Best Movies about Traveling circus

Movies about Traveling circus

In some ways, movies have replaced circuses and carnivals. But these films show there’s still a lot of interesting material to explore.

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Carnivals were a big thing back in the day—and probably creepier than they are now. They (controversially) allowed the public to witness all kinds of wild creatures and acrobatic performances, often at the expense of real, disabled workers with nowhere else to go.

These days, carnivals are more a place of fun than derogatory freakshow and animal abuse. Rides, games, food stalls, and toy prizes make it a treat for the whole family when the circus rolls into town.

Here are my picks for the best circus movies and carnival movies worth watching, whether you enjoyed the šílená show sezóna americký hororový příběh or loved Tim Burton’s family-friendly Dumbo předělat.

Související: Nejlepší filmy o zábavních parcích a zábavních parcích

16. The Funhouse (1981)

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Starring Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, William Finley

The blood-splattered movie poster for Funhouse is a huge giveaway that this movie is actually no fun at all. Funhouses are known for being ironically unsettling, as visitors are met with a kaleidoscope of warped, disorientating mirrors.

In movies, funhouses are generally used to convey confusion or distortion of truths. (Think of the mirror scenes from Elvis, Us, a Dáma ze Šanghaje.) But in Funhouse, it’s not just one scene that’s crookedly reflected back to us—it’s the whole movie.

Pokud se vám líbí Texaský masakr motorovou pilou, be sure to check out this lesser-known but similarly-styled slasher from the same writer. In that classic 80s way, a group of teenagers are victim to an unhinged carnie while trapped inside a sleazy circus horror ride.

Související: Nejlepší psychologické horory, které jsou znepokojivé a zkroucené

15.Toy Story 4 (2019)

Directed by Josh Cooley

Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts

Animovaný, Dobrodružný, Komedie (1h 40m)

Pixar has done toy stores, garage sales, birthday parties, kindergarten, and Pizza Planet. What other setting could Pixar use to ensure lots of interesting toy characters? The circus, of course!

Before arriving at a colorful carnival, Woody finds himself in an antique store with creepy vintage toys. Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear is mistaken for a prize toy and befriending Klíč a Peele plush teddies. All this—and more—awaits in Toy Story 4.

Most film franchises tend to feel fairly stale by their fourth installments, but Toy Story 4 maintains the spirit of the original while closing on a perfectly bittersweet finale.

14. Victor Frankenstein (2015)

Directed by Paul McGuigan

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay

Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi (1h 50m)

Although this film only partially takes place at a circus, it does play an integral role in the character of Igor as it perfectly captures the eerie atmosphere of the Victorian London circus scene.

Paul McGuigan puts his own spin on the classic Mary Shelley tale, proposing that the famous stock character Igor Straussman began life as an enslaved hunchback.

Zany medical student Victor Frankenstein (played by James McAvoy) saves Igor (played by Daniel Radcliffe) and takes him under his wing to construct an artificially humanoid being. You know the rest.

13. Největší showman (2017)

Directed by Michael Gracey

Starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron

Biography, Drama, Musical (1h 45m)

If you’re going to watch this movie with kids, prepare to hear them repeat the lyrics «This is the greatest show!» for several months. Luckily, Největší předvádějící is enjoyable for adults, too.

For anyone who’s a fan of musicals or theater, Michael Gracey’s whimsical directorial debut is the perfect feel-good watch.

Gracey takes the true story of P. T. Barnum’s rise to fame (as founder of Barnum & Bailey Circus) and injects it with all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.

Související: Nejlepší jukeboxové hudební filmy všech dob, hodnoceno

12. Arabské noci (1942)

Directed by John Rawlins

Starring Jon Hall, Maria Montez, Sabu

Akční, Dobrodružný, Komedie (1h 26m)

Jedna tisíce a jedna noc is the collective title for Middle Eastern tales from the Islamic Golden Age, but it’s also called Arabian Nights.

Home to the original stories behind Aladdin and Ali Baba, Arabian Nights was written across many centuries. This movie, however, mostly comes from the film studio rather than folklore itself.

Universal Pictures released a burst of «exotic» movies during World War II, including this adventure flick by John Rawlins. It follows a circus dancer (a colleague to Aladdin) who comes between two brothers as they fight over their throne.

