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Heartbreaking drama isn't for sensitive viewers.
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The Elephant Man
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is an emotional and poignant experience, often leaving viewers in tears due to its heartbreaking themes and powerful performances. While many recommend it for mature audiences, they caution that its disturbing and intense scenes may be too much for younger viewers, with the general consensus being that it is best appreciated by those aged 11 and older.
- emotional experience
- mature audiences
- intense scenes
- powerful performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE ELEPHANT MAN, Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) makes a shocking discovery at a carnival side show: an "Elephant Man" (John Hurt) exhibiting a grotesque deformity over most of his body. Because he's sick and shows signs of abuse, he's brought to London Hospital, where he's studied and made a spectacle of all over again. Another shock comes when it becomes clear that Merrick isn't the imbecile they thought he was, but a compassionate and literate gentleman who's been playing dumb out of fear. Treves exposes him to culture, finery, things he's only dreamed of experiencing, yet a question gnaws at him. Is he exploiting his unfortunate friend for personal gain? Under his supervision, John Merrick, who suffers from "a disfigurement of the most extreme nature," is clothed, fed, shown a loving care he's never before known, but he's still on display, still a freak, and through him Treves has made a name for himself in the medical community and London society.
Is It Any Good?
This dark and beautiful 1980 movie is based on The Elephant Man and Other Reminisces by the real-life Treves, as well as Ashley Montagu's The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity. Director and co-writer David Lynch doesn't explain the characters' actions, which makes them good topics of discussion for teenagers mature enough to tackle the subject matter.
Lynch doesn't sentimentalize, either, or tone down his trademark haunting imagery (the design for John Hurt's makeup came from casts of the real John Merrick). He gives us Victorian England in all of its squalor, but he also gives us his most deeply affecting work in starkly beautiful black and white. Standouts in a phenomenal cast are stars Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, and Kenny Baker, the dwarf who, upon leading Merrick toward freedom, says, "Luck, my friend. Luck. And who needs it more than we?"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the doctor who rescues the Elephant Man from a circus, only to put him on a different sort of display is a "good man," or a "bad man," as he himself wonders aloud. They might also discuss how society's treatment of the disabled has changed and how it has remained the same since the times of the Elephant Man.
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 3, 1980
- On DVD or streaming : May 13, 2003
- Cast : Anne Bancroft , Anthony Hopkins , John Hurt
- Director : David Lynch
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 123 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Parental Guidance Suggested
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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