

The Greatest Show on Earth
The Heartbeat Story of Circus People, Filmed with the Cooperation of Ringling Bros. - Barnum and Bailey Circus!
To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground.
TMDB
6.4/10
292 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $4M
- Box office
- $36M
- Language
- English
- circus
- clown
- traveling circus
- trapeze artist
Top billed cast














Behind the camera
Director
Music
Produced in
United States of America
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereNRNew York City, New York10 Jan 1952
- Theatrical (limited)NRLos Angeles, California21 Feb 1952
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalU16 Feb 1952
AustriaAT
- Theatrical121 Sept 1953
BrazilBR
- Theatrical25 Dec 1952
- PhysicalL21 Feb 2007
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical1512 Jan 1959
FranceFR
- Theatrical27 Mar 1953
- PhysicalDVD6 Apr 2004
- Digital / OTT4 Nov 2019
- PhysicalBlu-ray1 Apr 2021
GermanyDE
- Theatrical1225 Dec 1952
JapanJP
- TheatricalG25 Apr 1953
NetherlandsNL
- Physical12DVD15 Feb 2007
South KoreaKR
- Theatrical20 May 1955
SpainES
- Theatrical1216 Feb 1952
SwedenSE
- Theatrical1516 Feb 1952
Frequently asked questions
The Greatest Show on Earth was released on 16 February 1952.
Audience reviews
2- W8/10
Wuchak
3/15/2020
***Delivers the goods for what it is — a big traditional circus flick*** Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus hires a popular Casanova trapeze artist, The Great Sabastian (Cornel Wilde), in order to keep their tour schedule full and he wastes no time romancing his rival for the center ring, Holly (Betty Hutton), who’s in love with the solemn manager (Charlton Heston). But, wait, Angel, the elephant babe (G…
- C6/10
CinemaSerf
9/11/2022
Hyperbole is quite common nowadays with a premium paid for hype and superlatives; but this film really does deserve one such accolade - it is a spectacular feast for the eyes. Set in a travelling circus that appears to employ the population of a small town, we are taken on the frequently bumpy journey of this collection of artistes, misfits and animals as they criss-cross America delighting audiences young and old. I…
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