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City Lights

Play trailer 1:14 Poster for City Lights G 1931 1h 27m Romance Comedy Drama Crime History Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that she and her grandmother are to be evicted from their home, the tramp undertakes a series of attempts to provide them with the money they need, all of which end in humiliating failure. But after a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) lavishly rewards him for saving his life, the tramp can change the flower girl's life forever.
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City Lights

City Lights

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Critics Consensus

One of the best underdog romance movies ever, with an ending that will light up any heart.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com 06/27/2018
A+
Chaplin and his cast have crafted a silent film that is drastically funny, extremely well-shot and still holds up today...this is a labor of love, for sure, but the end result is a classic that has held the test of time. Go to Full Review
Irene Thirer New York Daily News 01/29/2016
4/4
"City Lights" is excruciatingly funny and terribly, terribly sad. It makes you chuckle hysterically. You have the greatest time imaginable, and yet, occasionally you find little hurty lumps in your throat. Go to Full Review
Scott Tobias The Dissolve 11/19/2013
5/5
There's dignity and folly to The Tramp in City Lights, and everything in between. Go to Full Review
Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week 5d
City Lights delivers all the Charlie Chaplin hallmarks: the duck walk, bowler hat, toothbrush ’stache and pratfalls as gymnastic high art. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 14
4/4
The film is one superb vignette after another. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 02/21/2023
... it borders on maudlin at times, but the rest mixes heartbreak and hardship with slapstick and spirited gags, all with the grace we’ve come to expect of cinema’s silent comic poet. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Cristopher S @cris_sanchez 1d City Lights fue una experiencia diferente a las otras películas de Chaplin que he visto. El humor sigue presente y funciona, aunque personalmente no me hizo reír tanto como The Circus. Eso sí, la secuencia de la pelea de boxeo me pareció espectacular y fue fácilmente el momento más divertido de la película; el manejo corporal y el timing de Chaplin hacen que toda la situación funcione perfectamente. Sin embargo, esta vez el humor no fue lo que más me atrapó. Lo que realmente consiguió mantener mi interés fue la historia de amor entre Charlot y la joven florista ciega. Me pareció una historia muy bonita sobre alguien capaz de hacer prácticamente cualquier cosa por ayudar a la persona que ama, sin esperar demasiado a cambio. Además, el contraste entre quién cree ella que es Charlot y quién es realmente permite que la película juegue muy bien con las apariencias. See more Marce S @RT24248553 Sep 13 When it comes to Chaplins romance and balancing between comedy and tragedy, no other film hits as hard as this one. See more Hao Ian L @HaOiAn Sep 9 There's no denying the groundwork laid here for the comedy genre as a whole, and that is no easy feat, making it Chaplin's well-deserved crowning achievement at the time. Yet, the very same comedic effect does seem to feel very dated in its years, mostly in its slapstick and over-the-top approach that did not age all that well. See more Julio B 07/13/2025 The greatest romantic comedy ever made! See more Stephen C @bob25009 06/10/2025 Funny in 1 hour and 27 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Charlie Chaplin as Little Tramp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $18,200.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Alexsander F @Aelxs 04/25/2025 The film is beautiful and so simple. See more Read all reviews
City Lights

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that she and her grandmother are to be evicted from their home, the tramp undertakes a series of attempts to provide them with the money they need, all of which end in humiliating failure. But after a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) lavishly rewards him for saving his life, the tramp can change the flower girl's life forever.
Director
Charlie Chaplin
Producer
Charlie Chaplin
Screenwriter
Charlie Chaplin
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Charles Chaplin Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama, Crime, History, Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 30, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.2K
Runtime
1h 27m
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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