Common Sense Media Review
Rival magicians battle in smart, dark period tale.
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The Prestige
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 18 parent reviews
Based on 55 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is both a captivating masterpiece and a dark, intense experience that explores themes of obsession and revenge through the rivalry of two magicians. The film is renowned for its intricate plot twists and exceptional performances, particularly by the lead actors, but contains significant violence and disturbing imagery that may not be suitable for younger viewers.
- masterful writing
- dark themes
- intense violence
- exceptional performances
- complex plot twists
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THE PRESTIGE focuses on the competition between magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) in turn-of-the-20th-century London. While cockney-accented Alfred is blunt and focused only on his art, Robert is a lesser magician but a more polished showman. Though they initially work together, an on-stage accident leads to conflict and a battle of one-upmanship for revenge. Alfred's marriage to Sarah (Rebecca Hall) begins to suffer, and he takes a lover, Robert's former assistant, Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johansson). As their rivalry escalates, Robert and Alfred become obsessed with creating the ultimate illusion, leading Robert to seek help from real-life inventor Nikola Tesla (David Bowie) to build a machine that could make his signature trick unbeatable. But the device comes with a mysterious, possibly sinister cost.
Is It Any Good?
Christopher Nolan's movie is a smart, intriguing tale of deceit and obsession. The Prestige invites viewers to participate—or at least to be aware of their participation—in its storytelling. The film offers a series of tricks as connected pleasures, but they have less to do with plot twists (which are sometimes obvious) than character details. On that front, Jackman and Bale both give performances worth watching closely, as their characters' obsession slowly takes over everything else in their lives. By the end, the film isn't really about who wins—it's about what each man gives up to get there.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the competition between Robert and Alfred. How does The Prestige show the rising stakes of their conflict? Why are they driven to go to such extreme lengths?
Is magic as popular today as it was in the late 1800s/early 1900s? Why, or why not? Is there such a thing as real magic, or is it all illusion?
Have you read the source novel by Christopher Priest? Was the adaptation faithful? What bits from the book did you miss seeing on screen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 20, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : February 20, 2007
- Cast : Christian Bale , Hugh Jackman , Scarlett Johansson
- Director : Christopher Nolan
- Studio : Touchstone Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters
- Run time : 135 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and disturbing images
- Award : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee
- Last updated : August 5, 2026
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