Discovering good movies, one bad movie at a time


“Every movie’s a circus”, in the words of a song from the proudly mediocre Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Blvd. But we’re going to be a little bit more selective than that. At the request of Patreon supporter Carl Beasley, this episode focuses on on our top 5 circus movies: movies celebrating the wonderful entertainment form that has made such a rich pageant out of exploiting people with unusual bodies, abusing animals, and of course, the indescribable, unholy nightmare terrors of those funny fellas, the clowns.

It’ll be fun for girls and boys of all ages, so come check out our favorite examples of all the wonders that can be found under the big top!

Carrie’s Top 5:

  1. Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken 
  2. Toy Story 4
  3. The Greatest Showman
  4. Water for Elephants
  5. Dumbo

Tim’s Top 5:

  1. Dumbo
  2. The Circus
  3. La Strada
  4. Laugh, Clown, Laugh
  5. Nightmare Alley (1947)

Audience Top 5:

  1. Dumbo 
  2. Freaks
  3. The Circus
  4. He Who Gets Slapped 
  5. Nightmare Alley

This week’s winner for our Top 5 Circus Movies – Grooves

  1. Nightmare Alley (2021)
  2. Dumbo 
  3. The Circus
  4. Freaks
  5. The Greatest Showman

********************************************************

Love the Podcast? Leave us a review!

What to grab yourself some AE swag? You can find the goods here!

Other places to follow Alternate Ending.

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter

Tim LetterboxdCarrie Letterboxd

Want to support Alternate Ending, you can via our Patreon page!

Carrie

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (1991)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
Water for Elephants (2011)
Dumbo (1941)

Tim

Dumbo (1941)
The Circus (1928)
La Strada (1954)
Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)
Nightmare Alley (1947)