The Prestige (film): Difference between revisions

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{{short description|2006 film by Christopher Nolan}}

{{Infobox Film

{{for|the 1932 film|Prestige (film){{!}}''Prestige'' (film)}}

{{good article}}

{{use American English|date=August 2020}}

{{use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox film

| name = The Prestige

| image = Prestige_posterPrestige poster.jpg

| caption = USTheatrical Promotionalrelease poster for ''The Prestige''.

| director = [[Christopher Nolan]]

| producer = {{Plainlist|

* [[Emma Thomas]]

| eproducer =

* [[Aaron Ryder]]

| aproducer =

* Christopher Nolan

| writer = '''Novel:'''<br />[[Christopher Priest (English novelist)|Christopher Priest]]<br />'''Screenplay:'''<br />[[Jonathan Nolan]]<br />Christopher Nolan

}}

| starring = [[Hugh Jackman]]<br>[[Christian Bale]]<br>[[Michael Caine]]<br>[[Scarlett Johansson]]<br>[[David Bowie]] |

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

* [[Jonathan Nolan]]

* Christopher Nolan

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|''[[The Prestige]]''|[[Christopher Priest (novelist)|Christopher Priest]]}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Hugh Jackman]]

* [[Christian Bale]]

* [[Scarlett Johansson]]

* [[Michael Caine]]

* [[Rebecca Hall]]

* [[Andy Serkis]]

* [[David Bowie]]

<!-- Per billing block in poster -->

}}

| music = [[David Julyan]]

| cinematography = [[Wally Pfister]]

| editing = [[Lee Smith (film editor)|Lee Smith]]

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

| distributor = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Touchstone Pictures]]<br />{{flagicon|UN}} [[Warner Bros.]]

* [[Touchstone Pictures]]

| released = {{flagicon|USA}} [[October 20]], [[2006]]

* [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]

| runtime = 130 min.

* [[Newmarket Films]]

| country =

* [[Syncopy Inc.|Syncopy]]

| awards =

}}

| language = [[English language|English]]

| budget distributor = $40 million{{Plainlist|

* [[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]<!-- Credited as "Buena Vista Pictures Distribution" --><br>(United States and Canada)

| preceded_by =

* Warner Bros. Pictures (International)

| followed_by =

}}

| amg_id = 1:337176

| released = {{Film date|2006|10|17|[[El Capitan Theatre]]|2006|10|20|United States|2006|11|10|United Kingdom}}

| imdb_id = 0482571

| runtime = 130 minutes<ref>{{cite web |title=The Prestige |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/prestige |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |access-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028053016/https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/prestige |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| country = {{Plainlist|

* United Kingdom<ref name="LUMIERE">{{cite web |url= http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=25701 |title= Film: The Prestige |publisher= [[Lumiere (database)|Lumiere]] |access-date= March 15, 2018 |archive-date= December 24, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191224121845/http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=25701 |url-status= live }}</ref>

* United States<ref name="LUMIERE"/>

}}

| language = English

| budget = $40 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite web |title=The Prestige (2006) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=prestige.htm |access-date=March 3, 2007 |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621000309/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=prestige.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

| gross = $109 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />

}}

'''''The Prestige''''' is ana 2006 <!--STOP! do not add genres. Per [[Academy AwardWP:FILMLEAD]], only the main genre identified by sources should be used.--nominated> [[2006science infiction film|2006science fiction]] [[periodpsychological piece|periodthriller]] film directed by [[Christopher Nolan]], adaptedwho fromco-wrote [[Christopherthe Priestscreenplay (Englishwith novelist)|Christopher[[Jonathan Priest'sNolan]] award-winningand is based on the [[1995The in literaturePrestige|1995 novel]] novel of theby [[TheChristopher Priest Prestige(novelist)|sameChristopher namePriest]]. TheIt filmstars depicts[[Hugh the rivalryJackman]] ofas Robert Angier and [[Christian Bale]] as Alfred Borden, rival stage magicians in late 19th- century and early 20th-century [[Victorian London]]. Angierwho blamesfeud Borden forover a tragic accident, and a competitiveperfect [[one-upmanshipteleportation]] ensues in which both magicians, obsessed with creating the best stage illusion, stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of each other's acts, with tragic results.

The cast also features<!-- Per billing block in poster --> [[Michael Caine]], [[Scarlett Johansson]], [[Rebecca Hall]], [[Andy Serkis]], and [[David Bowie]] as [[Nikola Tesla]]. The film reunites Nolan with actors Bale and Caine from ''[[Batman Begins]]'' and returning cinematographer [[Wally Pfister]], production designer [[Nathan Crowley]], and editor [[Lee Smith (film editor)|Lee Smith]].

Discarding simplistic characterizations of good and evil, the film's rivalry focuses on the duality of human nature, drawing heavily on the themes of obsession, sacrifice, and secrecy. In addition to its atmospheric re-creation of the [[Victorian era]] and the world of the stage magician, the film is noted for its nonlinear [[Narrative structure|narrative structure]], a Nolan hallmark also seen in ''[[Memento]]'' (2000) and ''[[Following]]'' (1998). Christopher and [[Jonathan Nolan|Jonathan Nolan's]] screenplay translates the complex [[Epistolary novel|epistolary]] nature of Priest's novel to the screen as intertwining flashbacks that provide foreshadowing and articulate the multilayered motifs of secrecy and deceit.

''The Prestige'' was released on October 20, 2006 by [[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]] through their [[Touchstone Pictures]] label in the United States and Canada and internationally by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], to positive reviews and grossed $109 million worldwide against a production budget of $40 million. It received [[Academy Award]] nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]] and [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]].

''The Prestige'' features [[Christian Bale]] as Alfred Borden, [[Hugh Jackman]] as Robert Angier, and [[David Bowie]] as [[Nikola Tesla]]. It also stars [[Michael Caine]], [[Scarlett Johansson]], [[Piper Perabo]], and [[Andy Serkis]]. The film reunites Nolan with actors Bale and Caine, both of whom worked with the director in ''[[Batman Begins]]'', and production team regulars [[Wally Pfister]] (cinematography), Nathan Crowley (production design), and [[David Julyan]] (soundtrack). ''The Prestige'' was released on [[October 20]] [[2006]], to good reviews and strong box office results.

==Plot==

{{hatnote|The film is presented in a [[nonlinear narrative]]. The following is a linear plot summary.}}

The film is split into three storylines, each resembling one of the three stages of magic. First, there is the setup, or the "pledge," where the magician shows the audience something that appears ordinary but is probably not, making use of misdirection. Then there is the performance, or the "turn," where the magician makes the ordinary act extraordinary. Lastly, there is the "prestige," where the effect of the illusion is produced. There are "twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance and you see something shocking you've never seen before."<ref>According to an interview with Christopher Priest, the terminology of the "Prestige" was invented; Priest picked the word "prestige" because of its similarity to "[[prestidigitation]]". See the [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/christopherpriest/pres_qa.htm Christopher Priest interview].</ref>

{{spoilers}}

[[Image:Whichknotdidhetie.jpg|thumb|left|Borden ties the potentially fatal knot]]

Alfred Borden and Robert Angier are [[ringer]]s for Milton the Magician, with Cutter as his illusion engineer. Angier's wife, Julia, drowns while performing a [[predicament escape]] from a [[Chinese Water Torture Cell|Chinese water torture cell]], and Angier suspects that Borden bound her wrists with a knot that was harder for her to undo than his customary one. At the funeral, Borden enrages Angier by saying he does not know which knot he tied. The two men begin separate careers as magicians. Borden becomes "The Professor" and hires an aide named Fallon. During a [[parlor magic]] job, he meets Sarah; they marry and have a daughter, Jess. Sarah feels uneasy about Borden and his apparent fickle nature; she claims to know when he loves her and when he does not. During Borden's performance of the [[bullet catch]], a disguised Angier again demands to know which knot Borden used. He shoots Borden with a live bullet, but because Fallon interferes, it merely severs two of Borden's fingers.

In 1890s London, up-and-coming magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden both work as stagehands and plants for an older magician, Milton, under the mentorship of Milton's {{lang|fr|ingénieur}} John Cutter, while Angier's wife Julia works as Milton's assistant. Borden is a technical magician, skilled in the art of creating tricks that confound other magicians while Angier's talent lies in presentation and thrilling audiences with his showmanship.

