Set in the early 1910s, Circus World follows Matt Masters, a former Wild West showman, who returns to his circus roots to seek revenge and reunite with his estranged daughter. Along the way, he faces various challenges including a menacing circus performer, a tragic fire, and an Indian attack.

Saadia is a wild, strange Arab girl whose life has been dominated by a local sorceress, a vengeful outcast in the community, who has convinced her she has the "evil eye" and brings disaster to all who love her. French doctor Henrik takes her to his clinic, for rehabilitation purposes, and falls in love with her as does his friend, Si Lahssen, the reigning prince of this small Moroccan state. When a plague falls on the town, Saadia is convinced she is responsible, and rides alone into the mountain country to retrieve the plague serum being held for ransom by bandits. The love triangle dominates most of the rest of the film.

A tragedy revolving around the prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who seeks revenge for his father's death and navigates the complex web of family relationships and power struggles.

The tangled affairs of George, Prince of Wales, leading to his illegal marriage to commoner Mrs. Fitzherbert. Also portrayed is the conflict between the future George IV and his father George III.