Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Ruggero Deodato's notorious found-footage horror remains one of cinema's most controversial and legally embattled films ever made.
Cannibal Holocaust - Movie Information
- Original Title: Cannibal Holocaust
- Release Year: 1980
- Directed by: Ruggero Deodato
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror
- Age Rating (US): NC-17
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: English, Italian, Spanish
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 7, 1980 (Italy - VM18), January 16, 1981 (Germany - 18), April 22, 1981 (France - 18), June 20, 1980 (Australia - R 18+), November 7, 1985 (Brazil - 18), October 19, 1980 (Spain - 18)
- Alternative Titles: 人食人实录 (CN), Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust (US), เปรตเดินดินกินเนื้อคน (TH), Kannibalmassakren (DK), Holocausto caníbal (ES), Holocausto Canibal (BR), Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust (NL), Пекло канібалів (UA)
- Production Companies: F.D. Cinematografica, Bolivariana Films, United Artists Europa, Transcontinental Films
- Production Countries: Colombia, Italy
Cannibal Holocaust - Plot
A New York University professor returns from a rescue mission to the Amazon rainforest with the footage shot by a lost team of documentarians who were making a film about the area's local cannibal tribes.
Cannibal Holocaust - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the infamous imagery that shocked audiences worldwide:
They eat and they are eaten!
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Cannibal Holocaust - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Ruggero Deodato
Main Cast
- Robert Kerman
- Francesca Ciardi
- Perry Pirkanen
- Luca Barbareschi
- Salvatore Basile
- Ricardo Fuentes
- Carl Gabriel Yorke
- Paolo Paoloni
- Lionello Pio Di Savoia
- Luigina Rocchi
Writers
- Gianfranco Clerici
Producers
- Franco Di Nunzio
- Franco Palaggi
Cannibal Holocaust - FAQs
Where can you stream Cannibal Holocaust?
Cannibal Holocaust is available to stream on Shudder, AMC+, Fandor, Philo, Night Flight Plus, Cultpix, and Midnight Pulp. It can also be rented or purchased on Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home, and watched free with ads on Cineverse, FOUND TV, and Kanopy.
Was Ruggero Deodato arrested over Cannibal Holocaust?
Yes. After the film's Italian release in 1980, director Ruggero Deodato was arrested on obscenity charges and briefly faced murder allegations because authorities believed the on-screen deaths were real. He was ultimately acquitted after the cast appeared in public and the special effects were demonstrated in court.
Is Cannibal Holocaust based on a true story?
Cannibal Holocaust is a fictional film, though Deodato drew inspiration from sensationalist Italian television journalism and real Amazon tribal cultures. The found-footage format was so convincing that many viewers initially believed the events were genuine, contributing to the film's notoriety and Deodato's legal troubles.
What is Cannibal Holocaust about?
A New York University professor ventures into the Amazon rainforest to retrieve footage left behind by a missing documentary crew. The recovered film reveals the crew's increasingly brutal and exploitative behavior toward indigenous cannibal tribes, raising disturbing questions about who the real savages are.
Were real animals killed in Cannibal Holocaust?
Yes. Several animals were genuinely killed during production, including a large turtle, a coati, a spider, and a snake. These scenes remain among the most controversial aspects of the film and have led to its banning in numerous countries. Many home video releases include edited versions that remove the animal killings.
What is the age rating for Cannibal Holocaust?
Cannibal Holocaust carries an NC-17 rating in the United States, the most restrictive MPA classification. The film contains extreme graphic violence, sexual violence, and real animal deaths. It has been banned outright in several countries and remains heavily restricted or censored in many others worldwide.
Who directed and wrote Cannibal Holocaust?
Cannibal Holocaust was directed by Ruggero Deodato and written by Gianfranco Clerici. The film was produced by Franco Di Nunzio and Franco Palaggi, with cinematography by Sergio D'Offizi and a memorable score composed by Riz Ortolani, whose lush, melodic music creates a haunting contrast with the film's brutal imagery.
How long is Cannibal Holocaust and when was it released?
Cannibal Holocaust runs 95 minutes and was first released in Italy on February 7, 1980. It subsequently opened in Australia in June 1980, Spain in October 1980, Germany and France in early 1981, and received its US release in June 1985, carrying an NC-17 rating.
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