The Prestige (2006)
Are you watching closely?
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.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 19 October 2006 |
| Genre | Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction |
| Director | Christopher Nolan |
| Starring | Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine |
| Runtime | 130 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.1/10 · Metacritic 66/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 77% · IMDb 8.5/10 · TMDB users 8.2/10 |
| Budget | $40 million |
| Box office | $110 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Prestige
The Prestige is streaming on Netflix ($17.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Netflix is $17.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Christopher Nolan’s 2006 drama, The Prestige, runs 130 minutes and asks you to watch closely. It pairs two magicians, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, in a rivalry that turns lethal. Michael Caine anchors the chaos, while the film leans into mystery and science fiction to frame their obsession. The structure is the hook. It builds tension by hiding the mechanism of the magic, forcing you to trust the narrative only to betray that trust. It is a puzzle box that punishes casual viewing. You will remember the ending long after the credits roll, mostly because you will be angry about how it rewrote the beginning.
What the critics said
Critics found the film dazzling but structurally risky. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 77% approval based on 206 reviews, while Metacritic lands on a 66 Metascore, a figure indicating generally favorable reception. IMDb users, less bound by critical theory, gave it an 8.5. Claudia Puig of USA Today called it one of the most innovative art films of the past decade. Not everyone was convinced. Roger Ebert, giving it 3 out of 4 stars, labeled the final reveal a cheat. He argued the film fails when it breaks its own promise of restoration. It is a puzzle box that rewards attention, provided you do not mind the lid being pried off.
How it did with audiences
It cost $40 million and made $110 million worldwide, with $53 million of that coming from the United States. Audiences leaned into the twist, pushing its TMDB user score to 8.2. IMDb rates it 8.5/10, a weighted average as of February 2026. Viewers clearly watched for the ending, then rewrote the beginning in their heads.
What came next for the cast
Hugh Jackman arrived from two X-Men films, then returned for Logan and Days of Future Past. Christian Bale stepped out of Batman Begins into The Dark Knight and The Big Short. Michael Caine moved from Miss Congeniality to Inception and Interstellar. The credits show a shift in tone, but they cannot prove this film caused it. Sometimes a role just opens a door.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Prestige.
Sources
- The Prestige on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q46551 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Prestige” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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