Top 10 Horror Movies About Circuses

Description: This pre-Code horror film showcases real-life circus performers with disabilities, exploring themes of acceptance, revenge, and the macabre. It's a film that blurs the line between the normal and the grotesque.

Fact: "Freaks" was banned in several countries for its portrayal of people with disabilities, and it was heavily edited for its initial release.

Description: A plastic surgeon takes over a failing circus, using his skills to transform disfigured performers into beautiful stars, but his dark past catches up with him. This film explores the horror of beauty and the circus's dark underbelly.

Fact: The film was banned in Finland for its violent content, and it was one of the first British films to receive an "X" rating.

Description: A group of teenagers gets trapped in a carnival funhouse with a deranged killer. The film uses the carnival setting to create an atmosphere of dread and suspense, making it a quintessential circus horror experience.

Fact: The film was directed by Tobe Hooper, who also directed "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," and it features practical effects that still hold up today.

Description: This cult classic features alien clowns who invade Earth, turning people into cotton candy and using circus-themed weapons. It's a blend of horror and comedy that perfectly captures the creepy essence of circus clowns.

Fact: The film was shot in just 23 days, and the clowns' makeup was inspired by classic horror films like "The Phantom of the Opera."

Description: While not strictly a circus film, it features a family of psychopathic killers who run a carnival-like attraction. The film's setting and characters evoke the dark, twisted atmosphere of a circus gone wrong.

Fact: This was Rob Zombie's directorial debut, and it was initially banned in several countries for its graphic violence.

Description: While not exclusively about a circus, Pennywise the Dancing Clown, who appears as a circus clown, terrorizes the children of Derry. This modern horror classic uses the circus motif to amplify the fear factor.

Fact: The film was a massive box office success, grossing over $700 million worldwide, and it's based on Stephen King's novel.

Description: Set during the Spanish Civil War, this film follows two clowns, one a sad clown and the other a happy one, whose lives intertwine in a tragic and violent tale. It's a dark, surreal take on the circus life.

Fact: The film won several Goya Awards, Spain's equivalent of the Oscars, and it features a mix of comedy, drama, and horror elements.

Description: A clown named Stitches returns from the dead to seek revenge on the kids who caused his death at a birthday party. The film uses the fear of clowns to create a gory and comedic horror experience.

Fact: The film was directed by Conor McMahon, who also directed "Dead Meat," and it features a memorable performance by Ross Noble as Stitches.

Description: This musical horror film takes place in a carnival run by the Devil, where souls are judged through a series of performances. It's a unique blend of circus horror with a moral twist.

Fact: The film was created by the same team behind "Repo! The Genetic Opera," and it features a mix of original songs and dark storytelling.

Description: A high school drama student discovers that the abandoned theater where she rehearses is haunted by the ghost of a killer clown. The film plays on the fear of clowns and the eerie silence of an empty circus.

Fact: The film was shot in Canada, and it features a chilling performance by Christopher Plummer as the voice of the clown.