The Prestige | 2006

Main Plot

Set in late 19th-century London, The Prestige follows the intense rivalry between two ambitious magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden. Once colleagues, their partnership is shattered by a tragic accident, fueling a relentless quest for supremacy. Each magician becomes obsessed with outdoing the other, resorting to increasingly elaborate illusions and risky performances. Their competition spirals into a dangerous game of deception, sabotage, and sacrifice, as both men are driven to uncover the secrets behind each other's most astonishing tricks. As their feud escalates, the boundaries between illusion and reality blur, leading to devastating consequences for themselves and those around them. The film explores themes of obsession, sacrifice, and the high price of ambition, culminating in a series of shocking revelations that challenge the very nature of magic and identity.

Characters

• Christian Bale plays Alfred Borden, a gifted magician whose dedication to his craft borders on obsession. His relentless pursuit of magical perfection fuels a dangerous rivalry and personal sacrifices.
• Hugh Jackman portrays Robert Angier, a charismatic showman haunted by tragedy and driven by vengeance. His quest to outdo his rival blurs the lines between ambition and self-destruction.
• Scarlett Johansson appears as Olivia Wenscombe, an assistant entangled in the magicians’ feud. Her shifting loyalties reveal the emotional cost of obsession and betrayal.

Ending Explained

The Prestige concludes with the long-standing rivalry between magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden reaching its tragic climax. After years of sabotage and obsession over each other's secrets, Angier finally unveils his ultimate illusion, only for Borden to uncover the truth behind it. Angier’s relentless pursuit of the perfect trick leads him to use a dangerous machine that creates duplicates of himself, resulting in a series of self-inflicted deaths for the sake of his act. In the final confrontation, Borden discovers Angier’s secret and kills him, bringing an end to their destructive feud. The film reveals that Borden himself had a secret all along: he is actually a pair of identical twins who have lived a shared life to maintain the illusion of his own trick. As Angier dies, he realizes the cost of their obsession, while Borden, having lost his brother and much of his life to the rivalry, is left to reclaim his daughter and walk away from the world of illusions. The ending underscores the devastating consequences of obsession and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of greatness.