Angier performs as "The Great Danton," with Cutter's assistance. He employs Olivia to [[misdirection|distract the audience]]. When Angier performs the [[vanishing bird cage]] illusion, a disguised Borden sabotages the trick, damaging Angier's reputation. Borden soon astonishes crowds with "The Transported Man," in which he bounces a ball across the stage before stepping into a box and instantly reappearing from a second box on the opposite side of the stage to catch the ball. The new illusion amazes Angier and Olivia. Obsessed with besting Borden, Angier hires a double and steals Borden's trick, with a slight variation, as "The New Transported Man." The double enjoys the applause while Angier can only listen from below stage. Unhappy at missing the applause and obsessed with figuring out Borden's version of the [[teleportation]] illusion, Angier sends Olivia to steal Borden's secrets. Although Olivia provides Angier with Borden's [[encryption|enciphered]] diary, she falls in love with Borden and double-crosses Angier, allowing Borden to sabotage Angier's act, permanently crippling Angier's left leg by removing a crash mat. In return, Angier and Cutter capture Fallon, releasing him in exchange for the key to Borden's illusion. Borden gives Angier one word, "TESLA," and suggests that it is not merely the key to the [[transposition cipher]] of Borden's notebook (which Olivia had brought to Angier) but also the key to the illusion.

The men become bitter rivals after Julia drowns during an onstage incident. Borden, who was responsible for tying the knots in the [[Chinese Water Torture Cell|water tank trick]], claims to not know whether he tied a riskier type of knot that night, infuriating Angier. They go their separate ways, with Angier hiring Cutter to help with his act. Cutter employs Olivia, a new assistant with whom Angier starts a relationship. Meanwhile, Borden meets and marries Sarah before hiring an unknown {{lang|fr|ingénieur}} called Bernard Fallon to help with his career as a magician, specifically his masterpiece trick that he had mentioned to Cutter earlier, claiming no one else can do it. Sarah becomes pregnant soon after and they welcome a daughter, Jess.

Angier travels to [[Colorado Springs]] to meet [[Nikola Tesla]] and learn the secret of Borden's illusion. Tesla constructs a teleportation machine that resembles a [[Magnifying Transmitter|magnifying transmitter]], but the device fails to work. Angier learns from Borden's notebook that he has been sent on a wild goose chase. Tesla's rivalry with [[Thomas Edison]] forces him to leave Colorado Springs soon after that, but he leaves Angier an improved version of the machine. In a letter, however, he warns Angier to destroy it.

[[Image:TheNewTransportedMan.jpg|thumb|200px|Angier tries out Tesla's machine]]

Sarah's relationship with Borden takes its toll, driving her to drink. Borden's apparent erratic behavior and a suspicion of an extramarital relationship between Borden and Olivia leads her to hang herself. Angier returns to London to produce a final set of 100 performances of his new act, "The Real Transported Man." He insists that Cutter remain front stage for these shows and that only blind stagehands help backstage. In the new illusion, Angier disappears under huge arcs of electricity and instantaneously "teleports" 50 yards from the stage to the balcony. Borden is baffled but spots a trap door. After a show one night, Fallon follows Angier's stagehands. They move a large, concealed water tank across town to an abandoned building. Borden attends Angier's performance again. He slips backstage and discovers a locked water tank with a drowning Angier inside. Borden tries to save him, but Angier drowns. But this drowning was part of the trick; in order to prevent duplicates of himself co-existing, Agnier had to drop one version of himself into a tank of water below stage at every performance. Cutter catches Borden, who is convicted of murder on [[circumstantial evidence]] and sentenced to hang.

As their careers start to take off, Angier and Borden take turns sabotaging each other, escalating their feud. While trying to perform his [[bullet catch]] trick, Borden and Fallon fail to recognise a disguised Angier who volunteers to fire the gun and shoots him with a real bullet, causing Borden to lose two fingers. Angier loses his stage contract after Borden sabotages his cage trick on the opening night, causing one of Angier's spectators to break her fingers.

In prison, Borden reads Angier's diary from Colorado which notes that Angier hopes he will rot in prison for his murder. Jess will become a [[Ward (law)|ward of the state]] unless he gives up the secret of his illusion to a certain [[Lord]] Caldlow. He is forced to oblige but refuses to reveal all unless he can see Jess before his execution. When Lord Caldlow visits with Jess, Borden realizes that he is Angier. Beaten, Borden gives him a note containing the secret of the original Transported Man trick, but Angier rejects it. When Cutter meets Angier again, he realizes the grim cost of Angier's obsession when he sees he has adopted Jess. Borden is subsequently hanged. Cutter accompanies Angier to the abandoned building where the replicants in their water tanks are hidden, and helps him store the teleportation machine. After learning of the dead, replicated Angiers, Cutter leaves in disgust, silently acknowledging the arrival of Borden, who shoots Angier. Borden reveals that he and "Fallon" were twins who lived as a single individual, alternating lives as needed: one twin loved Sarah, the other Olivia. For the original illusion, a twin acted as the double. They were so committed to the illusion that they amputated the other twin's fingers to match his brother's injury; they also suffered the loss of Sarah as a result of their dedication to the illusion. Similarly, flashbacks recount (only to the audience) Angier's method: that each time he disappeared during his illusion, he fell into a locked tank and drowned, and the machine created a duplicate who teleported to the balcony and basked in the applause. Before leaving, Borden looks back at the aisles of tanks and then leaves Angier to die as a fire begins to consume the building. Although, right before the fire seen cuts you can see Angier hiding, leaving you to believe either he or one of the replicants is still alive. Borden reunites with his daughter.

{{endspoiler}}

Angier visits Borden's show again intending payback, but comes away surprised by Borden's debut of a new trick called the Transported Man, in which he appears to [[Teleportation|teleport]] from a cabinet at one end of the stage to another cabinet on the opposite side. Angier is determined to find out Borden's secret for the trick, but creates a new version of it for his own act, the New Transported Man, using a lookalike named Root, as suggested by Cutter. Despite the new version being better received, Angier is unsatisfied by being the man "in the box" and not receiving the audience's acclaim at the end of the trick — Root is the one that receives all the applause while Angier must remain hidden under the stage and remains obsessed over Borden's secret. Angier cajoles Olivia to work for Borden and spy on him to find out his secret for performing the Transported Man, but this results in Olivia's alienation from Angier, and eventually Olivia becomes Borden's mistress instead. Using Olivia's inside knowledge of Angier's method, Borden exposes Root to the audience and causes Angier to break a leg, further infuriating him.

==Cast==

[[Image:ThePrestigePic.jpg|thumb|225px|Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as Borden and Angier]]

*'''[[Hugh Jackman]]''' as '''Robert Angier''': An aristocratic magician with a talent for performance.

*'''[[Christian Bale]]''' as '''Alfred Borden''': A working-class magician with an understanding of magic.

*'''[[Michael Caine]]''' as '''John Cutter''': The stage engineer who works for Angier.

*'''[[Rebecca Hall]]''' as '''Sarah Borden''': Borden's wife.

*'''[[Scarlett Johansson]]''' as '''Olivia Wenscombe''': Angier's assistant.

*'''[[David Bowie]]''' as '''[[Nikola Tesla]]''': The real life inventor who creates a device for Angier.

*'''[[Piper Perabo]]''' as '''Julia McCullough''': Angier's wife.

*'''[[Andy Serkis]]''' as '''Mr. Alley''': Tesla's assistant.

*'''[[Ricky Jay]]''' as "'''Milton the Magician'''": An older magician Borden and Angier work for at the beginning of the story.

Borden, with Olivia's help, improves the presentation of his own act, now called the Original Transported Man, and his success continues. After obtaining Borden's encoded diary from Olivia and burying Fallon alive to force Borden to reveal his secret, Angier receives the cipher to the diary, TESLA, which Borden tells him is also his method for doing the trick. However, this is really a fabrication meant to drive Angier away.

Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were negotiated with in October 2005.<ref name="magic men">{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming, David S. Cohen|title=Meet the men of magic|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=[[2005-10-02]]|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117930078.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&p=0|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> Both men read the script and were interested, with the latter reteaming with his ''[[Batman Begins]]'' director. Nolan felt Jackman in particular had the right charisma to play the showmanship of Angier.<ref name="casting">{{cite news|author=Chris Carle|title=Casting The Prestige|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=[[2006-10-12]]|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/738/738782p1.html|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> Michael Caine and David Bowie then came on board.<ref>{{cite news|author=Chris Gardner|title='Prestige' project for Scarlett|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=[[2005-12-08]]|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117934249.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1&p=0|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> Nolan approached Bowie specifically, as he had a quality different to most actors being a musician first and thus created an unusual presence. Scarlett Johansson was cast due to her personal interest in the project.<ref name="casting"/>

Angier arrives at [[Colorado Springs]] to meet the scientist [[Nikola Tesla]], himself engaged in a bitter rivalry with scientist [[Thomas Edison]]. Angier asks Tesla to build a machine that transports its subject, believing Tesla has already created such a device for Borden. The enigmatic Tesla agrees and, after some problems with getting it to work as intended, eventually creates the machine, but gravely warns against its use, telling Angier it will only bring him misery. Angier nevertheless returns to London with the machine and uses it to perform the Real Transported Man, a refined version of the trick that brings him unprecedented recognition.

