6 Best Mime and Silent Performer Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 15, 2026

The art of wordless performance has inspired some of cinema’s most visually poetic and emotionally direct storytelling. In Children of Paradise (1945): A beautiful courtesan captivates four very different men in 19th-century Parisian theatrical circles. Another standout is Modern Times (1936): A factory worker and a homeless woman struggle to survive together during the Great Depression.

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A hapless Englishman's simple trip to the south of France spirals into a chaotic series of misadventures.

Directed by Steve Bendelack · 1h 30m · Rated G

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Artist (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 95% Metacritic 89

A silent film star's career collapses with the arrival of talking pictures, just as a young actress rises to fame.

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius · 1h 40m · Rated PG-13

Won 5 Oscars162 wins & 204 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Circus (1928)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A tramp accidentally becomes a circus star while falling for the ringmaster's mistreated stepdaughter.

Directed by Charlie Chaplin · 1h 12m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, FlixFling, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Modern Times (1936)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 98% Metacritic 96

A factory worker and a homeless woman struggle to survive together during the Great Depression.

Directed by Charlie Chaplin · 1h 27m · Rated G

6 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Red Balloon (1956)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A lonely Parisian boy befriends a magical, sentient red balloon that follows him everywhere.

Directed by Albert Lamorisse · 0h 34m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, FlixFling, HBO Max, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artify · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Artify · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Children of Paradise (1945)

TMDB ★ 8.2

A beautiful courtesan captivates four very different men in 19th-century Parisian theatrical circles.

Directed by Marcel Carné · 3h 10m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ 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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Mime and Silent Performer Movies

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

The Artist (2011)

The Circus (1928)

Modern Times (1936)

The Red Balloon (1956)

Children of Paradise (1945)

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