Struggling Los Angeles artist Sonny Malone (Michael Beck) has reluctantly returned to painting oversized album covers when a mysterious roller-skating beauty named Kira (Olivia Newton-John) glides into his life. What Sonny doesn’t know is that Kira is one of the legendary Nine Muses of Olympus, sent to Earth to inspire him. Along the way, Sonny befriends former big-band musician Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly), and together they plan to transform an abandoned Art Deco auditorium into the ultimate music and roller-disco palace: Xanadu.

There’s just one problem: muses are supposed to inspire mortals, not fall in love with them. As Sonny and Kira’s romance grows, she risks breaking the rules of the gods, and Sonny discovers that realizing his dream may require chasing her all the way to Olympus. Fueled by an infectious soundtrack featuring Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, Xanadu is an unapologetic explosion of disco, fantasy, romance and spectacularly shiny costumes. It may have baffled audiences in 1980, but decades later its earnest optimism, outrageous style and irresistible songs have made it a queer cult favorite. So lace up your skates and remember: subtlety is wildly overrated.