOTS of it, since the main character is a pretty and very fit girl who trains a lot to be a dancer.

* FlowersOfRomance: concludes with Nick Hurley presenting Alex Owens with one dozen red roses after she finds enough courage to audition at the Pittsburgh Repertoire Company. Alex returns one rose to Nick as thanks for believing in her talent even when she was consumed with self-doubt.

* HeroicBSOD: Jeanie, when [[spoiler: she horribly loses the skating auditions]]. Alex herself, [[spoiler: when Hannah dies]].

** This goes the other way too: as the review in Ballet Monthly points out, Alex would already be too old to start a ballet career at age 18.
* LeotardOfPower: A famous, non-superhero example, especially in the SignatureScene.

* RichBitch: Nick's ex-wife.

* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler: Jeanie]]. Alex barely manages to bring her back to sanity.

* DancingIsSeriousBusiness: Then again, Alex's goal IS to go pro.

** Reportedly, according to screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, Jennifer Beals was cast by then Paramount president and COO Michael Eisner who showed pictures of the three finalists for the part -- Beals, Leslie Wing, and Creator/DemiMoore -- to "two hundred of the most macho men on the [Paramount] lot, Teamsters and gaffers and grips ..." and asking them "'I want to know which of these three young women you’d most want to f---'." However, other sources claim that Eisner benignly instead asked women secretaries at the studio to select their favorite after viewing screen tests.
** FanDisservice: [[spoiler: Jeanie]] dancing in the buff.

* {{Love Interest|s}}: Nick, [[spoiler: who also happens to be Alex's boss]].

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Alex and Jeanie.

* WorkOutFanservice: One scene has Alex, Tina, Jeanie, and Heels wearing spandex and working out heavily at the gym.
* WrenchWench: Alex.

* SweaterGirl: The famous cover photo.

* ButNotTooBlack: Beals to the point where many white viewers didn't know.

* FriendsRentControl: As the ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' Magazine's satire ''Flashdunce'': how can Alex live by herself in an expensive loft (even if it's a converted warehouse)? The answer? Pittsburgh (where the film is set) holds the record for one of the lowest costs of living in the United States, a title the city's held for several decades. [[JustifiedTrope Most apartments and lofts that would cost thousands of dollars a month in larger cities are usually leased at a fraction of that cost.]]

* BasedOnATrueStory: The film is based on the biography of Maureen Marder. She was paid $2,300 for the right to make a movie about her life story, that ended up grossing over $200 million. Then, 20 years later, Marder [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashdance#Legal_action_by_Maureen_Marder filed a lawsuit]] when Jennifer Lopez mimicked the film frame for frame in a music video and it was discovered that she did not secure licensing rights from Paramount Studios to use the story. As Marder had signed only non-exclusive rights with Paramount, it seemed that Lopez had infringed on Marder's rights to her own life-story as well as infringing on Paramount's rights to the story in the film. The lawsuit was between Lopez, Sony, and Paramount to establish copyrights in the film. The wealthy studios and star won the case against a small, poor plaintiff of course, despite stellar representation by Marder's LA law firm.

The film stars Jennifer Beals as Alexandra "Alex" Owens who, in quite possibly the [[RuleOfSexy greatest film premise ever]], works as a factory welder by day and an exotic dancer by night. Her aspiration, however, is to enroll in a prestigious dance conservatory. Dreams are chased, [[SignatureScene pull chains are yanked]], and tears (and sweat) are shed.

The soundtrack sold over 20 million copies and produced two hit singles, Irene [=Cara=]'s "Flashdance...What a Feeling" and Michael [=Sembello=]'s "Maniac", both of which have remained in the pop culture consciousness.

* ImprobableAge: Many reviewers found it highly implausible that an 18-year old girl would be allowed to work full-time as a welder. This was another thing pointed out by ''MAD''!

* NiceHat: Richie's porkpie hat.