what is the movie the greatest showman about

The Greatest Showman is a musical drama inspired by the life of P. T. Barnum. It follows Barnum’s rise from a modest, working-class tailor’s son to a celebrated showman who founds the Barnum & Bailey Circus, celebrates the power of spectacle, and assembles a diverse troupe of performers who become a sensation in 19th-century America. The film blends original musical numbers with a glossy, cinematic portrayal of ambition, friendship, love, and the desire for acceptance, while also exploring themes of inclusion and the costs of fame.