Arabian Nights gives us a different kind of circus, showing us what they would have looked like during the Sasanian Empire (or thereabouts—the film is somewhat vague on that point).

11. Pinocchio (1940)

Directed by Ben Sharpsteen and Hamilton Luske

Starring Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Mel Blanc

Animovaný, Dobrodružný, Komedie (1h 28m)

Pleasure Island in 1940’s Pinocchio is a carnival/theme park crossover, originally called Land of Toys in Carlo Collodi’s classic kids fantasy The Adventures of Pinocchio.

This island is actually just a trick to teach Pinocchio (and young viewers) a rather harsh lesson: if you misbehave, you’ll be turned into a donkey and sold into slavery.

The scene where a boy is cursed into a donkey while crying out for his mother? Yeah, a bit disturbing. But if Pinocchio can get out of this hellish circus, he might finally live a cozy life as a real boy.

Related: The Best Movies About Fairies, Ranked

10. Billy Rose’s Jumbo (1962)

Directed by Charles Walters

Starring Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Stephen Boyd

Komedie, Muzikál, Romantika (2h 3m)

Charles Walters gives us a fun-filled musical with a cinematic 60s makeover, starring Hollywood sweetheart Doris Day.

When The Wonder Circus hitches into town, families simply fall in love with Jumbo. But will that be enough to haul the ailing business out of its gambling debts?

Not to be confused with the big-eared Disney cartoon Dumbo (which we include later on this list), Jumbo was a real-life African bush elephant bought by P. T. Barnum in 1882 despite public protest.

History lessons aside, this movie takes inspiration from that very same 19th century elephant, who appeared in Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s 1935 Broadway play.

Related: The Best Musical Films of All Time, Ranked

9. Wings of Desire (1987)

Directed by Wim Winders

Starring Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander

Drama, Fantasy, Romance (2h 8m)

Have you ever stopped to consider that guardian angels might get lonely, too? Well, that’s what Křídla touhy is all about. This melancholy, poetic classic—shot in black-and-white—is a meditation on love, disconnect, and spirituality.

Immortal angels exist around the city of Berlin, but they’re on a different spiritual plane so humans can’t see them. Their job is to comfort and protect the city’s inhabitants, but most of the thoughts they hear are downright depressing.

When Damiel (Bruno Ganz) falls in love with a trapeze artist, he doesn’t know how to help her when the circus shuts down and she loses her job. If only he could reach out and touch her.

Související: Nejlepší filmy o andělech a démonech, hodnoceno

8. Freaks (1932)

Režie Tod Browning

Starring Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams, Olga Baclanova

Drama, horor (1h 4m)

A controversial black-and-white film classic, you’ll have to take Freaks with a pinch of salt. The pre-Code horror film, directed by Tod Browning, follows a trapeze artist’s twisted intentions to marry a sideshow performer purely for his inheritance.

Although the film itself is brilliantly made—preserved by the United States National Film Registry for its cultural significance—theorists are still exploring its anti-eugenics message.

MGM’s use of disabled actors and real-life circus «freaks» raised some ethical questions, especially given their alleged treatment on set.

Related: The Best Pre-Code Hollywood Movies Still Worth Watching

7. The Circus (1928)

Režie Charlie Chaplin

Starring Charlie Chaplin, Merna Kennedy, Al Ernest Garcia

Comedy, Family, Romance (1h 12m)

On the heels of the Golden Age of the Circus came newfangled movies, which swiftly replaced them as the newest in the show-biz industry.

Captain of this new industry was Charlie Chaplin: actor, comedian, and director. Charlie Chaplin created the Tramp caricature and blundered his way through many silent comedies, one of which takes place at a struggling carnival.

Despite it being the most difficult production of Chaplin’s career—littered by death, divorce, and delays—it still manages to sparkle with humor. When the Tramp accidentally stumbles into the middle of a circus performance, he unexpectedly becomes the star of the show.

6. Dumbo (1941)

Režie Ben Sharpsteen

Starring Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy, Herman Bing

Animation, Adventure, Drama (1h 4m)

Though recently reimagined by Tim Burton, we’re sticking to the original Disney classic for this list. The fourth-ever animated film by Walt Disney, Dumbo follows a sweet little elephant whose huge ears enable him to fly.

