Rewrite the Stars

"Rewrite the Stars" is a song performed by Zac Efron and Zendaya for the film The Greatest Showman (2017). It was released on November 17, 2017, by Atlantic Records as a promotional single from the soundtrack.^[1][2][3] In Australia, "Rewrite the Stars" was released to radio on July 20, 2018.^[4][5] The song sees Efron's character, Phillip, serenading Zendaya's character, Anne, trying to convince her that they're meant to be together, despite their different races.^[6]

"Rewrite the Stars"
Single by Zac Efron and Zendaya
from the album The Greatest Showman (soundtrack)
Released	July 20, 2018 (2018-07-20)
Length	3:37
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Pasek and Paul
Producer(s)	Greg Wells Joseph Trapanese Justin Paul Alex Lacamoire
Zac Efron singles chronology
"Right Here, Right Now" (2008) "Rewrite the Stars" (2018)
Zendaya singles chronology
"Something New" (2016) "Rewrite the Stars" (2018) "All for Us" (2019)
Audio
"Rewrite the Stars" on YouTube

The song is expected to appear in the upcoming 2026 stage musical adaptation of the film.

Composition

According to sheet music published at Sheetmusicdirect.com, "Rewrite the Stars" is a moderately fast tempo of 125 beats per minute. Written in common time, the song is in the key of B♭ major. Throughout the track, Efron's vocal range spans from the low note of E♭₃ to the high note of B♭₄, and Zendaya's vocal range spans from the low note of E♭₃ to the high note of E♭₅.^[7] "Rewrite the Stars" had many melodic inspirations, most notably being "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry, produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut.

Reception

Zac Efron and Zendaya in an interview discussing "Rewrite the Stars" and The Greatest Showman.

Sam Damshenas from GayTimes called the song a "stunning duet" with perfectly fitting romance,^[6] and Michael Ordoña from the Los Angeles Times called the song "a standout duet" and "a signature karaoke duet".^[8] However, Emily Yoshida from Vulture described the song as a "Jason Derulo castoff circa 2012."^[9]

Accolades

Award	Date	Category	Result	Ref.
Teen Choice Awards	August 12, 2018	Choice Music: Collaboration	Won	[10]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017–2018) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 24 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 52 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] 12 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 71 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 14 France (SNEP)[16] 115 Germany (GfK)[17] 89 Ireland (IRMA)[18] 21 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[19] 73 Malaysia (RIM)[20] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 53 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 32 Portugal (AFP)[23] 67 Singapore (RIAS)[24] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] 82 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 90 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 96 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 16 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 70

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Australia (ARIA)[30] 82 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] 32

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32]	2× Platinum	140,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[33]	Gold	15,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[34]	3× Platinum	240,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[35]	Gold	45,000‡
France (SNEP)[36]	Gold	100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[37]	Gold	35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[39]	Platinum	50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[40]	Platinum	10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	3× Platinum	1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Version	Ref.
Various	November 17, 2017	Digital download streaming	Atlantic	Promotional single	[1][2][3]
Australia	July 20, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	Atlantic	Radio single	[4][5]

Reimagined version

"Rewrite the Stars"
Single by Anne-Marie and James Arthur
from the album The Greatest Showman: Reimagined
Released	November 16, 2018
Genre	Pop
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Producer(s)	Greg Wells Joseph Trapanese Justin Paul Alex Lacamoire
Anne-Marie singles chronology
"Perfect to Me" (2018) "Rewrite the Stars" (2018) "Fuck, I'm Lonely" (2019)
James Arthur singles chronology
"Empty Space" (2018) "Rewrite the Stars" (2018) "The Power of Love" (2018)
Music video
"Rewrite the Stars (Reimagined version") on YouTube

On November 16, 2018, The Greatest Showman: Reimagined was released, which features a cover of "Rewrite the Stars" by English singers James Arthur and Anne-Marie as a single. The pair performed the song on the fifteenth season of British The X Factor on December 1 and the fifteenth season of American The Voice on December 4.^[44][45] It was released to Australian radio,^[46] and a remix by Wideboys was released on December 14.^[47]

Track listing

• Remix^[47]

1. "Rewrite the Stars" (Wideboys Hands in the Air remix) – 3:36

Charts

Chart (2018–19)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[48]	67
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[49]	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[50]	19
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[51]	85
Germany (GfK)[52]	100
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[53]	99
Hungary (Single Top 40)[54]	27
Ireland (IRMA)[55]	12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[56]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[57]	24
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[58]	5
Portugal (AFP)[59]	61
Portugal Airplay (AFP)[60]	1
Romania (Airplay 100)[61]	12
Scotland (OCC)[62]	4
Singapore (RIAS)[63]	15
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[64]	79
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[65]	27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[66]	44
UK Singles (OCC)[67]	7
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[68]	24

Chart (2024)	Peak position
Indonesia (Billboard)[69]	13
Malaysia International (RIM)[70]	20

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[71]	37
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[72]	87
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[73]	74
Portugal (AFP)[74]	118
Romania (Airplay 100)[75]	31

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[76]	Gold	45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[77]	Gold	35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78]	Platinum	30,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[79]	Platinum	60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[80]	Gold	25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[81]	Platinum	10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[82]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[83]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[84]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.