Published: November 7, 2026 · Last updated: November 7, 2026 · 2 min read
These two films directed by Charlie Chaplin belong to the comedy, drama, and romance genres. Both productions feature the actor in the role of a tramp navigating various social circumstances.
Spoiler-free comparison using public data.
Modern Times vs City Lights: Side by Side
| Modern Times (1936) | City Lights (1931) | |
|---|---|---|
| Genres | Comedy, Drama, Romance | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Runtime | 87 min | 87 min |
| Directed by | Charlie Chaplin | Charlie Chaplin |
| Top cast | Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman | Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee |
| US rating | G | G |
| IMDb | — | — |
| Rotten Tomatoes | — | — |
| Metacritic | — | — |
| TMDB score | 8.3/10 | 8.2/10 |
How They Compare on the Numbers
- Both run 87 minutes.
- Modern Times has the higher TMDB score (8.3 vs 8.2).
- City Lights came out first (1931-02-06).
- Shared genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance.
- Shared cast: Charlie Chaplin, Hank Mann, Al Ernest Garcia.
- Same director: Charlie Chaplin.
What Each Movie Is About
Modern Times
A bumbling tramp desires to build a home with a young woman, yet is thwarted time and time again by his lack of experience and habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time...
City Lights
A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower girl. His on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor.
Which Should You Watch First?
Start with Modern Times if:
- Modern Times features a factory worker attempting to build a home with a young woman.
- This 87-minute film has a TMDB score of 8.3 based on 4255 votes.
Start with City Lights if:
- City Lights follows a tramp who supports a blind flower girl through a wealthy friendship.
- This 87-minute movie holds a TMDB score of 8.2 with 2588 recorded votes.
Both films share identical genres and an 87-minute runtime, with Modern Times holding a slightly higher TMDB score than City Lights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is longer, Modern Times or City Lights?
They have the same listed runtime.
Where do the ratings come from?
From TMDB and, where shown, OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic). They were checked on November 7, 2026 and change over time.
Data checked on November 7, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
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About this guide. Published by Morfeli on November 7, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer) and are summarized with AI assistance. This page is a data summary, not a critic’s review or a personal opinion; nobody here claims to have rated the title. Scores and details change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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