Partially based on the real elephant mentioned earlier on this list, Jumbo Jr. is mocked for his clumsiness with the nickname «Dumbo.»

Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, the script was sourced from a story written for a prototype toy by Helen Aberson.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this cartoon was made in the 1960s—what with its trippy psychedelic sequence—but really it’s a stunning example of 1940s hand-drawn animation.

Related: Trippy Drug Movies With Psychedelic Experiences, Ranked

5. Water for Elephants (2011)

Režie Francis Lawrence

Starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz

Drama, Romance (2h)

Circuses sure love elephants, don’t they? And we get it—they’re cute. Though perhaps those elephants would prefer to stay in the wild rather than be beaten with bull hooks.

When Jacob (played by Robert Pattinson) joins a traveling circus as a veterinarian, he’s disgusted by the way ringmaster August treats his animals and peers. August isn’t the type of guy you want to get on the wrong side of, so having an affair with his wife isn’t the best idea.

Adapted from Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel and directed by Francis Lawrence, Voda pro slony will whisk you away in romance and horror. Christoph Waltz has a knack for playing villains, and he knocks it out of the park as the cruel ringmaster August.

4. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Directed by Robert Wiene

Starring Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Feher

Horor, Mysteriózní, Thriller (1h 7m)

Kabinet Dr. Caligari is the perfect watch for any film student (or even just an enthusiast) who’s looking to expand their cultural and historical knowledge. Plus, it’s only an hour long!

The German Expressionist movement was a landmark movement in cinematic history that’s just as important to study as the French New Wave and Italian neorealism.

The whole aesthetic is championed by angular set designs, chiaroscuro lighting, and a general nightmarish feel.

Kabinet Dr. Caligari is arguably the first real horror film ever made. Directed by Robert Wiene, it follows a murderous hypnotist who works at a circus. It was inspired by a real sideshow that writers Carl Mayer and Hans Janowitz saw in Berlin, circa 1918.

Related: Key Film Movements That Shaped and Defined Cinema, Explained

3. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Režie Cecil B. DeMille

Starring James Stewart, Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton

Drama, Family, Romance (2h 32m)

While it’s far from the greatest movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Největší přehlídka na Zemi is still an amusing watch. It’s also what inspired Steven Spielberg to start making films as a kid, as he depicts in Fabelmanovi.

Produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille in vibrant Technicolor, Největší přehlídka na Zemi features real performers from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Now we know where Největší předvádějící got its title from!

A bunch of old Hollywood starlets appear in this film, including Charlton Heston and Jimmy Stewart. Bursting with laugh, thrills, and fun, DeMille instills Největší přehlídka na Zemi with the energy of a real carnival.

2. Nightmare Alley (2021)

Režie Guillermo del Toro

Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette

Krimi, Drama, Thriller (2h 30m)

Auteur director Guillermo del Toro is known for his unsettling stories that feature elements of the supernatural and carefully selected color palettes. Noční můra Alley is no exception, which brings us a brilliant neo-noir-infused psychological drama.

The second movie adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel, Noční můra Alley stars Bradley Cooper as a mysterious carny who learns the art of clairvoyance.

A moral fable full of plot twists, Noční můra Alley will have you questioning everyone and everything as it exposes dark side of 20th century circuses. Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, and Rooney Mara also star.

Související: Nejlepší film noir všech dob, hodnoceno

1. The Elephant Man (1980)

Režie: David Lynch

Starring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft

Životopis, drama (2h 4m)

The tragic true story of Joseph Merrick begins at a Victorian freakshow, where the cruelly nicknamed «Elephant Man» was put on display in London’s East End.

Viewed as lesser by his taunting ringmaster due to his disabilities, he’s kept under a hood and laughed at by the public.

Surgeon Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) stumbles upon the freakshow, then treats and befriends Joseph (John Hurt).

David Lynch’s historical drama was an instant success, shot in black-and-white for that extra vintage feeling. It even led to the Academy Awards creating a whole new category dedicated to hair and makeup!

