Cabaret’s Critical Reception
Cabaret was a critical success. One of the most famed and respected movie reviewers of all time, Roger Ebert, gave the movie a positive review in January of 1972, calling it “no ordinary musical” and crediting Bob Fosse for his unique approach to the film, focusing on the real emotions of the story, rather than falling into the typical trap of making his musical too jaunty and upbeat.
Liza Minnelli in ‘Cabaret,’ 1972. Photo by Moviestore Collection / Shutterstock
Other major critics like Roger Greenspun of The New York Times and Pauline Kael of The New Yorker gave the film glowing reviews. However, the film did receive some negative and indifferent reviews from certain people, notably Christopher Isherwood and other people upon whom the movie’s characters were based.