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

205 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

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.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

09/07/2007

3/4

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

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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.

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

01/02/2025

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

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Brian Pendreigh

Radio Times

08/22/2024

4/5

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.

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Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

10/17/2023

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.

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Allison W.

@Allison.rates.for.real Mar 1

Good movie for sure, worth the watch. Guessed the loop hole half way through the movie, could’ve written it lowkey

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Terrestrial F

@Terrestrialfilms Feb 24

David Bowie as Nichola Tesla Andy Circus an his assistant Chris Nolan What is there not to love.

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Mark W.

@RT78519209 Feb 23

I think Nolan's signature non-linear timeline actually hurt this film rather than make it excel like it does for other Christopher Nolan films. And that's just because I have to buy into this rivalry and I think a linear timeline would help with that. Because it's sometimes confusing when you have to keep track of when everything takes place and try to align that with decisions characters make. Other than that, this film is great! It has one of the best plot-twist endings, has great characters, clear themes, and great writing throughout!

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Thyaagu C

@Thyaagu Feb 22

Drama executed as PUZZLE PALACE in ILLUSION PERFECTION

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Sushil A

@RT50725044 Feb 20

Just like the film itself, I won’t waste time saying it—this is yet another masterpiece from Christopher Nolan, a powerful reflection on the thin line between dedication and perseverance in life.

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Hannah D.

@bananamountain Feb 15

Overall a very enjoyable film, shows the true cost of obsession. I always love a good twist and I thinl this one was done very well with clues throughout the film. Some scenes had slow pacing and I found that the dialog was mumbled sometimes.

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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: 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)

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