To train for their roles, Jackman and Bale were instructed by Ricky Jay and Michael Weber in various magic tricks, though they were not given full details but simply told how to pull off a shot. Nolan instructed both actors to not read the book, although Bale ignored his advice.<ref name="eyes">{{cite news|author=Dan Jolin|title=You Won't Believe Your Eyes|pages=134-140|publisher=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=[[2006-09-29]]}}</ref>

Borden's personal life becomes more complex, having to juggle his responsibilities to daughter Jess and wife Sarah (who senses he is keeping something from her), his affair with Olivia and his magic career, especially after Angier's return and increasing acclaim for the Real Transported Man trick. Unable to live with Borden's secretive nature, Sarah commits suicide, causing Olivia to leave him when she sees Borden react coldly.

Borden becomes obsessed with finding out how Angier is performing the Real Transported Man. Angier's method confounds both Borden and Fallon, their only clue being that Angier uses a trap door. Borden sneaks under the stage at one of Angier's shows to discover the method, but is shocked to see Angier drown inside a water tank. Borden is arrested and put on trial for Angier's apparent murder. He is found guilty and sentenced to death.

A solicitor named Owens, acting for a Lord Caldlow, meets Borden and offers him money in return for the method of how he performed the Transported Man. Owens also informs Borden that Jess will be taken away from Fallon's guardianship and sent to a workhouse unless he agrees, assuring him Jess will instead be placed in the care of the wealthy Caldlow who has purchased many of Angier's belongings as souvenirs. When Borden demands to see Jess before revealing his secret, Lord Caldlow visits Borden in person with Jess in tow. To Borden's horror, the aristocratic Caldlow reveals himself as the true identity behind Angier, having reverted to his original life as a wealthy Lord following the "death" of Angier, which Borden is accused of. He taunts Borden over being a better magician and that he will adopt Jess. Borden gives up his secret at the prison, only to see his note torn up, unread by Angier. Fallon is the last person to visit Borden at the prison before he is executed.

Cutter inadvertently discovers Angier's true identity as Caldlow and is reluctantly enlisted to help destroy Tesla's machine at a theater Angier secretly owns. After Cutter leaves, a mysterious figure sneaks into the theater and shoots Angier. The figure is Borden, and a dying Angier finally learns the truth: Alfred Borden was a single identity shared by twin brothers; while one performed, the other hid in plain sight as Fallon, both alternating between the two. To remain indistinguishable, one twin was even forced to mutilate his hand after Angier sabotaged Borden's bullet catch and shot off two of his fingers. They both lived one half of Alfred Borden's life, never appearing in public as twins, except during the Transported Man, where they would switch identities. One twin married Sarah, while the other loved Olivia, with only Sarah sensing the deception, thus driving her to suicide. The brother who fathered Jess survived as Fallon while the other was executed as Borden.

Angier, in his last moments, reveals the true gravity of Tesla's machine: although it was successful in transporting the subject, it also kept the original intact — a glitch in the machine that Tesla was unable to resolve. Thus a new Angier was created every time he used the machine. It is not known whether Tesla's machine created the clone in place of the original while transporting the original to a separate ___location or created a clone in the separate ___location while leaving the original unmoved. Unwilling to accept two versions of himself in existence, Angier built a trap door to drop the man in the machine into a water tank positioned below stage, drowning him. Although it is never known whether this man is the original or the clone, Angier’s vengeful obsession drove him to accept the risk and perform the trick night after night, potentially committing suicide every time. As he dies, Angier knocks over an oil lamp, starting a fire in the theater as Borden walks away.

At Borden's workshop, Cutter explains to Jess that the hardest and final part of any magic trick is the re-appearance, also called the "prestige," where the magician brings back the object he made to vanish. As he demonstrates this, Borden reappears at the workshop to take Jess back into his care. The film ends with a shot of Angier's burning theater, the walls lined with water tanks containing the corpses of his clones.

==Cast==

* [[Hugh Jackman]] as Robert "The Great Danton" Angier / Lord Caldlow, an [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocratic]] magician. Nolan cast Jackman, stating that Angier "has a wonderful understanding of the interaction between a performer and a live audience", a quality he believed Jackman possessed.<ref name="Casting">{{cite news |author=Carle, Chris |title=Casting The Prestige |work=IGN |date=October 12, 2006 |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/738/738782p1.html |access-date=March 5, 2007 |archive-date=September 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903025734/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/738/738782p1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jackman based his portrayal of Angier on 1950s-era magician [[Channing Pollock (magician)|Channing Pollock]].<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Cindy |title=Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman square off as rival magicians in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige |work=Sci Fi Weekly |date=October 18, 2006 |url=https://www.syfy.com/sfw/interviews/sfw13910.html |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061029122644/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw13910.html |archive-date=October 29, 2006}}</ref> Jackman also portrays Gerald Root, an alcoholic double used for Angier's ''New Transported Man''.

* [[Christian Bale]] as Alfred "The Professor" Borden / Bernard Fallon, a [[working-class]] magician. While Nolan had previously cast Bale as [[Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight trilogy)|Batman]] in ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005), he did not consider Bale for the role of Borden until Bale contacted him about the script. Nolan subsequently believed that Bale was "exactly right" for the part and that it was "unthinkable" for anyone else to play it.<ref name="Casting" /> Nolan suggested that the actors not read the original novel, but Bale ignored the advice.<ref name="Eyes">{{cite news |author=Jolin, Dan |title=You Won't Believe Your Eyes |pages=134–140 |work=Empire |date=September 29, 2006}}</ref>

* [[Michael Caine]] as John Cutter, the stage engineer ({{lang|fr|ingénieur}}) who works with Angier and Borden. Caine had previously collaborated with Nolan and Bale in ''Batman Begins''. Nolan noted that the part had been written "before I'd ever met" Caine.<ref name="Casting" /> Caine described Cutter as "a teacher, a father, and a guide to Angier". In trying to create the character's nuanced portrait, Caine altered his voice and posture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_10222.html |title=Interview: Michael Caine, 'The Prestige' |access-date=June 29, 2008 |author=Roberts, Sheila |work=MoviesOnline.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223060729/http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_10222.html |archive-date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>

* [[Scarlett Johansson]] as Olivia Wenscombe, Angier and Borden's assistant. Nolan was "very keen" for Johansson to play the role, and when he met with her to discuss it, "she just loved the character".<ref name="Casting" />

* [[Piper Perabo]] as Julia McCullough, Milton the Magician's assistant and Angier's wife.

* [[Rebecca Hall]] as Sarah Borden, Borden's wife. Hall had to relocate from [[North London]] to Los Angeles in order to shoot the film, although the film itself takes place in London.

* [[David Bowie]] as [[Nikola Tesla]], the real-life inventor who creates a teleportation device for Angier. For Tesla, Nolan wanted someone who was not necessarily a film star but was "extraordinarily charismatic". Nolan stated that Bowie "was really the only guy I had in mind to play Tesla because his function in the story is a small but very important role".<ref name="Casting" /> Nolan contacted Bowie, who initially turned down the part. A lifelong fan, Nolan flew out to New York to pitch the role to Bowie in person, telling him no one else could possibly play the part;<ref>{{cite news |title=Tricks of the Trade |work=IrishTimes.com |date=November 10, 2006 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tricks-of-the-trade-1.1027411 |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105164455/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tricks-of-the-trade-1.1027411 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bowie accepted after a few minutes.<ref name="Casting" />

* [[Andy Serkis]] as Mr. Alley, Tesla's assistant. Serkis said he played Alley with the belief that he was "once a corporation man who got excited by this maverick, Tesla, so jumped ship and went with the maverick". Serkis described Alley as a "gatekeeper", a "conman", and "a mirror image of Michael Caine's character." Serkis, a big fan of Bowie, said he was enjoyable to work with, describing him as "very unassuming, very down to earth... very at ease with himself and funny."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/the-prestige-andy-serkis-interview |title=The Prestige&nbsp;– Andy Serkis interview |access-date=July 6, 2008 |last=Carnevale |first=Rob |work=IndieLondon.co.uk |archive-date=February 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225011247/http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/the-prestige-andy-serkis-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[Ricky Jay]] as Milton the Magician, an older magician who employs Angier and Borden at the beginning of their careers. Jay and Michael Weber trained Jackman and Bale for their roles with brief instruction in various stage illusions. The magicians gave the actors limited information, allowing them to know enough to pull off a scene.<ref name="Eyes" />

* [[Roger Rees]] as Owens, a solicitor working for Lord Caldlow.

* [[W. Morgan Sheppard]] as Merrit, the owner of a theater where Angier initially performs.

* Samantha Mahurin as Jess Borden, the daughter of Borden and Sarah.

* [[Daniel Davis (actor)|Daniel Davis]] as the judge presiding over Borden's trial.

* [[Chao-Li Chi]] as Chung Ling Soo, a Chinese magician who disguises his great physical strength by pretending to be elderly and frail in all public appearances.

