The Prestige (2006)

All Critics (190) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (142) | Rotten (46) | DVD (35)

The film is never less than engaging, though considering that the title The Prestige refers to the moment in a magic act that gives it its "wow" factor, it's kind of a shame that the ultimate "reveal" in the movie is a little too tricky for its own good.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Bob Mondello

NPR.org

Top Critic

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

September 7, 2007 Full Review | Comments (4)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

The who's-bilking-whom mind games make for compelling fun, but once the presto moment of The Prestige is revealed, you're left with nothing but shattered illusions.

February 3, 2007 Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out New York

Top Critic

Not only does it tell you how it's all done, it takes so long about it that you've got time to look up its sleeves and work it out for yourself.

November 9, 2006 Full Review | Comments (2)

Ben Walters

Time Out

Top Critic

Jackman and Bale give standout performances as rivals whose mutual obsession destroys all sense of perspective and ruins lives.

October 25, 2006 Full Review

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

The film is lavishly mounted, set-wise, costume-wise, makeup-wise and special-effects-wise. But the magicians themselves are cold and devious, and the chill permeates the whole film.

October 25, 2006 | Comments (5)

Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

Until an inexplicably awful revelation at the end, The Prestige is a taut, exciting portrait of obsession and the dark competitive spirit of professional magicians.

September 19, 2009 Full Review | Comments (2)

Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

Risible inanity

August 28, 2009 Full Review | Comments (15)

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Although the slowish pacing early on over-indicates how both magicians' marquee misdirection (a disappearing act) will be achieved, The Prestige still manages a neat trick of its own.

April 23, 2009 Full Review

Justine Elias

Boston Phoenix

Show me a director better suited for a movie about magic than Christopher Nolan and I'll show you... a magician?

November 20, 2008 Full Review

Brian Marder

Hollywood.com

"The Prestige" is a cinematic trick, nothing more, and the deadpan seriousness is part of the effect, and not an end in itself.

April 17, 2008 Full Review

Brian Holcomb

Beyond Hollywood

In a movie about people who make their livings on misdirection, The Prestige utterly forgets to employ its own.

February 28, 2008 Full Review | Comments (19)

Brandon Fibbs

BrandonFibbs.com

Nolan balances Hollywood and indie sensibilities pulling off a film that is smart, complicated and carries a big look.

August 13, 2007 Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Calgary Movies

As is his want, Mr. Nolan jumps between time periods and voice-overs with reckless abandon. The movie's real trick is that it all somehow manages to congeal.

July 14, 2007 Full Review | Comment (1)

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

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.

March 24, 2007 Full Review

Brian Tallerico

UGO

An interesting if not entirely satisfactory theatrical interpretation of magical rivalries.

March 3, 2007 Full Review

Dan Jardine

Cinemania

...one of those pictures where the journey is more important than the destination.

February 20, 2007 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

The Prestige is a ridiculously, almost uncomfortably engaging film.

February 1, 2007 Full Review

Michelle Orange

Reeler

Mientras unos encontrarán enigma y adicción %u2014como si se tratase de una historia del genio Hitchcock%u2014 otros, aquellos que buscan el piso falso en el tablado del escenario, porque simplemente no creen en la verdadera magia, saldrán desilusionados

January 27, 2007 Full Review

Luis Martinez

Cinenganos

full review in Greek

January 8, 2007 Full Review

Joseph Proimakis

Movies for the Masses

Odd, but brilliantly so. It's a small film that feels big, a period drama that looks modern, defying comparison to anything but Nolan himself.

December 30, 2006 Full Review

Dan Jolin

Empire Magazine

Like a great magician, Nolan makes the pledge, takes the turn and delivers the prestige.

December 13, 2006 Full Review

Michael A. Smith

Nolan's Pop Culture Review

Magical? Not so much.

December 6, 2006 Full Review

Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel

3BlackChicks Review

• 1. Robert Angier: Man's reach exceeds his imagination!
  – Submitted by Typhon Q (2 months ago)
• 1. Olivia Wenscombe: It's inhuman to be so cold.
  – Submitted by Kia M (3 months ago)
• 1. Robert Angier: He's out of his mind!
  2. Olivia Wenscombe: He's an out-of-work actor, of course he's out of his mind.
  – Submitted by Kia M (3 months ago)
• 1. Olivia Wenscombe: You're going to need a better disguise.
  – Submitted by Kia M (3 months ago)
• 1. Olivia Wenscombe: You're going to do something to that man, aren't you?
  – Submitted by Kia M (3 months ago)
• 1. Cutter: The Real Transported Man is the most sought-after illusion in the business and I have te right to sell it on.
  – Submitted by joseph j (5 months ago)