The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Kernel Score: 90% · 1,736 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller, Crime
Released: 1920-02-27
Runtime: 77 minutes
Where to watch The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
- Stream: Fubo, Philo, Eternal Family, Shudder Apple TV channel, Kino Film Collection, Bloodstream
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse, Darkroom, Public Domain Movies
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancée Jane recently went through. Francis and his friend Alan visit The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the somnambulist Cesare, and awakens him for some moments from his death-like sleep.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a silent horror classic with unsettling, eerie imagery.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Features an unsettling story involving a sleepwalking murderer figure and an insane asylum setting, though bloodless by modern standards.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
If you liked The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Insomnia (2002) — 76%
- M (1931) — 90%
- Dead of Night (1945) — 81%
- Shock Corridor (1963) — 77%
- Faust (1926) — 89%
- Legend (2015) — 80%
- Dark Waters (2019) — 84%
- Death Whisperer (2023) — 82%
Director
Robert Wiene
Cast
- Werner Krauss as Dr. Caligari
- Conrad Veidt as Cesare
- Friedrich Fehér as Francis
- Lil Dagover as Jane
- Hans Heinrich von Twardowski as Alan
- Rudolf Lettinger as Dr. Olsen
- Henri Peters-Arnolds as Young Doctor (uncredited)
- Rudolf Klein-Rogge as Criminal (uncredited)
- Hans Lanser-Rudolf as Old Man (uncredited)
- Ludwig Rex as Murderer (uncredited)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari FAQ
Is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari good?
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari has a 90% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,736 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari?
In the US you can stream The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on Fubo, Philo, Eternal Family, Shudder Apple TV channel, Kino Film Collection and Bloodstream, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse, Darkroom and Public Domain Movies and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari OK for kids?
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a silent horror classic with unsettling, eerie imagery.
What movies are like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari?
If you liked The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, try Insomnia, M, Dead of Night and Shock Corridor.