Watch Rent

Rent is a 2005 American musical drama movie which is based on the original Broadway production of the same name. The movie features a star-studded cast of actors including Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, and Idina Menzel. Directed by Chris Columbus, Rent portrays the lives of several young artists who are struggling to make a living and thrive in New York City's bohemian, artistic society. The movie is set in the late 1980s and follows a group of friends who are living in the East Village of Manhattan. Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp) is a struggling filmmaker who is trying to complete his documentary on his friends' lives. His best friend, Roger Davis (Adam Pascal), is a former rock-star who is battling with HIV and addiction. Roger meets Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson), a drug-addicted nightclub dancer who is also living with HIV. Meanwhile, Mark's ex-roommate, Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin), an openly gay computer expert, becomes involved with a drag queen named Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia) and the couple fall deeply in love. Angel is stricken with AIDS and Collins is heartbroken when Angel dies. Another significant character in the movie is Maureen Johnson (Idina Menzel), Mark's ex-girlfriend. Maureen is a performance artist who is dating Joanne Jefferson (Tracie Thoms), a lawyer who is also a lesbian. Maureen leaves Joanne for a woman named Alexi, who is later revealed to be a man named Mark. The characters in Rent are passionate and determined to live their lives to the fullest, despite the challenges that come their way. The movie is well-known for its themes of acceptance, tolerance, and the importance of belonging. For instance, when Mark's parents ask him to leave New York and come back home, his friends intervene and show him the importance of sticking together, even in tough times. Rent co-creator, Jonathan Larson, wrote most of the songs, which reflect the lives of the characters in the movie, and include popular hits like "Rent," "Seasons of Love," and "La Vie Boheme." Overall, Rent is a touching and thought-provoking movie that touches on issues involving love, friendship, and living life in a way that is true to oneself. The movie was a critical success and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Seasons of Love." Rent is a must-watch for fans of musicals and those who enjoy inspiring stories of love and perseverance.