==Production==

[[Julian Jarrold]]'s and [[Sam Mendes]]'s producer approached [[Christopher Priest (English novelist)|Christopher Priest]] for an adaptation of his novel ''[[The Prestige]]''. Priest was impressed with Christopher Nolan's films ''[[Following]]'' and ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'',<ref name="markerMarker">{{cite news| |last = Toy | first = Sam | title = Magic marker| |pages=137 | publisher work=Empire Empire| date =September [[2006-09-29]]| accessdate =, 2006-11-13}}</ref> and Subsequentlysubsequently, producer Valerie Dean brought the book to [[Christopher Nolan]]'s attention.<ref name=shewman"Shewman" /> PriestIn wasOctober impressed with2000, Nolan's filmstraveled ''[[Following]]''to andthe United Kingdom to publicize ''[[Memento]]'',<ref name="marker"/> and the project was [[Option (films)|optioned]] by Aaron Ryder ofas [[Newmarket Films]].<ref name="shewman"/> The writing process was ahaving longdifficulty collaboration between the Nolan brothers, occurring intermittently overfinding a periodUnited ofStates five yearsdistributor.<ref>{{cite news|author=StuartWhile McGurk|title=Howin I made... The Prestige: Christopher Nolan|publisher=The London Night In|date=[[2007-03-12London]]|url=http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/dvds/article/1157146664377?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController|accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> In the script, theNolan Nolansread emphasizedPriest's thebook magicand ofshared the story throughwith thehis dramaticbrother narrative,[[Jonathan playingNolan|Jonathan]] downwhile thewalking visualaround depiction of stage magic. Thein [[Dramatic structure|three-act screenplayHighgate]] was(a deliberately___location structuredlater aroundfeatured in the threescene elementswhere ofAngier theransoms filmBorden's illusion:stage theengineer pledge,in the[[Highgate turn, and the prestigeCemetery]]). The "Itdevelopment tookprocess afor long''The timePrestige'' tobegan figureas out how to achieve cinematica versionsreversal of thetheir veryearlier [[literarycollaboration: device]]sJonathan thatNolan drivehad thepitched intriguehis of theinitial story," Christopher Nolan toldfor ''VarietyMemento''. to "Thehis shiftingbrother pointsduring of view, the idea of journals within journals anda [[Story within a story|stories withinroad storiestrip]].<ref Finding the cinematic equivalents of those literary devices was very complex.name="Podcast"<ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=David S.|title=Adapted Screenplay|publisher=Variety|date=[[2006-12-18]]|}}</ref> podcast

| url=http://traffic.libsyn.com/creativescreenwritingmag/ThePrestigeQandA.mp3

| title=The Prestige Q&A: Interview with Jonathan Nolan

| website=Creative Screenwriting Magazine Podcast

| publisher=Creative Screenwriting

| host=Jeff Goldsmith

| date=October 28, 2006

| access-date=May 7, 2020

}}</ref>

A year later, the [[Option (films)|option]] on the book became available and was purchased by [[Aaron Ryder]] of Newmarket Films.<ref name="Shewman" /><ref name="Podcast" /> In late 2001, Nolan became busy with the [[post-production]] of ''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'', and asked his brother to help work on the script.<ref name="Podcast" /> The writing process was a long collaboration between the Nolan brothers, occurring intermittently over a period of five years.<ref>{{cite news |author=McGurk, Stuart |title=How I made... The Prestige: Christopher Nolan |work=TheLondonPaper.com |date=March 12, 2007 |url=http://www.thelondonpaper.com/staying-in/film-dvd-s/christopher-nolan |access-date=March 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712055937/http://www.thelondonpaper.com/staying-in/film-dvd-s/christopher-nolan |archive-date=July 12, 2009}}</ref> In the script, the Nolans emphasized the magic of the story through the dramatic narrative, playing down the visual depiction of stage magic. The [[Three-act structure|three-act screenplay]] was deliberately structured around the three elements of the film's illusion: the pledge, the turn, and the prestige. "It took a long time to figure out how to achieve cinematic versions of the very [[literary device]]s that drive the intrigue of the story," Christopher Nolan told ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'': "The shifting points of view, the idea of journals within journals and [[Story within a story|stories within stories]]. Finding the cinematic equivalents of those literary devices was very complex."<ref>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=David S. |title=Adapted Screenplay |work=Variety |date=December 18, 2006}}</ref> Although the film is thematically faithful to the novel, two major changes were made to the plot structure during the adaptation process: the novel's [[Spiritualism (beliefs)|spiritualism]] subplot was removed, and the modern-day [[frame story]] was replaced with Borden's wait for the gallows.<ref name="Shewman" /> Priest approved of the adaptation, describing it as "an extraordinary and brilliant script, a fascinating adaptation of my novel."<ref name="Shewman" />

[[File:Tower Theater (Los Angeles).jpg|thumb|The historic [[Tower Theatre (Los Angeles)|Tower Theatre]] in Los Angeles was used as the ___location for the Pantages Theatre in London<ref name="Wada" />]]

In early 2003, Nolan planned to direct the film before the production of ''[[Batman Begins]]'' accelerated.<ref name="Eyes" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Fleming, Mike |title=Nolan wants 'Prestige' |work=Variety |date=April 16, 2003 |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117884751&categoryid=13&cs=1 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516165128/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117884751&categoryid=13&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the release of ''Batman Begins'', Nolan started up the project again, negotiating with Jackman and Bale in October 2005.<ref name="MagicMen">{{cite news |author1=Fleming, Mike |author2=Cohen, David S. |title=Meet the men of magic |work=Variety |date=October 2, 2005 |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/features/meet-the-men-of-magic-1117930078/ |access-date=March 5, 2007 |archive-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713233417/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117930078.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&p=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Josh Hartnett]] pitched Nolan for a role.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/jul/28/i-didnt-want-to-be-swallowed-up-actor-josh-hartnett-on-swapping-hollywood-for-hampshire | title='I didn't want to be swallowed up': Actor Josh Hartnett on swapping Hollywood for Hampshire | newspaper=The Observer }}</ref> While the screenplay was still being written, production designer Nathan Crowley began the set design process in Nolan's garage, employing a "visual script" consisting of [[scale model]]s, images, drawings, and notes. Jonathan and Christopher Nolan finished the final shooting draft on January 13, 2006, and began production three days later on January 16. Filming ended on April 9.<ref name="PrestigeDVD">{{cite video

| people=Nolan, Christopher (Director)

| date=October 17, 2006

| title=The Prestige

| medium=Motion picture

| ___location=USA

| publisher=Touchstone Pictures

| time="Resonances" bonus feature

}}</ref>

Crowley and his crew searched Los Angeles for almost 70 locations that resembled [[fin de siècle]] London.<ref name="Wada">{{cite journal

| last=Wada

| first=Karen

| title=Tricked Out: How production designer Nathan Crowley transformed modern Los Angeles into Victorian London for The Prestige

| journal=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles Magazine]]

| volume=52

| issue=2

| pages=94–97

| date=2007-02-01}}</ref> Jonathan Nolan visited [[Colorado Springs]] to research Nikola Tesla and based the electric-bulb scene on actual experiments Tesla conducted.<ref name="Podcast" /> Nathan Crowley helped design the scene for Tesla's invention; It was shot in the parking lot of the [[Mount Wilson Observatory]].<ref name="Wada" /> Influenced by a "Victorian modernist aesthetic," Crowley chose four locations in the [[Broadway (Los Angeles)|Broadway theater district]] in [[downtown Los Angeles]] for the film's stage magic performances: the [[Los Angeles Theatre]], the [[Avalon Hollywood|Palace Theatre]], the Los Angeles Belasco, and the Tower Theatre.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nelson, Steffie |title=Magic pics pull conjuring tricks |work=Variety |date=January 9, 2007 |url=https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117956937.html?nav=look07 |access-date=May 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011210221/http://variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117956937.html?nav=look07 |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> Crowley also turned a portion of the Universal [[Backlot|back lot]] into Victorian London.<ref>{{cite news

| last=Idelson

| first=Karen

| title=H'wood back lots still work magic

| volume=404

| issue=13

| pages=A4

| work=Variety

| date=November 13, 2006

}}</ref> [[Osgood Castle]] in Colorado was also used as a ___location.<ref name="CastleWebsite">{{cite web |title=The Historic Redstone Castle |url=http://www.redstonecastle.us/index2.htm |work=Redstone Castle |year=2011 |access-date=April 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423065205/http://www.redstonecastle.us/index2.htm |archive-date=April 23, 2012}}</ref>

