Magic

R

1978

1h 46m

Horror

List

87%

23 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Corky (Anthony Hopkins), a failed magician, adopts a new ventriloquist act with an abrasive dummy named Fats, and suddenly finds himself lined up for a television show. When the unbalanced Corky fears he won't pass the required mental exam, he runs away with Fats to his hometown, where he meets an old love from high school, Peggy (Ann-Margret). Corky persuades Peggy to leave her loveless marriage -- but Fats, who seems to be taking on a mind of his own, doesn't approve of the relationship.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks in large part to Anthony Hopkins' layered performance, Magic is an unusual albeit creepily effective experience.

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Kalin D

I'm really glad for the resolution in the concluding scene.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

J M

Forget about Chucky and M3gan and Annabelle and all the other horror movie dolls out there. Fats is the most legitimately creepy of them all, and this is an incredibly disturbing and entertaining psychological thriller that gets under your skin. Hopkins is absolutely amazing here in a performance that deserves to be recognized among his greatest achievements. I think he warranted an Oscar nomination. He is disturbing and absolutely mesmerizing. I particularly loved how so much of the film has you questioning whether Fats is his own entity or whether we are seeing the doll through Corky's imbalanced eyes. Ann-Margret is one of the most under-appreciated actresses of this era, and the scenes between her and Hopkins are simultaneously eerie and romantic. Meredith is also wonderful in a supporting role as Corky's agent. All performances are on point, particularly for a film of this genre. My only real complaint is an unsatisfying final scene that feels a bit abrupt. And it bogs down just a bit when Peggy's husband enters the picture. But I was transfixed throughout, and I had no idea where we were heading. And Fats is a nightmare-inducing creation that feels ahead of his time. It's short on gore, high on atmosphere and totally suspenseful. Corky feels like an heir apparent of Norman Bates, and I can't think of a greater compliment. - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Alec B

An appropriately disturbing tale of ventriloquism.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Trevor B

Magic (1978) was pretty good!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

45 years old and this wouldn't be the first time a horror movie centered around a talking doll I remember watching this back at my second house and found it rather creepy A young Anthony Hopkins stars next to Ann-Margaret directed by Richard Attenborough Based on the novel by William Goldman Corky is a young ventriloquist who's also a failed magician He then has the task of adopting a dummy called Fats Corky is lined up for a tv show But afraid he won't pass the mental exam he flees to his hometown in the Catskills with Fats Corky runs into his old high school sweetheart Peggy But Corky starts developing an uncomfortable bond with this puppet So much so maybe Fats is really talking to him or is it all in his head? The dummy starts to get jealous so much so he proposes murder There's so many creepy moments to make this a worthy psychological story Even that Fats looks and sounds just like him Corny wants to be a success in his act but comes off as manic and always on edge being nervous He just wants a sense of normalcy yet is unable to have it because of Fats' high demands Peggy might be the silver lining but Corky is at odds with himself He's afraid of what it would be like to be full of fame and fortune yet he's also shady and his behavior starts to show more and more Jerry Goldsmith makes the movie much more haunting thanks to his score, the closed off setting in the house in the woods works to this ventriloquist's seclusion and mindset, and the performance by Hopkins is something to behold The movie constantly toys with the viewer making them question what's actually happening Heck this would even inspire Child's Play 1 10 years later and usher in the sub genre This has enough of a gothic, supernatural vibe to it while remaining a deep character study of a possible madman Hopkins was an unknown at the time but thanks to this it allowed him to expand his range It's not downright scary but way more sad seeing a man wrestle with his inner demons

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

Full Review

Mike F

This movie is clearly the origin of Chucky, the killer doll that has starred in numerous movies as well as a television series. I really enjoyed the brilliant performance by Anthony Hopkins, who plays an awkward and timid magician who has his life turned upside down by his sinister ventriloquist doll. Similar to the Chucky franchise, this is a horror movie with lots of good comedy peppered in.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

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Richard Attenborough

Director

Anthony Hopkins

Corky Withers

Ann-Margret

Peggy Ann Snow

Burgess Meredith

Ben Greene

Ed Lauter

Duke

E.J. Andre

Merlin

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Variety Staff

Variety

In adapting his own best-seller, William Goldman has opted for an atmospheric thriller, a mood director Richard Attenborough fleshes out to its fullest.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

A hammed-up version of the old chestnut about the ventriloquist who is 'taken over' by his dummy, clumsily adapted by William Goldman from his own novel.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Magic is neither eerie nor effective. It is, however, very heavy of hand.

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Gayle Sequeira

BFI

This Richard Attenborough film is less scary than it is sad, about a mentally ill man wrestling with his inner demons and finding them no easier to control when they’re in tangible form.

Jul 29, 2023

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

It is fun to watch, chiefly because of the deftness and bravura of Anthony Hopkins's brilliantly split personality in the leading role, but... One yearns for the sidelights and starts that Alfred Hitchcock might have brought to this story.

May 17, 2023

Full Review

Amanda Mazzillo

Film Joy

Magic is a psychological horror with strong performances and moments that will linger in your brain.

Mar 8, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Corky (Anthony Hopkins), a failed magician, adopts a new ventriloquist act with an abrasive dummy named Fats, and suddenly finds himself lined up for a television show. When the unbalanced Corky fears he won't pass the required mental exam, he runs away with Fats to his hometown, where he meets an old love from high school, Peggy (Ann-Margret). Corky persuades Peggy to leave her loveless marriage -- but Fats, who seems to be taking on a mind of his own, doesn't approve of the relationship.

Director: Richard Attenborough
Producer: C.O. Erickson
Screenwriter: William Goldman
Rating: R (Violence)
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2017
Runtime: 1h 46m

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