Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Chaplin

Play trailer Poster for Chaplin PG-13,  1993,  2h 24m,  Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 65% 49 Reviews Tomatometer 81% 25,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
65% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Re-creation of the life of comic genius Charles Chaplin, from his humble beginnings in south London through his early days in British vaudeville, his silent movie career in America and his late masterpieces. His turbulent personal life saw four marriages and an enforced exile from the US - though he returned to receive an honorary Oscar in 1972.
Chaplin

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Chaplin boasts a terrific performance from Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role, but it isn't enough to overcome a formulaic biopic that pales in comparison to its subject's classic films.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Anthony Lane Independent on Sunday Jan 3, 2018
Downey has a perfect ear for the Chaplin accent, the way it climbed from Cockney to minced posh, and a perfect boot and fist for the slapstick; the one thing he doesn't have is an eye on his own brilliance. Go to Full Review
Angie Errigo Empire Magazine Feb 27, 2008
3/5
For all the movie's undisputed competence, grand and inspired moments are thin on the ground. Go to Full Review
Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter Feb 27, 2008
With this reverential biopic, director Richard Attenborough has cranked out a many-reel, talky talkie. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 18, 2026
4/5
a loving tribute, a passion project tribute to a fondly remembered star of yesterday which somehow launched the biggest star of today... Go to Full Review
Thom Geier AARP Movies for Grownups Mar 29, 2024
4/5
Richard Attenborough’s biopic can be formulaic, but Downey nails Chaplin’s all-over-London accent (sometimes Cockney, sometimes posh) and his gift for sidesplitting slapstick. Go to Full Review
Steve Warren Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 9, 2023
Personalities fly by, mostly in cameos, to heighten the sense that you're getting a lot of dish, but Chaplin feels more like a lesson than an entertainment; yet it doesn't teach us much. If you want to understand Charlie Chaplin, watch his movies. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Luke S Apr 27, 2019 Absolutely brilliant! One of the best films I have ever seen. Robert Downey Jr. IS Charlie Chaplin! I cannot say how much I LOVE this film! A great performance and beautiful dedication from one legend to another! Five stars all the way! Take notes, Hollywood! See more
Apr 18, 2019 The best like original
Abraham G Jan 23, 2019 Chaplin is a phenomenal biopic! Chaplin (1992) is Richard Attenborough's impressive attempt at depicting the magnificent and fascinating life of Charlie Chaplin. Attenborough captures a great deal of tragedy, drama, intrigue, scandal, romance, and insight into Chaplin's chaotic life. Chaplin works so well due to Attenborough not shying away from the more controversial aspects to Charlie's existence, especially his penchant for young girls. Chaplin captures the magic of filmmaking with the unrestrained madness of a creative genius. Attenborough goes to staggering lengths to recreate England and America in the 1900's through the 1970's with a careful eye to detail. The costumes, make-up, accents, fashion, and politics are all front and center. Attenborough uses far wide shots for epic grandeur of a studio scene to intimate close ups of Robert Downey, Jr.'s face for emotional volatility. He is a master director as Attenborough already proved with his 1982 biopic for Gandhi and he captures similar excitement and expressiveness with Chaplin. Speaking of Robert Downey, Jr., I think that Downey gave his greatest acting performance ever as Charlie Chaplin. His career is significant on his own merits from Zodiac to Iron Man, but Chaplin sees Downey in his prime. He kills his English accent with an effortless realism. Downey's fluid dancing and drunken movements at The Tramp character are delightful. His own manic delivery and deep forlorn speech as Chaplin give the man a verbal gravitas. Downey is highly sympathetic, but never goes overboard for such a larger than life figure. Downey is the reason why Chaplin resonated so deeply with me as a movie goer, film critic, and cinema fan. He is as funny and poignant as ever as the tragic hero Charlie Chaplin. I must mention the several excellent supporting roles in Chaplin. Anthony Hopkins is curious and reverential as Chaplin's imagined editor and confidant George Hayden. Kevin Kline is exhilarating and charming as the legendary swashbuckler and friend to Chaplin named Douglas Fairbanks. Geraldine Chaplin is wondrous as her own grandmother Hannah Chaplin. She enchants you with her tender beauty and breaks your heart with a heartfelt and disturbing performance of insanity. Chaplin did her family proud as she is superb actress. Lastly, Moira Kelly is fantastic as Chaplin's first love and inspirational muse Hetty Kelly as well as his eternal love interest Oona O'Neill, respectively. In all, Chaplin may inform you more about the life of Charlie Chaplin than you likely knew, but excels in its depiction of his tumultuous life. His radical ideas and innovative direction are inspiring alongside his entertaining slapstick comedy and sickening romantic life. As depressing and saddening as Chaplin's life seemed, it turns out alright after all the misery. I feel like fans of Charlie Chaplin will be pleased as Chaplin the film will gain his legacy new followers. Chaplin is honestly a brilliant biopic of magical recreation and riveting style. It is still worth watching and absorbing a different time in America. See more
Jul 14, 2018 The Chaplin movie was outstanding! I got to learn more about Charlie Chaplin more than ever! Robert Downy Jr. portraits Chaplin's character (The Little Tramp) very well and for that I'm amazed at what he did! Especially Chaplin himself! See more
Abraham W Sep 10, 2017 Robert Downey Jr gives a great performance as Chaplin showing us when we ventures to America to make it big in the movie business and he quickly becomes the world's most famous man. We see his many relationships,good and bad and see his rise and fall in the Hollywood. A sad ending as we see him in his elder years but feel joy when he picks up an Honoury Academy Award at the 1972 Oscar's. A funny man well ahead of his time See more
Hagrid S Jul 11, 2017 What a wonderful movie, Robert Downey Jr. became Charlie Chaplin and deserved an Oscar!
Read all reviews
Chaplin

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING
Havana 27% 57% Havana Watchlist Gorillas in the Mist 84% 75% Gorillas in the Mist Watchlist Primary Colors 79% 64% Primary Colors Watchlist Seven Years in Tibet 56% 73% Seven Years in Tibet Watchlist Without Limits 80% 91% Without Limits Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Re-creation of the life of comic genius Charles Chaplin, from his humble beginnings in south London through his early days in British vaudeville, his silent movie career in America and his late masterpieces. His turbulent personal life saw four marriages and an enforced exile from the US - though he returned to receive an honorary Oscar in 1972.
Director
Richard Attenborough
Producer
Richard Attenborough, Mario Kassar
Screenwriter
William Boyd, Bryan Forbes, William Goldman
Distributor
Columbia Tristar
Production Co
Canal+, Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 8, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.3M
Runtime
2h 24m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings