City Lights

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1:14

City Lights

G

1931

1h 27m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

Crime

History

Musical

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that she and her grandmother are to be evicted from their home, the tramp undertakes a series of attempts to provide them with the money they need, all of which end in humiliating failure. But after a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) lavishly rewards him for saving his life, the tramp can change the flower girl's life forever.

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Critics Consensus

One of the best underdog romance movies ever, with an ending that will light up any heart.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Jun 27, 2018

A+

Chaplin and his cast have crafted a silent film that is drastically funny, extremely well-shot and still holds up today...this is a labor of love, for sure, but the end result is a classic that has held the test of time.

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Irene Thirer

New York Daily News

Jan 29, 2016

4/4

"City Lights" is excruciatingly funny and terribly, terribly sad. It makes you chuckle hysterically. You have the greatest time imaginable, and yet, occasionally you find little hurty lumps in your throat.

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Scott Tobias

The Dissolve

Nov 19, 2013

5/5

There's dignity and folly to The Tramp in City Lights, and everything in between.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Aug 21, 2026

City Lights delivers all the Charlie Chaplin hallmarks: the duck walk, bowler hat, toothbrush ’stache and pratfalls as gymnastic high art.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 14, 2026

4/4

The film is one superb vignette after another.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Feb 21, 2023

... it borders on maudlin at times, but the rest mixes heartbreak and hardship with slapstick and spirited gags, all with the grace we’ve come to expect of cinema’s silent comic poet.

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Charles C

@RT82389745 Aug 31, 2026

A beautiful film with humor and poignancy and Chaplins masterpiece with an ending that is timeless.

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Cristopher S

@cris_sanchez Aug 25, 2026

City Lights fue una experiencia diferente a las otras películas de Chaplin que he visto. El humor sigue presente y funciona, aunque personalmente no me hizo reír tanto como The Circus. Eso sí, la secuencia de la pelea de boxeo me pareció espectacular y fue fácilmente el momento más divertido de la película; el manejo corporal y el timing de Chaplin hacen que toda la situación funcione perfectamente. Sin embargo, esta vez el humor no fue lo que más me atrapó. Lo que realmente consiguió mantener mi interés fue la historia de amor entre Charlot y la joven florista ciega. Me pareció una historia muy bonita sobre alguien capaz de hacer prácticamente cualquier cosa por ayudar a la persona que ama, sin esperar demasiado a cambio. Además, el contraste entre quién cree ella que es Charlot y quién es realmente permite que la película juegue muy bien con las apariencias.

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Marce S

@RT24248553 Sep 13, 2025

When it comes to Chaplins romance and balancing between comedy and tragedy, no other film hits as hard as this one.

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Hao Ian L

@HaOiAn Sep 9, 2025

There's no denying the groundwork laid here for the comedy genre as a whole, and that is no easy feat, making it Chaplin's well-deserved crowning achievement at the time. Yet, the very same comedic effect does seem to feel very dated in its years, mostly in its slapstick and over-the-top approach that did not age all that well.

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Julio B

Jul 13, 2025

The greatest romantic comedy ever made!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 10, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 27 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Charlie Chaplin as Little Tramp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $18,200.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Charlie Chaplin

Director

Charlie Chaplin

A Tramp

Virginia Cherrill

A blind girl

Harry Myers

An eccentic millionaire

Hank Mann

A prizefighter

Al Ernest Garcia

The eccentric millionaire's butler

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Synopsis

A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that she and her grandmother are to be evicted from their home, the tramp undertakes a series of attempts to provide them with the money they need, all of which end in humiliating failure. But after a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) lavishly rewards him for saving his life, the tramp can change the flower girl's life forever.

Director: Charlie Chaplin
Producer: Charlie Chaplin
Screenwriter: Charlie Chaplin
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Charles Chaplin Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Crime, History, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.2K
Runtime: 1h 27m
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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