The Great Gatsby (2013)

Last updated:
July 12, 2025

Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013) is a visually opulent adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel. With a modern soundtrack, an A-list cast, and Luhrmann’s signature flair for theatricality, the film brings the Roaring Twenties to life in bold colors, slow-motion party scenes, and emotional depth.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Nick Carraway’s Introduction to Gatsby’s World

The story is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), a Yale graduate and aspiring writer who rents a modest house in West Egg, Long Island. His mysterious neighbor is Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), an eccentric millionaire who throws lavish parties every weekend, attended by the elite and the curious alike—but rarely by Gatsby himself. Nick is both fascinated and overwhelmed by the opulence around him.

Nick’s cousin Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) lives in the more aristocratic East Egg with her wealthy but brutish husband Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It’s revealed early on that Tom is cheating on Daisy with Myrtle Wilson (Isla Fisher), the wife of a working-class garage owner, George Wilson.

Gatsby’s Obsession with the Past

Nick eventually receives a personal invitation to one of Gatsby’s parties and finally meets the man himself. Gatsby is charming but enigmatic, speaking in peculiar formalities and clearly harboring a secret. He confides in Nick and eventually uses him to facilitate a reunion with Daisy—his long-lost love whom he hasn’t seen in five years.

It’s revealed that Gatsby and Daisy were romantically involved before he left to fight in World War I. During his absence, Daisy married Tom. Gatsby has spent years acquiring wealth and status, all to win Daisy back. He believes he can recreate the past—“Can’t repeat the past?” he asks. “Why of course you can!”

Tensions and Truths

Gatsby and Daisy rekindle their relationship, and he believes she will leave Tom for him. But during a fateful trip to New York, tensions explode. In a hotel suite, Gatsby confronts Tom, and Daisy is caught in the middle. Gatsby insists Daisy never loved Tom, but Daisy hesitates, saying she once loved them both.

On the drive back, Gatsby’s car—driven by Daisy—hits and kills Myrtle Wilson. Gatsby is willing to take the blame, showing just how deep his devotion to Daisy runs.

The Downfall

Tom tells George Wilson that Gatsby was the owner of the car that killed Myrtle. Grief-stricken and manipulated, George believes Gatsby was Myrtle’s lover and her killer. He finds Gatsby relaxing in his luxurious pool and shoots him dead before turning the gun on himself.

Nick is left devastated. He tries to arrange Gatsby’s funeral, but no one comes—not Daisy, not Gatsby’s party guests, not the city’s elite. Gatsby dies alone, abandoned by the society he tried so hard to impress.

Nick returns to the Midwest, disillusioned with the East Coast’s materialism and moral decay. He finishes his manuscript—the story we’ve just watched unfold.

Movie Ending (Spoilers)

The ending of The Great Gatsby is tragically poetic and filled with emotional weight. Gatsby, who devoted his life to an idealized love and the illusion of social acceptance, dies believing Daisy might still call. He is shot in his pool, a symbol of his self-made wealth and lifestyle, moments before that imagined call ever comes.

Daisy, meanwhile, returns to her secure, privileged life with Tom. She neither attends Gatsby’s funeral nor reaches out to Nick. In a final, disheartening twist, those who once flocked to Gatsby’s parties vanish when he needs them most. Nick, appalled by the carelessness of the wealthy, remarks, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness.”

The film ends with Nick, emotionally broken, finishing his memoir titled The Great Gatsby in a sanitarium, framing the entire narrative as a therapeutic recollection of his time with Gatsby. His final line echoes Fitzgerald’s original text: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Great Gatsby (2013) does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends definitively with Nick’s narration and final typewriter keystrokes.

Type of Movie

The Great Gatsby is a romantic drama with elements of historical fiction. It blends a period setting with a modern aesthetic and music, creating a unique cinematic experience that straddles genres.

