8 Times Baz Luhrmann Made Our World A Better Place

Visionary film director Baz Luhrmann is turning his hand to telly - and we feel a song coming on - his brand new series about 1970s New York (New York!), called The Get Down, will hit Netflix in 2016. Woop!

Can't wait that long? Here's a little reminder of how his creative genius has lit up our screens with beauty over the years - and what we'd most like to thank him for...

The film: Romeo and Juliet, 1996

Thanks to Baz for... putting a 21-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio in a dapper black suit that contrasted delightfully with his blonde surfer boy hair, and which contrasted even more delightfully with the fag in his hand. Oh Romeo, Romeo! The boy had issues. And we totally still would.

The film: The Great Gatsby, 2013

Thanks to Baz for... reminding us why the 1920s is so sartorially timeless (with a little help from the gorgeous Carey Mulligan). The head pieces, the feathers, the pearls, the gems... Saturday night inspo. All. Year. Round.

The film: Strictly Ballroom, 1992

Thanks to Baz for... Giving us a deep appreciation of OTT ballgowns (is that where our secret Strictly obsession really stems from?) And also being an all around inspiration. Aged just 29 when the movie was released, it was based on his own dancing experiences and he initially struggled to get a backer with one film distributor telling him it was the worst thing they'd ever seen. Ouch.

The film: Moulin Rouge, 2001

Thanks to Baz for... Some serious bling. The Stefano Canturi necklace worn by Nicole Kidman was made of real diamonds and platinum and was the most expensive piece of jewellery ever specifically made for a film. It was worth an estimated US $1 million.

The film: Romeo & Juliet, 1997

Thanks to Baz for... Dressing Leo in silver armour and then dunking him in water (for obvious reasons, er, HOT) and giving us hope that one day we'd fall in love. At first sight. Across a fish tank.

The film: The Great Gatsby, 2013

Thanks to Baz for... Leo (not that this is DiCaprio biased or anything) in a white suit next to a pile of macaroons. What's. Not. To. Love.

Ditto: hot boys in vintage cars

The film: Moulin Rouge, 2001

Thanks to Baz for... Lady Marmalade and the drunken karaoke sessions that have since ensued. Oh and making 'voulez vous coucher avec moi' part of our vocab. What a come on!