According to a persistent rumor, Michael Sembello had originally written the song after watching Maniac (1980), and that the lyrics were originally much different and darker. However, this is not true. In 2010, when Sembello was interviewed by William Lustig, the film's director, he confirmed that the story of the origin of the song has been incorrectly retold over the years.
"Maniac" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks beginning on September 10, 1983.
The track is one of the highest-grossing songs ever written for a film.
The Original Soundtrack of Flashdance won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for A Motion Picture or a Television Special.