Nolan built only one set for the film, an "under-the-stage section that houses the machinery that makes the larger illusions work,"<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Terry |title='Batman' stars team in 'Prestige': Actors learned to perform magic for their roles |work=Detroit Free Press |date=October 17, 2006}}</ref> preferring to simply dress various Los Angeles locations and sound stages to stand in for [[Colorado]] and Victorian England.<ref name="EditBay">{{cite news |last=Carle |first=Chris |title=The Prestige Edit Bay Visit |work=IGN |date=September 20, 2006 |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/733/733653p1.html |access-date=October 5, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119170229/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/733/733653p1.html |archive-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> In contrast to most period pieces, Nolan kept up the quick pace of production by shooting with handheld cameras,<ref name="EditBay" /> and refrained from using artificial lighting in some scenes, relying instead on natural light on ___location.<ref name="Eyes" /> Costume designer Joan Bergin chose attractive, modern Victorian fashions for Scarlett Johansson; cinematographer Wally Pfister captured the mood with soft earth tones as white and black colors provided background contrasts, bringing actors' faces to the foreground.<ref name="PrestigeDVD2">{{cite video

|people = Nolan, Christopher (Director)

|date = October 17, 2006

|url = http://video.movies.go.com/theprestige

|title = The Prestige

|medium = Motion picture

|___location = USA

|publisher = [[Touchstone Pictures]]

|time = "Conjuring the Past" bonus feature

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070207051033/http://video.movies.go.com/theprestige/

|archive-date = February 7, 2007

}}</ref> Editing, scoring, and mixing finished on September 22, 2006.<ref name="PrestigeDVD" />

===Music===

{{Main|The Prestige (soundtrack)}}

The [[film score]] was written by English musician and composer [[David Julyan]]. Julyan had previously collaborated with director [[Christopher Nolan]] on ''[[Following]]'' (1998), ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' (2000), and ''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'' (2002). Following the film's narrative, the soundtrack has three sections: the Pledge, the Turn, and the Prestige.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Prestige/dp/B000IFRQI6 |title=''The Prestige'': David Julyan: Music |access-date=July 21, 2025 |last=Vincentelli |first=Elisabeth |work=Amazon.com |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415080900/http://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Original-Score-David-Julyan/dp/B000IFRQI6 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although the film is thematically faithful to the novel, two major changes were made to the plot structure during the adaptation process: the novel's [[spiritualism]] subplot was removed, and the modern-day [[frame story]] was replaced with Borden's wait for the gallows.<ref name=shewman/> Priest approved the adaptation, describing it as "an extraordinary and brilliant script, a fascinating adaptation of my novel."<ref name=shewman/>

In early 2003, Nolan planned to direct the film before the production of ''[[Batman Begins]]'' accelerated.<ref>{{cite news |author=Michael Fleming|title=Nolan wants 'Prestige'|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=[[2003-04-16]]|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117884751&categoryid=13&cs=1|accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref><ref name="eyes"/> Following the release of ''Batman Begins'', Nolan started up the project again, negotiating with Bale and Jackman in October 2005.<ref name="magic men">{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming, David S. Cohen|title=Meet the men of magic|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=[[2005-10-02]]|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117930078.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&p=0|accessdate=2007-03-05}}</ref> Filming began on [[January 8]] [[2006]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Box office/business for The Prestige (2006)|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/business|accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref> and wrapped in March.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Prestige - Greg's Preview|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1809271886|accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref> Nolan built only one set for the film, an "under-the-stage section that houses the machinery that makes the larger illusions work,"<ref>{{cite news| last = Lawson| first = Terry|title = 'Batman' stars team in 'Prestige': Actors learned to perform magic for their roles| publisher = Detroit Free Press| date = [[2006-10-17]]}}</ref> preferring to simply dress various locations and sound stages in Los Angeles to stand in for [[Colorado]] and Victorian England.<ref name="edit bay">{{cite news| last = Carle| first = Chris| title = The Prestige Edit Bay Visit| publisher = IGN| date = [[2006-09-20]]| url = http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/733/733653p1.html | accessdate = 2006-10-05}}</ref> Shooting locations include the Los Angeles Theater, [[Koreatown]], Downey Studios, [[Warner Brothers Studios]], [[Colorado]] and the backlot of [[Universal Studios]].<ref>{{cite web| title = ''The Prestige'' Filming Locations| publisher = imdb.com| url = http://imdb.com/title/tt0482571/locations|accessdate=2007-03-07}}</ref> Nolan kept up the quick pace of production by shooting with handheld cameras, in contrast to most period pieces,<ref name="edit bay"/> and didn't even light some scenes, relying instead on natural light on ___location.<ref name="eyes"/>

The song "[[Analyse (Thom Yorke song)|Analyse]]" by [[Radiohead]] frontman [[Thom Yorke]] is played over the credits.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ye Olde Dueling Magicians |date=October 19, 2006 |work=The Portland Mercury |first=Erik |last=Henriksen |access-date=July 21, 2025 |url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=73234&category=22133 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003858/http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=73234&category=22133 |url-status=live}}</ref> "[[Returner (Yami no Shūen)|Returner]]" by [[Gackt]] was used as the theme song in the Japanese version.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-07 |title=Gacktにハリウッドも大絶賛！イリュージョンなテーマソング熱唱！｜シネマトゥデイ |url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0010736 |access-date=July 21, 2025 |website=シネマトゥデイ |language=ja}}</ref>

Touchstone opted to move the release date up a week, from the original [[October 27]] [[2006]], to [[October 20]] [[2006]].<ref>{{cite news | title = ''The Prestige'' Changes the Date| publisher = Canmag.com| date = [[2006-07-23]]| url = http://www.canmag.com/news/4/3/4493 | accessdate = 2006-10-05}}</ref> The song "[[Analyse (song)|Analyse]]" by [[Radiohead]] frontman [[Thom Yorke]] is played over the credits.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ye Olde Dueling Magicians|date=[[19 October]] [[2006]]|publisher=[[The Portland Mercury]]|author=Erik Henriksen|accessdate=2006-10-23|url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=73234&category=22133}}</ref>

==Themes==

The rivalry between Angier and Borden dominates the film. Obsession, secrecy, and sacrifice fuel the battle, as both magicians contribute their fair share to a deadly duel of one-upmanship, with disastrous results. Angier's obsession with beating Borden costs him Cutter's friendship while providing him with a collection of his own dead clones; Borden's obsession with maintaining the secrecy of his twin leads Sarah to question their relationship, eventually resulting in her suicide when she suspects the truth. Angier and one of the twins both lose Olivia's love because of their inhumanity. Finally, Borden is hanged and the last copy of Angier shot. Their struggle is also expressed through [[class conflict|class warfare]]: Borden as ''The Professor'', a working-class magician who gets his hands dirty, versus Angier as ''The Great Danton'', a classy, elitist showman whose accent makes him appear American.<ref>{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Rebecca |title=Christian Bale Talks About "The Prestige" - Page 2 |work=[[About.com]] |url=http://movies.about.com/od/theprestige/a/prestigcb101606_2.htm |access-date=November 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321134514/http://movies.about.com/od/theprestige/a/prestigcb101606_2.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2007}}</ref> Film critic Matt Brunson claimed that a complex theme of duality is exemplified by Angier and Borden, that the film chooses not to depict either magician as good or evil.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brunson|first=Matt|title=Trick and Treat|work=Creative Loafing Charlotte|url=http://clclt.com/charlotte/trick-and-treat/Content?oid=2145474|access-date=July 22, 2013|archive-date=January 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119043824/http://clclt.com/charlotte/trick-and-treat/Content?oid=2145474|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{seealso|Nikola Tesla in popular culture|Swampman|Identity and change}}

{{spoilers}}

The [[rivalry]] between Borden and Angier dominates the film. Obsession, secrecy, and sacrifice fuel the battle, as both magicians contribute their fair share to a deadly duel of one-upmanship, with disastrous results. Angier's obsession with beating Borden costs him Cutter's friendship, while Borden's obsession with maintaining the secrecy of his twin leads Sarah to question their relationship, eventually resulting in her suicide; in the end, Angier and Borden both lose Olivia's love because of their obsessions. Their struggle is also expressed through [[class conflict|class warfare]]: Borden as The Professor, a working-class magician who gets his hands dirty, versus Angier as The Great Danton, a classy showman whose accent makes him appear American.<ref>{{cite web| last = Murray| first = Rebecca| title = Christian Bale Talks About "The Prestige" - Page 2| publisher = About| url = http://movies.about.com/od/theprestige/a/prestigcb101606_2.htm| accessdate = 2006-11-01}}</ref> Film critic Matt Brunson observes a complex theme of duality exemplified by Angier and Borden, noting that the film dispenses with simplistic notions of good versus evil characters.<ref>{{cite web| last = Brunson| first = Matt| title = Film/Now Showing| publisher = Connect Savannah| url = http://www.connectsavannah.com/show_article.php?article_id=1448

