The Climax
Performance & Direction: The Climax Review
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Climax (1944) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.5/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Music.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Music is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Climax features a noteworthy lineup led by Boris Karloff . Supported by the likes of Susanna Foster and Turhan Bey , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Climax (1944) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.5/10, it stands as a decent one-time watch.
Story & Plot Summary: The Climax
Quick Plot Summary: The Climax is a Music, Horror, Thriller film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Climax
Ending Breakdown: The Climax attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to music resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the music themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Climax reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Climax?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Music films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Top Cast: The Climax
All Cast & Crew →
The Climax Parents Guide & Age Rating
1944 AdvisoryWondering about The Climax age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Climax is 86 minutes (1h 26m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.5/10, and global performance metrics, The Climax is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1944 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Climax worth watching?
The Climax is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Music movies. It has a verified rating of 5.5/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Climax parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Climax identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Climax?
The total duration of The Climax is 86 minutes, which is approximately 1h 26m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Climax
A very enjoyable romp from the 40's about unrequited love driving a man to obsession, selfishness and murder, and you really can't go wrong with Boris Karloff, particularly from this vintage. This is especially enjoyable if you're a fan of opera at all. New York City-born director Waggner, most famous for 'The Wolf Man', is decent at this sort of thing, though he got relegated the last phase of his career to TV-work (such as the 60's 'Batman'). Karloff's first colour film (and in Technicolor, no doubt), it's also famous for using the same sets as 'The Phantom of the Opera', made the previous year--the oldest surviving movie set. I came across this in an excellent 5-film pack of Karloff-starred thrillers from the late 30's and early 40's. Both the boxed set and this individual film are highly recommended to fans of the star's work.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
