Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Cabiria

Cabiria

Seen it?

1914 | 148 min | Drama, History

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages or The Fall of the Roman Empire, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 28 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1914: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Young Cabiria is kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave in Carthage. Just as she's to be sacrificed to Moloch, Cabiria is rescued by Fulvius Axilla, a good-hearted Roman spy, and his powerful slave, Maciste. The trio are broken up as Cabiria is entrusted to a woman of noble birth. With Cabiria's fate unknown, Maciste punished for his heroism, and Fulvius sent away to fight for Rome, is there any hope of our heroes reuniting?

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    96% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.2 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 73K people sought it out in the past year

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Giovanni Pastrone

  • Carolina CatenaCabiria (Child)
  • Lidia QuarantaCabiria (Adult)
  • Gina MarangoniCroessa
  • Dante TestaKarthalo
  • Umberto MozzatoFulvio Axilla
  • Bartolomeo PaganoMaciste
  • Raffaele di NapoliBodastoret - the Innkeeper
  • Emilio VardannesHannibal
  • Edoardo DavesnesHasdrubal
  • Italia Almirante-ManziniSophonisba - Hasdrubal's Daughter