---
title: "The Princess Bride"
year: 1987
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride"
fi1m_id: "the-princess-bride"
imdb_id: "tt0093779"
tmdb_id: 2493
wikidata_id: "Q506418"
fi1m_score: 86
critics_score: 79
critics_reviews: 7
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-10-06T12:12:32.437061+00:00"
region: "US"
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 Princess Bride (1987)

Directed by Rob Reiner · 1h 39m · MPA PG · Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Family

## Identity

The Princess Bride

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-princess-bride
- **IMDb ID:** tt0093779
- **TMDB ID:** 2493
- **Wikidata ID:** Q506418
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2493, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q506418

**Fi1m score: 86** · Critics 79 from 7 reviews

*In a sentence:* Even the swordfights seem reluctant to interrupt a good conversation

> Rob Reiner’s fairy-tale adventure is funny, warm and willing to take its characters seriously. The lovers are less interesting than their companions, but the swordplay and the company make it an easy recommendation.

## Synopsis

A grandfather (Peter Falk) tells a fairy tale to his grandson (Fred Savage), whose doubts about the story accompany its adventures. Cary Elwes plays Westley opposite Robin Wright as the princess in a tale of romance, swordplay and sorcery. Around them are Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo Montoya, Wallace Shawn’s Vizzini and André Roussimoff’s Fezzik, with Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck and Christopher Guest as Count Rugen. The adventures unfold as the listener weighs up what he is being told, and the fairy tale has to make room for his interruptions.

## Review

Rob Reiner’s *The Princess Bride* is a funny, generous adventure whose jokes do not make its romance feel foolish. We recommend it warmly, with a reservation about how little the central couple sometimes gets to do. William Goldman adapts his own novel with an ear for the questions that interrupt a fairy tale: why should we believe this, and when does the exciting part begin? He lets those questions into the film without allowing them to spoil the pleasure.

Peter Falk’s grandfather tells the story to Fred Savage’s grandson, who is not immediately persuaded. The young listener’s resistance lets Reiner acknowledge an audience that might consider itself too sensible for princes and sorcery, and then carry on telling the story. Falk makes the act of telling it feel worth our attention, even before we have committed to the tale. The warmth between teller and listener gives these passages something to offer beyond commentary on the adventure.

Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo Montoya gives the film much of its feeling. We laughed at how seriously he takes the swordplay, then found ourselves anxious for him. Patinkin plays him with a conviction that survives the comedy, so his feelings remain worth considering even when the film is being silly. Cary Elwes’s Westley has the necessary light touch, and Reiner allows the actors to enjoy their exchanges without making the danger seem entirely harmless.

Adrian Biddle’s cinematography helps by making the action readable and keeping the performers important within it. We can enjoy the business of a swordfight without losing track of the people doing it. Norman Garwood’s production design suits a tale being told to a child: the fantasy is easy to accept without needing a lesson in how its world works. The settings feel substantial enough to support the adventure without overwhelming the people who have to be funny in them.

Robert Leighton’s editing is especially good at letting a comic exchange finish before moving the adventure along. There is space for a line to be heard, and usually no extra pause to insist that we found it funny. Mark Knopfler’s music takes the romantic feeling seriously, which is useful when the dialogue is busy making us laugh. At 99 minutes the film has little room to dawdle, though the returns to the listening child occasionally interrupt more than they add.

Our reservation is with the lovers. Elwes is more engaging as an adventurer than as a romantic lead, while Robin Wright is given too little opportunity to make the princess as interesting as the people around her. Goldman’s script is so certain we will accept their devotion that it sometimes neglects to make their time together interesting. Christopher Guest’s Count Rugen and Patinkin’s Inigo get richer opportunities, and both actors can hold our attention simply by taking their characters seriously.

That imbalance matters, but it does not undo Reiner’s achievement. A comic fantasy can grow tiresome when every scene nudges us to notice how familiar its story is; this one lets us enjoy the adventure without testing our knowledge of other films. There is no need to recognise a convention before being allowed to enjoy the joke. Watch it together, and leave the business of being too old for fairy tales to someone with a less promising evening.

*Fi1m score 86, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to The Princess Bride, praising its ability to entertain children while giving adults more than a few knowing jokes. Praise centres on William Goldman’s witty screenplay and Rob Reiner’s handling of the fairy-tale adventure: the humour rarely spoils the affection for the story being told. The ensemble also draws strong notices, with Mandy Patinkin singled out for bringing conviction and comic energy to the swordplay.

The reviews differ chiefly over how well the adventure and spoof fit together, though the spread is largely favourable rather than sharply divided. Time Out finds the tone unsteady and the leads empty, while Variety also objects to a central couple who generate little passion and a script that does not support the horseplay. Eye for Film offers a milder reservation within an enthusiastic response, finding some moments too sentimental and the framing device unnecessary.

## Straight answers

**Is The Princess Bride worth watching?**

*The Princess Bride* is worth watching for anyone who wants a fairy-tale adventure that is funny without making its romance look foolish, and we scored it 86. The lovers are less interesting than the company around them, especially Mandy Patinkin's Inigo Montoya, but at 99 minutes it is an easy evening for a family or a sofa of adults.

**How long is The Princess Bride, and what is it rated?**

*The Princess Bride* runs 1h 39m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is an adventure and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch The Princess Bride in the US?**

*The Princess Bride* is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to buy from Amazon Prime Video from $14.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does The Princess Bride compare to The Adventures of Robin Hood?**

*The Princess Bride* plays its swashbuckling with a wink, where [*The Adventures of Robin Hood*](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-robin-hood) plays it entirely straight. Reiner's film is the funnier and warmer of the two, and its companions outshine its lovers; Curtiz and Keighley's is the tighter and more sincere adventure, and the one we would send a stranger to first.