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby
Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan
Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway
Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan
Isla Fisher as Myrtle Wilson
Jason Clarke as George Wilson
Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Craig Armstrong, but what stands out most is the eclectic, modern soundtrack curated by Baz Luhrmann and produced by Jay-Z. It features a blend of jazz, hip-hop, and pop tracks, including:

Lana Del Rey – Young and Beautiful
Jay-Z – No Church in the Wild
Florence + The Machine – Over the Love

This anachronistic soundtrack plays a major role in establishing the movie’s bold, energetic tone.

Filming Locations

Sydney, Australia served as the main filming location, with much of the movie shot at Fox Studios Australia.
Although the story is set in New York’s Long Island, Australia’s locations were transformed with CGI to resemble 1920s America.
Gatsby’s mansion and the city skyline were heavily enhanced with visual effects to reflect the glitz and extravagance of the era.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards (Oscars):

Won: Best Production Design
Won: Best Costume Design
Nominated: BAFTA and several other international awards for visual achievement

Despite its mixed critical reception, the film was widely praised for its lavish visuals and costume work.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly took several takes to nail Gatsby’s first iconic line: “I’m Gatsby.”
Carey Mulligan beat out several high-profile actresses (including Blake Lively and Scarlett Johansson) for the role of Daisy.
Tobey Maguire kept a daily journal in-character as Nick to help develop the narrator’s emotional journey.
Baz Luhrmann chose to shoot in Australia due to tax incentives and studio control, but also had to recreate nearly every aspect of 1920s New York with CGI.
The car that Gatsby drives, a yellow Duesenberg, was heavily customized to match the flamboyant style of his character.

Inspirations and References

Source Material: The film is adapted from The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The film keeps much of the original prose intact, often directly quoting from the novel, particularly through Nick’s narration.
The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a direct metaphor from the novel, representing Gatsby’s unreachable dream and the American Dream’s illusion.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several deleted scenes were released with the home video versions, including more development of Tom and Daisy’s relationship and Jordan Baker’s background.
One notable deleted scene involves Nick confronting Tom after Gatsby’s death, which provides a bit more closure.
There are no known alternate endings, as Luhrmann aimed to remain faithful to the novel’s finale.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is fairly faithful to the structure and dialogue of the novel, often using Fitzgerald’s original prose.
However, the modern soundtrack, stylized visuals, and emphasis on spectacle are Baz Luhrmann’s unique additions.
Nick’s narration is framed through a sanitarium setting, which is not present in the novel. This device gives the film a reflective tone and underscores Nick’s psychological toll.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Gatsby’s grand entrance at his party to the sound of fireworks and “Rhapsody in Blue.”
The intense hotel confrontation between Gatsby and Tom.
The tragic car crash that kills Myrtle.
Gatsby waiting by the phone in his pool, moments before his death.

Iconic Quotes

“Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!”
“They’re a rotten crowd. You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”
“I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Gatsby’s parties are filled with background characters modeled after 1920s socialites and bootleggers.
The green light, an iconic symbol from the book, appears subtly throughout the film—even in reflections and glass.
The billboard of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, with its staring eyes, serves as a symbolic motif of divine judgment.
Some of the dialogue in the sanitarium echoes Fitzgerald’s own emotional struggles and literary frustrations.

Trivia

Jay-Z was not only the executive producer of the soundtrack but also consulted on the film’s tone.
It’s the highest-grossing adaptation of The Great Gatsby to date.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire have been close friends since childhood, making their on-screen chemistry more believable.
The film used over 300 handmade costumes for party scenes alone.

Why Watch?

If you’re drawn to stories of obsession, unfulfilled dreams, and high society’s glamorous but hollow world, The Great Gatsby delivers it all with style. Baz Luhrmann transforms a literary classic into a vibrant spectacle while preserving its emotional core. It’s a feast for the senses—and a punch to the gut.

Director’s Other Movies

Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Elvis (2022)
Australia (2008)
Strictly Ballroom (1992)

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Detailed Summary