The Circus (1928): cast, story & where to watch
1928 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1928, The Circus is a comedy and romance film directed by Charlie Chaplin, running about 72 minutes. “The Circus is Here!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Charlie, a wandering tramp, becomes a circus handyman - soon the star of the show - and falls in love with the circus owner's stepdaughter.
Who’s in it. The Circus stars Charlie Chaplin as A Tramp, Al Ernest Garcia as The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master, Merna Kennedy as Circus Proprietor's Stepdaughter, a Circus Rider and Harry Crocker as Rex, a Tight Rope Walker / Disgruntled Property Man / Clown, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Circus sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Circus page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Circus tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Circus (1928)?
- In US, The Circus is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Circus worth watching?
- The Circus holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Circus?
- The Circus stars Charlie Chaplin, Al Ernest Garcia, Merna Kennedy, Harry Crocker and George Davis.
- When was The Circus released?
- The Circus was released in 1928, with a runtime of about 72 minutes.