The Greatest Show on Earth (1952): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Greatest Show on Earth is a 1952 romantic drama starring Charlton Heston and Betty Hutton. It runs 2 hours 32 minutes and earned $36 million worldwide on a $4 million budget. It won 2 Oscars, including Best Motion Picture and Writing (Motion Picture Story), and 5 awards in all. Critics gave it 76 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 32m (152 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Greatest Show on Earth About?
The premise of The Greatest Show on Earth without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A dazzling world of wonder unfolds as the curtains rise on the Ringling Bros.-Barnum and Bailey Circus. This spectacular film explores the passionate and dramatic lives of those who work behind the scenes of the greatest show on Earth. Love, jealousy, and adventure intertwine within the vibrant atmosphere of the big top, revealing the complex relationships and rivalries that drive the thrilling spectacle.
The Greatest Show on Earth Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- circus train
- horseback riding
- blockbuster
- freak show
- all star cast
- bare chested man
- rivalry
- horse
- little person
- dog
- lion
- lion tamer
+38 more Show fewer
- cameo appearance
- ringmaster
- marching band
- parade
- hopalong cassidy character
- crosby and hope
- crosby and lamour
- hope and lamour
- demille and heston
- demille and wilcoxon
- heston and stewart
- stewart and grahame
- heston and bettger
- live action
- cheer
- reference to ringling brothers
- reference to tom thumb
- reference to the ringling bros.
- reference to jumbo the elephant
- reference to p.t. barnum
- ringling bros
- circus
- trapeze
- trapeze artist
- clown
- elephant trainer
- tent
- pursuit
- mother son relationship
- clown makeup
- circus horse
- circus boss
- acrobat
- on the run
- hidden identity
- male female relationship
- car hit by a train
- train
The Greatest Show on Earth Cast
Charlton Heston leads the cast, with Betty Hutton.
The Greatest Show on Earth Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Greatest Show on Earth 76 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 76 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB
The Greatest Show on Earth Plot Summary
What happens in The Greatest Show on Earth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 17 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the 19th century, P. T. Barnum and his tailor father Philo work for the Hallett family, and Barnum falls for their daughter, Charity. The two exchange letters while Charity attends finishing school, and they reunite as adults, marry, and raise two daughters, Caroline and Helen, in New York City. Their life is modest, and while Charity finds contentment in their home, Barnum quietly craves something more.
Full summary
The whole story of The Greatest Show on Earth, scene by scene
The Greatest Show on Earth Box Office & Budget
The Greatest Show on Earth grossed $36 million worldwide on a $4 million budget, 9.0 times what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$36M
9.0× its budget
- US & Canada
- $36M
- Budget
- $4M
The Greatest Show on Earth Awards & Nominations
The Greatest Show on Earth won 2 Oscars, including Best Motion Picture and Writing (Motion Picture Story), and 5 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 1953, with 3 wins from 3 nominations.
5 wins9 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 1953 3 wins · 3 nominations- Won Best Direction – Motion Picture – Cecil B. DeMille
- Won Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Won Cinematography – Color
-
Oscars 1953 2 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Motion Picture
- Won Writing (Motion Picture Story)
- Nominated Costume Design (Color)
- Nominated Directing – Cecil B. DeMille
- Nominated Film Editing
-
DGA Awards 1952 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Cecil B. DeMille
The Greatest Show on Earth Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Greatest Show on Earth.
How Well Do You Know The Greatest Show on Earth?
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
Who is the ambitious impresario who creates the circus in the film?
Cars in The Greatest Show on Earth
9 cars on screen, including the Caterpillar D4 and the 1950 Chrysler New Yorker.
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Caterpillar D4 Minor role -
1950 Chrysler New Yorker Minor role -
1948 Dodge Panel Minor role -
1949 Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide Minor role
The Greatest Show on Earth Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Sous le plus grand chapiteau du monde” and “O Maior Espetáculo da Terra”.
- Also known as
-
- Sous le plus grand chapiteau du monde
- O Maior Espetáculo da Terra
- 大马戏团
- 지상 최대의 쇼
- El mayor espectáculo del mundo
- Il più grande spettacolo del mondo
- Die größte Schau der Welt
- 戏王之王
- Världens största show
- A földkerekség legnagyobb show-ja
- Величайшее шоу мира
- ההצגה הגדולה בתבל
+11 more Show fewer
- Harikalar Sirki
- Největší představení na světě
- Найбільше шоу на землі
- 地上最大のショウ
- Το Όγδοο Θαύμα
- El espectáculo más grande del mundo
- 戲中之王
- Verdens største show
- L’espectacle més gran del món
- Największe widowisko świata
- ละครสัตว์บันลือโลก
Seen The Greatest Show on Earth?
Movies Like The Greatest Show on Earth
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Greatest Showman, Barnum and The Circus.
The Greatest Show on Earth FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Greatest Show on Earth, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Greatest Show on Earth?
The Greatest Show on Earth runs 2 hours 32 minutes (152 minutes).
When was The Greatest Show on Earth released?
The Greatest Show on Earth was released on May 1, 1952.
Who is in the cast of The Greatest Show on Earth?
The Greatest Show on Earth stars Charlton Heston and Betty Hutton.
How much did The Greatest Show on Earth make at the box office?
The Greatest Show on Earth grossed $36 million worldwide on a budget of $4 million.
How is The Greatest Show on Earth rated?
The Greatest Show on Earth has 76 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
What awards did The Greatest Show on Earth win?
The Greatest Show on Earth won 5 awards from 9 nominations, including Best Direction – Motion Picture at the Golden Globes 1953.
Does The Greatest Show on Earth have a post-credit scene?
No. The Greatest Show on Earth has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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