Carnival movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant carnival movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out weird, suspenseful, psychotronic, suspense, psychological and serious films and TV shows about / with carnival, runaway, death, friendship, amusement park, murder, dialogue, storytelling, chase and blood plots mostly in Drama, Thriller and Horror genres shot in USA, Mexico, Canada and other countries.
578
TOP 10 movies tagged as carnival: The Funhouse (1981), Nightmare Alley (2021), Carnivàle (2003), The Girl Next Door (2007), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019), Sixteen (1972), Grease (1978), Carnaval (2021), Original Sin (2001), An Unforgettable Year: Summer (2023).
Best films
New films
List of carnival movies
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
In a small American town, a diabolical circus arrives, granting wishes for the townsfolk, but twisted as only the esteemed Mr. Dark can make them. Can two young boys overcome the worst the devil himself can deal out?
Style:
gothic, sexy, scary, creepy, suspenseful ...
Audience:
family friendly, kids, teens, family outing, horror for children
Plot:
carnival, witch, boy, black magic, small town, circus, good versus evil, temptation, supernatural, youth, coming of age, librarian ...
Time:
1930s, year 1983, 20th century, 80s
Place:
illinois, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy "Funhouse" horror ...
Style:
suspense, bloody, scary, slasher, sexy ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
carnival, violence, halloween, murder, killer clown, amusement park, clown, serial killer, runaway, blood, teenager, danger ...
Time:
80s, 70s, 5th century, year 1975, 15th century
Place:
usa, texas
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Mexico, Canada
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
An ambitious young carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.
Style:
neo noir, period piece, suspenseful, exciting, gothic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
infidelity, carnival, murder, death, supernatural, guilt, drunkenness, femme fatale, secret, alcohol abuse, female psychiatrist, mentor ...
Time:
year 1941, 2020s, 1940s, 1930s, year 1939
Is relevant?
49K
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Carnivàle is an American television series set in the United States during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. In tracing the lives of two disparate groups of people, its overarching story depicts the battle between good and evil and the struggle ...
Style:
serious, atmospheric, surreal, captivating, period piece ...
Plot:
circus, surrealism, prophecy, healing power, god or devil, evil, psychic, self discovery, clergy, good versus evil, supernatural, freak ...
Time:
1930s, 20th century, year 1935, year 1934
Place:
california, usa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
In a quiet suburban town in the summer of 1958, two recently orphaned sisters are placed in the care of their mentally unstable Aunt Ruth. But Ruth's depraved sense of discipline will soon lead to unspeakable acts of abuse and torture that ...
Style:
scary, disturbing, psychological, frightening, bleak ...
Audience:
girls' night, teens, teen drama, adult
Plot:
torture, child abuse, rape, sexual abuse, violence, victim, physical abuse, cruelty, helplessness, abuse, childhood, unsettling ...
Time:
1950s, 50s, year 2007, year 1958
Place:
new jersey, new york, america, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada
Duration: 44 min.
TV show
Story:
This three-part, self-contained limited series is about the newest member of the Midnight Society, her first scary tale, and what happens to the group when the terrifying events of her story start to actually happen in their small town.
Style:
anthology, disturbing, suspenseful, captivating, spooky ...
Audience:
horror for children
Plot:
fantasy becomes reality, carnival, girl, initiation, deal with the devil, eccentricity, rescue, friend, clown, apocalypse, intelligence agency, mind control ...
Time:
2010s, 2020s, 21st century
Is relevant?
271
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Hickspoiltation film from the early 1970s ostensibly starring Oscar nominee Mercedes McCambridge, but really more a film looking for an excuse to show off Simone Griffeth's beauty. She plays a daughter of a swamp family. The whole family goes ...
Style:
independent film, grindhouse
Plot:
carnival, loss of innocence, skinny dipping, teenage girl, male nudity, money, female nudity, brother sister relationship, parent child relationship, family farm, greed, temptation ...
Time:
70s, 60s
Place:
georgia
Is relevant?
324K
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
Australian good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance despite their eccentric friends?
Style:
romantic, sexy, feel good, sentimental, cult classic ...
Audience:
chick flick, kids, teens, girls' night, date night ...
Plot:
high school, opposites attract, coming of age, dancing, dance, makeover, summer romance, teenage love, love story, first love, teenager, teenage girl ...
Time:
1950s, year 1959, year 1978, 20th century, year 1958 ...
Place:
california, australia, los angeles, bronx new york city, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy
Country: Brazil
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
After a breakup, an influencer takes her friends on a free trip to Bahia's vibrant Carnival, where she learns life's not just about social media likes.
Style:
humorous, funny, captivating, light, feel good ...
Plot:
carnival, travel, friend, friends, lifestyle change, girlfriend girlfriend relationship, humour, girlfriend, lifestyle, life philosophy, friendship, escapades ...
