--- title: "The Prestige: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-prestige/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-prestige" critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Prestige (2006): what the critics said Critics' score 68 from 10 reviews: 6 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics respond favourably to The Prestige, with praise centred on Nolan’s intricate, non-linear storytelling and the performances of Bale and Jackman. The rivalry gives the elaborate plotting a firm centre, while the period setting and polished filmmaking help sustain the illusion. Supporters find the film absorbing and enjoy being misdirected; even several less enthusiastic reviews acknowledge the strength of the acting and the care of the construction. The spread is wide, however, and the main disagreement concerns how much feeling survives all that ingenuity. Some critics find psychological depth in the rivalry; others see calculating characters whose obsessions offer little emotional involvement. The final stretch also divides opinion, earning praise for its payoff and complaints about excess complication. Radio Times finds one twist too many in an otherwise rewarding film, while Variety argues that the intrigue becomes messy and the conclusion confusing. ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2006. The critic praises Nolan's intricate, non-linear storytelling and masterful adaptation of the novel, noting the film's beautiful convolutions and the strong, complex performances from the leads that maintain sympathy throughout the rivalry. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/prestige-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2006. The film is an adult, provocative piece of work that becomes a magic trick in itself through its romance with illusion. It mixes genres in a heady blend with high-order filmmaking that impresses and entertains despite being almost too tricky. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-20-et-prestige20-story.html) ## Radio Times — Brian Pendreigh Rating 4/5. Nolan constructs a fascinating, twisty tale grounded by fine performances and serious treatment of the material, though the slightly overbaked dénouement has one twist too many. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-brxfgp/the-prestige/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2006. The film is an intricate, elaborate machine for diversion with a puzzlelike structure and generous showmanship. It is a triumph of gimmickry that prioritizes ingenuity of conceit and skill of execution over substance. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/movies/two-rival-magicians-and-each-wants-the-other-to-go-poof.html) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2006. The critic highlights Nolan's assured direction and the film's intricate, psychologically deep take on magic and rivalry, calling it a stylish and truthful exploration that delivers a spectacular reveal. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-prestige-review/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B. 20 October 2006. Praises the intricate plotting and twists but notes it lacks emotional resonance, feeling like an entertaining but hollow diversion. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-prestige-1798202121) ## Time Out — Ben Walters Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2006. Nolan's period picture about rival magicians is handsome and features strong performances from Jackman and Bale, but it is hampered by a structural Catch-22 that spoils the magic by revealing too much too slowly. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-prestige-1) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2006. The critic finds the film cleverly executed with strong production values but criticizes its lack of emotional depth and heart due to the calculating, obsessed characters. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/prestige-review-movie-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-2006-1236405407/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2006. Acknowledges the robust performances and clever structure but criticizes the film for being gimmicky, lacking emotional engagement, and prioritizing spectacle over substance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-prestige/) ## Variety — Dennis Harvey Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2006. Festival review. The film goes from middling to messy at its denouement with high polish but so-so character involvement and a confusing conclusion. Complicated intrigue overwhelms the adaptation, leading to a flame-out that will perplex most viewers. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/the-prestige-2-1200512671/) ## Sight and Sound — Graham Fuller 1 December 2006. The film offers engaging bafflement through its protagonists' experiences and a skilfully structured non-linear screenplay with an ambitious subtext. It praises the charismatic performances, especially Christian Bale's, and Wally Pfister's camerawork in the Gothic scenes. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/3555) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 12 November 2006. The critic praises Nolan's follow-up to Memento as a dazzling, gripping and intellectually exciting work about rival magicians. They single out the immaculate production design, editing, photography and the complementary performances of Bale and Jackman for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney 13 November 2006. Nolan improves upon the source novel with a more streamlined, focused adaptation centered on the magicians' rivalry. The film succeeds through cinematic sleight-of-hand that misdirects the audience for a rewarding payoff at the reveal. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a39294/the-prestige/) ## Eye for Film — Chris 6 November 2006. The critic praises Nolan's sinister sleight of hand in recreating Victorian London and forcing close attention to every frame, much like Memento. The film is called a clever piece of entertainment that plays on the desire to be fooled by magic. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-prestige-film-review-by-chris) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-prestige.md