What Is the Greatest Circus Movie?
What is the greatest movie about circuses? (Eventhough, I did include only 1 television show that is set in a traveling circus.) No traveling carnival movies. All the films (and 1 tv show) are 6.0 or better.
If you want to see another circus show listed, or stand up and applaud any already on the list, as circus barkers used to say, “Step right up and get your ticket here”.
If you want to see another circus show listed, or stand up and applaud any already on the list, as circus barkers used to say, “Step right up and get your ticket here”.
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- DirectorVictor SjöströmStarsLon ChaneyNorma ShearerJohn GilbertA bitter clown endeavors to rescue the young woman he loves from the lecherous count who once betrayed him.
- DirectorCecil B. DeMilleStarsJames StewartCharlton HestonBetty HuttonThe dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsJohn WayneRita HayworthClaudia CardinaleWhen circus proprietor Matt Masters decides to take his show on a European tour, it is beset by problems, while he searches for Lili, the mother of his adopted daughter, who disappeared years before.
- DirectorSamuel ArmstrongNorman FergusonWilfred JacksonStarsSterling HollowayEdward BrophyHerman BingRidiculed because of his enormous ears, a young circus elephant is assisted by a mouse to achieve his full potential.
- DirectorCharles WaltersStarsDoris DayJimmy DuranteStephen BoydA debt-ridden circus is saved by a well-meaning but inept publicity man.
- DirectorCarol ReedStarsBurt LancasterTony CurtisGina LollobrigidaA crippled circus acrobat is torn emotionally between two ambitious young trapeze artists, one a talented young American and a less-gifted but beautiful Italian.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsColin FarrellMichael KeatonDanny DeVitoA young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.
- DirectorWalter LangStarsWallace BeeryAdolphe MenjouVirginia BruceThe comic exploits of confidence trickster and showman P.T. Barnum from his early days through to the creation of The Greatest Show on Earth.
- DirectorLee PhilipsStarsBurt LancasterHanna SchygullaJohn RoneyThe amazing biography of legendary circus impresario and unparalleled showman, P.T. Barnum.
- DirectorMichael GraceyStarsHugh JackmanMichelle WilliamsZac EfronCelebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
- DirectorElia KazanStarsFredric MarchTerry MooreGloria GrahameA Czech circus owner/clown and his entire troupe employ a daring stratagem in order to escape en masse from behind the iron curtain.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsRobert PattinsonReese WitherspoonChristoph WaltzJacob takes a job as an animal caretaker in a traveling circus. There he meets Marlena, a beautiful circus performer. Their shared compassion for a special elephant Rosie leads to love, but Marlena's cruel husband stands in their way.
- DirectorEdward BuzzellStarsGroucho MarxChico MarxHarpo MarxThe Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsCarlos ArecesAntonio de la TorreCarolina BangA young trapeze artist must decide between her lust for Sergio, the Happy Clown, or her affection for Javier, the Sad Clown, both of whom are deeply disturbed.The circus turns into a realistic nightmare.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinMerna KennedyAl Ernest GarciaThe Tramp finds work and the girl of his dreams at a circus.
- DirectorGeorge PalStarsTony RandallBarbara EdenArthur O'ConnellA mysterious circus comes to a western town bearing wonders and characters that entertain the inhabitants and teach valuable lessons.
- DirectorDave McKeanStarsStephanie LeonidasJason BarryRob BrydonIn a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.(The weirdest circus I ever saw.)
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodSondra LockeGeoffrey LewisAn idealistic, modern-day cowboy struggles to keep his Wild West show afloat in the face of hard luck and waning interest.This is really a Wild West show. But then some consider them the same as a circus. I don’t know why but they were.
- StarsMicky DolenzNoah Beery Jr.Robert Lowery12-year-old Corky has been adopted by a traveling circus owned by Big Tim Champion. He is water boy to baby elephant Bimbo and otherwise participates in the behind-the-scenes life of the circus.Okay, this is a television show and a good one at that. The interesting part about it is that the boy is Mickey Dolenz who is known as the drummer and co-lead singer of The Monkees. That makes two members of the group that were actually actors when that group was created. The other is Davy Jones who played The Artful Dodger in the Broadway musical “Oliver!”.
- DirectorGeorge SidneyBusby BerkeleyStarsBetty HuttonHoward KeelLouis CalhernThe story of the great sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who rose to fame while dealing with her love/professional rival, Frank Butler.
- DirectorTod BrowningStarsWallace FordLeila HyamsOlga BaclanovaA circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.
- DirectorSteve MinerStarsGabrielle AnwarMichael SchoefflingCliff RobertsonThrilled by a performance she sees at a fair, Sonora Webster tries to land a spot as a daredevil who rides horses off of high dives.(Suggested by daniel_francis_gardecki)
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsJames FrancoMichelle WilliamsRachel WeiszA small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.(Suggested by daniel_francis_gardecki)
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsKevin CorcoranHenry CalvinGene SheldonTaken in by distant members of his family after being orphaned, Toby Tyler runs away to join the circus.(Suggested by daniel_francis_gardecki)
- DirectorPaul WeitzStarsChris MassogliaJohn C. ReillySalma HayekTeenager Darren Shan meets a mysterious man at a freak show who turns out to be a vampire. After a series of events, Darren must leave his normal life and go on the road with the Cirque du Freak, becoming a creature of the night.(Suggested by daniel_francis_gardecki)
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreMaud AdamsLouis JourdanA fake Fabergé egg recovered from the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to uncover a jewel smuggling operation led by the mysterious Octopussy, and a plot to blow up a NATO air base.
- DirectorThea SharrockStarsSam RockwellBryan CranstonPhillipa SooA gorilla named Ivan tries to piece together his past with the help of an elephant named Ruby as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.
- DirectorJoseph M. NewmanStarsVictor MatureRed ButtonsRhonda FlemingA circus owner tries to keep his financially troubled circus on the road, despite the efforts of a murderous saboteur who has decided that the show must not go on.
- DirectorHerbert BrenonStarsLon ChaneyBernard SiegelLoretta YoungA professional clown and a self-indulgent count learn to help each other with their problems, but then become romantic rivals.
- DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsDean MartinJerry LewisJoanne DruJerry and Pete are two friends with no money, looking for some job. They finally find one as workers in a circus, but Jerry has different dreams. He wants to become a clown.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsAnthony QuinnGiulietta MasinaRichard BasehartA care-free girl is sold to a traveling entertainer, consequently enduring physical and emotional pain along the way.Suggested by Breumaster
- DirectorDaniel PetrieStarsPat BooneNancy KwanMai ZetterlingA guitar-playing traveler on the run from a murder charge joins a circus, where falling for two different women complicates his life.Suggested by Dan Dassow