Place:
northeast brazil
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, France, Mexico, USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
A young man is plunged into a life of subterfuge, deceit and mistaken identity in pursuit of a femme fatale whose heart is never quite within his grasp
Style:
sexy, erotic, romantic, suspense, atmospheric ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, adult
Plot:
femme fatale, sex, obsession, couple relations, dangerous attraction, passion, husband wife relationship, love story, passionate sex, desire, sex scene, carnival ...
Time:
19th century, year 2001, victorian era, turn of the century, 20th century ...
Place:
cuba, iran, morocco, delaware, havana cuba ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Romance
Country: Brazil
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
In order to study fashion in so-desired Paris, a young country girl who hates Carnival travels to Rio de Janeiro to try to get support from the most famous designer in Brazil. Set on sneaking into the sewing team of one of the biggest samba schools, ...
Style:
psychological, captivating, thrilling, romantic drama, colorful ...
Plot:
carnival, fashion, dream, young adult, lifestyle change, love story, changing lives, relationships, love and romance, fashion industry, follow your dream, female protagonist ...
Place:
rio de janeiro, brazil
Is relevant?
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
David, a college student, is looking for a job. He is hired by Dr. Stoner as a lab assistant for his research and experiments on snakes. David also begins to fall for Stoner's young daughter, Kristina. However, the good doctor has secretly ...
Style:
medical horror, scary, stylized, suspenseful, grindhouse ...
Plot:
mad scientist, body horror, snake, laboratory, experiment, college student, killer animal, nightmare, transformation, insanity, carnival, python ...
Time:
70s, 80s
Place:
california
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
310K
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that's Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called "Forky" to her room, a road trip adventure ...
Style:
humorous, 3d animation, road movie, saga, touching ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, family friendly, teens, toddlers ...
Plot:
friendship, toy story, travel, on the road, sheriff, astronaut, child, cartoon dog, antique shop, carnival, ventriloquist dummy, cowboy ...
Time:
year 2019, 90s, 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Is relevant?
Genre: Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min.
Story:
Claire Brennen stars as a waitress who leaves the greasy-diner business for the excitement of the carnival. She quickly discovers that she despises freaks and human oddities.
Style:
grindhouse, independent film, semi serious, slasher, scary ...
Plot:
carnival, freak, freakshow, waitress, exploitation, fortune teller, snake charmer, underground, amusement park, diner, mountain, showbiz ...
Time:
60s
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.
Style:
road movie, sentimental, black and white, humorous, touching ...
Audience:
family outing, teens
Plot:
father daughter relationship, friendship, great depression, mischievous children, girl, tomboy, road trip, funeral, little girl, childhood trauma, bible, carnival ...
Time:
1930s, 20th century, year 1973, 70s
Place:
missouri, kansas, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Horror, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
Writer/director Curtis Harrington does an admirable job working around the severe budget limitations of the 1961 psychological chiller Night Tide. Sailor Johnny (Dennis Hopper) falls in love with carnival-girl Mora (Linda Lawson), despite warnings ...
Style:
surprise ending, suspense, detective, independent film, classic horror ...
Plot:
mermaid, nightmare, fortune teller, carnival, sailor, obsession, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, love, scuba diving, beach, tragedy, sea ...
Time:
year 1961
Place:
los angeles, pacific ocean, santa monica california, venice california
Is relevant?
Genre: Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
Traces a family of murderous sideshow performers as they travel around the world on the dying carnival circuit.
Style:
psychological, gothic horror, psychological horror, captivating, suspenseful ...
Plot:
carnival, sideshow, problem, circus, macabre, unsettling, freakshow, murder, outsider, dysfunctional family, road trip, violence ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
A magician in a carnival--who actually can read minds and levitate people and objects--works with a superintelligent chimp named Alex, who can also talk. The magician and the chimp soon become the stars of the carnival, drawing in big crowds. ...
Style:
independent film, exciting, semi serious, humorous
Audience:
family outing, pre-teens
Plot:
carnival, magician, magician's assistant, magic, circus, mind reading, chimpanzee, monkey, magic show, magic trick, hick, buddhism ...
Time:
80s
Place:
south carolina, southern usa, north carolina, india
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min.
Story:
Beatnick Jerry takes his girl, Angie to the carnival. Angie wants to go see the gypsy fortune teller, Jerry does not but relents. After visiting the fortune teller and hearing bad news, Jerry goes alone to see Carmelita, the dancer (the fortune ...
Style:
horror musical, cult horror, grindhouse, absurd, cult classic ...
Plot:
zombie, carnival, acid, gypsy, fortune teller, exploitation, disfigurement, woman strangled to death, drunkard, dancer, singer, occult ...
Time:
60s
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Country: Japan
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Shin-chan and his friends must overcome hunger and other obstacles when they're tasked with delivering a barrel of legendary sauce to a food festival.
