The Pawnshop

Between the constant churn of new releases, The Pawnshop in Australia on True Story, and in the US on True Story and Kanopy is the comedy actually worth stopping for. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 120 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Charlie Chaplin is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on True Story and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Pawnshop earns its spot. The jokes in The Pawnshop land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A pawnbroker's assistant deals with his grumpy boss, his annoying co-worker and some eccentric customers as he flirts with the pawnbroker's daughter, until a perfidious crook with bad intentions arrives at the pawnshop. The chemistry Charlie Chaplin and Henry Bergman bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. The Pawnshop came out in 1916. What keeps The Pawnshop from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, The Pawnshop is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Charlie Chaplin is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

The Pawnshop was released in 1916, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The full 26-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.