| accessdate = 2006-11-03}}</ref>

Angier's theft of Borden's teleportation illusion in the film echoes many real-world examples of stolen tricks among magicians. Outside the film, similar rivalries include magicians [[John Nevil Maskelyne]] and [[Harry Kellar]]'s dispute over a levitation illusion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kawamoto |first=Wayne |title=Film Review: The Prestige |work=About.com |url=http://magic.about.com/od/magicinthemedia/fr/102206prestige.htm |access-date=November 1, 2006 |archive-date=November 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105203101/http://magic.about.com/od/magicinthemedia/fr/102206prestige.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Gary Westfahl of ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus Online]]'' also notes a "new proclivity for mayhem" in the film over the novel, citing the murder/suicide disposition of Angier's duplicates and intensified violent acts of revenge and counter-revenge. This "relates to a more general alteration in the events and tone of the film" rather than significantly changing the underlying themes.<ref name="Locus-Westfahl">{{cite web |last=Westfahl |first=Gary |author1-link=Gary Westfahl |title=Seeing Double: A Review of The Prestige |work=[[Locus Online]] |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Features/Westfahl_ThePrestige.html |access-date=April 5, 2007 |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530032109/http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Features/Westfahl_ThePrestige.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Not content to be confined to the fictional landscape of ''The Prestige'', the rivalry is further conveyed in the external world of stage magic. Angier's theft of Borden's teleportation illusion is only one of many stolen tricks among fellow magicians. [[Chung Ling Soo]]'s production of a large goldfish bowl from an empty cloth was stolen from rival magician [[Ching Ling Foo]], whom Borden and Angier watch when they are still friends. Both Borden and Soo performed the dangerous bullet catch: Borden loses two fingers, but the real Soo lost his life. Outside the film, similar rivalries include magicians [[John Nevil Maskelyne]] and [[Harry Kellar]]'s dispute over a levitation illusion.<ref>{{cite web| last = Kawamoto| first = Wayne| title = Film Review: The Prestige| publisher = About| url = http://magic.about.com/od/magicinthemedia/fr/102206prestige.htm| accessdate = 2006-11-01}}</ref>

[[Image:ThePrestigePic1.jpg|thumb|right|David Bowie as Tesla]]

Nor is this cutthroat competition limited to prestidigitation: engineering "wizards" [[Nikola Tesla]] and [[Thomas Edison]] engaged in a [[War of Currents|rivalry over electrical current]], which appears in the film in parallel to Borden and Angier's competition for magical supremacy.<ref>{{cite news| last = Difrancesco| first = Teresa| title = Jonathan Nolan on writing The Prestige| publisher = Movie Web| date = [[2006-10-20]]| url = http://www.movieweb.com/news/64/15264.php| accessdate = 2006-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = 'Prestige' is magical| publisher = Arkansas Times| date = [[2006-10-26]]| url = http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=aaac8060-5dbf-4877-a4bd-126f3f71f9b0| accessdate = 2006-10-31}}</ref> <!-- In the book, Tesla and Edison serve as [[Foil (literature)|foils]] for Borden and Angier, respectively.<ref>{{cite web| last = Langford| first = David| title = The Prestige| publisher = Ansible| url = http://www.ansible.co.uk/writing/prestige.html| accessdate = 2006-11-02}}</ref> Historically, Tesla is considered a genius without a sense of pragmatism (like Borden's character), and Edison is viewed as an expert in application and presentation (like Angier). {{fact}} -->

Nor is this theme of cutthroat competition limited to [[sleight of hand]]: the script incorporates the popular notion that [[Nikola Tesla]] and [[Thomas Edison]] were directly engaged in the [[war of the currents]], a rivalry over electrical standards, which appears in the film in parallel to Angier and Borden's competition for magical supremacy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Difrancesco |first=Teresa |title=Jonathan Nolan on writing The Prestige |work=[[MovieWeb]] |date=October 20, 2006 |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEdUmdgicLhhgf |access-date=October 31, 2006 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141215/https://movieweb.com/jonathan-nolan-on-writing-the-prestige/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Prestige' is magical |work=[[Arkansas Times]] |date=October 26, 2006 |url=http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=aaac8060-5dbf-4877-a4bd-126f3f71f9b0 |access-date=October 31, 2006 |archive-date=July 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710104113/http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=aaac8060-5dbf-4877-a4bd-126f3f71f9b0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the novel, Tesla and Edison serve as [[Foil (literature)|foils]] for Angier and Borden, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langford |first=David |title=The Prestige |work=Ansible.co.uk |url=http://www.ansible.co.uk/writing/prestige.html |access-date=November 2, 2006 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141227/https://ansible.uk/writing/prestige.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Den Shewman of ''Creative Screenwriting'' says the film asks how far one would go to devote oneself to an art. The character of Chung Ling Soo, according to Shewman, is a metaphor for this theme.<ref name="shewman">Shewman, Den. (Sept/Oct 2006). Nothing Up Their Sleeves: Christopher & Jonathan Nolan on the Art of Magic, Murder, and The Prestige. ''[http://www.creativescreenwriting.com/index.html Creative Screenwriting]''. Vol. 13:5.</ref> Film critic Alex Manugian refers to this theme as the "meaning of commitment."<ref name="manugian">{{cite news| last = Manugian| first = Alex| title = Movie Review: Not dazzling, but still fascinating| publisher = The Harvard Post| date = [[2006-11-03]]| url = http://www2.townonline.com/harvard/artsLifestyle/view.bg?articleid=609060&format=&page=1| accessdate = 2006-11-03}}</ref> For example, Soo's pretense of being slow and feeble misdirects his audience from noticing the physical strength required to perform the goldfish bowl trick, but the cost of maintaining this illusion is the sacrifice of individuality: Soo's true appearance and freedom to act naturally are consciously suppressed in his ceaseless dedication to the art of magic.

Den Shewman of ''Creative Screenwriting'' says the film asks how far one would go to devote oneself to an art. The character of [[Chung Ling Soo]], according to Shewman, is a metaphor for this theme.<ref name="Shewman">Shewman, Den. (September/October 2006). Nothing Up Their Sleeves: Christopher & Jonathan Nolan on the Art of Magic, Murder, and 'The Prestige'. ''Creative Screenwriting''. Vol. 13:5.</ref> Film critic Alex Manugian refers to this theme as the "meaning of commitment."<ref name="Manugian">{{cite news |last=Manugian |first=Alex |title=Movie Review: Not dazzling, but still fascinating |work=The Harvard Post |date=November 3, 2006 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?ID=11586F0ABA470998 |access-date=November 3, 2006 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141245/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?ID=11586F0ABA470998 |url-status=live}}</ref>

For Manugian the central theme is "obsession," but he also notes the supporting themes of the "nature of deceit" and "science as magic." Manugian criticizes the Nolans for trying to "ram too many themes into the story."<ref name=manugian/>

{{endspoiler}}

Nicolas Rapold of ''[[Film Comment]]'' addresses the points raised by Shewman and Manugian in terms of the film's "refracted take on [[Romanticism]]":

==Response==

''The Prestige'' received a strong, 74% "fresh" rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], compiled from 170 reviews. Claudia Puig of ''[[USA Today]]'' described the film as "one of the most innovative, twisting, turning [[art film]]s of the past decade."<ref>{{cite news| last = Puig| first = Claudia| title = 'The Prestige': Magical, marvelous filmmaking| publisher = USA Today| date = [[2006-10-20]]|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-10-19-review-prestige_x.htm|accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref> [[Drew McWeeny]] gave the film a glowing review, saying it demands repeat viewing,<ref>{{cite news| last = McWeeny| first = Drew| authorlink = Drew McWeeny | title = Moriarty conjures up AICN's first review of The Prestige!| publisher = Ain't It Cool News| date = [[2006-10-13]]| url = http://www.aintitcool.com/?q=node/30390| accessdate = 2006-10-15}}</ref> with [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' agreeing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Travers|first=Peter|authorlink=Peter Travers|title=The Prestige|publisher=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|date=[[2006-10-20]]|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/9387671/review/12087204/the_prestige|accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref> [[Richard Roeper]] and guest critic [[A.O. Scott]] gave the film two thumbs up.<ref>{{cite video|people=Richard Roeper and A.O. Scott|title=[[Ebert & Roeper]]|date=[[2006-10-20]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author = A.O. Scott | title = Two Rival Magicians, and Each Wants the Other to Go Poof | publisher = The New York Times | date = [[2006-10-20]] | url = http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/movies/20pres.html?ref=movies | accessdate = 2007-02-16}}</ref> Killer Movie Reviews called the film's tension "gut-wrenching" and acclaimed Nolan for "maintaining a perfect sense of wonder throughout". KMR gave the film a rating of 4/5.<ref>{{cite news| title = The Prestige| publisher = Killer Movie Reviews| date = [[2006-10-15]]| url = http://www.killermoviereviews.com/main.php?nextlink=display&dId=758| accessdate = 2006-10-15}}</ref> Todd Gilchrist of [[IGN]] applauded the performances of Bale and Jackman whilst praising Nolan for making "this complex story as easily understandable and effective as he made the outwardly straightforward comic book adaptation (''[[Batman Begins]]'') dense and sophisticated... any truly great performance is almost as much showmanship as it is actual talent, and Nolan possesses both in spades."<ref>{{cite news| last = Gilchrist| first = Todd| title = Elevating movie magic to new artistic heights| publisher = [[IGN]]| date = [[2006-10-15]]| url = http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/740/740205p1.html| accessdate = 2006-10-20}}</ref> ''[[CNN.com]]'' and ''[[Village Voice]]'' film critic Tom Charity listed it amongst his best films of 2006.<ref>{{cite news| last = Charity| first = Tom| title = The best (and worst) films of the year| publisher = [[CNN.com]]| date = 2006-12-28 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/27/best.films/index.html

