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Poster for House of Wax

House of Wax

Seen it?

1953 | 88 min | Horror, Crime

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), it made about 24 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime fans and horror fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Scary and gory, gritty.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 28 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1953: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

A sculptor opens a wax museum to showcase the likenesses of famous historical figures, but quickly runs into trouble when his business partner demands the exhibits become more extreme in order to increase profits.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.9 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $24 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 139K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by André de Toth

  • Vincent PriceHenry Jarrod
  • Frank LovejoyTom Brennan
  • Phyllis KirkSue Allen
  • Carolyn JonesCathy Gray
  • Paul PicerniScott Andrews
  • Roy RobertsMatthew Burke
  • Angela ClarkeMrs. Andrews
  • Paul CavanaghSidney Wallace
  • Dabbs GreerShane
  • Charles BronsonIgor