The Circus
“The Circus is Here!”
Charlie, a wandering tramp, becomes a circus handyman - soon the star of the show - and falls in love with the circus owner's stepdaughter.
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Cast
24 people
Charlie Chaplin
A Tramp
Known for
Modern Times
The Great Dictator
Al Ernest Garcia
The Circus Proprietor and Ring Master
Known for
City Lights
Modern Times
Merna Kennedy
The Proprietor's Step-Daughter Merna, a Circus Rider
Also in
Red Haired Alibi
Broadway
Harry Crocker
Rex, a Tight Rope Walker
Known for
The Big Parade
George Davis
A Magician
Known for
History Is Made at Night
Angel
Henry Bergman
An Old Clown
Known for
Modern Times
The Gold Rush
Tiny Sandford
The Head Property Man
Known for
Modern Times
Pardon Us
John Rand
An Assistant Property Man
Known for
The Pawnshop
The Immigrant
Steve Murphy
A Pickpocket
Known for
The Electric House
Albert Austin
Clown (uncredited)
Known for
The Immigrant
One A.M.
Chester A. Bachman
Cop (uncredited)
Known for
Saps at Sea
Eugene Barry
Cop (uncredited)
Charlie Chaplin Director · Roland Totheroh Cinematographer
Worldwide gross $3.8M · Budget $9M · United States release January 6, 1928
Box office
Budget
$9,000,000
Worldwide gross
$3,800,000
Gross vs. budget
0.4×
Production
Charles Chaplin Productions
Production
United Artists Pictures
Studio
United States
Produced in
The Traveller
Working title
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · No dialogue
Release dates
United States · January 6, 1928
Theatrical · New York City, New York
United States · September 24, 2019
Physical · Bluray
United States
May 3, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
June 5, 2005 · Premiere · Seattle International Film Festival
Argentina
July 18, 1928 · Theatrical
November 1, 2008 · Premiere · San Luis Cine International Festival
Australia
April 3, 1928 · Theatrical
Belgium
March 2, 1928 · Theatrical · Antwerp
December 29, 1977 · Theatrical · Gent (Re-release)
October 26, 2014 · Premiere · Gent International Film Festival
Brazil
May 11, 1959 · Theatrical
Canada
January 29, 1928 · Theatrical
Czechia
July 15, 2021 · Theatrical
Denmark
February 22, 1928 · Theatrical
Finland
April 9, 1928 · Theatrical
May 30, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
December 18, 1981 · Theatrical · Re-release
France
April 16, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
February 5, 2011 · Theatrical · Arsenal, Metz
July 31, 2012 · Premiere · Festival International du Film de La Rochelle
July 31, 2012 · Theatrical · Paris Cinéma
October 3, 2012 · Physical · DVD
November 20, 2012 · Premiere · Toulon Festival International des Musiques d'Écran
July 10, 2019 · Theatrical · Re-release (Restored Version)
January 2, 2020 · TV · à 22h20 sur Arte•tv
April 29, 2025 · Digital · sur Arte•tv
Germany
May 11, 1959 · TV · West Germany
June 12, 1997 · Theatrical · Re-release
May 6, 2010 · Physical · DVD
Hungary
September 20, 1928 · Theatrical
Italy
October 10, 1928 · Theatrical
Japan
March 22, 1928 · Theatrical
July 19, 1975 · Theatrical · Re-release
October 14, 2016 · Premiere · Kyoto International Film Festival
Netherlands
March 2, 1928 · Theatrical
July 24, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
September 24, 2003 · Physical · DVD
December 22, 2007 · TV · Nederland 2
September 14, 2021 · Premiere · Film by the Sea Film Festival
October 14, 2021 · Theatrical · Re-release (Restored Version)
Norway
March 5, 1928 · Theatrical
December 13, 2007 · Theatrical · Re-release
Portugal
January 14, 1929 · Theatrical
December 18, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
June 14, 1970 · Limited theatrical · Porto (Re-release, Special Screening)
September 7, 1970 · Theatrical · Porto (Re-release)
February 20, 1972 · Limited theatrical · Porto (Cineclube do Porto)
December 20, 1979 · Theatrical · Re-release
South Korea
May 5, 1990 · Theatrical
Sweden
February 17, 1928 · Theatrical
August 7, 1969 · Theatrical · Re-release
February 9, 1995 · Premiere · Göteborg Film Festival
Ukraine
July 17, 2019 · Premiere · Odesa International Film Festival
United Kingdom
March 12, 1928 · Theatrical · London
October 8, 1928 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.