The Greatest Show on Earth (1952): cast, story & where to watch
1952 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1952, The Greatest Show on Earth is a drama, family and romance film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, running about 152 minutes. “The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground.
Who’s in it. The Greatest Show on Earth stars Betty Hutton as Holly, Cornel Wilde as The Great Sebastian, Charlton Heston as Brad Braden and Dorothy Lamour as Phyllis, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, The Greatest Show on Earth has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $36M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Greatest Show on Earth page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Greatest Show on Earth tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)?
- In US, The Greatest Show on Earth is available to stream on YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Greatest Show on Earth worth watching?
- The Greatest Show on Earth holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, family and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Greatest Show on Earth?
- The Greatest Show on Earth stars Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour and Gloria Grahame.
- When was The Greatest Show on Earth released?
- The Greatest Show on Earth was released in 1952, with a runtime of about 152 minutes.