12 Movies like The Prestige That Are Magical

The Prestige is a movie that shows what an inane obsession can do to one’s mind. Nomatter how great. And if you are searching for movies that will bring you a similar sense of awe, then check out our list of movies like The Prestige.

The Prestige is a psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, and based on the novel of the same name written by Christopher Priest. This movie tells the story of two magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden. These two magicians initially start out as friends, but their professional rivalry soon turns personal, and turns into a bitter one. When an accident kills Angier’s wife, he blames Borden, with the two never seeing eye to eye from that day again. If this tale of revenge and magic is what gets you excited, then here are 12 Movies Like Prestige.

1. The Illusionist (2006)

The Illusionist is a period drama which tells the story of a brilliant illusionist who puts in some of the most dazzling magic shows for his audience. However, his world is turned upside down when he falls in love with a woman. This woman is Sophie, and she is betrothed to Prince Leopold, a ruthless dictator.

Full of entertaining scenes, and with powerful acting across the board, The Illusionist is an exciting watch. Just like the audience in the movie, those watching this movie will be left with their heads turning due to surprising twists and turns. If you’re looking for movies like The Prestige, The Illusionist is then a must watch.

2. Inception (2010)

Inception is a sci-fi heist film and psychological thriller. In this Leonardo DiCaprio gives a great performance as Dom Cobb who is skilled at extracting and implanting information out of and into people’s minds through dreams. This time he has the job of planting an idea into the mind of a wealthy businessman.

One of the most impressive aspects of Inception is its unique and complex storytelling. The movie is a thrilling heist film, but also is quite emotionally moving and finds the time to be character focused. Inception is an exceptionally intelligent film that I highly recommend you watch after films like The Prestige.

3. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

The Da Vinci Code is a mystery thriller, similar to movies like The Prestige. This film begins with the murder of Jacques Saunière, the curator of the Louvre Museum. Robert Langdon is played by Tom Hanks, and searches through the clues left behind at the murder scene, leading him to discover the existence of a highly secretive but powerful religious cult.

The secrets which he gets access to are some of which may have him killed. It all culminates into a thrilling movie from start to finish, which is elevated further by its stunning visuals and beautiful location choices although those were somewhat necessitated by the book it is adapting to the big screen.

Also Read: Movies About Secret Societies

4. The Game (1997)

The Game is a story about Nicholas Van Orton, a successful investment banker who is given a mysterious gift by his younger brother. The gift grants Nicholas access to a game. This game begins to invade his life more and more, as he begins to grow paranoid by the day.

He begins to realize that he might not be able to win this game or even leave it alive or with his secrets intact. Its gripping and suspenseful ride keeps the audience guessing until the very end, and is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys good mystery or psychological thriller movies just like The Prestige.

5. The Machinist (2004)

Trevor Reznik is a machinist, who has lost the ability to sleep. But this is no ordinary insomnia. Trevor has not slept in a year. Fatigue has led to a shocking deterioration of his physical and mental health. Suspicious of his appearance, Trevor’s co-workers grow increasingly wary of him.

Plagued with guilt after being blamed for an accident, Trevor’s shame becomes suspicion, then paranoia, when it appears his workmates are conspiring to have him fired, or worse, killed. Similar to films like The Prestige, this will be a delight for fans of psychological thrillers and those who appreciate intricate storytelling and layered characters.

6. The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Usual Suspects is set after the conclusion of a shootout on a boat in San Pedro Bay. The only survivor of this event is Roger Kint. The more they hear, the more they realize that things may not be as it seems, and that a mystery runs beneath all of the night’s events

The Usual Suspects is yet another of the movies similar to The Prestige, and its complex narrative structure and non-linear storytelling will keep you guessing until the very end, as they try to piece together the truth behind the events of the heist. The Usual Suspects is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or crime thriller, and its legacy has made it a classic in the genre.

7. Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club follows an insomniac, simply known as The Narrator tired of living an unexciting life, buried deep beneath paperwork in corporate America, and aims to escape it. He meets Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, on a commercial flight played by Brad Pitt, he introduces himself as a soap salesman, and also makes it known to The Narrator that he runs a fight club just happens to run a fight club.

The Narrator finds himself not knowing what is real anymore, a theme that will be familiar to fans of movies like The Prestige. And although he begins to improve with the help of the Fight Club which he joins, it tornadoes into something that he can’t control, as it morphs into a terrorist organization, with anarchist tendencies. A psychological drama similar to American Psycho, this movie is a certified classic.

8. The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense is a film about life, death and life after death. Bruce Willis is Dr Malcom Crowe, a child psychologist who encounters a child and tries to help him deal with the visions and hallucinations which the child tends to have, especially of dead people.

The Sixth Sense is a movie that still finds a way to surprise the audience even after it seems that all its mysteries have been solved. It is simply a classic of the horror/thriller genre, and remains influential on modern cinema. Similar to films like The Prestige, The Sixth Sense is a great watch that I highly recommend.

9. American Psycho (2000)

Starring Christian Bale and also similar in terms of themes to movies like The Prestige, American Psycho is a film directed by Mary Harron and based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. The film stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and successful investment banker who is also a sadistic serial killer, or is he just imagining it all?

The film, although with a serious subject matter, tries its best to be a satire, acting as commentary on the excess and superficiality of the 1980s, which in turn rid people of their humanity. American Psycho is known for its dark humor, graphic violence, and Christian Bale’s portrayal of a sinister and charismatic serial killer.

10. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

The Butterfly Effect tries to put into action the theory that small changes can make a huge difference in the universe and greatly affect the future. The main character Evan experiments with this theory by making changes to his past, which as expected have a huge impact on his present and his future.

The Butterfly Effect is a dark film which shows that we will all have to face the consequences of our actions no matter what, and we can’t just avoid them, making it similar to movies like The Prestige and many of the other movies on the list. Its nonlinear narrative structure adds to the sense of disorientation, and keeps the audience on edge throughout.

11. The Departed (2006)

The Departed is a crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, and features huge stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. The film is all about two moles trying to infiltrate opposing organizations. The movie tells us a lot about trust, deception and betrayal, even when it is done for good reasons.

Similar to films like The Prestige, The Departed is a great watch.. The Departed has a top-notch cast, expert direction, and a gripping storyline that makes it well suited for any fan of crime thrillers or mysteries like The Prestige.

12. Now You See Me (2013)

Now You See Me follows a group of illusionists who call themselves ‘The Four Horsemen’ who pull off a series of magical stunts with the aim of garnering as much acclaim and attention as possible, while they carry out their actual plan. The magic tricks are impressive and are not simply shoved into the plot, but rather made to flow quite well with it.

Similar to movies like The Prestige, the film’s plot twists and turns keep the audience engaged throughout, and the final reveal is both surprising and satisfying. Its likable cast and impressive set pieces make it an entertaining watch, while its underlying themes give the film some unexpected depth.