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Celluloid
ComedyDramaRomance

City Lights

Directed by Charlie Chaplin · 1931 ·

Short answer

Is City Lights worth watching?

Yes. City Lights (1931) earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

83%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

87% Editorial Rating
89% Audience snapshot · excluded
81 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 27m
Age rating
G (US) · U (UK) · G (Australia) · G (Canada) · ALL (South Korea)
Cast
Charlie Chaplin , Virginia Cherrill , Florence Lee , Harry Myers , Al Ernest Garcia , Hank Mann , Albert Austin , Eddie Baker , Henry Bergman , Buster Brodie
Streaming
Prime Video, HBO Max
Language
English

Also known as Luces de la ciudad Les Lumières de la ville Lichter der Großstadt Luzes da Cidade 街の灯 시티 라이트 城市之光 Şehir Işıkları

Where to watch

  • Prime Video
  • HBO Max

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch City Lights by country

Country Streaming on
India Lionsgate Play
Indonesia KlikFilm
Japan U-NEXT
Turkey TV+, HBO Max
United Kingdom Prime Video
United States Prime Video, HBO Max

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (87/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded comedy, drama, romance pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is City Lights worth watching?

    Yes — City Lights earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded comedy, drama, romance pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #55 (8.5/10) — City Lights remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is City Lights about?

    A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower girl. His on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English City Lights

    City Lights (1931) Review: Chaplin's Tenderest Comedy

    City Lights is Charlie Chaplin's silent romantic comedy about the Tramp's devotion to a blind flower seller, and it is still as funny as it is heartbreaking.

    Yes. It is Chaplin at his peak and one of the best entry points to silent film, ideal for newcomers to classic cinema and anyone who loves romantic comedy.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    City Lights stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    City Lights production still 1
    City Lights production still 2
    City Lights production still 3
    City Lights production still 4
    City Lights production still 5
    City Lights production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    City Lights: frequently asked questions

    Is City Lights worth watching?

    Yes. City Lights (1931) has a Celluloid Score of 83%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch City Lights?

    In the United States, City Lights streams on Prime Video, HBO Max with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Lionsgate Play in India; KlikFilm in Indonesia; U-NEXT in Japan; TV+, HBO Max in Turkey. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is City Lights?

    City Lights runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).

    What is City Lights rated?

    City Lights is rated G in the United States, U in the UK, G in Australia, G in Canada and ALL in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in City Lights?

    City Lights is directed by Charlie Chaplin and stars Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee, Harry Myers, Al Ernest Garcia.

    What is the Metascore for City Lights?

    Metacritic's Metascore for City Lights is 81 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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