The Prestige

The Prestige Image
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 852 Ratings

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  • Starring: , ,
  • Summary: Christopher Nolan directs this mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences. (Touchstone Pictures)

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    100
    To talk more about the movie's layers is to risk giving away too much. I'll say only that this film confirms Nolan's status as the director whose work I look forward to more than any other.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    83
    The Prestige isn't art, but it reaps a lot of fun out of the question, How did they do that?
  3. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    80
    The Prestige is utterly without pretense. It doesn't want to explore epistemological questions about the nature of perception and memory; it just wants to mess with our heads. And as a wily, slightly sadistic chess game of a movie, it succeeds quite nicely.
  4. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    Christopher Nolan's The Prestige has just about everything I require in a movie about magicians, except ... the Prestige.
  5. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Ethan Alter
    63
    If The Prestige is something of a let down as a magic trick, it's more successful as a tale of obsession. The rivalry between the magicians is brutal and bloody and Bale and Jackman do their best work when they're plotting each other's downfall.
  6. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Paula Nechak
    58
    If you can forgive some woeful casting and a plot that is as creakingly thin as an old staircase, you can enjoy director Christopher Nolan's The Prestige.
  7. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    25
    Thus, we find ourselves watching an ice-cold movie about competition that contains not a shred of rooting interest.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 133 out of 161
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 161
  3. Negative: 6 out of 161
  1. TheGorilla
    Jan 12, 2011
    10
    what a movie! omg! no doubt, Chris Nolan is one of the best in the game! the cast, the plot, the twists..wonderful! genius..i'm speechlesswhat a movie! omg! no doubt, Chris Nolan is one of the best in the game! the cast, the plot, the twists..wonderful! genius..i'm speechless right now,i..i..i was blown away...vuf..100 out of 10! 100!!!!!… Expand
  2. TyeN.
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    Wickedly dark, clever, well paced, directed, written, and acted. What more could you ask for? Seriously, the best film of 2006 since V For Wickedly dark, clever, well paced, directed, written, and acted. What more could you ask for? Seriously, the best film of 2006 since V For Vendetta. Christian Bale is Oscar worthy, and so is Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine. Amazing film...please witness it for yourself.… Expand
  4. Glowia
    Dec 29, 2010
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved the twist in this movie, it's one where you are stunned and unsure what to think. I loved the actors and the magic tricks. It had a great plot, and my family loves it. Although I was rather disappointed the brother had to die.… Expand
  5. DrewF.
    Oct 21, 2006
    9
    Fantastic cast. Tremendous story. Great expose on the complexities of obsession. This shoots to the top of my list for best movies of the year.
  6. WillHack
    Jul 2, 2008
    9
    Keeps you guessing the whole way.
  7. PatrickM.
    Oct 21, 2006
    8
    Riveting movie, buffeted by a small, but critical role by the legendary David Bowie. In the end you may be scratching your head as to who did Riveting movie, buffeted by a small, but critical role by the legendary David Bowie. In the end you may be scratching your head as to who did what to whom but, at the very least, you will be thinking about it after you pull-out of the multiplex's parking lot. Worth every penny of that $9.00 admission.… Expand
  8. AlexB.
    Oct 21, 2006
    0
    Boring, predictable, terrible characters, slow, pointless. How could ANYONE like this pile?

See all 161 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

#17 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
#41 Most Shared Movie of 2006

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