Style:
anime, feel good, satirical, lighthearted, entertaining ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
carnival, satire, child protagonist, children, food, gourmet, cookery, mysterious character, investigation, child, cooking, festival ...
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Mexico, Spain
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
Residents of a bordello scurry to put together their outfits for an annual carnival.
Style:
captivating, psychological, disturbing, tragicomedy, dark comedy ...
Plot:
prostitution, brothel, carnival, oppression, nightclub, social problems, escapades, sexuality, cabaret, character study, festival, religion ...
Is relevant?
1K
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Canada
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
When a traveling carnival comes to a rural Nebraska town, the caged attraction everyone is talking about is the alleged Jersey Devil. When the beast escapes, tearing the citizens to shreds, local sheriff Sam Atlas steps up to form a tracking team. ...
Style:
exciting, suspenseful, scary, tense, suspense ...
Plot:
carnival, supernatural, danger, legends and myths, chaos and mayhem, creature feature, gory, escapades, clergy, small town, creature, ogre ...
Place:
nebraska, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Brazil, France, Netherlands, Germany
Duration: 161 min.
Story:
In 1977 Recife, Marcelo, a technology expert in his early forties, returns in the midst of Carnaval to reunite with his son and plot a dangerous escape under the ever-watchful eyes of Brazil’s repressive military regime.
Style:
political thriller, non-linear, period drama
Plot:
male nudity, gas station, projectionist, corruption, hitman, underground movement, resistance movement, public nudity, dead body, teenage boy, carnival, shark ...
Time:
year 1977, 20th century, 70s, 2020s
Place:
brazil, northeast brazil
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
206K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, China
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives ...
Style:
exciting, captivating, suspense, futuristic, saga ...
Audience:
teens, kids, adult
Plot:
robot, alien invasion, car, teenager, robot vs. robot, chase, military, transforming robot, teenage girl, interspecies friendship, showdown, alien ...
Time:
80s, year 1987, 2010s, 20th century
Place:
texas, california, san francisco, north america
Is relevant?
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
Two carnies (Sewell and Gugino) abduct a mermaid in Ireland, circa 1900, and decide to transport her to America. As their ship loses its way and heads towards the mythical Forbidden Islands, the mermaid begins to display its deadly side.
Style:
scary, atmospheric, modern fairy tale, serious, suspenseful ...
Plot:
mermaid, creature, ship, dangerous animal, countryside, sea monster, sailor, creature feature, female nudity, pregnancy, danger, rescue ...
Time:
1900s, 20th century, year 1900
Place:
ireland
Is relevant?
39K
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Spain
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
The Spanish deep South, 1980. A series of brutal murders of adolescent girls in a remote and forgotten town bring together two disparate characters - both detectives in the homicide division - to investigate the cases. With deep divisions in their ...
Style:
unusual plot structure, suspense, suspenseful, detective, serious ...
Plot:
serial killer, police investigation, investigation, kidnapping, murder investigation, murder mystery, twists and turns, disappearance, partners against crime, murder, sexual abuse, carnival ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, 20th century, year 1980, 80s
Place:
spain, iberian peninsula
Is relevant?
34K
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.
Style:
sincere, touching, sexy, meditative, art house ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
gay, lgbt, gay love, gay relationship, gay couple, gay club, homosexuality, gay romance, gay interest, homosexual, one night stand, gay sex ...
Time:
90s, 2010s, 2000s, 70s, 21st century
Place:
england, europe, britain, london, canada
Is relevant?
26K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Netherlands, UK, USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
After losing a powerful orb, Kara, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch
Style:
serious, stylized, suspenseful, tense, saga ...
Audience:
kids, family friendly, teens, pre-teens, boys' night ...
Plot:
teenage girl, superheroine, superhero, female protagonist, female superhero, tough girl, villainess, teenage superheroine, girl heroine, female warrior, blonde girl, blonde ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
illinois, new york, chicago
Is relevant?
97K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is ...
Style:
sentimental, touching, feel good, crying, sweet ...
Audience:
girls' night, teens, kids, date night, family friendly ...
Plot:
coming of age, friendship, childhood, father daughter relationship, first love, children, single father, single parent, small town, kids and family, grief, teenager ...
Time:
70s, 90s, year 1972, year 1991, 20th century ...
Place:
pennsylvania, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
After a car crash sends repressed cartoonist Stu Miley (Fraser) into a coma, he and the mischievous Monkeybone, his hilariously horny alter-ego, wake up in a wacked-out waystation for lost souls. When Monkeybone takes over Stu's body and ...
Style:
black comedy, humorous, cult classic, absurd, not serious ...
Audience:
date night, family outing, teens, adult
Plot:
coma, parallel world, surrealism, carnival, drawing, cyclops, monkey, dream, alternate reality, imaginary, goofy hero, stop motion ...
Time:
20th century, year 2001
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
