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The Prestige

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for The Prestige PG-13 2006 2h 10m Drama Fantasy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
77% Tomatometer 209 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
An illusion gone horribly wrong pits two 19th-century magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman), against each other in a bitter battle for supremacy. Terrible consequences loom when the pair escalate their feud, each seeking not just to outwit -- but to destroy -- the other man.
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The Prestige

The Prestige

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Critics Consensus

Full of twists and turns, The Prestige is a dazzling period piece that never stops challenging the audience.

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Critics Reviews

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Graham Fuller Sight & Sound 11/02/2018
Although the film's stunning reveals make the audience realise it has been duped... there is a protagonist to empathise with each time. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 09/07/2007
3/4
It's quite a movie -- atmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic. Go to Full Review
Brian Tallerico UGO 03/24/2007
An example of old-fashioned storytelling, the kind of magical movie that could have been made fifty years ago and, consequently, will still be watched fifty years from now. Go to Full Review
Andrew Wyatt The Take-Up 1d
20 years later, 'The Prestige' rises from the pack as Christopher Nolan's "early period" masterwork: a lush and exhilarating depiction of dueling worldviews, shared obsessions, and the emergent challenges and horrors of our godless, technocratic world. Go to Full Review
Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Jul 13
2.5/5
An impressively bespoke pitch deck for 20 years of Christopher Nolan's filmmaking philosophies but still just a pitch deck all the same — with a voila reveal no less embarrassing than that of a Gob Bluth illusion. Go to Full Review
Gissane Sophia Lady Geeks Media Jul 6
4/5
Visually, The Prestige is among one of the most gorgeous films in Nolan’s filmography, and a tremendous showcase of how much he packs into a single frame. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jace E @thefilmguy 7h How this movie made me feel in one word: Staggered The Prestige might have my favorite twist/reveal in modern cinema. The back and forth between Jackman and Bale is tense, the acting is superb and the storytelling is immersive. I remember watching this film a decade ago and loving the finale. In the time that passed since then, I had forgotten the details of the twist. I was just as surprised and elated as the first time. As is true with most Nolan films, I'm ready to go back and watch it again to discover the clues hidden throughout. Best Character: Alfred Best Quote: "Are you watching closely?" - Borden Best Scene: The actual prestige of the movie Best Piece of Score: "The Price Of A Good Trick" Note: The true hero of the story won in the end. See more Kevin P @RT55971421 10h A very underrated Nolan film with so many great twists and turns that makes the whole movie feel like one big magic trick. I love the fun rivalry between the two magicians. It's fascinating getting to see a peek behind the curtain at how magicians created their illusions. The movie is a love letter to the magic of science and how often it blends into creating illusions of magic. The climax is where the film finally comes together, and it elevates the whole material. But I still don't like that the other Borden still gets rewarded over Angier. It's a shame how both wives are used as pawns and fridged. But thankfully everything else is fantastic. The movie has a great use of the non-linear storytelling to give us some of the best twists and cinematic magic tricks. The movie has great rewatchability value thanks to the insane twist ending that was expertly foreshadowed from the star and makes you want to rewatch it to find the secret of the magician's act. See more Dan M @RT89566603 1d The audience is rarely bored throughout the film. Details that initially seem insignificant, or are completely overlooked, later fall into place, often sending chills down the viewer’s spine. The film is packed with twists and turns, leaving the audience unsure of whom to root for. The performances are outstanding, and Christopher Nolan has done an exceptional job. See more Eric S @ericstefano16 2d This is my all time favorite movie, the story is a great cautionary tale and Bale and Jackman give terrific down to earth performances that immediately bring you into the time period and their feud. And that’s not even talking about that ending, which makes the film that much better on a rewatch. If I had to nitpick, sometimes the time editing Nolan loves can get a little confusing at times, but other than that, an underrated film! See more R T @RT09956861 4d Straight cinema. No words needed See more matthias S @Thescreenasvor 5d Rewatching *The Prestige* never gets old. Christopher Nolan really knows how to craft a film, and this is another reminder of that. The star-studded cast is fantastic, the story is endlessly engaging, and even when you know every twist, it still pulls you in. I love how many clues are sprinkled throughout the film, making each rewatch even more rewarding. It's one of those movies that feels carefully constructed from beginning to end. While it doesn't quite make my personal top five Nolan films, it's still an incredibly well-made, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable thriller that only gets better with every revisit. ★★★★☆ See more Read all reviews
The Prestige

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis An illusion gone horribly wrong pits two 19th-century magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman), against each other in a bitter battle for supremacy. Terrible consequences loom when the pair escalate their feud, each seeking not just to outwit -- but to destroy -- the other man.
Director
Christopher Nolan
Producer
Aaron Ryder, Emma Thomas
Screenwriter
Jonathan Nolan
Distributor
Buena Vista
Production Co
Newmarket Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Violence|Disturbing Images)
Genre
Drama, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 20, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$53.1M
Runtime
2h 10m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)