Read next: The Best Magical Realism Movies That Mix Fantasy and Reality

The Travelling Circus — Gánh xiêc rong

Set in the central highlands of Vietnam, Cestující cirkus is a bittersweet story of famine-ridden villagers, who are tricked by an illusion of food into helping a circus that is secretly searching for gold in their region. Through the eyes of a young villager, we witness how their naive hope has tragic consequences. One of the most internationally acclaimed Vietnamese movies from the 1980s.

trigon-film dvd-edition 170
Video DVD (video quality)
Jazyk OV Fix subtitles deutsch, français
Délka 76 min. Obrazovka 1:1.37 – 4/3 PAL, b/w Zvuk DD 1.0 rozšíření FSK 12 Kraj kód Všechny regiony

For your information: The quality standards of this DVD complies with the old VHS video format only. Unfortunately, no digitally restored basismaterial of this wonderful film is available. Although the image quality does not comply with the standards of our DVD edition, we still have decid ed to make it available.

8 Circus Movies

Tento příspěvek může obsahovat přidružené odkazy. Jako spolupracovník Amazon vydělávám z kvalifikovaných nákupů.

The ambiance. The snack. The suits. The screams. The thrill of it. Yes, there is nothing like being at a circus, and these sorts of venues have been enthralling people for years. If you enjoy circuses, then these 8 Circus Movies to watch in celebrating Circus Day are for you!

Celebrate World Circus Day

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• Michelle Williams, Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron (Actors)

Největší předvádějící

Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by the age of 12.

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After trying his hands at various jobs, P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey circus.

Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers, and daring acrobatic feats, Barnum’s mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz (Actors)

Voda pro slony

Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson), a veterinary student, is close to graduating when a terrible tragedy forces him to leave school. With nowhere else to go, he hops on a passing train and finds it belongs to a traveling circus.

Jacob takes a job as an animal caretaker and meets Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), a beautiful circus performer. Their shared compassion for a special elephant named Rosie leads to love, but August (Christoph Waltz), Marlena’s cruel husband, stands in their way.

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup (Actors)

Big Fish

When Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) becomes ill, his son, William (Billy Crudup), travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because his father has always told exaggerated stories about his life, and William thinks he’s never really told the truth.

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Even on his deathbed, Edward recounts fantastical anecdotes. When William, who is a journalist, starts to investigate his father’s tales, he begins to understand the man and his penchant for storytelling.

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis (Actors)

Mocný vládce Oz

When shady circus magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is hurled away from Kansas into the wonderful land of Oz, he thinks that fame and fortune are his for the taking.

However, three witches — Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams) — remain unconvinced that Oscar is the great wizard that the inhabitants of Oz need and expect.

Reluctantly drawn into Oz’s epic problems, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it’s too late.

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito (Actors)

Dumbo Live-Action

Struggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears.

When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction — bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus.

RELATED: A Full List of All of The Flash Movies

The elephant’s magical ability also draws the attention of V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture.

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston (Actors)

Největší přehlídka na Zemi

“The Greatest Show on Earth” is a dazzling spectacle of life behind the scenes with Ringling Bros.-Barnum and Bailey Circus, the best three-ring circus in the land. Celebrates the extravagant three-ring circus and depicts the passionate scenes of love and jealousy behind the greatest show on Earth.

• Amazon Prime Video (video na vyžádání)
• David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ben Stiller (Actors)

Madagaskar 3: Nejžádanější Evropa

Animal pals Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) are still trying to make it back to New York’s Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino.

When French animal-control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) picks up their scent, Alex and company are forced to hide out in a traveling circus.

• John Wayne, Claudia Cardinale, Rita Hayworth (Actors)
• Henry Hathaway (Director)

Cirkusový svět

When Matt Masters (John Wayne) takes his ailing circus on a tour of Europe, it’s not simply to put its finances back into order. He’s also there on a romantic quest to find his old flame Lili Alfredo (Rita Hayworth), whose daughter Toni (Claudia Cardinale) he raised.

But both missions are put in jeopardy when the ship ferrying his circus across the Atlantic sinks. But the show must go on — and Masters pulls out all the stops to make the tour a success and reunite with Lili.

Související příspěvky:

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Anne je čerstvou absolventkou vysoké školy, která se specializuje na obchodní administrativu a marketingový management. Je to beznadějná romantička, která se stará o to, aby náš obsah zůstal aktuální.

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