The Prestige (2006)
Puff's Score
95/100 (We aren't professional critics — just movie lovers!)
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Wider Scores
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Metacritic: 66%
Fans and Critics butt heads once again!
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Who's in it?
Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, David Bowie
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Genre
Period Drama, Mystery, Thriller
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What's it about?
Two rival magicians in Victorian-era London push their obsessions to dangerous extremes — battling secrets, sacrifice, and sabotage in a deadly race for the ultimate illusion.
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Puff's Take
Oh, this one is an absolute belter!
From start to finish, The Prestige gives you an eerie sense that something is going on — but unless you're very clever, you can never quite put your finger on it. It's this relentless, thrilling atmosphere that makes the film such a fun ride — and of course, it wouldn't be half as good without excellent performances from all involved (what a cast!) and a brilliant story to complete the puzzle.
The movie follows two feuding young magicians (Jackman and Bale) in 1890s London. As each tries to one-up and sabotage the other in their search for the ultimate 'trick', it quickly becomes clear they’ll do whatever it takes to be the best.
The Prestige is dark, gritty, clever, and never drags — with a final act that sticks in your mind long after the credits roll.
Must Watch.
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Did You Know? – 5 Fresh Facts About The Prestige
1. David Bowie was Christopher Nolan’s only choice for Tesla.
Nolan said he wouldn’t have made the film without Bowie playing the eccentric inventor — and Bowie only agreed after reading the script.
2. Christian Bale stayed intensely in character.
Bale was known for staying deep into his role between takes, even speaking with his character’s accent off-camera during filming.
3. The movie used almost no CGI.
Nolan wanted the magic tricks to feel real, so most effects were done practically with sleight of hand, stagecraft, and clever editing.
4. The title isn’t just about magic.
In magic, the "prestige" is the final, jaw-dropping part of a trick — but Nolan structured the whole movie to mirror a three-act magic trick itself.
5. It was based on a wild novel.
The movie is adapted from Christopher Priest’s book, which dives even deeper into science fiction — Nolan kept it grounded to make it feel more real.
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Where to Watch?
You can find The Prestige (2006) streaming options here on JustWatch.