Circus Of Books is a spellbinding portrait of two unlikely Queer allies, charting their personal journeys with a community that would become central to their lives.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 1, 2021

Circus of Books cops a feel for the personal, the political, and the pornographic, all at once -- you'll need a cigarette after it's done with you.

| Jul 6, 2021

The store may be long gone but its ethos of embracing who you are is well represented in this charming documentary.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 30, 2021

Circus of Books entertains so much because of how unlikely the Masons' story first appears, but it's also fascinating to watch history unfold and see how they regularly found themselves part of larger cultural events.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jan 1, 2021

A successful ode to its owners and the impact they crafted.

| Sep 23, 2020

The documentary serves as a fittingly idiosyncratic memorial to the remarkable resource and vital meeting space that Circus of Books was ... a heartfelt message of love and gratitude to the owners and patrons that keep the spirit alive.

| Jul 27, 2020

The movie strikes the right balance between showing touches humor, but not at the expense of addressing serious topics.

| Jul 11, 2020

A seemingly mild mannered Jewish family runs a prolific erotic book store in Los Angeles.

| Jun 7, 2020

Circus of Books is essential viewing-a raw, often hilarious, moving story about a family working in the background of a marginalized culture.

| May 29, 2020

Circus of Books is a triumph of filmmaking in the way it covers such a range of topics so seamlessly: LGBTQ history, pornography, religion, obscenity law, media, AIDS, coming out, parenthood, and more.

| May 29, 2020

An interesting story about not only gay life in America and the story of a small business, but also what's going on in [a] family that runs this extremely unusual small business.

| Original Score: 3/4 | May 16, 2020

If you hear "mom and pop gay porn store" and don't immediately send Jerry Falwell a check, watch Circus of Books. It's genuinely moving and impeccably made.

| Original Score: A | May 15, 2020

Circus of Books is a whirlwind of a story, and an absolute triumph of a film.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 15, 2020

An intimate and fascinating documentary that casts a light on the history and the struggles of the queer community in American society. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3/4 | May 10, 2020

The director narrates with notable care the implications derived from being parents of some pornographers. [Full Review in Spanish]

| May 8, 2020

The scrappy style of the film, like the store, is engaging. By the time "Circus of Books" ends, viewers who had been to the hallowed ground should have good memories, while those who never visited, will wish they had been able to visit.

| May 4, 2020

Although it doesn't always hit the mark, and there are certain aspects you wish Mason had delved further into, ultimately Circus of Books packs so much heart and warmth that only the coldest of souls would fail to be moved by it come the end credits.

| May 1, 2020

Stars of the genre, customers and former employees of the store shape a story that ends up taking a much more personal direction. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 1, 2020

To the Masons, it seemed more like a millstone. Too bad the director treads so lightly on such heavy material.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 1, 2020

There is a non-glossy quality to the whole documentary that adds to the feeling of its authenticity and mirrors Masons' unfussy approach toward life and work.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 30, 2020