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Freaks

Play trailer Poster for Freaks 1932 1h 4m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When trapeze artist Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) learns that circus midget Hans (Harry Earles) has an inheritance, she marries the lovesick, diminutive performer, all the while planning to steal his fortune and run off with her lover, strong man Hercules (Henry Victor). When Hans' friends and fellow performers discover what is going on, they band together and carry out a brutal revenge that leaves Hercules and Cleopatra knowing what it truly means to be a freak.
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Freaks

Freaks

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Critics Consensus

Time has been kind to this horror legend: Freaks manages to frighten, shock, and even touch viewers in ways that contemporary viewers missed.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal 09/28/2015
[Boasts] some of the most terrifying scenes ever consigned to film. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Observer (UK) 06/14/2015
4/5
Browning's sympathies are clear; if there are "freaks" on display here, they are not the versatile performers to whom the title seems to allude. Go to Full Review Tom Huddleston Time Out 06/08/2015
5/5
One of the most powerful films ever made about the need for humanity and solidarity in the face of cruelty and oppression. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Nov 7
3/4
...an erratic endeavor that grows more and more compelling (and involving) as it unfolds... Go to Full Review Michael Nordine Film Occasionally 10/24/2023
That such a daring, transgressive film was made by a major studio in the early ‘30s remains a marvel (thanks, Irving Thalberg); that it irreparably harmed the career of its director is disheartening if not surprising. Go to Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness 10/17/2023
Each one, by nature of the period in which they were released and how audiences responded to them, have a legacy that must be explored, mulled over, and come to terms with if cinema is going to tell honest stories without exploitation. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Harrison B @clinthoward Aug 20 NOT A HORROR MOVIE! Unsure why it's categorized this way. Nothing scary about this unless you think seeing people with disabilities is scary. Really humanizing story of circus freaks being normal people with the same conflicts and emotions we all have. And the lead woman who was part of the Doll family is such an incredible actress. So moving. There were some moments played for comedy early in the film that really shouldn't be but it was 94 years ago I'll cut them some slack. Way more respectful towards people with disabilities than something like American Splendor or American Movie, both of which just make fun of people with autism and do nothing positive to make up for it. See more Everett T @RT41780084 Aug 15 Same director of Dracula! This movie's great! See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 May 20 Sound quality is very poor but it’s easy to get the gist. Is this exploitation or inclusive? The title probably answers that question. I can’t say I found it enjoyable to watch but I guess it was a bit different. Watched on DVD. See more Fischer W. @Fishhook Mar 5 Just a plain spectacular old movie it’s very eerie and nothing like anything else I’ve seen See more Steven F. @SteveGotScored Feb 28 A very entertaining classic to say the least! See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Feb 13 In my opinion, it's not very scary. Is it a little disturbing? Yes, but not in the slightest terrifying. Crazy the "freaks" were real people. I thought the acting was great from everyone. See more Read all reviews
Freaks

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Cast & Crew

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Tod Browning

Director

Wallace Ford

Phroso

Olga Baclanova

Cleopatra

Leila Hyams

Venus

Roscoe Ates

Roscoe

Harry Earles

Hans

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Freaks

Freaks (1932) Freaks (1932) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When trapeze artist Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) learns that circus midget Hans (Harry Earles) has an inheritance, she marries the lovesick, diminutive performer, all the while planning to steal his fortune and run off with her lover, strong man Hercules (Henry Victor). When Hans' friends and fellow performers discover what is going on, they band together and carry out a brutal revenge that leaves Hercules and Cleopatra knowing what it truly means to be a freak.
Director
Tod Browning
Producer
Tod Browning, Dwain Esper, Hildegarde Stadie, Irving Thalberg
Screenwriter
Al Boasberg, Willis Goldbeck, Leon Gordon, Edgar Allan Woolf
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 1932, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Runtime
1h 4m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
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