The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

1921

1h 9m

Horror

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

At a carnival in Germany, Francis and his friend Alan encounter the crazed Dr. Caligari. The men see Caligari showing off his somnambulist, Cesare, a hypnotized man who the doctor claims can see into the future. Shockingly, Cesare then predicts Alan's death, and by morning his chilling prophecy has come true -- making Cesare the prime suspect.

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Critics Consensus

Arguably the first true horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari set a brilliantly high bar for the genre -- and remains terrifying nearly a century after it first stalked the screen.

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Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

Oct 3, 2022

I recommend heartily this somewhat daring Teutonic dive into the troubled waters of ellipsoids, parabaloids, conic sections, and chiarscura, the terminology of which is quite sufficient to indicate that the bars are up to the normal mind.

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Marjorie C. Driscoll

San Francisco Chronicle

Oct 3, 2022

[A viewer who is] sensitive to the impression value of blurs of shadow and sharp white lights of masses and lines that possess a psychic individuality of the enveloping atmosphere created by the mounting of the scenes will find his perceptions stimulated.

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Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

Oct 3, 2022

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is undeniably clever. It is most artistically acted. The lightning is a marvel of spookiness. And if you are looking for something different, well -- it is certainly different with a vengeance.

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M.V. Moorhead

Less Hat, Moorhead

Oct 29, 2024

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari's true power derives from the weird visual atmosphere Weine and his designers, Hermann Warm, Walter Reimann and Walter Rohrig, bring to almost every shot through boldly stylized, expressionistic sets and camera angles.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 27, 2024

3.5/4

There are many themes to be gleamed from its sociopolitical and psychoanalytical musings.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Dec 8, 2023

[It] revolutionized the medium with its Expressionistic techniques externalizing the nightmarish delusions of a mental patient...

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B P

@Bradster69 4 days ago

Definitely Recommend It

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 19, 2026

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari = a 4.5 star Movie!

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Melissa L

@Agent99 Jun 27, 2026

It's a classic film. It is a little creepy. It was interesting, though.

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R T

@Kezla Jun 16, 2026

It is said to be the first film to do this twist. I believe it holds up. The score is my favorite. The haunting aesthetics were nice to see.

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 May 8, 2026

It’s amazing how such an old movie—silent, no less—can still impact modern viewers. The twisted, disproportional, and eerie sets create the perfect stage for this tale of madness and suspense. It shaped the mystery/horror genre and stands as one of the most influential works in cinema history. Very entertaining, and a joy to watch.

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Nathan J.

@NathanDirector Apr 20, 2026

Rating: 8.9/10 ⭐️ I expected a dusty old relic, but the wild, nightmare-like set design totally caught me off guard. What Worked: Painting shadows and harsh lines directly onto canvas sets gives the framing a claustrophobic vibe I absolutely loved. Projecting Cesare’s shadow during the attack was a brilliant blocking choice. Through my Methodist faith lens, seeing characters blindly obey deranged authority is a dark reminder to question worldly power and lean into grace. The Cuts: The early part really dragged for me before we actually get to the creepy somnambulist stuff. Because the camera is mostly locked off, transitions feel stiff, making it play more like a stage show. Keeping it spoiler-free, reading through massive chunks of text on dense title cards completely breaks the visual momentum right when suspense peaks. Verdict: A trippy nightmare that basically invented arthouse horror. A must-watch, but skip if you hate slow, silent-era pacing.

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Robert Wiene

Director

Werner Krauss

Dr. Caligari

Conrad Veidt

Cesare

Lil Dagover

Jane

Friedrich Feher

Francis

Rudolf Lettinger

Dr. Olson

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Synopsis

At a carnival in Germany, Francis and his friend Alan encounter the crazed Dr. Caligari. The men see Caligari showing off his somnambulist, Cesare, a hypnotized man who the doctor claims can see into the future. Shockingly, Cesare then predicts Alan's death, and by morning his chilling prophecy has come true -- making Cesare the prime suspect.

Director: Robert Wiene
Producer: Rudolf Meinert, Erich Pommer
Screenwriter: Hans Janowitz, Carl Mayer
Distributor: Grapevine Video, Kino Video
Production Co: Decla-Bioscop AG
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 1921, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Runtime: 1h 9m

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