The Prestige

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2:26

The Prestige

PG-13

2006

2h 10m

Drama

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

206 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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Critics Consensus

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

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Graham Fuller

Sight & Sound

Although the film's stunning reveals make the audience realise it has been duped... there is a protagonist to empathise with each time.

Nov 2, 2018

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's quite a movie -- atmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 7, 2007

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

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.

Mar 24, 2007

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Plus one of Jackman’s early conceits revealed what a good actor he can be, and we forget because of the body. He actually manages to seem like a different person and almost change the structure of his face in one early scene w

Jan 2, 2025

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Brian Pendreigh

Radio Times

Nolan constructs a fascinating tale that twists and turns at every opportunity, although there is perhaps one twist too many in a slightly overbaked dénouement.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 22, 2024

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Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

Nolan looks at how obsession can drive you beyond your limit and destroy everything, even when the simple answer is right in front of you. In the process, he … intentionally crafts an allegory of filmmaking itself.

Oct 17, 2023

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Steven A

Love a movie with a good twist. This movie is one of the great ones. A story of obsession, ego, and lethal ambition can feel farfetched but I believe that it's something anyone can fall into. It's well acted and the leads carry it past when the plot wavers, but it thankfully does not overinflate itself with needless fluff. This is a movie I love to recommend as we all do with twist movies, though it doesn't call out for viewing as much as other films.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/05/25

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Andrew W.

I mean it’s Christopher Nolan… come on we knew this would be a banger.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/17/25

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Jacopo D

Mi trovo d'accordo su chi lo considera un ottimo film, un po' di meno con chi lo considera un capolavoro. Il film è intelligente, non troppo mentale ma ricco di colpi di scena e di personaggi costruiti bene. L'unica cosa è che a me tutte quelle sfumature Dark che costruiscono il finale mi lasciano un po' a bocca asciutta...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

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Maani H

Dreadful, messed up plot and twists. Far fetched hatred and jealousy and someone is too many other ones too.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

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C M.

An all around masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

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JoParkerBear P

That ending tho 👀 — it’s unforgettable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

Full Review

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Christopher Nolan

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Christian Bale

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The Prestige: Trailer 1

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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: Christopher Nolan, Aaron Ryder, Emma Thomas
Screenwriter: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher 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)

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