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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Princess Bride, The

EMAIL PRINT20th Century Fox / MGM

7.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 27 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Romance

Written by: William Goldman (also novel)

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Release Date:
Theatrical: September 25, 1987
DVD: July 18, 2000

Running Time: 98 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG

Starring Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Robin Wright, André the Giant, Wallace Shawn, and Peter Falk

A young boy listens to while his grandfather reads him the adventures of Buttercup (Wright), the most beautiful woman in the world, and Westly (Elwes), the man she loves, in the fairy-tale kingdom of Florin. [MGM]

Also On Metacritic

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Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Cary Elwes is marvelously funny as the hero. [25 Sept 1987]

100

Wall Street Journal Julie Salamon

The movie has its own genuine charm and one hilarious high: Billy Crystal & Carol Kane are simply wonderful. [24 Sept 1987, p.24(E)]

100

Time Richard Corliss

As you watch this enchanting fantasy, feel free to be thrilled or to giggle, as you wish. This time, Happily Ever After lasts 98 minutes. [21 Sept 1987]

Film Threat Brad Laidman

An effective comedy, an interesting bedtime tale, and one of the greatest date rentals of all time.

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Washington Post Rita Kempley

As a good fairy tale should, The Princess Bride teaches but never preaches. It's a lively, fun-loving, but nevertheless epic look at the nature of true love.

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New Times (L.A.) Luke Y. Thompson

Though not as visually impressive as comparable Terry Gilliam fare such as Jabberwocky, the verbal wit is fast and abundant (abetted with cameos by Billy Crystal, Peter Cook and Mel Smith), and you'd better believe the midnight movie crowd will remember almost all of it.

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Los Angeles Times Michael Wilmington

It's Patinkin who scores a special triumph. In his role there's a poignant strain of weariness beneath the leaping bravado, a pain under the braggadocio. [25 Sept 1987]

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

It is filled with good-hearted fun, with performances by actors who seem to be smacking their lips and by a certain true innocence that survives all of Reiner's satire.

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TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

A hilarious mixture of Errol Flynn swashbuckler and Monty Python send-up...When it comes to pleasing both kids and adults, you can't do much better.

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The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

Mr. Reiner seems to understand exactly what Mr. Goldman loves about stories of this kind, and he conveys it with clarity and affection. [25 Sept 1987, p.C10]

Washington Post Desson Thomson

A percolating comedy. The laughs may not tear your belly up, but they're constant and they dovetail with the story.

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Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Not even the crude ethnic humor--Billy Crystal's Mel Brooks-ish Miracle Max--pricks the dream bubble, and the spirited cast has a field day.

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USA Today Mike Clark

Crystal is such a panic - and normally uptight Patinkin is so attractively relaxed as a Spanish swordsman - that Bride's charms just can't be ignored. [25 Sept 1987]

Chicago Tribune Dave Kehr

The Princess Bride wants to be sweet and warm, but it doesn't want to take the chance of seeming uncool -- and that is an attitude far, far removed from innocence. [9 Oct 1987]

Entertainment Weekly Ty Burr

Reiner's penchant for hip little riffs -- Billy Crystal as a yiddish wizard, etc. -- dilutes primal power in favor of genial fun.

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Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Reiner abandons his previous movie's sense of farce and satire for much broader and more innocuous comedy.

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Variety Staff (Not Credited)

It also doesn't help that Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the loving couple are nearly comatose and inspire little passion from each other, or the audience.

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San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

Kinda cute, occasionally amusing and very, very slow... I just wish [it] had more momentum, more oomph. [9 Oct 1987]

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott

Rob Reiner's not up to it: when the movie is meant to be romantic, the tone is frequently mushy and sexless, and when it's meant to be anachronistic and satiric, it's vaudeville-vulgar.

Read Full Review >

The New Yorker Pauline Kael

The movie is ungainly – you can almost see the chalk marks it's not hitting. But it has a loose, likable shabbiness. [19 Oct 1987, p.110]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Glen C. gave it a0:
I just saw this movie last night for the first time and I have to admit, it wa a letdown. It had good writing, and entertaining story, but it seemed to copy the story of Stardust. Stardust is very similar, I think that movie was copying this. I didn't like Stardust either, it is just as cheesy and boring as this, and I think stardust picked the wrong movie to copy. This to me was almost the same as Stardust, but it was so cheesy. Its so stupid how they don't even kill Humperdink, its a weak, weak movie. And they run out of ideas once they leave the fire swamp. After that they use the worste techniques, with an annoying Billy Crystal, and obsessesed characters. To me, the last half hour ruined everything.

Jared B. gave it a10:
I remember watching this movie when I was about 8 years old. I will never forget sitting in front of the T.V. and doing nothing but laugh till it hurt. The reason I will never forget this is because I still do. From the beginning, all the way until the end, I found this to be an absolute laugh riot. I enjoyed the entire cast. But, the performances that stood out in my mind were those of Billy Crystal and Carol Kane as Miracle Max and his wife, whose name I have totally forgotten. The way this film mixes rousing action with sidesplitting comedy is nothing short of amazing. Watch for a pre- Forrest Gump Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup. Now, THIS is how fantasy adventure-comedies should be made.

Cody C gave it a10:
This is the best fantasy movie I ever saw, the fire swamp was amazing!!!

Del gave it a5:
You'll either love it or hate it. Although slow, it's worth watching once. Mandy Patinkin brings a lot to the "action party," though Elwes seems to throw it away. It seems that Reiner was trying far to hard to add romance, action, and anything else you can think of. I feel this was the downfall. Was it a romantic/action/mushy slow train, or brilliant? You watch it!

clay gave it a6:
It's worth a watch, it's fun, but isn't 10 material at all. Many scenes are cheesy without anything to resolve it. the wine/poison scene was great though.

Gerrick C. gave it an8:
I was surprised at the quality of this movie when I first saw it. What we have here is a fantasy story with all of our favorite characters from other stories like fair maidens, brave swordsmen, a giant, and a short little man with an annoying voice. I would have to say the thing that drew me closer to this movie was the fact that Andre the Giant was on it. Still the movie holds it's own weight very well.

Paul B. gave it a9:
One of my family's all-time favorites! New ideas every time we watch it.