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Shakes the Clown

1991·Movie
1h 27min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Shakes the Clown fingerprint

Very funny, emotionally cool.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension4
  • Violence3
  • Scare2

Heart

Melancholic and moving

  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis6

Humor

Plenty of cringe comedy and dark humor

  • Cringe Humor9
  • Dark Humor9
  • Satire & Parody7

World

Everyday modern life, show business, and the mind

  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • World Immersion6
  • Novelty6

Craft

Standout performances

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth7
  • Direction6

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Editing5
  • Cinematography4
  • Music Composition3

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting mood

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Loved by children. Desired by women. Adored by bartenders everywhere.

Shakes plods about his duties as party clown, and uses all of his free time getting seriously drunk. Binky, another clown, wins the spot on a local kiddie show, which depresses Shakes even more, and his boss threatens him with unemployment if he can't get his act under control.
Dark Comedy DramaClown NoirAlcoholism PortraitShowbiz SatireCringe HumorBleak RealismCharacter StudyOffbeat Indie

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Shakes the Clown

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Shakes the Clown legally?

You can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Shakes the Clown worth watching?

48
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 48/100 (IMDb 5.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 43%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Shakes the Clown rated?

RViolenceStrong languageDrug useDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, drug use, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Shakes the Clown?

1 h 27 min

Shakes the Clown runs 1 h 27 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Shakes the Clown?

Critics43
Audiences53

Not quite. Audiences rate Shakes the Clown higher (53) than critics (43). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Shakes the Clown a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$115,103

No. It cost about $1 million to make and earned $115,103 worldwide, 8% of its budget.

What language is Shakes the Clown in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Shakes the Clown?

34AUBGBYBZCACLCOCVCYCZEEGBGGGH+20

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Shakes the Clown in 34 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Shakes the Clown use?

Seinfeldian ConversationSpy SpeakDouble EntendreDrugs Are BadThe Aggressive Drug DealerJade-Colored GlassesExpyFreudian ExcuseCower PowerDepraved Kids' Show HostAwesome Anachronistic ApparelParental Substituteand 35 more

TV Tropes lists 47 storytelling tropes for Shakes the Clown, including Seinfeldian Conversation, Spy Speak, Double Entendre.