The 2021 film "West Side Story" is an American musical romantic drama directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner. It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical inspired by Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The film stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in her film debut, along with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno, who also served as an executive producer. The music was composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Set in 1957 New York City, the story revolves around two rival gangs, the Jets (white youths) and the Sharks (Puerto Rican youths), and the love that blossoms between Tony and Maria amidst their conflict. Themes include rivalry, love, cultural tension, and hope for a better future. The film had its world premiere on November 29, 2021, and was released theatrically in the U.S. on December 10, 2021. Despite critical acclaim praising performances, direction, musical numbers, and visual style, it was a box office bomb, earning $76 million worldwide against an estimated $100 million budget and needing around $300 million to break even. It won several awards including Best Supporting Actress for Ariana DeBose at the 94th Academy Awards and was named one of the top ten films of 2021 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. The film is highly regarded as one of the best musical films of all time and a standout film of the 2020s.
