6 Best Clown Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 23, 2026

Few figures unsettle us like a clown, and filmmakers have mined that for everything from sad drama to gleeful horror. Joker follows a mentally unraveling party clown into violence, It pits outcast kids against a shape-shifting entity, and Clownhouse has escaped patients disguised as circus clowns terrorizing a family. Shakes the Clown, Killer Klowns from Outer Space and The Clown fill out the six.

Joker (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 68% Metacritic 59

A struggling, mentally ill clown-for-hire descends into violence and chaos amid a decaying Gotham City.

Directed by Todd Phillips · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars120 wins & 247 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

It (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 85% Metacritic 69

A group of kids confront a shape-shifting entity that has been terrorising their town for decades.

Directed by Andy Muschietti · 2h 15m · Rated R

12 wins & 49 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, AMC, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Shakes the Clown (1991)

TMDB ★ 5.7

A self-destructive alcoholic children's show clown is framed for the murder of his abusive boss.

Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait · 1h 27m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Clownhouse (1990)

TMDB ★ 5.6

Three escaped mental patients disguise themselves as circus clowns and terrorise a family's home on Halloween night.

Directed by Victor Salva · 1h 21m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Alien invaders disguised as carnival clowns descend on a small town to harvest its terrified residents.

Directed by Stephen Chiodo · 1h 26m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Clown (1953)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A washed-up alcoholic circus clown tries to rebuild his career and his bond with his devoted young son.

Directed by Robert Z. Leonard · 1h 31m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Clown Movies

Joker (2019)

It (2017)

Shakes the Clown (1991)

Clownhouse (1990)

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

The Clown (1953)

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