Freaks

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Freaks

1932

1h 4m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Sep 28, 2015

[Boasts] some of the most terrifying scenes ever consigned to film.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Jun 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.

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Tom Huddleston

Time Out

Jun 8, 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.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 7, 2025

3/4

...an erratic endeavor that grows more and more compelling (and involving) as it unfolds...

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Michael Nordine

Film Occasionally

Oct 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.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Oct 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.

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Euler N

@RT78607452 Sep 16, 2026

I was afraid to watch this movie and see people being humiliated. But the people who are different are treated with dignity and respect here. It's a short movie that reminds us that inclusion is important, and it was made almost 100 years ago! The plot is very simple, but it's nice to see these people living their lives just as they are: just normal human beings.

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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 9, 2026

Definitely Recommend It

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 3, 2026

Freaks is both entertaining and worthy of 4.5 stars!

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Harrison B

@clinthoward Aug 20, 2026

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.

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Everett T

@RT41780084 Aug 15, 2026

Same director of Dracula! This movie's great!

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 May 20, 2026

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.

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Tod Browning

Director

Wallace Ford

Phroso

Olga Baclanova

Cleopatra

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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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