Magic

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Magic

R

Released Nov 8, 1978

1h 46m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

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.

Critics Consensus

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

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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

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

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

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2005

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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

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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

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Amanda Mazzillo

Film Joy

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

Mar 8, 2022

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Tasos L

I've gotten bored! There are better movies in psychological thriller genre.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/09/24

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Brian O

A very effective psychological thriller, thanks to Anthony Hopkins' performance and judicial direction from Richard Attenborough. Makes Chucky looks like, well, child's play. Pun intended.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/24

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Horror fan 4

Anthony Hopkins delivers a great performance in this horror movie. The build up to the 3Rd act is a little long but other than that a great directed and acted movie. Tim Treakle

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

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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

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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

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Alec B

An appropriately disturbing tale of ventriloquism.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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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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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: Joseph E. Levine, Richard P. Levine
Screenwriter: William Goldman
Production Co: Joseph E. Levine Productions
Rating: R (Violence)
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 1978, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2017
Runtime: 1h 46m