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The Prestige

  • 20062006
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
371
61
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson in The Prestige (2006)
Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.
Play trailer2:35
19 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Thriller

After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.

IMDb RATING
8.5/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
371
61
  • Director
    • Christopher Nolan
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Nolan(screenplay)
    • Christopher Nolan(screenplay)
    • Christopher Priest(novel)
  • Stars
    • Christian Bale
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Scarlett Johansson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Christopher Nolan
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Nolan(screenplay)
    • Christopher Nolan(screenplay)
    • Christopher Priest(novel)
  • Stars
    • Christian Bale
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Scarlett Johansson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.6KUser reviews
    • 365Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #41
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 45 nominations total

    Videos19

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:35
    Official Trailer
    The Prestige: 10th Anniversary
    Trailer 2:33
    The Prestige: 10th Anniversary
    'The Prestige' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:20
    'The Prestige' | Anniversary Mashup
    A Guide to the Films of Christopher Nolan
    Clip 2:03
    A Guide to the Films of Christopher Nolan
    The Prestige
    Clip 0:52
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 0:20
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 0:20
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 0:27
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 1:18
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 0:41
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 1:23
    The Prestige
    The Prestige
    Clip 0:46
    The Prestige

    Photos160

    Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in The Prestige (2006)
    Jonathan Nolan in The Prestige (2006)
    Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in The Prestige (2006)
    Christian Bale in The Prestige (2006)
    Hugh Jackman in The Prestige (2006)
    David Bowie, Hugh Jackman, and Andy Serkis in The Prestige (2006)
    David Bowie in The Prestige (2006)
    Hugh Jackman and Christopher Nolan in The Prestige (2006)
    Hugh Jackman and Andy Serkis in The Prestige (2006)
    David Bowie in The Prestige (2006)
    Andy Serkis in The Prestige (2006)
    Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson in The Prestige (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christian Bale
    Christian Bale
    • Alfred Bordenas Alfred Borden
    Hugh Jackman
    Hugh Jackman
    • Robert Angieras Robert Angier
    Scarlett Johansson
    Scarlett Johansson
    • Olivia Wenscombeas Olivia Wenscombe
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Cutteras Cutter
    Piper Perabo
    Piper Perabo
    • Julia McCulloughas Julia McCullough
    Rebecca Hall
    Rebecca Hall
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Samantha Mahurin
    Samantha Mahurin
    • Jessas Jess
    David Bowie
    David Bowie
    • Teslaas Tesla
    Andy Serkis
    Andy Serkis
    • Alleyas Alley
    Daniel Davis
    Daniel Davis
    • Judgeas Judge
    Jim Piddock
    Jim Piddock
    • Prosecutoras Prosecutor
    Christopher Neame
    Christopher Neame
    • Defenderas Defender
    Mark Ryan
    Mark Ryan
    • Captainas Captain
    Roger Rees
    Roger Rees
    • Owensas Owens
    Jamie Harris
    Jamie Harris
    • Sullen Warderas Sullen Warder
    Monty Stuart
    • Stagecoach Driveras Stagecoach Driver
    Ron Perkins
    Ron Perkins
    • Hotel Manageras Hotel Manager
    Ricky Jay
    Ricky Jay
    • Miltonas Milton
    • Director
      • Christopher Nolan
    • Writers
      • Jonathan Nolan(screenplay)
      • Christopher Nolan(screenplay)
      • Christopher Priest(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the end of the nineteenth century, in London, Robert Angier, his beloved wife Julia McCullough, and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants of a magician. When Julia accidentally dies during a performance, Robert blames Alfred for her death, and they become enemies. Both become famous and rival magicians, sabotaging the performance of the other on the stage. When Alfred performs a successful trick, Robert becomes obsessed trying to disclose the secret of his competitor with tragic consequences. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • illusion
    • magician
    • rivalry
    • magic
    • death by drowning
    • 350 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A Friendship That Became a Rivalry.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chung Ling Soo was a stage character created by William Ellsworth Robinson, a white man who disguised himself as a Chinese man to cash in on audiences' enthusiasm for the exotic. Robinson lived as Chung, never breaking character while in public. He died in March 1918, when a bullet-catch trick went wrong. "My God, I've been shot" were both his last words and the first English he had spoken on stage in nineteen years.
    • Goofs
      When Angier visits Tesla in February, it is obviously winter, with snow on the ground. Yet after a brief meeting they venture out to a balcony, where it is summer, with green foliage, and no breath visible.
    • Quotes

      Cutter: Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige"."

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Prestige/Flicka/Marie Antoinette/A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Drinkin' Down the Rose & Crown
      Composed by Keith Nichols

      Courtesy of APM

    User reviews1.6K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Storytelling at its best!
    The Prestige is a masterful exercise in storytelling with superb direction and powerful performances by a grand ensemble cast. From set and production design to cinematography, from script to presentation, Christopher Nolan has once again demonstrated why he is one of the film world's brightest up and coming directors. The Prestige only helps solidify his standing as one of the landmark directors of his generation.

    Told in a narrative that jumps between various points along its time line, playing out like a magic act itself, the story is that of two magicians on the rise in their careers. The first -- played by Christian Bale -- is an expert in understanding the fundamentals of any trick, but lacks showmanship. The second -- played by Hugh Jackman -- is a master showman who is more entertaining than technical. A tragic series of events pits the two performers against each other in a battle of wits that spirals further and further out of control, consuming both of them and everything and everyone they care about.

    With a story that requires actors with a great deal of emotive range, Nolan has assembled what could be described as a dream cast. Both Bale and Jackman suit their respective roles perfectly, and pitting these two performers against each other was a stroke of casting genius. Michael Caine takes what could have been a forgettable role by any lesser actor and elevates it with his demanding screen presence. Probably the most surprising performance comes from David Bowie whose unforgettable turn as master physicist Nikola Tesla absolutely shines. Add Andy Serkis to the mix, and what is assembled is a group of performers who know how to fully engage the audience.

    The Prestige is hard to pigeonhole into any specific genre as it walks the fine line between mystery, drama, suspense and fantasy. In that, the story becomes a never-ending stream of wonder for the mind: one can never tell exactly where the story is going to lead next, becoming more and more as time goes on. This gives Christopher Nolan ample opportunity to play. And play he does. With narration by several characters, each adding their own viewpoint to the events, and with a direction that moves between time to mystify and distract, the end result is a climax that itself is a series of puzzles that each unravel beautifully.

    The only major criticisms that can be leveled at the Prestige are a confusing play with the seasons during Tesla's introduction (winter suddenly becomes spring/summer and back again) and a strange choice of music for the closing credits (a pop song at the end of a film such as this seems tacky). However, neither is significant enough of a problem to warrant any need to avoid the film at all.

    In the end, the Prestige is a fantastic display of what can be accomplished when you bring together superior talent. It is certainly worth the price of admission and as good as any magic show you are to come across.
    helpful•408
    105
    • Surecure
    • Oct 21, 2006

    FAQ27

    • What is 'The Prestige' about?
    • Is "The Prestige" based on a book?
    • Who or what is the "Prestige"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 2006 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ảo Thuật Gia Đấu Trí
    • Filming locations
      • Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Warner Bros. Pictures Group
      • Newmarket Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $53,089,891
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,801,808
      • Oct 22, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $109,676,311
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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