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.
Directed by Robert Wiene
insane asylum
black and white
silent film
unreliable narrator
expressionism
somnambulist
megalomania
madman
somnambulism
german expressionism
ominous
Rank
#2 in 1920·#1381 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
4.1 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Werner Krauss
Dr. Caligari
Conrad Veidt
Cesare
Friedrich Fehér
Francis
Lil Dagover
Jane
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
Alan
Rudolf Lettinger
Dr. Olsen
Henri Peters-Arnolds
Young Doctor (uncredited)
Rudolf Klein-Rogge
Criminal (uncredited)
Elsa Wagner
Landlady (uncredited)
Crew
Robert Wiene
Director
Giuseppe Becce
Original Music Composer
Erich Pommer
Producer
Rudolf Meinert
Producer
Popular Reviews
1474 reviews
crimzzn
One of the first horror films ever made, and its an absolute bangerrr
One of the first horror films ever made, and its an absolute bangerrr
2
fel1111x
8.0★ · 12/12/25
the beautiful set and art direction made this so immersive for me!
first film ever to have an unreliable narrator too.. and its so well made. i think you can really tell how revolutionary this kind of storytelling was while watching it.
german expressionism is peak
the beautiful set and art direction made this so immersive for me!
first film ever to have an unreliable narrator too.. and its so well made. i think you can really tell how revolutionary this kind of storytelling was while watching it.
german expressionism is peak
2
Ghost
10.0★ · 09/26/25
conrad veidt Better be thankful I wasn’t on this set because I’d be giving him the world best fucking back shots known to mankind
conrad veidt Better be thankful I wasn’t on this set because I’d be giving him the world best fucking back shots known to mankind
1
Vrizooo
8.0★ · 05/19/26
Agapaw ta hand drawn skhnika
Agapaw ta hand drawn skhnika
ken
8.0★ · 05/13/26
**One Year One Film (11/116)** Entering the German Expressionism with a classic and total banger. The soundtrack added to the eeriness of the film, and I absolutely love the style of the set design. Plot was amazing, the ending was incredible as well. Totally didn’t expect a jumpscare from 1920 to get me so good… but here I am. I can’t wait to explore more films from this era ‘cause those aesthetics were amazing.
**One Year One Film (11/116)** Entering the German Expressionism with a classic and total banger. The soundtrack added to the eeriness of the film, and I absolutely love the style of the set design. Plot was amazing, the ending was incredible as well. Totally didn’t expect a jumpscare from 1920 to get me so good… but here I am. I can’t wait to explore more films from this era ‘cause those aesthetics were amazing.
