Caligula
Seen it?1979 | 156 min | Drama, History
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
People are still talking about it, but middling reviews (21% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 6.0 out of 10 from audiences held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 36 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated NC-17: expect sex.
- It's long: 2 hr 36 min.
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
After the death of the paranoid emperor Tiberius, Caligula, his heir, seizes power and plunges the empire into a bloody spiral of madness and depravity.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
21% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$23 million worldwide on a $18 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 717K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Tinto Brass
- Malcolm McDowellCaligula
- Teresa Ann SavoyDrusilla
- Helen MirrenCaesonia
- Peter O'TooleTiberius
- John SteinerLonginus
- Guido MannariMacro
- Paolo BonacelliChaerea
- Leopoldo TriesteCharicles
- Giancarlo BadessiClaudius
- Mirella D'AngeloLivia