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The Magician

1958·Movie
1h 42min·NR
IMDb7.5Metacritic867.5Rotten Tomatoes100%85%

Where to watch

KanopyCriterionDarkroom

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Magician fingerprint

High energy, immersive world, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and scary

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Scare7
  • Spectacle6

Heart

Moving

  • Pathos7
  • Melancholy6
  • Wonder6

Humor

Some dark humor and satire

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor7
  • Satire & Parody6
  • Wit & Wordplay5

World

The mind, mystery, and fantasy

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography, editing, and score

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing8
  • Music Composition8

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Suspense moviesPsychological moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

A traveling magician and his troupe arrive in a Swedish town in the 1840s, where their act is scrutinized by local authorities and a skeptical medical official. Their stay leads to a series of confrontations that test the boundaries between performance, belief, and deception.
Ingmar Bergman FilmPsychological ThrillerMind GamesMesmerism19th Century SwedenUnsettling AtmosphereIntense DialogueArt House CinemaSupernatural Mystery

Crew

Directed by:
Ingmar Bergman, Gösta Ekman, Katinka Faragó
Written by:
Ingmar Bergman
Produced by:
Allan Ekelund, Carl-Henry Cagarp
Composed by:
Eskil Eckert-Lundin, Erik Nordgren, Aaby Wedin

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Magician

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Magician legally?

KanopyCriterionDarkroom

The Magician is included with a subscription to Kanopy in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Darkroom. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Magician worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 86). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Magician rated?

NRDisturbing imagery

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: disturbing imagery.

How long is The Magician?

1 h 42 min

The Magician runs 1 h 42 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Magician?

Critics93
Audiences78

Not quite. Critics rate The Magician higher (93) than audiences (78). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is The Magician in?

Swedish

It was made in Swedish. Produced in Sweden.

In how many countries can I watch The Magician?

16AUBEBRCADKESFIFRGBGGNONZPLPT+2

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Magician in 16 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Magician use?

Hypnotic EyesCredits GagLarge HamVirgin SacrificeCreator CameoLeaning on the Fourth WallEverybody Loves BlondesThat Russian Squat DanceSnake CharmerLittle People Are SurrealBlood MagicMad Scientistand 5 more

TV Tropes lists 17 storytelling tropes for The Magician, including Hypnotic Eyes, Credits Gag, Large Ham.