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The Unknown

1927·Movie
1h 8min·NR
IMDb7.7Rotten Tomatoes100%–

Where to watch

JustWatch TVThe RokuCriterionPlexDarkroom

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Unknown fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and scary

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Scare7
  • Adrenaline6

Heart

Romantic and cathartic

  • Romance7
  • Catharsis7
  • Pathos6

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor6
  • Physical Comedy3
  • Absurdist Humor3

World

Crime, the mind, and mystery

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Novelty7
  • Dialogue Centrality6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Intrigue9
  • Direction8
  • Acting8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological movies

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

About

Don't miss this startling spectacle!

On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder—a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.
Silent Era HorrorPsychological ThrillerCircus SettingMacabre RomanceDesperation and ObsessionUnsettling AtmosphereStrong PerformancesNoir Elements

Crew

Directed by:
Tod Browning, Harry Sharrock
Written by:
Tod Browning, Waldemar Young, Joseph Farnham
Produced by:
Irving Thalberg
Composed by:
Jack Feinberg, Sam Feinberg

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Unknown

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Unknown legally?

JustWatch TVThe RokuCriterionPlexDarkroomBloodstreamTubi TV

The Unknown is included with a subscription to Bloodstream in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV, Plex, and Darkroom. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Unknown worth watching?

88
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88/100 (IMDb 7.7 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Unknown rated?

NRViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Unknown?

1 h 8 min

The Unknown runs 1 h 8 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Unknown?

Critics100
Audiences77

Not quite. Critics rate The Unknown higher (100) than audiences (77). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Unknown a box office hit?

Budget$217,000
Box office$847,000

Yes. It cost about $217,000 to make and earned $847,000 worldwide, 3.9 times its budget.

What language is The Unknown in?

Englishxx

It was made in English, with some xx. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Unknown?

139ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+125

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Unknown in 139 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Unknown use?

Knife-Throwing ActThe StrongmanDead Man WritingEating the Eye CandyVillainous BreakdownSlasher SmileBlackmailEvil CrippleFreak OutShoot the BuilderDeath Equals RedemptionLovely Assistantand 21 more

TV Tropes lists 33 storytelling tropes for The Unknown, including Knife-Throwing Act, The Strongman, Dead Man Writing.