Caligula (1979): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Caligula is a 1979 historical drama directed by Tinto Brass, starring Malcolm McDowell as Caligula, Peter O'Toole and Guido Mannari. It runs 2 hours 36 minutes and earned $305 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 36m (156 min)
- Director
- Tinto Brass
- Original language
-
Italian - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Caligula About?
The premise of Caligula without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
With the death of the paranoid Emperor Tiberius, his heir Caligula ascends to the throne, and his unchecked authority quickly descends into a reign of violence, cruelty and unchecked excess. He drives the Roman Empire into a bloody spiral of madness and depravity, revealing how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Caligula Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- orgy
- unsimulated sex
- sex party
- hedonism
- rape
- sexual violence
- execution
- based on history
- incestuous love
- dancing
- lust
- roman emperor
+38 more Show fewer
- sex
- nudity
- decadence
- perversion
- abuse of power
- unsimulated oral sex
- caligula character
- emperor
- sexual sadism
- ancient world
- party
- bleeding to death
- dead woman
- roman empire
- wine
- murder of a child
- brother sister relationship
- incest
- blood
- assassination
- sword and sandal
- sexploitation film
- erection
- testicles
- testicle sucking
- evil
- cruelty
- roman soldier
- killing
- group sex
- stabbed to death
- omen
- claudius
- power abuse
- extreme film
- male nudity
- female frontal nudity
- threesome
Caligula Cast & Characters
Malcolm McDowell leads the cast as Caligula, with Peter O'Toole as Tiberius and Guido Mannari as Macro. Directed by Tinto Brass; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director Tinto Brass
-
Malcolm McDowell as Caligula -
Peter O'Toole as Tiberius - Guido Mannari as Macro
-
John Gielgud as Nerva
Also Starring in Caligula
· 15 more- Giancarlo Badessi Claudius
- Bruno Brive Gemellus
- Teresa Ann Savoy Drusilla
- Adriana Asti Ennia
- John Steiner Longinus
- Paolo Bonacelli Chaerea
- Helen Mirren Caesonia
- Mirella D'Angelo Livia
- Leopoldo Trieste Charicles
- Osiride Pevarello Giant
- Donato Placido Proculus
- Anneka Di Lorenzo Messalina
- Paula Mitchell Subura Singer
- Lori Wagner Agrippina
- Rick Parets Mnester
More from Tinto Brass
More films directed by Tinto Brass: Caligula: The Ultimate Cut, The Voyeur, Love & Passion and Miranda.
Caligula Plot Summary
What happens in Caligula from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Caligula [Malcolm McDowell] is the young heir to the throne of his great-uncle, Emperor Tiberius [Peter O’Toole]. One morning, a blackbird omen appears in his room, setting an uneasy mood that mirrors the looming shadow of power. Soon after, Naevius Sutorius Macro [Guido Mannari], one of the Praetorian Guard chiefs, informs Caligula that Tiberius demands his immediate presence at Capri, where the Emperor lingers with his close friend Nerva [John Gielgud], Caligula’s dim-witted uncle Claudius [Giancarlo Badessi], and Caligula’s cousin Gemellus [Bruno Brive]. Fearing assassination, Caligula hesitates, but his sister and lover Drusilla [Teresa Ann Savoy] urges him to travel.
Full summary
The whole story of Caligula, scene by scene
Caligula Box Office
Caligula grossed $305 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$305
- International
- $215
Caligula Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 3 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 clip.
- Trailer The Ultimate Cut Official Trailer
- Trailer The Ultimate Cut Official Trailer
- Teaser Teaser
- Clip Clip
How Well Do You Know Caligula?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the title character, Caligula?
Seen Caligula?
Movies Like Caligula
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Caligula: The Untold Story, Caligula and Messalina and Caligula’s Slaves.
-
Caligula: The Untold Story 1982 -
Caligula and Messalina 1981 -
Caligula’s Slaves 1984 -
The Roman Orgy 1911 -
Nero and Poppea - An Orgy of Power 1982 -
I, Claudius 1976 -
The Degenerates 1969 -
Satyricon 1969 -
Demetrius and the Gladiators 1954 -
Messalina 1960 -
Titus 1999 -
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula 2005
Caligula FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Caligula, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Caligula?
Caligula runs 2 hours 36 minutes (156 minutes).
When was Caligula released?
Caligula was released on August 14, 1979.
Who directed Caligula?
Caligula was directed by Tinto Brass.
More films by Tinto Brass Who is in the cast of Caligula?
Caligula stars Malcolm McDowell as Caligula, Peter O'Toole as Tiberius and Guido Mannari as Macro, among 19 credited actors.
How much did Caligula make at the box office?
Caligula grossed $305 worldwide.
Does Caligula have a post-credit scene?
No. Caligula has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Caligula in?
The original language of Caligula is Italian.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