{{Blockquote|Angier's technological solution—which suggests art as a sacrifice, a phoenix-like death of the self—and Borden's more meat-and-potatoes form of stagecraft embodies the divide between the artist and the social being.<ref name="FilmComment">{{cite journal |last=Rapold |first=Nicolas |date=Jan–Feb 2007 |title=Dueling-Magician Pick:The Prestige |journal=Film Comment |pages=77}}</ref>}}

For Manugian the central theme is "obsession," but he also notes the supporting themes of the "nature of deceit" and "science as magic." Manugian criticizes the Nolans for trying to "ram too many themes into the story."<ref name="Manugian" />

==Release==

[[Touchstone Pictures]] opted to move the release date forward by a week, from the original October 27, to October 20, 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title='The Prestige' Changes the Date |work=CanMag.com |date=July 23, 2006 |url=http://www.canmag.com/news/4/3/4493 |access-date=October 5, 2006 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108140515/http://www.canmag.com/news/4/3/4493 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The film earned $14.8 million on opening weekend in the United States, debuting at #1. It grossed $109 million worldwide, including $53 million from the United States.<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" /> The film received nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Academy Award for Best Art Direction]] ([[Nathan Crowley]] and [[Julie Ochipinti]]) and the [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography]] ([[Wally Pfister]]),<ref>{{cite news |title=79th Oscar Nominations Announced |work=EmpireOnline.com |date=January 23, 2007 |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20278 |access-date=January 23, 2007 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104428/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20278 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as a nomination for the [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nippon 2007 Hugo Nominees |work=Nippon 2007 |date=April 1, 2001 |url=http://www.nippon2007.us/hugo_nominees.php |access-date=May 20, 2007 |archive-date=April 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410020916/http://www.nippon2007.us/hugo_nominees.php |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was also nominated for both [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]] and [[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] the [[33rd Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117964717.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1 |title='Superman' tops Saturns |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 10, 2007 |access-date=May 11, 2007 |last=Cohen |first=David S. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013045616/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117964717.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1 |archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref>

===Critical response===

On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 77% based on 207 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Full of twists and turns, ''The Prestige'' is a dazzling period piece that never stops challenging the audience."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prestige|title=The Prestige (2006)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=March 25, 2025|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520224903/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prestige|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-prestige|title=The Prestige (2006)|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224074157/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-prestige|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemascore.com|title=CinemaScore|website=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=January 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119025202/http://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Claudia Puig of ''[[USA Today]]'' described the film as "one of the most innovative, twisting, turning [[art film]]s of the past decade."<ref>{{cite news |last=Puig |first=Claudia |author-link=Claudia Puig |title='The Prestige': Magical, marvelous filmmaking |work=USA Today |date=October 20, 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-10-19-review-prestige_x.htm |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630174454/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-10-19-review-prestige_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Drew McWeeny gave the film a glowing review, saying it demands repeat viewing,<ref>{{cite news |last=McWeeny |first=Drew |title=Moriarty conjures up AICN's first review of The Prestige! |work=Ain't It Cool News |date=October 13, 2006 |url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/30390 |access-date=October 15, 2006 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141132/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/30390 |url-status=live }}</ref> with [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' agreeing.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |title=The Prestige |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 20, 2006 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-prestige-20061020 |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714114447/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-prestige-20061020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper]], [[Richard Roeper]] and guest critic [[A.O. Scott]] gave the film a "two thumbs up" rating.<ref>{{cite video |people=Richard Roeper and A.O. Scott |title=[[At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper|Ebert & Roeper]] |date=October 20, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=A.O. Scott |title=Two Rival Magicians, and Each Wants the Other to Go Poof |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 20, 2006 |url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/movies/20pres.html?ref=movies |access-date=February 16, 2007 |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723064434/http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/movies/20pres.html?ref=movies |url-status=live }}</ref> Todd Gilchrist of [[IGN]] applauded the performances of Jackman and Bale whilst praising Nolan for making "this complex story as easily understandable and effective as he made the outwardly straightforward comic book adaptation (''[[Batman Begins]]'') dense and sophisticated ... any truly great performance is almost as much showmanship as it is actual talent, and Nolan possesses both in spades."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Todd |title=Elevating movie magic to new artistic heights |work=IGN |date=October 15, 2006 |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/740/740205p1.html |access-date=October 20, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119165359/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/740/740205p1.html |archive-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> ''[[CNN.com]]'' and ''[[Village Voice]]'' film critic Tom Charity listed it among his best films of 2006.<ref>{{cite news |last=Charity |first=Tom |title=The best (and worst) films of the year |work=CNN.com |date=December 28, 2006 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/27/best.films/index.html |access-date=December 30, 2006 |archive-date=December 30, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230151155/http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/27/best.films/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Philip French]] of ''[[The Observer]]'' recommended the film, comparing the rivalry between the two main characters to that of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] and [[Antonio Salieri|Salieri]] in the highly-acclaimed ''[[Amadeus (film)|Amadeus]]''.<ref name="French">{{cite news

| last=French

| first=Philip

| author-link=Philip French

| title=The Prestige

| work=[[The Observer]]

| date=November 12, 2006

| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy

| access-date=May 14, 2007

| archive-date=December 21, 2016

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221084521/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy

| url-status=live

}}</ref>

On the other hand, Dennis Harvey of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticisedcriticized the film as gimmicky, though he felt the cast did well in underwritten roles.<ref>{{cite news | last =Harvey Harvey| first =Dennis Dennis| title = The Prestige | publisher work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date =October 13, [[2006-10-13]] | url = httphttps://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931858.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |access-date=October accessdate15, 2006 |archive-date=October 18, 2006 |archive-10url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018081745/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931858.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |url-15status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' felt that characters "...are little more than sketches. Remove their obsessions, and the two magicians have little personality"."<ref>{{cite news| |last = Honeycutt| |first = Kirk | title = The Prestige| publisher |work= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=[[2006-10-October 16]], 2006 | url = httphttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003254756 |access-date=October accessdate15, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029221929/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=2201 2006|archive-10-15date=October 29, 2006}}</ref> Nonetheless, the two reviewers praised David Bowie as Tesla, as well as the production values and cinematography. The AICN reviewer known as "Vincent Hanna" notes that "It is good and worth seeing... but somehow it feels like a mild disappointment at the same time".<ref>{{cite news| title = ''The Prestige'' baffles Vincent Hanna, but is that a good thing?| publisher = [[Ain't It Cool News]]| date = [[2006-10-13]]| url = http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30397| accessdate = 2006-10-15}}</ref> On a simpler note, Emanuel Levy has said: "Whether viewers perceive ''The Prestige'' as intricately complex or just unnecessarily complicated would depend to a large degree on their willingness to suspend disbelief for two hours." He gave the film a B grade.<ref>{{cite news | last =Levy Levy| first =Emanuel Emanuel| title = The Prestige | publisher work= Emanuel LevyEmanuelLevy.com | date =October 15, [[2006-10-15]]| |url = http://www.emanuellevy.com/articlesearch/details.phpcfm?articleIDid=3427| accessdate |access-date=October 15, 2006 |archive-date=July 10, 2009 |archive-15url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710094544/http://www.emanuellevy.com/search/details.cfm?id=3427}}</ref>

