Milton Haskins, a math genius known for his infallibility with numbers, quits his job with an insurance company when he discovers he made a mistake, and hooks up with a traveling carnival. His knowledge of mathematics makes him a natural as an assistant at the wheel of fortune. His fiancée begs him to return to his job but he refuses, so she joins the carnival and becomes a striptease artist. When Milton attempts to drag her off the stage, a brawling mêlée breaks out and the entire troupe is arrested by the local police. The carnival is sold but Milton reveals that the new owner has conspired to defraud the insurance company. The insurance company has to accept the carnival in lieu of the money owed, and they allow Milton and his fiancée, Vivian, to stay with and help run the carnival.
Фильм «Малыш» стал первым полнометражным фильмом Чаплина-режиссера. Актера на главную роль Малыша — пятилетнего Джекки Кугана — Чаплин нашел на сцене, где ребенок выступал на равных со взрослыми. Джекки оказался прирожденным актером и схватывал все на лету. Фильм «Малыш» — это история ребенка, брошенного матерью вскоре после рождения. После цепи приключений подкидыша находит житель трущоб бедный Чарли, который учит ребенка тому, что знает сам.
