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Nightmare Alley Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Portrait of Amy Renner Amy Renner

Last modified: Nov. 18, 2021

Nightmare Alley

Release Date: Friday, December 17, 2021 Theaters

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Bradley Cooper Toni Collette Rooney Mara Cate Blanchett David Strathairn

  • 4.2

79%

21%

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot
In Nightmare Alley, an ambitious young carny (Bradley Cooper) with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who is even more dangerous than he is. The carnival cast includes carnival worker Molly (Rooney Mara), head barker Clem (Willem Dafoe), and Ron Perlman as Bruno the Strongman. Richard Jenkins is part of the high society crowd as wealthy industrialist Ezra Grindle.
Cited as official plot version
Thriller Adaptation Noir

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Top Cast

The lead cast starring in Nightmare Alley.

Crew Behind the Film

The Nightmare Alley behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Guillermo del Toro last directed Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. The film's writer Guillermo del Toro last wrote Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio and Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans.

Producers
J. Miles Dale
Guillermo del Toro
Production Companies

Production Details

What we know about the Nightmare Alley movie production.

Key Facts

  • Writer/director Guillermo del Toro said "I’m inspired and elated to be joined by this brilliant cast. Kim Morgan and I have worked with great passion to bring the dark, raw world and language of William Gresham to the screen and now we are joined by a superb group of artists and technicians to bring it to life (1/30/2020).”
  • Aademy Award winner Guillermo del Toro (THE SHAPE OF WATER, PAN’S LABYRINTH) directs and co-writes with Kim Morgan (THE FORBIDDEN ROOM).
  • David Strathairn has joined the cast of the Fox Searchlight picture (Hollywood Reporter, 9/27/19). Strathairn will play the alcoholic husband of Collette’s character, a mentalist named Zeena who ends up mentoring Cooper's character.
  • It’s based on the novel by William Lindsay Gresham and not the 1947 movie of the same name.

Production Updates for Nightmare Alley

Completed

Changed Nightmare Alley movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Production

Changed the movie production status to Production. Searchlight Pictures announced that principal photography on Nightmare Alley began January 30, 2020 on location in Toronto, Canada.

Pre-Production

Changed the movie production status to Pre-Production. Shooting will begin in early 2020 in Toronto.

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. The movie is likely in scripting, budgeting, or stuck in "development hell."

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Additional Information

Parent Rating
R Restricted for strong/bloody violence, some sexual content, nudity and language
Runtime
N/A
Tagline
Not available
Also known as
Not available
Language
English

All Trailers

Watch official Nightmare Alley movie trailers and clips.

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Nightmare Alley

Official Trailer

Release Dates

When was the film released?

Nightmare Alley was released in nationwide movie theaters on Friday, December 17, 2021. There were 14 other movies released on the same date, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Fortress and The Tender Bar.

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On DVD, Blu-ray / 4K

  • 2022-02-00 DVD

Buy/Rent on Digital (Ultra HD)



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Follow the Updates

Thu., Nov. 18, 2021

  • Set the MPAA rating to R for strong/bloody violence, some sexual content, nudity and language

  • Changed the status of Ron Perlman as Bruno to Current

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