“Aligning closely with Gore Vidal’s original script, Caligula: The Ultimate Cut climbs out of its salacious cocoon to become what it was always meant to be: a genuine masterwork tracking one man’s descent into madness painted on a canvas of hedonism.” – But Why Tho

Absolute power corrupts absolutely in Caligula: The Ultimate Cut, an extensive reconstruction of the notorious 1980 spectacle. Shadowed by the murder of his family, Caligula (Malcolm McDowell) eliminates his devious adoptive grandfather (Peter O’Toole) and seizes control of the Roman Empire alongside his wife Caesonia (Helen Mirren) before descending into a spiral of depravity, destruction, and madness. Constructed entirely from previously unused footage, The Ultimate Cut is “a historic act of preservation” (Variety) that restores this work from its notoriously altered original theatrical version—which featured hardcore sex scenes inserted by the film’s producer, Penthouse editor Bob Guccione—to its proper status as a glorious, vicious “masterpiece” (Unspooled).

After the film, we are honored to welcome Aaron Shaps, editor of The Ultimate Cut and author of Caligula: The Official Story of the Film, for a discussion and Q&A. Aaron will also have copies of his books available for purchase!

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.