Family FavoritePG-13

The Prestige

Are you watching closely?

2006 • 130 min • Drama · Mystery · Science Fiction

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Synopsis

A 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.

Our family guide

Best from age 16

Movie Knight Score

17875 reviews

100 Reviewers · 5 · 65%
82 Audience · 17870 · 35%

Two rival magicians in Victorian London become locked in a dangerous, decades-long battle for illusionary supremacy. Their obsession escalates, leading to deceit, jealousy, and deadly consequences in their quest for the ultimate trick.

Violence & peril: 6/10
Language: 3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 3/10
Romance & sensuality: 2/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Characters endure significant physical harm and death.
Some disturbing imagery and body horror.
Themes of deception and betrayal are central.

What it models well

The pursuit of excellence
Creativity and innovation

Talk about it after

The true cost of obsession
The ethics of sacrifice for art
The line between ambition and madness

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Prestige. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Christopher Nolan • Crew: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan

Trailers & clips

🎥 THE PRESTIGE (2006) | Full Movie Trailer in HD | 1080p

The Prestige - Trailer

Reviewer notes

Recommended
The Prestige is a gripping mystery drama that follows the intense rivalry between two magicians whose obsession with creating the perfect illusion drives them to sacrifice everything. Christopher Nolan weaves together nonlinear storytelling, compelling performances, and unexpected twists into a film that rewards close attention and repeated viewings.…
Alunauwie, TMDB Community

Recommended
As ever with Christopher Nolan films the chronology needs close attention - as so many of the clues as to what the hell is actually going on require a considerable degree of concentration (and multiple viewings) before any semblance of quality emanates from the outwardly cluttered and, frankly, preposterous plot.…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community

Recommended
<em>'The Prestige'</em> is tremendous! An expertly made movie about magic, one that lasts just over two hours but it is most definitely 120mins+ well spent. I was sold by the whole vibe of it from the very beginning, sometimes you can just tell you're going to absolutely enjoy something from the opening minutes and this, for me, was one of those films. The casting is terrific, many well known faces appear.…
r96sk, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
There is great entertainment in seeing the two fellow-rivals battling each other, but it is only after the final twist that the viewer realises the entire film is a magic trick, a prestige, itself. 10/10
AstroNoud, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Perplexed by the storyline at the beginning, deeply attracted to the narratives of the intense rivalry between two actors in the main body of the show, and finally shocked by the revealed truth, or *The Prestige* in the end. This is one of the most mind-blowing mysteries that I've watched in recent years.…
izgzhen, TMDB Community