**Is The Princess Bride based on a true story or a book?**

*The Princess Bride* is based on William Goldman's novel of the same name, not on a true story, and Goldman wrote the screenplay himself. He keeps the device of a story being told and questioned, with Peter Falk's grandfather reading to Fred Savage's doubting grandson. Knowing the book is not necessary; the film explains its own rules as it goes.

**What should I watch after The Princess Bride?**

After *The Princess Bride*, try [*The Adventures of Robin Hood*](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-robin-hood) (1938, Fi1m 90): Sincere romance and nimble swordplay, for anyone who wants the adventure played straight. Then [*Stardust*](https://film.one/film/stardust) (2007, Fi1m 75): Another romantic fantasy that lets its eccentrics steal time from the lovers.

### Reviews we read (11)

- **Empire**, Ian Nathan (85/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a warm and silly fairy-tale played with giddy delight, directed with humour by Rob Reiner and written with authority by William Goldman. They single out the affectionate comic tone, postmodern storytelling elements and the exaggerated but treasured ensemble performances for making it an unqualified success. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/princess-bride-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Derek Malcolm (85/100, inferred): The critic praises Rob Reiner for triumphantly adapting William Goldman's half-serious fairy tale, transcending the spoof sword-and-sorcery genre by treating children with respect and blending adult humour with childlike fantasy. Strong, steely performances from the cast help avoid camp and deliver fun for parents and offspring alike. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/24/princess-bride-review-derek-malcolm-1988)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Duane Byrge (85/100, inferred): The critic calls the film swashbuckling, bright, breezy and delightful, praising its witty lines that work on multiple levels and Rob Reiner's confident direction that avoids gratuitous effects while fitting the theme perfectly. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/princess-bride-review-movie-rob-reiner-1987-1236385438/)
- **Radio Times**, John Ferguson (4/5): Reiner follows Stand by Me with this curious but charming fable that balances child-friendly adventure with adult chuckles. An eclectic cast including Patinkin, Crystal and Guest makes it an unexpected family delight. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ry6pgm/the-princess-bride/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Arthur Ryel-Lindsey (80/100, inferred): The review highlights the film's remarkable forwardness, honesty, and humor, crediting William Goldman's screenplay for its insightful one-liners and efficient storytelling, along with Reiner's apt casting that captures the folkloric tone. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-princess-bride/)
- **Time Out**, GA (55/100, inferred): The story mixes traditional fantasy with knowing commentary on its conventions but the tone wavers between adventure and spoof, with vacuous leads and forced absurdities. It still has innocent charm that kids will enjoy, thanks especially to Guest and Patinkin. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-princess-bride)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Michael Wilmington: Director Rob Reiner’s film is a purer piece of escapism: a gently sophisticated, tongue-in-cheek barrage of wry swordplay and blithe sorcery. It has more comic depth thanks to Goldman’s script and Reiner’s sure-handed touch, with lovable characters and a special triumph in Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-25-ca-6496-story.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert: The film works on two levels as both an engaging fairy tale for younger viewers and a sly parody of sword-and-sorcery epics for adults. Reiner succeeds by doing justice to the underlying form while delivering good-hearted fun and memorable supporting performances. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-princess-bride-1987)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin: The Princess Bride succeeds as a full-length fairy tale thanks to its sweetness, sincerity, delightful cast and a gentle, disarming style that wins over even a skeptical young listener. Reiner handles the material with fundamental niceness, presenting it as a pure bedtime story without excess silliness or broad parody. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/25/movies/film-princess-bride-full-length-fairy-tale.html)
- **Variety**: This post-modern fairy tale challenges and affirms genre conventions but is hampered by a screenplay that doesn’t fully support the horseplay. Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the central couple are nearly comatose and inspire little passion. [Read](https://variety.com/1986/film/reviews/the-princess-bride-1200427068/)
- **Eye for Film**, Max Crawford (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it marvellous entertainment for all ages and endlessly rewatchable, praising the charming humour, excellent swordfights, and satisfying revenge sequence while noting some overly sentimental moments and the unnecessary framing device. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-princess-bride-film-review-by-stuart-crawford)

## Details

- **Director:** Rob Reiner
- **Director:** Rob Reiner
- **Screenplay:** William Goldman
- **Novel:** William Goldman
- **Cinematography:** Adrian Biddle
- **Editor:** Robert Leighton
- **Music:** Mark Knopfler
- **Production design:** Norman Garwood
- **Costume design:** Phyllis Dalton
- **Producer:** Andrew Scheinman, Rob Reiner
- **Cast:** Cary Elwes as Westley; Robin Wright as The Princess Bride; Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya; Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck; Christopher Guest as Count Rugen; Wallace Shawn as Vizzini; André the Giant as Fezzik; Fred Savage as The Grandson
- **Runtime:** 1h 39m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 9 October 1987
- **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Family
- **Budget:** $16 million
- **Box office:** $31 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9FRDyTerZA

## Where to watch in the US

- Hulu: streaming, hd
- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IN, IT, MX, NL, NZ, PL, PT, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Hugo Awards 1988: Best Dramatic Presentation (won)

## If you liked this

- *The Adventures of Robin Hood* (1938), Fi1m 90: Sincere romance and nimble swordplay, for anyone who wants the adventure played straight. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-robin-hood.md)
- *La Belle et la Bête* (1946): A fairy tale whose strange images take the lovers’ feelings completely seriously.
- *The Court Jester* (1955): Court intrigue and swordplay conducted with a pleasing lack of personal dignity.
- *The Secret of Roan Inish* (1994): Patient folklore and a child’s determination, with gentleness that never feels patronising.
- *Stardust* (2007), Fi1m 75: Another romantic fantasy that lets its eccentrics steal time from the lovers. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/stardust.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride