Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Zendaya are all in the same movie musical? Put us down. The Greatest Showman came out a little over three years ago and was nominated for an Oscar and several Golden Globes for its great acting, songs, and dancing. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who are known for their work on Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, and the live-action version of Aladdin, wrote the music for the movie.

The Greatest Showman is about a man named P.T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman, who starts selling lottery tickets at the age of 12 and quickly learns how to get his name out there. From the ashes, he built the amazing Barnum & Bailey Circus, despite criticism and competition from places like the zoo. The movie shows how the spectacular circus climbs to the top of pop culture. It is full of swinging dance numbers and beautiful music.

The Greatest Showman is an exciting show, but how much of it is based on real events? Let’s take a deeper look.

What Is The Movie All About?

The movie takes place in the 1800s, when P.T. Barnum comes to town. Since he was a child, he had shown that he was a hard worker by doing things like selling lottery tickets at the age of 12. But as he got older, he thought about doing something different and unique that was all his own.

He was so excited that it led him to start the Barnum & Bailey show. It became the most palatable and entertaining show on Earth because even the essence and participation of his partners were so mesmerizing.

Is The Greatest Showman Based on a True Story?

Yes, really. The Greatest Showman is based on the real story of how P.T. Barnum’s show helped him become famous, but some of the details are a little bit exaggerated. Both the characters of Phillip Carlyle, played by Zac Efron, and Anne Wheeler, played by Zendaya, are fictional. Any magic in the movie is, of course, pure movie magic. Aside from that, though, The Greatest Showman tells the story as it really happened.

But in 1937, when the United States was in the middle of a terrible economic disaster, Barnum’s life changed. Later, after he worked hard, he became famous and successful. He worked out a deal to buy Scudder’s American Museum and changed its name to Barnum’s American Museum.

The Greatest Showman: A Real Story

The story of P.T. Barnum’s show is told in The Greatest Showman. It was said that the circus show became famous all over the world. The real stars of P.T. Barnum’s circus are also shown in the movie. Here are some of the characters in the movie who were based on real-life circus performers:

P.T. Barnum

In The Greatest Showman, Hugh Jackman played the part of P.T. Barnum. P.T. Barnum was not only a showman, but also a businessman and a politician. He founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus. In the movie, P.T. Barnum loses his job and starts a circus to make money for his family. Some of this is true. The real P.T. Barnum didn’t lose his job, but the state of Connecticut did ban lotteries, so he had to sell his general store.

Hugh Jackman’s character in the movie was crazy about an opera singer. But this was completely made up. There is no proof that they are dating each other. Also, Hugh Jackman’s character hired Charles Stratton, a dwarf, when he was 22 years old.

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But Charles Stratton was actually chosen when he was only 4 years old. He was also a cousin of P.T. Barnum, but not very close. Hugh Jackman’s character in The Greatest Showman started a show when he was very young. In fact, Barnum started the famous circus when he was 60 years old.

Charity (Hallett) Barnum

P.T. Barnum was married to Charity (Hallett) Barnum. In the movie, Michelle Williams played Charity. Hugh Jackman’s character in the movie is in love with an opera singer, which causes his wife to leave him for a while. However, his books show that he loved his wife very much.

Phillip Carlyle

Phillip Carlyle plays a young man who works for P.T. Barnum and then runs away to join another circus. Zac Efron played Phillip Carlyle. In the end, this character falls in love with a trapeze artist in P.T. Barnum’s show. It’s interesting to know that Zac Efron’s figure didn’t exist in real life.

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Here are some more of The Greatest Showman’s personalities. These figures were based on real circus performers who worked for P.T. Barnum:

Jenny Lind, played by Rebecca Ferguson

Lettie Lutz, played by Keala Settle

James Gordon Bennett, played by Paul Sparks