In terms of fans of the book, [[HowardRoger WaldropEbert]] andgave [[Lawrencethe Person]]film ofthree ''[[Locusstars (magazine)|Locus]]''out Onlineof called it "a great filmfour," withdescribing Personthe assertingrevelation it's actually better thanat the book.<ref>{{citeend web|as lasta ="fundamental Waldrop| first = Howard,flaw" and Lawrencea Person|"cheat." titleHe =wrote, Movie"The Reviewpledge of Nolan's ''The Prestige|'' publisheris =that Locusthe Online|film, urlhaving =been http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Features/WaldropPerson_ThePrestige.html|metaphorically accessdatesawed = 2006-10-24}}</ref>in Howevertwo, whilewill fellowbe ''Locus''restored; reviewerit Garyfails Westfahlwhen reviewedit thecheats, film favorablyas, hefor saidexample, if "the novelwhole waswoman subtleproduced andon complex,the stage were whilenot the filmsame isone bluntso andunfortunately simplifiedcut in two."<ref>{{cite web |author=Ebert, lastRoger |title=The Westfahl| firstPrestige |date=September Gary|6, title2007 |url= Seeing Doublehttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-prestige-2007 A|access-date=July Review18, of2024 The Prestige| publisher archive-date=July Locus10, Online|2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090710094524/http://wwwrogerebert.locusmagsuntimes.com/2006apps/Featurespbcs.dll/Westfahl_ThePrestige.html| accessdate article?AID=%2F20070906%2FREVIEWS%2F709060303%2F1023 2006|url-10-24status=live }}</ref> Author [[Christopher Priest (English novelist)|Christopher Priest]], sawwho wrote the novel the film is based on, saw it three times as of [[January 5]], [[2007]], and his reaction was "'Well, holy shit.' I was thinking, 'God, I like that,' and 'Oh, I wish I'd thought of that.'"<ref>{{cite news |last=Dawn |first=Randee |title=Source material |publisherwork=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=[[January 5, 2007-01-05]] |url=httphttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hrnews/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_idsource-material-127292 |access-date=1003528129January 31, 2012 |accessdatearchive-date=2007January 10, 2021 |archive-03url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141133/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/source-04material-127292 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The film has grown in stature since its release.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2020/5/jfj030p0dzlzh0u97m5btusmavghk4|title=Critics' Poll: 'Mulholland Drive' Named Best Film of the 2000s|access-date=May 25, 2020|work=World of Reel|date=May 23, 2020|first=Jordan|last=Ruimy|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141133/https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2020/5/jfj030p0dzlzh0u97m5btusmavghk4|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://geektyrant.com/news/10-years-later-the-prestige-is-still-christopher-nolans-best-film|title=10 Years Later, THE PRESTIGE Is Still Christopher Nolan's Best Film|access-date=May 25, 2020|work=Geektyrant.com|first=Ben|last=Pearson}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://collider.com/why-the-prestige-is-a-good-movie/|title=Why 'The Prestige' Is One of Christopher Nolan's Best Films|access-date=January 10, 2020|work=Collider.com|first=Phil|last=Pirrello|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141206/https://collider.com/why-the-prestige-is-a-good-movie/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' named ''The Prestige'' as one of the best films of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-films-of-the-00s-1798222348 |title=The best films of the '00s |access-date=July 11, 2013 |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=December 3, 2009 |first1=Keith |last1=Phipps |first2=Tasha |last2=Robinson |first3=Nathan |last3=Rabin |first4=Scott |last4=Tobias |first5=Noel |last5=Murray |archive-date=July 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712014703/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-films-of-the-00s%2C35931/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was included in [[American Cinematographer]]'s "Best-Shot Film of 1998-2008" list, ranking at 36. More than 17,000 people around the world participated in the final vote.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=February 24, 2015|url=http://www.theasc.com/asc_news/News_Articles/News_304.php|title=American Cinematographer Poll Names Amélie Best-Shot Film of 1998-2008|work=The American Society of Cinematographers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903101106/http://www.theasc.com/asc_news/News_Articles/News_304.php|archive-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref> In 2020, ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine ranked it among "The 100 Greatest Movies Of The 21st Century".<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Greatest Movies Of The 21st Century: 70 - 61|publisher=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=January 11, 2020|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-century-page-4/|access-date=January 11, 2020|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141228/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-century-page-4/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film earned $14,801,808 on opening weekend in the United States, debuting at #1. As of [[March 3]] [[2007]], its domestic total gross is over $53 million, with another $50 million earned from box office grosses overseas, amounting to a worldwide total of over $103 million.<ref>{{cite web| title = The Prestige (2006)| publisher = Box Office Mojo| url = http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=prestige.htm| accessdate = 2007-03-03}}</ref> With 39,046 votes, the film has a weighted average of 8.2/10, occupying the IMDb Top 250 at #164. The film received nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Art Direction]] and the [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography]].<ref>{{cite news | title = 79th Oscar Nominations Announced | publisher = Empire | date = [[2007-01-23]] | url = http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20278 | accessdate = 2007-01-23}}</ref>

==DVD=Home releasemedia===

The [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] DVDdisc is by [[Buena Vista Home Entertainment]], and was released on [[February 20]], [[2007]], and is avaliableavailable on standard[[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]] formats.<ref>{{cite news | last = Woodward | first = Tom | title = The Prestige |work=DVDActive.com publisher |date=January DVD8, Active2007 |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-prestige.html |access-date =January 20, [[2007-01-08]] |archive-date=October url25, =2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025153521/http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-prestige.html | accessdate url-status=dead 2007-01-20}}</ref> The Warner Bros. [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]] DVD was released on [[March 12]], [[2007]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Gould | first = Chris | title = The Prestige |work=DVDActive.com publisher |date=January DVD16, Active2007 |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-prestige2.html |access-date =January 20, [[2007-01-16]] |archive-date=October url25, =2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025153640/http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-prestige2.html | accessdate url-status=dead 2007-01-20}}</ref> It is also available in both BD and regionless [[HD DVD]] in Europe (before HD DVD was canceled). Special features are minimal, with the documentary ''Director’sDirector's Notebook: The Prestige – Five Making-of Featurettes'', running roughly twenty minutes combined, an art gallery and the trailer. Nolan did not contribute to a commentary as he felt the film primarily relied on an audience's reaction and did not want to "demystify"remove the mystery from the story.<ref name="IGN-Gilchrist">{{cite news| last = Gilchrist | first = Todd | title = The Pledge, The Turn, The Prestige, The DVD | publisher = IGN | date = [[2007-02-20]] | url = http://dvd.ign.com/articles/766/766063p1.html | accessdate = 2007-02-26}}</ref>

| last=Gilchrist

| first=Todd

| title=The Pledge, The Turn, The Prestige, The DVD

| work=IGN

| date=February 20, 2007

| url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/766/766063p1.html

| access-date=February 26, 2007

| archive-date=July 17, 2012

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717143458/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/766/766063p1.html

| url-status=live

}}</ref>

The film was released by [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]] on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on December 18, 2017, in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Prestige 4K Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Prestige-4K-Blu-ray/193685/|access-date=2022-09-17}}</ref> The film was also released by [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Touchstone Home Entertainment]] on Ultra HD Blu-ray on December 19, 2017, in the United States.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Prestige 4K Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Prestige-4K-Blu-ray/193521/|access-date=2018-05-11|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711230443/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Prestige-4K-Blu-ray/193521/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==

{{reflist|2}}

==See also==

* {{annotated link|Ship of Theseus}}

* {{annotated link|Teletransportation paradox}}

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* {{IMDb title|0482571|The Prestige}}

* [http://theprestige.movies.go.com/ Official Website]

* {{imdbMetacritic title|id=0482571film|title=The Prestige}}

* {{rotten-tomatoesMojo title|id=prestige|title=The Prestige}}

* {{Rotten Tomatoes|prestige|The Prestige}}

* [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/christopherpriest/presmovie.htm Writer Christopher Priest's website]

* {{TCMDb title|636598|The Prestige}}

* [http://www.christophernolan.net/prestige.php Unofficial Christopher Nolan Website]

* [http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/Prestige.pdf ''The Prestige'' script] at DailyScript.com

{{Christopher Nolan films}}

* {{Wikiquote-inline||''The Prestige'' (film)}}

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[[tr:The Prestige]]

[[Category:British historical thriller films]]

[[zh:頂尖對決]]

[[Category:British mystery thriller films]]

[[Category:British nonlinear narrative films]]

[[Category:cultural depictions of Nikola Tesla]]

[[Category:cultural depictions of Thomas Edison]]

[[Category:English-language historical thriller films]]

[[Category:English-language mystery thriller films]]

[[Category:films about cloning]]

[[Category:films about magic and magicians]]

[[Category:films about teleportation]]

[[Category:Films about twin brothers]]

[[Category:films based on British novels]]

[[Category:films based on science fiction novels]]

[[Category:films directed by Christopher Nolan]]

[[Category:films produced by Christopher Nolan]]

[[Category:films produced by Emma Thomas]]

[[Category:films scored by David Julyan]]

[[Category:films set in Colorado]]

[[Category:films set in London]]

[[Category:films set in the 1890s]]

[[Category:films set in the 1900s]]

[[Category:films set in the Victorian era]]

[[Category:films shot in Colorado]]

[[Category:films shot in Los Angeles]]

[[Category:films with screenplays by Christopher Nolan]]

[[Category:films with screenplays by Jonathan Nolan]]

[[Category:Newmarket films]]

[[Category:Syncopy Inc. films]]

[[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]]

[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]