All that Jazz stars Joe Gideon, a struggling theater director and choreographer who desperately tries to balance his work in Broadway and in Hollywood. Because of his work, he not only becomes a chain-smoker but also develops dependence on various medical drugs. His girlfriend and ex-wife try convince him to get rid of his bad habits but to no avail.
One day, Joe is rushed to the hospital because of a sudden pain in his chest. He is ordered to remain in the hospital for a few weeks which causes delay in the musical he’s working on. Despite the warnings, Joe continues living an unhealthy life which eventually leads him to a coronary artery bypass surgery not long after.
During his hospitalization, the producers of the show discuss whether to replace Gideon or not. As they calculate the chances of earning more money, they realize that they will profit more if Joe Gideon dies. Important events in Joe’s life are reenacted on stage whose production he supervised while in the hospital. The movie ends with Joe suffering from another heart attack and dying while visions of him conquering the stage take place.